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came,” Rosa said. “You’re not that close, and if they think you did it, why didn’t they just tell the police?”
    Rosa had a valid point. One I hadn’t considered while Anna May accused me of having something to do with Carrie Ann’s death. She was grieving, but there was some other emotion beneath all that. Could it be fear? What on earth would Anna May Godfrey be afraid of? The Anna May I remember walked confidently and fearlessly through the halls of Sudbury Secondary.
    “…and we heard it all over the news. They’re asking for witnesses or anyone who has heard anything about the death,” said Maria.
    I gathered they were talking about a news release issued by the police. I hadn’t listened to any news since yesterday morning. Maria and Rosa could pick at this all afternoon. We needed a diversion, so I plastered a smile on my face. “Let’s have lunch and put all this unpleasantness behind us.” I turned to Sofia. “Why don’t you give Maria and Rosa the grand tour while I heat up the lasagna and make the salad?”
    “That’s a great idea.” Sofia lowered her voice, but I could still hear what she said to Maria and Rosa. “Please don’t mention anything about the Godfrey sisters to our mothers.”
    “I don’t think you’ve heard the end of Anna May,” Maria said. “Wouldn’t it be better if you kept your mothers informed?”
    “No, Maria.” Sofia raised her voice. “It’s better if we don’t tell them. And I would hope that you wouldn’t gossip about it either.”
    “How can you even suggest that? Gilda is my godchild, and I love her like a daughter.” Maria sounded hurt.
    As I chopped up the vegetables, I could hear the oohs and aahs coming from the other rooms. Sofia delighted in showing off her masterpiece to first-time guests. She had decorated the condo in whites and off-whites with subtle pink and pale-green undertones. Everything from the soft, Italian leather sofa in the living area to the Egyptian cotton sheets in the bedroom had been selected to create a calm, muted feeling. Sofia had attended to every detail, and the results were spectacular. I didn’t mind letting her do the honors.
    It didn’t take long to get lunch on the table. We took our places and chatted about food and sidewalk sales. The earlier tension had dissipated. Was this the calm after the storm, or the calm before the next storm?

Chapter 5
    Monday, October 24, 2011
    Carlo wore a black tuxedo. He carried an enormous bouquet of white roses and offered them to me.
    “They’re so beautiful, Carlo.” I started to count them. “And so many of them.”
    “Twenty-nine to be exact.”
    “Twenty-nine?”
    “It’s the number of years that we have been apart.”
    “How thoughtful and romantic of you—”
    I woke up to the incessant ringing of the telephone. Darn! Only a dream. I picked up the phone.
    “It’s about time you answered,” Sofia said. “Where were you?”
    “Asleep in bed.”
    “It’s past ten. Are you feeling all right?”
    Since moving back to Sudbury, I had to explain every move or deviation from the Italian norm. “I’m fine. I just felt like sleeping in.” The weekend had been a very busy and hectic one. We had celebrated Uncle Paolo’s birthday on Saturday, and while it wasn’t a milestone, twelve of his relatives had come up from Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay.
    “I’m sorry,” Sofia said. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. I could call back later. But then it might be too late, and I know you like to know things ahead of time.”
    “All right, you win. What’s up?”
    “I went to Curves this morning. Everyone was talking about Carrie Ann’s death. A few of the ladies suggested that her death could be related to financial problems at Three SistersDecorating. They also talked—”
    “Whoa! What kind of financial problems?” I sat up in bed and gave my full attention to the conversation.
    Sofia explained, “Some of the suppliers have complained about items and