The Body #4: Nico and Cosi

Chapter 11 (Cosi): Go Home

It was hard to pinpoint exactly why Desti being at our house started to bother me. Intuition? When we were training as young girls, our instructors had always told us to trust our gut. Whatever it was, something wasn't sitting right with me, and it was more than the flu that I couldn't get over. 

Maybe it was the way Desti was watching me so closely, even though every time I tagged her on it, her eyes would get sympathetic and concerned.

"You're not getting better, Cosi," she'd say gently. "Well, you are, I guess, but your progress is slow. This flu has a hold on you and it won't let go. I'm worried about you."

"I'm getting better," I insisted, wondering how much of a lie that was. I still wasn't handling food very well, feeling sick after each meal, and I was exhausted even though the most strenuous thing I did all day was move from the bedroom to the couch.

Maybe it was the way she was beginning to act like she was the woman of the house, greeting Nico when he walked in the door, making our meals, always insisting on serving the food to us, tapping Nico's arm, drawing him into conversation.

When he'd walk over to give me a kiss after he got home from work, Desti would be right there beside him.

"She's not looking very good," she'd say as if I was some ailing animal in the zoo.

Nico would examine me closely, and shake his head, his voice heavy with concern. "I have to agree. I don't like this."

"Hey, I'm right here," I'd protest. Why did she have to say that?

Nico's index finger would trace half circles under my eyes. "You have dark circles that look like bruises, Costanza. You're pale, and your eyes don't sparkle."

"I'm doing better," I insisted.

"I'm going to bring my doctor in tomorrow."

"No," I said. "Our family doctor knows me better than any other doctor. I want him."

Desti, Mama and Papa had told me ever since we were younger that our family doctor was the only decent doctor in the Body.

Nico had frowned and for the first time, he seemed frustrated with me. He rose abruptly and said, "We'll talk about it later, Costanza. I'm going to go shower and I'll be back down."

Desti brightened. "I'll get your plate ready. You're late tonight, so we already ate."

And I had the mild stomach cramps to prove it.

"Thanks, but no need," he said. "I already ate and all I want now is a shower."

When Nico went upstairs, Desti looked at me, her face tight. "That's new."

"What?"

"Nico showering right when he gets home, especially this late."

"Probably just a long day."

Desti started to speak, then hesitated.

"What?" I asked.

"Don't shoot the messenger," she said. "But he's been late getting home every night this week, and Papa said --"

"What?" 

"He said he saw Nico leaving a restaurant the other night with..."

I wanted to pull my gun on her and force her to finish a thought.

"With...?"

"With another woman. Maybe it was a relative. Does he have any cousins or something that he sometimes hangs with? Light brown hair, tall, gorgeous?"