Chapter 1
Matteo did not chase Veronica after she crashed into the beverage cart.
He did not look at Richard either.
His entire attention dropped to Lily.
The little girl stood inside his suit jacket with the broken decorative chain still hanging from one ankle.
Her fingers had gone white around her mother’s framed photograph.
Matteo crouched.
His voice lost every trace of the man who had just thrown Richard through a dessert table.
“Look at me, sweetheart.”
Lily raised her wet eyes.
Matteo’s hand stopped inches from her cheek before touching her gently.
“How long were you outside?”
Lily looked toward Veronica.
Her breathing immediately changed.
Short.
Uneven.
Matteo noticed.
Veronica noticed him noticing.
She straightened slowly beside the overturned flowers.
“She was throwing another tantrum.”
Matteo did not turn.
Lily whispered:
“Since lunch.”
The birthday party had begun after six.
Matteo’s hand tightened against his knee.
Richard tried to stand.
“Matteo, don't let a four-year-old turn this into—”
Matteo looked at him.
Nothing else was necessary.
Richard stopped talking.
Matteo opened Lily’s folded letter.
The handwriting was uneven, mostly large block letters with several words obviously helped by an adult at some earlier point.
DADDY I MISS YOU.
VERONICA SAYS YOU ARE BUSY.
I AM TRYING TO BE GOOD.
PLEASE COME TO MY ROOM.
Matteo’s breath stopped.
He looked at Lily.
“How many did you write?”
She lifted both hands and began counting fingers.
Then lost track.
“Lots.”
Matteo slowly turned toward Veronica.
Her arms had folded across herself now.
The confidence was still there.
But her right thumb kept rubbing the edge of her engagement ring.
Matteo saw it.
“Where are they?”
Veronica’s voice remained cool.
“She writes nonsense constantly.”
Matteo stood.
The movement was slow enough that every person behind the glass stopped breathing.
“That wasn't my question.”
Veronica met his eyes.
For three seconds she held them.
Then looked away.
Lily tugged Matteo’s sleeve.
He immediately looked down.
“There was another one.”
“What other one?”
Lily pressed her mother’s photograph against her chest.
Her lower lip trembled.
“Mommy’s.”
Matteo froze.
Lily carefully pulled at the cardboard backing of the frame.
A torn corner of yellowed paper appeared beneath it.
May you like
Veronica went completely pale.
The letters Matteo had never received were no longer the biggest secret on the terrace.
