Chapter Four
Santina ambled into the café leaden-footed and only when he neared the counter did she remember to slap on her quasi-ingratiating smile, though it did little to conceal her worry.
“Ciao, Yancy, caro. I need a coffee,” she said, and as I packed the coffee holder, she added, “Would you mind if I ask you a big favor?” Cautiously, I bobbed my head.
Ciaocaro“Rudi, he wants to go to the dance tonight and I don’t feel like. Will you keep him company?”
“Otherwise, who knows what kind of trouble he’ll get into on his own,” cracked an oldster from a nearby table.
Santina let the remark pass, which I thought odd since she would normally have issued a pointed reprimand. “How about we all mind our business?” I said, coming to her defense. “Is everything okay?” I asked her in English.
