Trouble Me: A Rosewood Novel (52 page)

She shrugged. “I don’t know about that. I only wish my presence could have actually helped David and them. Of course, it didn’t, and I left you guys in the lurch. You all must have had to work like mad.” The economic downturn hadn’t touched La Dolce Vita. Even in the summer when wealthy New Yorkers decamped to the Hamptons or the Vineyard, Giorgio had to turn away clients.

“You didn’t. It was only crazy for about ten days. Then Giorgio hired a kid who just graduated from NYU and wants to break into acting. Giorgio’ll hire you back in a flash, Tess. We can call him. The birthday bash for the ninety-year-old will be over by now.”

This was it. Slowly Tess shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, but no. Anna, I’m leaving New York.”

“Leaving? For where?”

“I’ve decided to try out California.” California was as far away from Boston and the Bradfords as she could get without leaving the continent.

“California.” From the way Anna pronounced it, Tess could have announced she was planning to move to Mars. Anna fell silent for a moment, her expression solemn. “It’s so far. But I understand why you’re doing it. I’d want to start afresh, too, if I’d been through what you have. So, where in California?”

Tess leaned over and picked up her handbag, which had been resting next to the leg of the coffee table, and set it on her lap. Opening it, she pulled out a folded map. “I picked this up. It shows the entire state.” Moving the untouched platter aside, she opened the map and laid it on the coffee table. “I thought you could help me choose my destination.”

“I know!” Anna’s dark eyes lit with excitement. “We’ll leave it to fate. Wait here. I’m going to get my nonna’s favorite scarf. We’ll use it as a blindfold. I’ll spin the map, and then you’ll place your finger down to stop it. Wherever your finger lands, that’s where you’ll go.”