“Nicole was lying in a small room located above the garage attached to the owners’ house. She tossed and turned in bed and could not sleep. The room was cold. Nicole peered into the darkness, and her thoughts uncontrollably took her to the time when she, then a thirteen-year-old girl, first saw Paul. He always came to his grandfather during the Christmas and summer holidays. Although his English was impeccable, he was very much like his Italian father. Tall, amazingly handsome, he attracted Nicole's attention at first sight. Of course, being eight years older than her, he hardly noticed then whether she even existed in this world. In the summer, when she turned fourteen, Paul brought his girlfriend with him. She giggled so stupidly! Nicole watched with jealous pleasure as Paul winced at the giggle. But the next year there was no more laughter. Silvia Bose has arrived, graceful as a porcelain figurine, little Italy..."