“Hey everyone! I’m here!”
There was a loud banging upstairs and what sounded like a herd of elephants running.
Ericka’s sisters, 10 year old Victoria and 12 year old Suzanne, came running down the stairs and jumped into the chair with their sister.
“Hey Rik!” Viki shouted, hugging her.
“I’ve missed you so much!” Suzi said, just as loud as her sister.
“Girls! Don’t shout! Your sister just got off a plane and I’m sure that she’s tired,” Karen Mancini called from the kitchen door.
The girls obediently got off her and she got up and walked over to her mother to give her a hug.
“Where’s Nik?” she asked, referring to her older sister Nikole.
“She’s with Tommy, she’ll be back soon.”
They sat down and caught up with each other while Viki and Suzi ran around upstairs, making as much noise as possible.
“Mom, I’m a little tired. Can I go upstairs and take a nap?”
“Sure, sweetie. I’ll have one of your sisters wake you up when Nik gets home.”
“Thanks.”
As soon as she closed her eyes, she saw Kevin’s face. She fell asleep fighting tears.
Kevin sighed as the plane landed in Milan. It had been a month since they’d finished the video and since the last time he’d seen Ericka, the night they made love. He’d barely spoken to anyone and he hadn’t even told Brian what had happened between him and Ericka, which was rare for him.
Everyone was worried about him. They’d never seen him so quiet and brooding. He had barely slept since they’d finished “Show me the meaning of being lonely” and he wasn’t concentrating on work.
Denise had pulled him aside before he boarded the plane for Milan.