That made Ivan feel more secure about his wait. He was fortunate that Maya felt that strongly about him.

Just a little while longer, he told himself as another year of emotional chess went by between them.

BY THE SPRING OF 2006, the wait was over. Ivan made sure Lucina had no excuses to stop herself from giving him three hours of her time. That was all that he asked her for.

He picked her up at her house with a driver, wheeling Ivan’s own Rolls-Royce Phantom in Pacific blue. The interior was a soft saddle-brown leather.

Lucina sat inside the top-of-the-line luxury car and smiled. “Is this yours or Roman’s?”

It was a typical Lucina Gallo response. Ivan was used to it by now. He grinned and said, “I don’t borrow Roman’s cars that much anymore. But I still make money with him, renting them to other people. It’s a good money deal. And I remember you thought he wouldn’t go for it.”

She glanced at him with a smirk. She still looked as fabulous and as fierce as she had when he first met her. She was wearing a white summer dress from Donna Karan, before season.

She asked him, “So, what are you working on now?”

Ivan seemed a million miles away from where she had first seen him in the Gaslamp Quarter. His potential had been met, many times over. That was how Lucina had always pictured him. He only had to manifest it. But somehow he remained the same man in his dark blue jeans, white shirt, and tweed sports jacket. He was still right there with her, and still searching.

He told her, “Like always, I got a lot of things I’m working on now.”

She looked him over and nodded. “That’s good. I’m always happy for you.”

It sounded like a hint of envy to him. Was he as happy for her? Was that what Lucina was thinking? And if they were trusting partners like they had once agreed, then how come she was not where he was?

Ivan smiled it off and ignored her bait. “Thanks,” he commented. He wanted to save everything for later. He had other plans for her. So he enjoyed the drive with no further response.

As they headed across the Coronado Bridge toward downtown, Ivan looked out the window and said, “This is really a beautiful city that we live in. But there are so many others out there, you know.”

Lucina studied him. She responded, “Are you saying you are already tired of San Diego? Obviously, this city has been very good for you, don’t you think? And already you want to leave.”

He was beginning to irritate her more by the minute now. Maybe he wasn’t the same man anymore. And for the record, Lucina loved San Diego.