Román was waiting for her in the hallway. Before he could say anything, an elegant woman in her fifties with dark circles under her eyes approached.

"Roman, I was looking for you," she said. "Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt."

"Eva," he introduced her. "My cousin. And Eva," he smiled, "Isabella's best friend."

The two looked at each other with a mixture of curiosity and confusion over the "tangle of names." There was no awkwardness, only quick recognition.

"Nice to meet you," said the cousin.