One quick kiss before he made his way over to their graves.
He knelt at Marco’s grave, brushed away some errant leaves, and laid his hand on the stone marker. “Hello, son. It’s almost Christmas. You had so much energy on Christmas eve. Mommy and I could not get you to sleep. Every two hours, you’d wake up, tell us it was time to open presents.” He smiled at the memories. “I know you’re in a better place, surrounded by a love that we can’t understand. Doesn’t take away from how much I love you and will always love you. Marco, you are my firstborn, my beloved son, and you always will be.”
He ran his fingers over Marco’s name, the familiar pang of loss finding its way into his heart.
After a few seconds, he moved to his daughter’s gravesite. “Caterina, my angel, your days must be filled with singing and rejoicing as you praise the Lord. Your time here was too short, but I will keep you alive in my heart for the rest of my life. You were such a happy baby. Hearing you laugh brought me so much joy. Being your daddy gave my life purpose. I wanted to protect you and keep you safe.”
Emotion gripped his throat, but he pushed on. “I will love you always. One day, we’ll be together again. That will be a happy day filled with your laughter. Daddy loves you so much, honey.” He laid his hand on the stone.
“Heavenly Father, I failed my family. I did not protect them like I vowed to you I would. Evil stepped in and stole them fromme, but I know you’ve made them whole again, and keep them safe in your loving arms. Amen.” He made the sign of the cross, kissed his fingers, and pressed his hand to each of his children’s gravestones.
Then, he moved on to Linda’s, and pain slashed his heart. She had been his first and only love. And he believed that his punishment on earth would be to walk the rest of his life alone.
But he had found love again, and he dared to take that next step.
“Linda, my love, I think about you and our babies every day. You know the truth about what happened… and now I do too. I’m sorry it wasn’t me who was taken, and I hope you’ve forgiven me for what happened. If I could do one day over, it would be that day. I would gladly give up my life for yours and the children’s.”
He ran his fingers over her name—Linda Anne Santini—on the black slab of granite. After several quiet seconds, he said, “I found someone to love. She’s someone you’d like. She is not your replacement. You are my first and should have been my only. She is my chance to step out of the darkness and live a life filled with love. I hope you would have wanted that for me. She wants to speak to you, maybe to Marco and Caterina too. I will always love you, my sweet, sweet Linda.”
With a heavy heart, he rose and returned to the SUV.
“Can I bring you over?” he asked.
Simone exited the vehicle, buttoned her cashmere coat. “I was thinking I’d go over alone, if you’re okay with that.”
He kissed her cheek, then the other, and he let her go.
SIMONE
Simone stood backseveral feet and eyed the three gravestones. Her heart broke as she read their names and each of the engravings.
She walked over to Luciano’s wife’s grave and knelt down. “Hello, Mrs. Santini. I’m Simone. I wanted to pay my respects to you and tell you that I’ve fallen in love with Luciano. I’m not going to take your place. No one could ever do that. I promise that I will help keep the memory of you and your children alive in Luciano’s heart for as long as we’re together.”
She paused.
“I love him and want to help him have a happy life.”
A gust of wind blew past her, swirling the leaves away from the graves.
Simone moved her hair away from her face before moving to the children’s graves. She bowed her head and stayed silent for a long moment.
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
She rose and walked back to the car. As she got closer, he emerged. She went to him and he pulled her into his arms.
“Thank you,” he murmured. “That meant a lot to me.”
“I’m sorry for your loss. I want us to find our own happiness while still remembering and honoring our pasts.”
He opened her door for her, waited while she slipped inside. Then, he leaned in and kissed her softly, before shutting her door and getting behind the wheel.
They pulled into Carole Jean’s at one o’clock. Jericho and Liv had suggested they all spend the holiday celebrating before spending it with their families.
Inside the restaurant, they were escorted to the Copper room, the private dining room in the back. An oversized gas fireplace threw dancing shadow-flames on the shiny black hearth while copper-tiled walls reflected the warm, amber glow. Soft lighting, multiple tea candles, and bouquets of short-stemmed roses added charm to the Michelin-starred eatery. The tables had been arranged in a large square so everyone felt like they were seated together.
Simone’s heart overflowed with love as her gaze fell over her coworkers and friends. Carrera and Slash were talking with Cooper and Danielle. Nearby Sin, Dakota, and Jericho were speaking in hushed tones while their wives—Evangeline, Providence, and Liv—chatted nearby.
Prescott and Jaqueline, Hawk and Addison, and Rebel and Brit were toasting their champagne flutes, their joyous laughter making her smile.
