Part 10 (2/2)

They hung up as though they were both seated in their respective offices at opposite ends of the same floor, and in her brand new office Isabella tore off her notes and spread them out before her. She had exactly twelve hours to replace that Hong Kong red. Of course there was always the chance that she could badger them into sending it, if they had it, if they could. But she knew she couldn't risk depending on them. Not anymore. She made another hasty note to herself for Bernardo. She wanted to cancel the account in Hong Kong. She had seen better fabrics in Bangkok anyway. In what concerned San Gregorio, Isabella was not one to be understanding or to be pushed around.

You're up bright and early.

Isabella looked up in surprise as Natasha's tousled blond head poked through the door. What happened to the days when you used to sleep till noon?

Jason. I had to learn to work in the daytime and sleep at night. Tell me something, do you always look like this at seven o'clock in the morning? She was staring admiringly at the pale blue velvet dressing gown.

Only when I go to work. She grinned at her friend and pointed at the notes on the desk. I just talked to Bernardo.

How goes it in Rome?

Terrific, except I have to redo half the summer collection before I call him back tonight.

Sounds like my rewrites. Jesus. Before you get started, can I fix you some eggs?

Isabella shook her head. I've got to do some work on this before I eat. What about the boys? Are they up yet?

Are you kidding? Listen' . She put her finger to her lips, and they both smiled as they heard a distant shriek. Hattie's getting Jason dressed for school. She looked gently at Isabella, walked into the room, and sat down. What are we going to do about Alessandro? Do you want him to stay home?

I I don't know' . The clouds returned to her dark eyes as she frowned back at Natasha. I had planned to, but ' I don't know. I'm not sure what to do.

Has anyone realized yet that you've left Rome?

No. Bernardo says it went perfectly. According to Il Messaggero, I have taken refuge at the top of the house.

Then there's no reason why anyone would suspect who he is. Do you suppose you could convince him not to tell anyone his last name? He could go to school with Jason and say he's our cousin from Milan. Alessandro' . She thought a moment. What about your grandfather's name?

Parel?

Parelli! Natasha grinned at her creation. I spend half my life making up names. Every time I start a new novel, I start staring at the labels on anything at hand and I must have every name-the-baby book ever made. Well, how about it? Alessandro Pareli, our cousin from Milan?

And what about me? Isabella was amused by her inventive friend.

Mrs. Parelli, of course. Just give me the word and I'll call the school. As a matter of fact ' She looked pensive. I'll call Corbett and ask him if he has time to take them on his way to work.

Wouldn't that be something of an imposition? Isabella looked concerned, but Natasha shook her head.

If it were, I'd do it myself. But he loves doing things like that. He's always helping me with Jason. She looked away for a moment, lost in her own thoughts. He has this thing about being helpful ' about people who need him. Isabella watched her, wondering if Natasha needed him enough. She seemed so independent. She would have smiled to know that it was the same thought that always crossed Corbett's mind.

Well, if he wouldn't mind very much, it would be lovely. That way they wouldn't see me at the school.

That's what I was thinking. She gnawed at a pencil. I'll call him. And she disappeared before Isabella could say more. But since she had met him on the way in from the airport, Isabella had been wondering what lay between the silver-haired man and her old friend. It seemed a nice relations.h.i.+p, and the understanding between them was something that Isabella watched with envy now. But how serious were they? From Natasha, she knew she would gain no insight, not until she was ready to talk.

Natasha went to call Corbett and returned to say he'd be there shortly. The boys were up and tearing about.

My G.o.d, will he be able to stand it? Isabella winced and Natasha grinned.

You will know how truly crazy the man is when I tell you that he'll love it. Even at this hour of the day.

Obviously a m.a.s.o.c.h.i.s.t. But Isabella was smiling as she searched Natasha's eyes, but there was no answer there.

Natasha looked at her sympathetically in the kitchen as she made toast.

Can you sleep today?

Are you kidding? Isabella looked at her, horrified, and they both suddenly laughed. What about your work?

You'll hear me pounding away in half an hour. But not she grinned at her impishly in anything quite as fancy as that.

Isabella laughed. Natasha, she knew, possessed a uniform for working jeans, sweat s.h.i.+rts, and woolen argyle socks. Suddenly Isabella realized she could do the same. She was suddenly invisible, nonexistent, unknown.

All right, Mrs. Parelli from Milan, I'll go call the school. Natasha disappeared and Isabella went back to find her son.

She found him in the bedroom playing with Ashley, a big smile on his face.

What are you so happy about? She swept him into her arms with a kiss.

Jason has to go to school today. I'm staying home with his train. But Isabella plopped him back on his bed.

Guess what? You're going to school too.

I am? He stared at her in dismay. I can't play with the train?

Sure you can. When you come home. Wouldn't it be more fan to go to school with Jason than to stay here alone all day while I work?

He thought about it for a minute and c.o.c.ked his head to one side. n.o.body will talk to me. And I can't talk to them.

If you go to school with Jason, pretty soon you'll be able to talk to everyone, and a lot quicker than if you sit here speaking Italian to me. What do you think?

He nodded his head thoughtfully. Will it be very hard?

No different from your school in Rome.

We get to play all the time? He looked at her delightedly, and she smiled.

Is that all you used to do?

No, we had to do letters too.

How awful. His expression said that he agreed. Do you want to go? She wasn't sure what she'd do with him if he said no.

Okay. I'll try it. And if I don't like it, we can both quit. Jason can stay home with me.

Aunt Natasha will love that. And listen, I have something to tell you.

What?

<script>