Page 63 of Merciless Monster

“Do you mind if his nanny fetches him today? I thought we could meet for a drink.”

“Uhm. Okay, I guess that will be alright.”

“Great. Meet me at the pier in twenty minutes.”

“Sure. Is everything alright?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I don’t know. You sound a little off.”

“All good. Just wanted to chat with you about something.”

“No problem. I’ll see you in a bit.”

Something’s up with Dante. He’s been acting sas little oddly the last few days. I wonder if it has anything to do with the chat he had with Gina. I didn’t want to pry when he came home afterward, but I could see he was far away. I hope the cousins didn’t fall out. Navigating the intricacies of family relationships can be tricky. I want them to get along. They are two very important people in my life.

I decide to give Mom a quick call while I’m driving to the pier. I connect my phone to bluetooth and dial her number. It rings for a while. She must be in the garden. I’m just about to hang up when she answers.

“Hello,” she says out of breath.

“Hey, Mom. Sorry, I hope I’m not disturbing you.”

“Hi, darling. No, I was outside, tilling the soil in the rose garden.”

“I thought you might be. Can you chat or shall I call you later?”

“That’s okay. I’m inside now. I need a cold drink anyway. What’s on your mind?”

“I was just with George. I made him a serving bowl. He seemed to like it.”

“I would think so. Your work is beautiful, darling. How is George? Is he missing you?”

“He says so. He’s fine.”

“What are your plans for the rest of the day?”

“I’m meeting Dante at the pier. I’m on my way there now.”

“That’s very romantic.”

“Yeah. He says he wants to talk to me about something.”

“Any idea what it could be?”

“Not really. He’s been a little quiet since he spoke to Gina.”

“I see. Do you think they had an argument?”

“I don’t think so. Besides, knowing Gina, she would have told me the minute they parted if there had been an issue between them.”

“You have me on tenterhooks now. You better call me later and tell me what happened.”

“I will, nosy Rosie. How are you and Dad?”

“Same old same old.”

Mom and I chat until I arrive at the pier. She lets me go as soon as she’s satisfied that I’ll deliver the skinny later.

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