Tying the apron strings behind his back, Dario stepped out on the stone patio before she reached the rear door.
“I didn’t think you’d be open yet, but I saw your car parked here.” She halted by Irena’s suitcase sticking out from the backseat. “Are you traveling?”
Damn you, Ante, for leaving the luggage. Something suspicious was going on, Ana didn’t appear in a new expensive car and wardrobe on a whim. He
gazed over the patio’s railing mulling over the most plausible answer. “Ante has Jasmin over the weekend and wants to take her camping.”
Ana exposed her straight and white teeth with her smile. What the hell, just yesterday her mouth was full of yellowed and uneven teeth. “So nice of him to spend time with his daughter.”
“What’s going on, Ana?” Dario motioned to the car. “Where did you find the cash for all of this?”
“I finally found the right man.” She shrugged. “You wouldn’t believe it. He used to hang out with us. I said some awful things about Irena when I found out she’s to marry him. I was jealous then. The stupid cunt left him and now he is free and loaded.” In the next instant, her grin vanished, replaced by some fake concern. “However, her husband is worried about her, though I don’t know why.” Ana’s lips thinned into a pink line on her skinny face. “Fred is so generous. He even helped your next door neighbor pay the fine so he can re-open the restaurant. I can’t imagine how anyone could leave him.”
Dario gripped the cold railing of the patio. How could he forget her lashing tongue? She lived for the gossip. “Ana, don’t get involved with that guy. He’s not a right man for you at all. He can be dangerous. You’re looking for love in the wrong place.”
By Ana’s arched eyebrows and round eyes, he said too much. “Love? Pfft, what would I do with love? I only love money. You don’t know Fred like I do?”
“I think I know him better. He was always weird. Why is he back? What does he want from you?” As if that was hard to guess, but Dario had to play dumb.
“I already told you, he’s worried about Irena.
Thinks she may need medical help and something, I wasn’t really listening after he handed me the keys to that beauty over there.” Ana pointed at her new car, then turned to Dario. “I’m sure she must’ve made a contact with you by now.”
You traitor, sold your soul to the Devil for a few expensive gifts. Dario wanted to slap her but shoved his fists under his armpits. “I haven’t heard from Irena. So she either is not in town, or she doesn’t want anything to do with me. Whatever, I don’t care. She wounded me when she accepted Fred’s hand in marriage and I moved on. If I see her, I’ll let you know, but don’t hold your breath.”
Ana’s lips upturned and her eyebrows drew closer. “Right, you’re not fooling me. You’re so hung up on Irena that you once called me by her name in bed.”
Dario chose his words carefully. After all, Fred could’ve slipped a bug in Ana’s bag and listen on to her conversations. Why else would he spend the money on a twit? “I was drunk and that was a long time ago. Yes, it took me years to forget her, but I’m over her.”
Worry lines appeared on Ana’s forehead and her face dropped. Perhaps she bought his act. She grabbed his forearm. “Please, Dario. Fred will take all of these nice things away if I don’t have a satisfying answer.”
“You should’ve thought about it before you accepted his gifts.” Dario removed her hand from his arm and returned to the kitchen.
Ana stood on the patio for a few minutes, appearing uncertain and scared. Had she not sold herself to the highest bidder, she wouldn’t be in this predicament. She slowly turned on her unsteady legs and trudged to her shiny car. What would happen to
her? Dario’s chest squeezed. He couldn’t bear to be responsible if harm came to her. Perhaps she would listen to reason and return the gifts. If she was lucky, Fred would let her go unscratched.
Ante came through the swivel kitchen doors and raised the writing pad to his face. “Okay, here we go. For Irena no dairy, nothing fried, no chocolate, no heavy sauces, no salty food, no…” He dropped his hand to his side. “She just wants a small salad.”
Dario’s eyebrows crept up his forehead with each item Ante recited. “Who eats like that?”
Ante shrugged. “Someone whose health consciences, I suppose.”
“Hmm…all those food restrictions limit her to a poor diet.” Dario rubbed the stubble on his chin. Maybe Fred told the truth. Irena could be sick, but not mentally as her husband had claimed.
Ante nudged his head for Dario to come closer. His brother pressed his finger to his mouth and held the flip door open. “Listen.”
“Ella, no.” Irena’s snappy voice echoed in the restaurant’s dining room. “It’s not the right time.”
“But, Mom,” Ella whined. “They suspect already. What if Dad asks and you deny it? Then later, how will you tell him, oh, by the way, you were right? It wouldn’t look good on either of us.”
“Oh baby, you’re too smart.” Irena’s voice mellowed. “But patience, please. We may not live to see later.”