Page 260 of The Italian Obsession

“What?”

He kisses me softly. “I was just wondering how many times you can fall in love with the same person.” I smile. “Because just when I think I can’t love you anymore, my heart grows so I can love you harder.” He kisses me softly. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For teaching me how to be happy.”

________

“Hello, Mom.” I smile down the phone.

“Hi, darling. How is the fiancé today?”

I giggle. “Good. Great, actually.”

“You wouldn’t believe it, but Henry has had a fall.”

“What? Is he okay?” Henry is my elderly uncle. He’s gay, never been married, and has no family of his own. He’s like a second father to my mom at eighteen years her senior.

“No, love, he’s not. He broke his hip. I’m on my way to the hospital now but I wanted to let you know.”

“Oh, no.” My heart drops. “I was going to see if you wanted to come over for the engagement party.”

“When is it?”

I wince, knowing how ridiculous this sounds. “Next weekend.”

“Oh, love, I just don’t think I can swing it. I haven’t saved enough money.”

“We will pay. It won’t cost you anything.”

“Honey, I can’t leave Henry at the moment.”

My heart drops again. Great, I’m going to have none of my own family at my own engagement party.

“I’ll come over for the wedding and stay a few months. How does that sound?”

I smile sadly. “That would be great, thank you.”

“Did you ask your father?”

“No.” I exhale heavily. I don’t want Dad here ruining my mood. “It’s okay. You go to the hospital and send Henry my love, okay?”

“Okay, love. Sorry, but it is really short notice.”

“I know.”

ENRICO

“What are we doing here?” Lorenzo asks from the passenger seat.

I watch the front doors of the Milan Library from our parked car across the street. “Just checking something out.”

“Like what?”

“You don’t think it’s weird that Francesca has been frequenting here?”

Lorenzo frowns. “What do you mean?”