Broken Hearts On Boulevard Unirii novel Chapter 76

Other than the lack of physical contact between us, everything seemed to be okay. I always kissed her before and after each trip and would call her most evenings when I was away. Every evening when we went to bed, we watched television together, until Sara fell asleep. Afterwards, I would turn off the television and go to sleep.

Two weeks after I returned from Romania, my father died. He was sitting in his armchair watching television. He didn't suffer at all and died a painless death with a half-smile on his face. When his caretaker came in the morning, she found him sitting in the same position as she had left him when she had gone home the night before. She went home every night, because he didn't want strangers sleeping in his house.

Although he was not a traditional Jew, I thought it best to give him a Jewish funeral. Despite the fact that he was not affiliated with the community of Siena, the rabbi of Siena officiated at the funeral. We all then went to Siena where he was buried in the Jewish cemetery located at via Certosa near Porta Romana.

I observed the seven days of mourning as the rabbi instructed me. I didn't leave the house and didn't shave.

Every evening, I sat at the computer and corresponded with Oana. I told her about my father's death and my need to be alone with my thoughts. Oana understood and didn't bother me with any unnecessary business questions.

Once the week had ended, our virtual love resumed flourishing. Our e-mails were becoming more and more exuberant and "hot," until in one e-mail she sent me a series of nude photos she had taken of herself. By return e-mail, I described to her the most intimate details and positions in which to make love. Oana loved the descriptions and wrote me that she was yearning to see me, that she had a great love for me, and best of all, everything I had described was waiting for me. It was this last e-mail that gave me the impetus to tell Sara that I had to return to Bucharest, due to bureaucratic problems that had arisen with the sale of one of the apartments.

Before my trip, I visited my friend Claudio who had been discharged from the hospital. He was very happy to see me and really seemed to have improved greatly. His appetite was beginning to return, he began going out of the house and was talking much more coherently. He seemed to have come out of his emotional crisis.

I was afraid to tell him that I was going to Bucharest, for I feared it would give rise to bad memories. I asked Sara that if by chance she were to talk to Tiziana, she should not mention my trip.

I called Elia and informed him about my upcoming trip and asked him not to tell Claudio. He understood why, and promised to keep it a secret.

That nice businessman invited me to come and see what he was building. Although I was no longer interested in the property in Mihailesti, I nevertheless asked his opinion about investing in property there.

"The area you are referring to will one day be very exclusive. The price you just quoted to me is unbelievable and unrealistic," he said to me. "If you put me in touch with them, I will buy everything they have to offer. In return, I will give you a five percent commission."

I took his phone number and I promised to call him. He didn't bother to ask me for my number, for he was sure that I would call.

Actually, I had the money in the bank and could buy some land, but now that my father was no longer alive, there might be changes in the jewelry factory and I might need money. I therefore decided not to invest.