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"I hope that's true."She blew out a breath."And I'm sorry.I didn't intend to say all that."
"You've been wanting to say it for a while.Frankly, I'm relieved you finally did.I'd rather have you yelling at me than freezing me out, like your grandfather used to do to me.The silence is always worse."Her mother paused."I know I hurt you, Isabella.I will make it up to you some day.I don't know how, but I hope the first step is by living a life that won't make you ashamed of me."
She didn't know what to say to that, and her own eyes grew suspiciously moist."We should get back to why we're here.Jasmine Pariso might be Tomas's secret letter recipient.How do we find her?"She looked at Nick, who had remained silent during the passionate exchange she'd just had with her mother."It will be the middle of the night in California.You probably can't reach your team.Should we call Stefano?"
"Wait," her mother said in confusion."You know Stefano?"
"We've met twice.He came by the house after the robbery to check on Grandma."
"That was considerate of him.Do you want me to call him?"
"No," Nick answered for her."I don't think we should involve Stefano.I'm going to wake up someone on my team.I'll make my call from the patio."
Silence followed his departure.She folded, then unfolded her hands, then said, "I like the way you've decorated.It feels like how we used to live."
"It feels more like me," her mother agreed."How are you, Isabella?How is your job?Your move to LA?Do you like it there?"
"The job is good.The weather is warmer."
"And Nick—is he your boyfriend?"
"No," she said quickly."He's just…" She couldn't think of the right word.
Her mother gave her a knowing smile.
"Don't do that," she warned."Don't start thinking there's anything happening with Nick.I'm not interested in a relationship.I have a career and a life."Although, she had to admit, her life had gotten better with Nick in it.However, that seemed like an ironic statement, considering they'd almost died together yesterday.
"You don't want to be like me, and I understand that.I didn’t want to be like my mother, either.But I turned out to be more like her than I thought, afraid to be myself, to live my own life.I did care for Gary, foolishly, I know.I thought he loved me and you.I believed you deserved a father figure and a family.That's what attracted me to him."
"Gary didn't care about me, Mom.He just tolerated me.He had a hidden agenda the whole time he was with us."
"I can see that now; I didn't see it at the time.I haven't done well when it comes to choosing men.I get taken in by charm and flattery or their need for me.My therapist told me I've probably spent most of my adult life desperate to have a man's love because I didn't get that from my father."
"You have a therapist?"she asked in surprise.
"I started talking to someone a few years ago after my last bad decision.I sometimes wonder if you have chosen not to have a relationship because you don't know what a good relationship looks like."
"Maybe there's no such thing."
"There is such a thing, and I want you to find it.Break the cycle of Rossi women who choose the wrong men.I think you're the one to do it."
"I doubt that," she said as Nick returned.
"We finally got lucky," he said, a gleam of excitement in his eyes."Jasmine Pariso is alive and lives in Cortona, about an hour and a half from here."
"Seriously?"
"She's ninety-two years old and lives with her granddaughter's family."
She jumped to her feet."We'll have to take the train or rent a car."
"You can take my car," her mother offered as she stood up.
"We might not get it back right away."
"I don't need it."
She hesitated, not really wanting to owe her mother anything.
