I glanced back and saw Ian flanked by his parents. My mother made a move to take my hand, but I pretended not to notice and linked my arm with my grandmother’s. Nonni smiled and squeezed me with affection, her lined face lit up with pleasure. It was so easy to be around her. If only it could be like that with Mom.

Mom quickly turned and pretended to study a painting, but not before I saw the hurt expression she tried to hide.

On impulse, I went to reach for her hand, feeling bad, but she’d already walked ahead and refused to look back.

Whatever. It wouldn’t have meant much to her anyway.

Later on, I jumped on Snapchat with David.

How’s the road trip? I typed.

Chill. Managed to book a gig at small club tonight. Freda wanted to sing but I said no.

I put a laughing emoji in the text. At least let her hum backup.

Nah, after a few drinks she’ll be hooking up and won’t care. Having fun? How’s your mom?

Still pissed but distracted with the tour. Gonna see how long till she bails on me and her crap about bonding time. She’s never gone a whole day without work before.

Don’t let her jail u while she works. She already ruined your summer. Push back.

Yeah, he was right. If she began missing stuff for calls or meetings, I’d make sure to do what I wanted. Truth. Saw the Vatican.

Was it as pompous as I imagine it? Gold and glory for fat old guys who pretend they’re better than anyone else.

I hesitated at the venom in the text. Of course, most of my friends sneered at any established religion, and I never judged people’s beliefs, but I remembered the way Ian knelt and prayed, as if humbled to be in God’s home. Maybe the church was messed up but some people found comfort here, like Nonni. Right?

The art was sick. The Sistine Chapel was beautiful but I got a neck cramp looking up, and got smooshed between a bunch of strangers. Not what I expected.

It never is. Gotta go. Wish you were here. TTYL.

I sent another emoji and clicked off. He wished I was there. That was the second time he’d said it, so he probably meant it. I thought of him playing in clubs, getting high, and picking up girls, and of Ian, who said he liked his parents and who prayed in church.

David was right about one thing. Mom swore she was taking a real vacation. If she thought she could drag me to Italy and leave me with Nonni for the whole time, I’d show her how wrong she was.

I pocketed my phone and went to join my family on the bus.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Francesca