Page 29 of Rome for the Holidays
Someone knocked on the office door, and Vincenzo got to his feet, “Come.”
Elena opened the door, “I can help.”
“With what?”
Elena rolled her eyes, “With your girl. I know you kept sending her letters, even though father told you not to.”
Vincenzo went stiff, “How?”
Elena lifted an eyebrow, “You aren’t subtle. You always go to Gio’s house and come back with a smile on your face. You are different after hearing from her. Like you are free.”
Vincenzo looked down at the letters in his hand, “I am free when I hear from her. I get to be just Vin.”
Elena’s face softened, “I know. It’s why I never said anything to father after. It was not my place, and I’m sorry I said something about it in the first place. I did not know how important she was to you.”
“She is everything.”
“Then let me help you get her back.”
Vin shook his head, “How?”
She explained how they would have Harper ‘win’ a trip to Italy. It would look real, because she would have flights in her name, hotels booked, and excursions paid for.
Though she would do none of them because the minute the plane touched down, she was his.
He could only pray she forgave him.
FOUR
HARPER
TWENTY YEARS OLD.
Harper still foundit hard to get out of bed and be happy with life after sending the last letter to Vincenzo.
She knew he had moved on; it was why he stopped talking to her after the last letter.
He finally wanted to hear her voice and while she was nervous her stutter would come out; it wasn’t as noticeable now that she and Jackie had worked on it for months.
She had blossomed while living with Jackie, Joey, and the kids.
They loved her unconditionally from the moment she came to their home, and though at first, she didn’t know what to expect, the family quickly showed her that they didn’t want anything more from her than what she was willing to give.
She appreciated that more than she could even say.
Jackie and Joey encouraged her to keep writing to Vin, and Jackie would sit with her asking all sorts of questions about him.
Harper loved it. She felt like she had someone besides Rose and Vin.
Rose was thrilled she wasn’t living with her mom, still having her re-stock the shelves, and making sure she had snacks.
Sometimes Harper would bring Jenna with her. Jenna loved the library and would happily sit and read for hours.
It made her happy to have Jenna there.
Jenna loved Rose, and Rose would pick out books for Jenna to read while Harper put away some.
Ryker came a few times but got bored easily, so he didn’t often volunteer to go with her.
