“I’m only teasing you!” Livia reassured Paolo, speaking in such a delightful way that Paolo realised how much he loved her voice. He dismissed her rather-too-close-for-comfort comments.
What happened next took him completely by surprise.
Livia burst out crying at the other end of the line. These weren’t mock tears to get her way that Paolo had experienced with other women. This seemed like real grief.
“What is it Livia? What’s up” he asked quickly with real concern.
“You know!... I’ve lost my husband, that’s what,” she sobbed, “and Luka’s lost his father. I’m a widow!”