Did I hear him correctly?My brain crashes.There’s no way I heard that correctly.
Colette, the stunning goddess of a woman, is his sister.HIS SISTER!My cheeks flame hot with embarrassment, turning the color of Santa’s suit, giving away my foolishness.
Relief fills me.
I’m reaching my hand out to introduce myself when Luca announces, “I’ve got to go.I need air.”
He storms away.
I’m rushing to keep up with him, my small legs unable to match his pace.Outside the market, I whip my head to the left and the right before finding Luca sitting on a bench with his head in his hands, his dark hair falling forward.
I drop down next to him, putting my hand on his shoulder.He’s shaking, practically vibrating.
“Luca, are you alright?”I softly ask.
Luca slowly raises his head, tears filling his eyes.“My dad isn’t well.”
I gasp, covering my mouth.“Oh, Luca, I’m so sorry.”I immediately feel awful for distracting him this month.Although, this does explain a lot of his behavior.
“What does that have to do with what just happened with your sister?”
Luca takes a deep breath, exhaling through his nose.“When we met at the airport, I didn’t lie to you, Jemma.I needed to be on that flight.I was supposed to stay in New York another week, but I got a call from Colette.She told me she made the decision to move my father into a memory care facility.She was taking him out of his home, the one he built with my mother—the only home he’s known for decades.I was so angry.I booked the next flight to Paris, and that’s when I ran into you.”
I flash him a sympathetic nod, wanting him to continue.
“For years, Colette’s been talking about it as my dad’s condition progressed, but it wasn’t time—not yet.”The words get caught in his throat.
“Henri and I were against it from the beginning.We believed it would be better for him to stay at home as long as possible.I was even looking into hiring a full-time nurse to take care of him.But then Colette blindsided us.She waited until I was away for business.How could she do this?”He shakes his head.
“The worst part is that Colette doesn’t even live here, but she’s the one my dad left in charge of his healthcare.And then she moved to Italy with her husband and two children.So, I thought I could fight my dad’s decision, but it turns out that since he made it when he was in his right mind, there was nothing Henri and I could do about it.
“She hasn’t seen the good days; she only hears about the bad ones.I really thought we could reverse the damage with good doctors and memory games, but nothing worked.I knew this day would eventually come, but I didn’t expect it to be now and like this.
“Colette has been trying to talk to me, to get me to understand her side of things, but I’ve been avoiding her.I just don’t want to talk to her.She betrayed us—she betrayed my father.”
“I’m so sorry Luca.”I say softly.
He reaches for my hand.“It’s okay.It’s just going to take some time for everyone to adjust to our new normal.”
“I can’t imagine.I’m so sorry you’re going through this.”
A small smile percolates in the corner of his mouth, making his dimple pop.“I’m really glad you’re here with me this Christmas.”He gives my hand a quick squeeze.“You’ve been a bright light during a dark time.”
“You know you could have told me.”I tilt my head to rest on his shoulder.
“It’s your vacation.I didn’t want to burden you with my personal business.”
I sit up straight, turning my knees to meet his, my cheeks prematurely blushing.“I think that line is a bit blurry already, don’t you?”
“Cookie time.”He makes little air quotes, his blue eyes brightening.
A giggle bubbles up, and I respond, “Yes, that and the fact that I’ve met some of your family and shared stories about mine.You could have told me, Luca.I thought ...”
His eyebrows raise slightly.“What?”
My head drops into my hand.“I thought—this is so silly now—but I thought Colette was your girlfriend.”I raise my head to meet his gaze, unsure of what I’ll find.
His mouth twists upward.“Je suis perplexe.”
