I did OK on my History test, even though I obviously was distracted. History is my best subject and it'll probably be what I end up teaching once I get my degree in a few months. Yeah, sometimes it seems unreal that I, Tony Micelli the jock from Brooklyn, is going to become a teacher. But teaching and education are some of what have most fascinated me in the years since I moved to Fairfield. It's partly Angela's influence (and, yeah, she and a lot of her world have fascinated me, too), but it's also seeing how going to good schools has changed Sam's life around.

And now she's 19 and has a bright future, even if she hasn't definitely decided what she wants to be when she grows up. That's OK, she's got time. When I was her age, I was already married and thought I was going to play baseball into my 40s. My shoulder injury changed that future before I hit 30.

I worry about Sam as much as ever. Yeah, she's an adult and Angela has always encouraged me to let her grow up, make her own decisions, but it doesn't get any easier. I mean, I am Italian, and from a family where things like arranged marriages aren't that long ago. My grandfather arranged a marriage for my mother. He didn't encourage her to go to college. Plus, Sam is an only child. Yeah, Jonathan is like a son to me, and soon will be my stepson, but it's Sam who's gotten most of my parenting focus. Also, Jonathan just hasn't put us through as much worry and drama as Sam has.

And now Sam has this mystery guy who's calling the house, even though she lives in the dorms. And she doesn't want him calling here but he did anyway. At least that once that I know about, but who knows how often besides yesterday?

Why is she keeping him secret? She's never really done that before. OK, yeah, there was Matt the summer before last, but that was in New Mexico. If this guy is in Connecticut, why haven't I heard about him, I mean from her?

What's wrong with him? Is he married? Older? A criminal? I don't think it's something simple like he's not Italian or Catholic, because neither was Chad McCann and all those other guys. I'm not that traditional!

Maybe he has an embarrassing job. Nothing illegal but something she doesn't want me to know about. Like he's a professional clown or a puppeteer or something. Obviously, I would rather she date a guy in law school or med school, but as long as it's good, honest work, I think I would accept him. OK, I wasn't crazy about Fred, but she still brought that weirdo to the house, and even took him along on the family's anniversary trip to the carnival. Oh God, is this guy crazier than Fred?

Angela thinks it's nothing, that the guy on the phone wasn't Sam's boyfriend and I have nothing to worry about. I don't know if Mona is on my side, but I figured she'd at least enjoy snooping. And she's the one that was most able to talk sense to Sam about Matt, get her to compromise about being engaged in New Mexico and instead have a long-distance relationship, which of course fizzled out.

What if this guy isn't in Connecticut? For all I know, she met someone when we went to check out the winery I inherited, and they've been secretly calling and writing all this time. Which would mean he is Italian and probably Catholic. Oh, the irony! And she doesn't want me to know because she thinks I'd worry about such a long-distance relationship. Or maybe she's waiting until he can afford to visit America and he'll just show up on our doorstep one day. "Hi, Dad, I'd like you to meet Lorenzo." Or whatever.

Or, oh no, what if it's one of our relatives? No wonder she doesn't want me to know! It could be one she'd never met before and fell for without my noticing. What if it's Maurizio? They did meet four years ago and the age difference wouldn't matter as much now. He'd be what, 24? He didn't seem to notice her then, since he was infatuated with Angela, but maybe he noticed last year. Let's see, he's Aunt Rosa's grandson, so that makes him my first cousin once removed, Sam's second cousin. Too close, too close! If she fell for maybe a fourth cousin, I guess I could live with that.

What if Mona's right that this isn't necessarily a boyfriend? Well, Sam is still keeping secrets from me, and I don't like that. I hope Angela and Mona find out something at lunch today, something they'll tell me. If not, I don't know what I'll do. Maybe I'll see if Julia or Bonnie knows anything, although Sam hasn't been keeping in touch with her old friends as much since she graduated a year early.

I think I'll make Sam's favorite cookies. I can take them to her at the dorm if she doesn't drop by in the next couple days. If that doesn't get her to talk, I'll have to try something really sneaky.

I've gathered the ingredients when the phone rings. I grab the wall phone after the first ring but I don't immediately say anything. It's partly that I don't know what to say— "Bower residence" feels inadequate these days anyway— and partly that if this is the mystery man, I don't want him to know it's not Sam.

I almost drop the phone when I hear a British accent saying, "Listen, Sammers, I'm sorry about yesterday."

I know I should let him talk and incriminate himself but I reply automatically, "Sammers isn't here."

"Oh, er, sorry, wrong number."

"Wait a minute, you are not hanging up on me!" I know I can't do anything to stop him, but maybe some of my Italian-fatherliness will come through on the telephone.

"Mr. Micelli, I don't want to take up your time."

Aha! It worked! Now I just have to reel him in.