Dante rented an apartment across the street. Some evenings, I saw him standing at the window. He watched, and we went on with dinner.
Julian never asked Leo to call him anything except Julian.
He corrected Leo's French grammar, took him through the Impressionist rooms at the Musée d'Orsay, and listened when Leo disagreed with him about the paintings.
He made Leo laugh again. In the Luxembourg Gardens, Leo ran through the mud without checking whether an adult might call him back.
I used Elena Veritas for my work, and my gallery flourished. I spent my days authenticating stones, tracing old collections, and negotiating under the name I had chosen.
Clients came for my judgment and my name. “Mrs. Moretti” remained on the sealed Severance Pact.
Dante still sent gifts.
For Leo's eighth bi
