she agreed. “My father would be heartbroken if she closed it.” “Tell me about your father’s cousin.” “There’s not much to tell. My grandfather didn’t want him in the business and paid him to stay away. Every now and then Johnny would get in touch with my father and demand money. My father would remind him that he’d signed an agreement to stay away from the business, but Johnny would say it’s not worth the paper it’s printed on, and they’d fight until my father would send him more money.” “How did Johnny get along with your mother?” She hesitated, then said quietly, “He was the one who told her . . . when my father died . . . he called her and told her . . .” She stopped. “Told her what?” “I probably shouldn’t be talking to you about this . . . if my mother ever found out . . .” “Gabriella . . . you’re right that we shouldn’t be talking. But I have to go behind her back because she doesn’t want to deal with this. She wants to run away from it.”
