Maybe he’d write. She checked her messages a dozen or more time a day. When he didn’t call she ached inside, the pain so bad she thought she’d do anything to escape it.

If days were long, nights were even longer. The tears she hid from the girls during the day fell all night. Hours of silent tears, hours of inexplicable grief. She and Marco hadn’t been together that long. She couldn’t explain why she felt such desolation.

She’d cry so long she’d soak her pillow and then when she couldn’t bear it any longer, she’d go to her desk and try to put it in a letter and yet all that came out, all that filled the page were the words

I miss I miss I miss

I love I love I love

You—

Payton jumped at the sound of the front door opening.

The girls squealed and ran out to see who’d arrived. Marco.

“How is she?” Payton asked, joining the girls in the hall. Gia was practically dancing around Marco while Liv stood on one foot and stared anxiously up at him.

“Resting. She hit her head on the steering column. The doctors want her to spend the night at the hospital for observation.”

“Concussion?”

“Mmmm.” He ruffled his hair. “I imagine they’ll release her in the morning but I’ve promised her I’d go back later. It’s no fun being in the hospital. She doesn’t really have family around anymore.”

“I understand.” And she did. Payton had no one left, either.

Marco glanced at his watch. “I’m going to take a quick shower and change before dinner. The four of us can eat as family and then I’ll return to Marilena.”

Dinner was almost absurdly normal, Payton thought, prompting Gia for the fifth time to please sit down and eat her dinner. Liv wasn’t as wriggly, but she needed direction, too.

“A couple more bites, Liv,” Payton encouraged. “You don’t want to wake up in the middle of the night with a hungry tummy.”

Marco chatted with the girls, mostly in English, although now and then he switched to Italian and appeared gratified that the girls understood him. When it came to speaking the language, Livia was more fluent than Gia but both girls could carry a simple conversation.

“How have they learned so much?” Marco asked Payton.

“They have an Italian friend. She’s been wonderful with the girls.” Payton didn’t bother to tell him that she’d taught the girls the first two years until she found an Italian professor at the university to come and work with them in the afternoons and every other weekend.

Dessert was just being served when the doorbell rang. One of the housemaids appeared and whispered something softly to Marco. Marco told the maid to invite the guest in.

Moments later a young woman in a black traveling coat appeared. With a smile she reached into her leather bag and triumphantly pulled out a pale blue blanket edged in an even paler satin ribbon.

Gia screamed. Liv jumped up in her chair as Gia went racing toward the blanket.

The guest handed the blue blanket over and Gia hugged it, pressing the fuzzy blanket to her cheek.

Payton glanced at Marco. He was leaning back in his chair, arms folded across his chest, watching Liv and Gia dance. Gia danced because she had her lovie back. Liv danced because her sister was happy.

Payton knew happiness was fleeting, but in this moment of time, everything made sense. “Thank you, Marco,” she whispered gratefully.

He’d heard her. He turned and looked at her and after a moment he smiled.