Page 179 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

CHAPTER FIVE

DANTEWASN’TCLOSEto anyone—though he did make an effort for Gio.

‘Hey...’ He gave him a kiss. ‘Is there anything you want me to discuss with Christo at the winery?’

‘No, just make sure he is happy...ask if there’s anything he needs.’

‘Of course. I spoke to him last week.’

‘Face to face is better, Dante.’

‘I know.’ He took a breath. ‘So, you want to get these cleaned?’ He took a seat and picked up one of the bracelets. ‘This was Nonna’s, yes?’

‘No.’ Gio shook his head. ‘That was my grandmother’s.’ He looked at the sapphires, then paused as Dante picked up a string of pearls. ‘They were your mother’s.’

‘Yes.’ Dante nodded, assailed by memories of her and his papa about to head out. He put them back down, instead lifted a heavy emerald choker. ‘This was Nonna’s?’

‘There’s a stone loose,’ Gio said. ‘I should have had it looked at ages ago. She liked them to be cleaned at least every year.’

‘We’ll sort it.’

‘When?’

‘I can call the jeweller...’ He paused, thought of his hectic week, but decided, for Gio, he would take some time off. ‘I could see if we can go in tomorrow.’

‘Tomorrow?’ Gio sounded a little panicked. ‘We’ll do this tomorrow?’

‘If you want.’ Dante nodded, and was reaching for some rather awful earrings when his grandfather finally stated his truth.

‘Mimi is not my housekeeper.’

‘Okay...’ Dante said, picking up the awful earrings.

‘She never was my housekeeper.’

‘Mimi makes you happy?’

‘So happy,’ Gio said. ‘And I make her happy too. After her Eric died she cried for two years, and I understand that. When I lost yournonnaI thought my life was over, and then the accident... I never thought I would be truly happy again. But when Mimi sings...’ He wiped his eyes. ‘Sometimes she looks at me and sings and my heart soars again.’

‘If you make each other so happy, why isn’t she here?’

‘Mimi wants to make things official.’

‘I see.’

‘And I have to sort all these first,’ Gio said. ‘Take care of the past that I’ve been neglecting. I don’t want to be sad and lonely. I want to hold Mimi’s hand on my morning walk.’

‘Then do it,’ Dante said, and gave Gio a hug. ‘Make it official.’

Gio mopped his eyes. ‘It’s time to be happy, Dante. To move on from the past.’

‘Yes.’

‘Not just me.’

‘Gio, I have moved on. Don’t worry about me.’ Dante was practical. ‘We’ll get the jewels sorted. I’ll come with you.’

‘I was going to use this central stone for her ring.’ Gio picked up a ruby bracelet. ‘The stone is so beautiful...and rubies are very romantic.’