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showed us to our room, four or five college-age guys burst down the hall, loud and boisterous, big and muscled, like football players. Typical rugby builds. They gave me the up and down as they brushed past us. One paused enough to flash me a flirtatious smile.
    Diana gave them a cheery wave. "Take it easy tonight, boys. The tourney starts bright and early tomorrow morning."
    She was such a mom. To everyone, it seemed. And it was clear she adored boys. She'd probably been a tomboy herself.
    She returned her focus to us. "Dinner's at eight. Justin, you're going to love this. In your honor, we're eating at your favorite seafood place tonight!" She beamed at him.
    Jus clearly wasn't used to being the main attraction and being spoiled. He grinned. "Paolo's?"
    She nodded.
    "It's been a few years," Jus said. "He still running the place? I thought he was going to retire and turn it over to his son."
    Diana laughed. "Like that is ever going to happen. Paolo can't stand being idle. Or letting anyone else run his kitchen.
    "He hasn't forgotten how you fixed his computer and built his website last time he saw you. 'Your boy saved a my business!'" She made an Italian hand gesture I didn't understand, but was obviously supposed to be mimicking Paolo's joy.
    "He's got a fresh catch of polpetto he's saving just for you!" She opened the door to a room. "You have an en suite bath if you want to freshen up beforehand."
    I stifled a yawn. I needed a nap. My bedtime was becoming embarrassingly early.
    "Tired?" Diana asked me with that searching look again.
    Last time I'd seen her, she'd warmed up to me. Her manner was friendly now. But she was obviously wary and totally wrapped up in the pleasure of having all her boys around her. Protective of Jus. I hoped she also wasn't as observant and intuitive. Jus had to get his traits from somewhere.
    "Jet-lagged." I smiled at her.
    "But you've been here, what, four or five days already?" Diana said gently.
    I forced myself to keep smiling. "I'm not much of a traveler. I can't seem to shake it." Or the grandchild I'm carrying for you.
    She put a gentle hand on my arm. "Take a nap. You'll want to be fully awake for dinner so you can enjoy the feast Paolo's making special for us. Have you ever seen the movie Big Night ?"
    I shook my head.
    "Too bad. If you had, you'd know what I mean. He's preparing us his signature dish along with the rest of the feast." She turned to her son. "Justin can catch up with his brothers and me while you rest."
    The last thing I remembered was lying down "just for a few minutes." I didn't wake up until several hours later when Jus gently shook me.
    "Hey, sleepyhead. Time to get ready for dinner." His voice was gentle, but concerned. "You slept a long time. You aren't sick, are you?"
    I rubbed my eyes and glanced at the clock on the wall. Crap! I had to hurry if we were going to make it to dinner on time. I'd slept so long I had bedhead. Was I drooling, too? "I'm fine." I sat up and rubbed my eyes.
    "It's taking you a while to adjust to the time difference." There was that worry in his voice again.
    I shrugged it off.
    He sighed. "Next time we'll make sure to get you remedies to prevent jet lag."
    Paolo's was only a few blocks away from the pensione . From the outside it was a candidate for the Italian version of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives . Inside, it wasn't much fancier. But it smelled delicious, like everything Italian. Since most of the Italians in America immigrated from the south of Italy, our version of Italian food is southern in nature. In that way, Paolo's smelled homey, yet old world and exotic at the same time. Like the very best, high-end Italian food in the States. It definitely wasn't chain restaurant fare.
    Justin's dad was waiting for us. It wasn't hard to spot him. Justin's two older brothers were younger copies of him. Jus looked more like his mom. Even down to her build. She was tall for a woman, but not as big-boned as he was in proportion to her size.
    Kirk