“Excuse me? I don’t speak Italian.” Joy shrugged. “I’m sorry.”

“He is thanking you for helping save their shop and their family tonight.” A man’s voice startled Joy.

An Italian man approached wearing work clothes with the Venezia Florists logo on a shirt that fit snugly on his muscular torso. Handsome, with strong Roman features and kind eyes, he grinned at Joy.

“Oh, thank you for interpreting,” Joy replied to him, then faced Vito and smiled. “Prego.”

“Very good.” Vito grinned, then waved the man over. “Alessandro.”

“Ciao,” he said as he held out his hand for Joy to shake.

Because he was about her height, Joy easily gazed into his light brown eyes as she shook his hand, calloused from hard work. Quite the difference from Tony’s manicured hands. She liked that.

Alessandro’s dark hair, peppered with gray, framed his face. Tiny wrinkles appeared around his eyes when he smiled, which was often.

“Nice to meet you. I am Joy. I’m visiting from America and noticed they needed some help tonight.” She motioned toward the reception.

“You are very kind to help my friends.” He placed his hand over his heart and bowed. He spoke in Italian to Dina and Vito, then gestured toward the shop. “Pardon. I am only letting them know I have finished my deliveries and will take the cart back to the shop if they are ready.”

“I see.” Joy took a step back, feeling like she was interfering with business.

“No. Come, we eat.” Dina gently took Joy’s arm and led her to a table.

“We can’t sit here.” Joy’s eyes widened. “This is a reception for the bride and groom.”

“Nonsense.” Dina crinkled her nose. “We are all invited. Come. Sit.”

“We eat.” Vito waved over one of the caterers and ordered something in Italian. The young man nodded, then hurried off.

“He ordered a bottle of wine for us.” Alessandro chuckled and exhaled. “It has been a busy day.”

“I can only imagine.” Joy raised her eyebrows.

The music grew louder as more and more guests arrived. As they ate and drank, Joy studied the people chatting and laughing together.

Pure happiness.

After an hour, the disc jockey announced in Italian that the bride and groom had arrived by boat.

Everyone stood and craned their necks as they approached, holding hands and waving to their friends and family.

Joy couldn’t help but think of Jaime’s wedding and reception. She clapped along with everyone as the bride and groom entered through the archway. The bride’s white gown flowed in the breeze. Tears formed in Joy’s eyes when the groom kissed the bride’s hand.

How romantic.

Soon guests finished eating and danced to pop music. Lights flashed and music pounded, and Joy’s head ached. She yawned.

“Tired?” Alessandro asked.

She nodded. “I think I need to excuse myself.” She scooted her chair away. “But thank you . . . mille grazie for the wine and the food and the fun tonight.”

Vito stood and nodded.

“See you in the morning?” Dina asked and raised her glass.

“Yes. I will meet you at the shop.” Joy gathered her purse. “Good night . . . um, bella note?”

Dina and Vito laughed and sipped more wine.

“Come. I will walk you to your hotel.” Alessandro stood and gently touched the middle of Joy’s back.

“How do you like Venice so far?” he asked.

“It is amazing. Like a dream.” Joy pointed above. “I love all the various windows and buildings. But you know what intrigues me the most? The lack of cars.”

Alessandro chuckled.

“I’m so impressed how everyone walks or takes a boat wherever they need to go. I’m just glad I brought comfortable shoes, you know?”

Alessandro smiled as she talked.

“Dina and Vito are so kind,” Joy said as they walked across a bridge.

“Yes, they are.”

“Have you known them long?” She turned to face Alessandro.

He nodded. “Oh, yes. Many years.”

Wondering if they knew each other from school or through family, Joy thought up more questions to ask.

“They introduced me to my wife a long time ago.” He grinned as if remembering.

“Oh. I see.” Joy’s shoulders slumped slightly. “So you’re married. What’s your wife’s name?”

He walked a bit in silence with hands in his pockets. “I am a widower. My wife died several years ago.”

Joy swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t know.” She cringed.

“How could you know?” He shook his head and gently touched her arm. “It is all right.”

They continued on down a narrow street. Many couples passed them, arm in arm, laughing.

“Her name was Anna,” he said in a quiet voice.

“What a lovely name.”