“You puttana!” You whore!

“Please, Maurizio.”

“I should beat you.” He wavered, as if considering what to do; then he put his knee in her back and pushed himself up. She winced and gasped slightly, as much in fear as pain. She lay on her chest, her face to one side partially eclipsed by the floor. The blood from her nose slowly pooled in front of her, while her body convulsed with her sobs. “I didn’t sleep with him,” she said.

“You liar.”

“I didn’t, Maurizio.”

“I want you out before I return.”

The door slammed shut behind him, leaving all quiet except for the muffled sounds of her whimpering.

CHAPTER 34

“Chi semina vento, raccoglie tempesta.” Who sows the wind, reaps the whirlwind.

—Italian Proverb

E liana lay on the floor crying for a long time before she struggled to the phone on the hall table. She pulled the phone off onto herself and frantically pushed Manuela’s number on the handset. Her husband, Vittorio, answered.

“Vittorio, this is Eliana. Where is Manuela?”

He hesitated. “Eliana . . .”

“Does she have Alessio?”

“I’m sorry, Eliana. Maurizio has made me promise not to speak to you.”

“What?”

“He made it clear.”

“Vittorio, I need to know. Alessio’s asthma is dangerous. If he’s upset he could have an attack.”

“What can I do? I’m very sorry.” He hung up on her.

Now trembling, she put the phone back in its cradle. She looked down. There was blood all over the receiver. She looked at her hand; it was red.

She struggled to her feet, went to the sink and lowered her face into a stream of cool water, washing it with her hands. She felt dizzy, as if she had left her body. Suddenly she saw spots, black and white flashes. She felt the nausea of a migraine rise up in her stomach and chest. For several minutes she stood motionless, leaning against the sink. Then she went to the bathroom and vomited in the toilet. The pressure in her head continued to rise, moving up into her temples. The light of the room made her head ache, and she shielded her eyes with her hands. She went to her bedroom and drew the curtains, then curled up on top of the bed, holding a sheet over her head. She didn’t move for three hours, until the phone rang. It rang nearly a dozen times before she answered it.

“Pronto.”

“Eliana, it is Anna.”

“Anna,” she said slowly.

“What is wrong?”

“I have a horrible migraine.” She suddenly began to cry.

“My poor dear. Is it that bad?”

“Anna . . .”

“Che?”

“Anna, Maurizio has taken Alessio from me.”

“Finally, he’s gone mad. Where has he taken him?”

“I don’t know.”

“What caused this?”

“It’s my fault, Anna. I went to Ross. We were together all night. Maurizio was waiting for me when I came home.”

“Mamma mia. Mamma mia. I will take the next train home.” She shouted away from the phone, “Andrea, get my bags from the bedroom.” She came back to Eliana. “Sarò lì in un batter d’occhio,” she said. I’ll be there in a blink of an eye.