“What if you just went home and didn’t come back?”

“Believe me, I’ve thought of it. But it’s not that simple. Without Maurizio’s permission, I couldn’t stay out of the country for more than two weeks. If I stayed a day longer, Maurizio could call the police, and the FBI would be notified, and I would be charged with kidnapping. It’s something the international community actually cooperates on. I would have to bring Alessio back, and they would take away his passport until he was eighteen. I might even go to jail. At the least I would lose custody of Alessio. I suppose I could live a life on the run like some women have, but that’s no life for Alessio. And with his asthma it would be dangerous.”

“Could you take Maurizio to court?”

“I could. But I would lose.”

“Why is that?”

“For one, because Maurizio’s family is ben introdotta—well connected. They are rich and his father was a conte. A count.”

“Then doesn’t that make Maurizio a count?”

She nodded. Ross looked at her for a moment. “And you a countess?”

“Yes.”

Ross was taken aback by the casualness of her response. “What does that mean?”

She carefully thought about her reply. “Not much, really. Though it was definitely part of the whole fantasy. Every now and then someone will kiss my hand. But Italy’s a republic and nobility is just a title. Still, there is power to be had and Maurizio knows how to use it.”

“I can’t believe the system really works that way.”

“You have no idea. Italy is all about who you know. It’s always been this way. But even if Maurizio didn’t have connections, I would probably lose in court.”

“Why?”

“Because I would have to prove that I could give Alessio a better life in America.”

“Couldn’t you?”

“Not as a single parent. I got pregnant before I finished school and then we moved here and I’ve been home ever since. I have no skills, no profession, other than my art. I can’t even type. Then there’s Alessio’s asthma. You know how expensive hospitals are in America. I’m in the emergency room at least every other month. Plus there are his medications and doctor visits.” She stopped, exasperated at the thought of it. “I could never do it, even if the courts allowed it.”

“You’ve thought this all through.”

“A million times.”

Ross ran his hand across the barrel’s smooth surface. “If he’s never around, why does he care if you go?”

“It’s just different here. Here, breaking up a family, whatever the reason, is seen as worse than having an affair. Besides, why would Maurizio want to? The status quo works for him. He gets a wife and mother at home and the freedom and excitement of the road.”

“And the fact that he cheats doesn’t bother him?”

“To him cheating is irrelevant. Have you heard the word scappatella?”

“No.”

“It means a little love affair. Some believe that an occasional scappatella is good for a marriage. That it keeps it fresh.”