Chapter 18: The Scan

I did not take her hand.

I walked into the clinic beside her, and Leandro walked behind us, and Mr. Cattaneo's men took the door.

The waiting room was white and quiet, with a fish tank and a woman at the desk.

The woman at the desk saw Fiorella and looked at her keyboard.

I noticed it, and I filed it away.

Mr. Cattaneo took the chair nearest the exam room and set his cane across his knees.

He was a small, dry man with a narrow face, and he had not once looked at me kindly in two years.

He looked at me now.

"Mrs. Cattaneo," he said. "I am told you are no longer my son's wife."

"I'm Ms. Roselli, sir."

"Good. I prefer it."

Fiorella had gone pink and bright, and she held Mother's arm.

"I'm so glad you could all come. It's early, so there may be nothing much to see, but I wanted my family there when we heard it."

"Of course you did," I said.

The door opened, and the doctor looked out.

She was a tall woman in a white coat who had never met me.

"Ms. Roselli? We're ready."

"Doctor, before you begin," I said, "may I ask a favor?"

Fiorella's hand tightened on Mother's sleeve.

"Please do the scan yourself, with everyone watching. Not a technician, and not from a file."

The doctor looked at Mr. Cattaneo, and then at Fiorella.

"If the patient agrees."

Fiorella laughed softly.

"Of course I agree. Why wouldn't I?"

She could not refuse, with Adriano's father sitting three feet away. We both knew it.

We went in.

The room was small, so Mr. Cattaneo stood at the foot of the table and Mother stood at the head, and I took the corner nearest the door.

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