STOLEN SMILE

CATERINA

"True love stories never have endings."

-Richard Bach

†*****†

THE DOOR SHUT BEHIND HER, and I was convinced I was the worst person in the world at that moment. I had no idea about her mother. I'd assumed she'd died of cancer or some other illness, but now I wondered if it was an illness at all. I had imagined that in her family, the woman would be the only reliable and steady person to lean on.

She didn't even have that.

This painting had been her mamma's, and she'd kept it even though she was probably far from the best parent.

She was good to her mamma.

I needed a drink.

As I took my time making a gin and tonic, a kid of fifteen or sixteen stepped in. Once she shut the door, she stood beside it with a stoic expression. I had a James in the hall and this must be Lucky. The nickname had conjured an image of a beefy man with a shamrock tattoo, not a boy. My fiancé must be initiating this kid, poor thing.

I smiled. "Hello. I'm sorry, I don't know your name."

"Matteo, but everyone calls me Lucky," he said, slipping his hands into his suit pants pockets.

"Why do they call you Lucky?"

"I suppose because I'm lucky, ma'am."

A bit of amusement rose in me. "Nice to meet you, Lucky. I'm Caterina, but you probably already know who I am, considering you're my babysitter and all."

He laughed a slightly uncomfortable laugh.

I flicked the TV on and got settled on the couch. For twenty minutes, I watched the news and sipped my drink, with the intermittent commotion from outside and the electro beat pulsing through the ceiling. Jenn better be confident her gaming hall wouldn't be busted while I sat in her office. Though, it wasn't exactly a real worry of mine. An FBI agent showed up to her parties; I was sure she had the rest of the force in her pocket.

I sighed. Lucky had only been quietly standing by the door like the good Made Man in training he was. I grabbed a pack of cards off the coffee table and turned the box in my hands.

"Lucky, would you like to play cards with me?"

"Oh, well,"—he ran a hand across the back of his neck—"I'm no Ace."

My brows knitted, unsure of what he meant. "I just thought cards would be a good alternative to us both dying of boredom."

He chuckled. "Um....."

"Or are you not allowed to?" How strict was my fiancé with her men?

A corner of his lips lifted. "I'm only supposed to look in your direction when you speak to me."

I guess that answers that.

With a sigh, he said, "One game."

He didn't sound so sure, and I hesitated because I didn't want to get him in trouble. But he was already walking to the couch, and the truth was, I didn't want to sit in silence any longer.

"Are you related to Jenn?" I asked.

"Cousin," he said. "My papà was her papà's brother."

Lucky was taller than me, but he was lean and wiry. Still a boy. I wondered what Jenn was like at Lucky's age. Probably still bossy and used to getting her way.