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“I’ve got a free arm, I can grab them,” her mother said and started to reach for the vase, but Francesca stopped her.
“No, leave them.”
Her mother turned to her in surprise. “You don’t want them?”
“Not now.”
Her mother peered more closely at her. “You’re not making sense, honey. It’s not like you can get them later. They’ll be dead and gone.”
Maybe the flowers would be dead and gone, but Adriana would be living her own life, taking care of her family, just as she should be. And, for the time being, Francesca needed to know Adriana was giving her the chance to love Jonah without thinking about their friendship. This alone proved she was the type of friend Francesca had always thought. “What they represent won’t be gone.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that love is enough—when the time is right,” she added with a smile.
Her mother probably would’ve asked her to elaborate, except that her father wheeled himself into the room. “Hey, how’s my girl?”
Francesca hobbled over to give him a hug. “Fine, Dad. We were just on our way.”
“Jonah’s got the car downstairs by the lobby doors.”
Jonah had been by her side night and day since she was injured and yet she couldn’t wait to see him. “I’m coming.”
Her father let her go out ahead of him, but then caught her wrist. “About Jonah…you sure you want to risk your heart again?” he asked softly. “I’m positive.”
He chuckled. “Well, if he can make you smile like that, I’ll have to trust you, won’t I?”
She bent to let him rub his knuckles against her cheek. “Thanks.”
His thick, callused fingers curled through hers. “Francesca?”
“What?”
“I’m proud of you,” he said.
* * * * *
