“What?” Joy laughed. “No. It’s just a gift from Tony. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Very.” Dina stared up at her for a moment. “And?”
“Uh, so we’re going to see a couple of museums later today, so I have time to—I could help you clip some flowers or make arrangements. What I’m trying to say is that I can easily stay and help until later.”
Dina shook her head and returned to the ledger on the desk. “Not today. Tomorrow.”
“All right. Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow. Okay?”
“Bene,” Dina said. “And, Joy . . .”
“Yes?” Joy asked.
Dina opened her mouth to speak but hesitated.
Joy smiled. “Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.”
Dina bit her lower lip and nodded.
When Joy returned to the front of the shop, she smiled at Alessandro.
“How is Gianna?” she asked.
“Good.” He smiled an awkward smile, then unloaded boxes of flowers wrapped in paper into the cooler behind him.
“Good.” Joy looked at Vito, then back at Alessandro. “Glad everything is good.”
Silence.
“Grazie, once again, for inviting me to that event at the ristorante. I had a wonderful time.” She wrung her hands. “We’ll have to do it again soon.”
“Assolutamente,” Alessandro said with a smile as he handed a slip of paper to Vito. “Excellent.”
“Excellent.” Joy smiled.
It was more than obvious that Alessandro was hurt. The spark in his eyes had disappeared. But Joy couldn’t focus on that. She had to make it work with Tony.
For Jaime.
For herself.
Having a family was more important than anything.
“Can I speak to you for a moment?” she asked Alessandro.
He nodded.
Vito’s eyes widened, and he spun around and disappeared into the back room.
“What can I do for you, Joy?” Alessandro asked.
“Listen . . .” She searched for the words. “I know it must seem strange to see my ex-husband here.”
He shrugged.
“Believe me. No one was more surprised than I was.” She managed an awkward chuckle.
“Yes.” He waited for her to continue.
“But Tony is the father of my daughter.”
“I understand.”
“And, well . . . we were once a family before he—before the divorce.”
Alessandro’s eyes narrowed. “I know.”
“I like you, Alex. I really do. And I think I’ve made that more than clear. I sense you like me too.” She reached out and gently touched his forearm.
“I do. I enjoy being with you, Joy.” His kind smile matched his eyes.
“But you live here in Venice and, well, I live in New York.”
“Nothing is impossible.” He touched her hand resting on his arm. His touch sent a thrill over her body.
Oh how I wish that were true. Joy sighed.
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way, no?”
