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“I’ll get some water,” she says before I can decline the offer.
She marches over to the counter and says something to Palla. Palla grabs a bottle of water, tosses me a wave and kisses Gina’s cheek.
I glance over at the table where I sat with Rocco.
Tears bubble inside of me, but I push them back down with a heavy swallow.
I promised myself this morning that I wouldn’t cry today, but I broke down five minutes after I got out of bed and looked over at Rocco’s apartment.
There was no movement or sign of him.
Gina sits back down in her chair and slides the bottle of water at me. “Palla will bring us some pastries when she has a minute.”
I haven’t eaten anything more than a few pieces of fruit in days.
“I’m not hungry.” I take a sip of the water. “How do you know Palla?”
I ask the question, so she’ll talk. It’s easier listening to other people tell their stories.
“Her husband Arlo is my cousin.”
“He’s your cousin?” I question back.
“I come here because I never have to pay for a cup of coffee.” She tosses her head back in laughter. “Don’t tell Rocco.”
She has nothing to worry about there. Rocco and I have nothing left to say to each other.
“Every single time I’ve met Rocco here for coffee, he pays for it.” She rolls her eyes. “Why pay for coffee when you own the place?”
I scratch the back of my head. “Rocco
owns this place?”
“With Arlo and Palla.” She runs her finger along the rim of the coffee mug in front of her. “This is Arlo’s dream. Rocco made it happen. It’s what he does.”
He’s a good man with a kind heart; a kind heart that will never belong to me.
I take a sip of the water to avoid having to reply to that. What can I say about Rocco that won’t leave me crying?
I love him. I want him to love me back.
That’s not the reality I’m living in.
“I asked you to meet me to thank you for what you did for my grandma.” She bites her bottom lip. “She showed me the purse a few days ago, Dexie. I can’t remember the last time I saw her that happy.”
A smile blooms on my lips. “Your grandma is a really special person.”
“So are you.” Her eyes skim my face. “You put a lot of thought and care into that bag. I don’t think anyone else would have done that.”
Maybe. Maybe not.
I had to because I knew that to Marti it was priceless.
My phone chimes in my purse luring Gina’s eyes to it. I open the baby blue satchel and tug out my phone. It’s a text from Shona. It’s nothing urgent, so I drop my phone back in and clasp it shut.
“Did you make that?” Gina circles her finger in front of the purse.
I nod. “I did.”
