Extended Epilogue
Elena
I watch my triplets chase Angelica around the Christmas tree, their laughter filling the air with the joy that comes from the innocence of childhood.
Rocco leads the charge, always the bold one, while Elio follows. Adalina hangs back slightly, her eyes sparkling with mischief as she plans her own route to catch Roman's daughter.
I remember chasing Gabriella and Luca around the tree when we were kids.
"They're getting so big," Isabella says, appearing beside me with baby Leo balanced on her hip.
I nod. "Seems like yesterday they were just learning to walk. Now they’re in kindergarten.”
“Roman says the same about Angelica. Just yesterday, he cradled her in his arms, and now she’s ten.”
“Life charges on,” I say, glancing to see where Luca is. I've managed to position myself strategically all evening, using the children as both shield and excuse to avoid direct contact.
Leo starts to fuss. “I should feed him.” Isabella leaves for a private spot to nurse him.
"Mama! Look what Angelica showed us!" Adalina calls, holding up a glass ornament that catches the light.
I rush over. "Be careful with that, sweetheart. It's delicate." As I kneel beside my daughter, I feel his presence before I see him.
The hairs on my neck rise, and my body remembers what my mind tries desperately to forget.
“The kids are bigger each year.” Luca's deep voice comes from behind me.
“Yes, well it’s been a year.” I know I sound snarky, but I can’t help it. It’s the only way to keep him at a distance.
I turn, doing all I can to avoid eye contact. "If you'll excuse me, I need to check on something…" I slip away, past the dining room where Dominic chats with Leo, past Roman who gives me a curious look, and into the quiet sanctuary of Antonio's family room.
But then he’s there again.
He enters the room, his sharp gaze on me, assessing.
“Are you stalking me?” I demand.
Why is he doing this?
He’s successfully gotten the hint that I don’t want to talk to him over the last five years, so why is he seeking me out?
“Why do you treat me like I have cooties every fucking year?”
I force myself to meet his gaze. He stands blocking the doorway, arms crossed over his chest.
"I don’t," I lie.
"Bullshit." He steps closer. The frustration in his voice is palpable, but there's something else there.
Confusion, or hurt, maybe.
Guilt burns in my gut, but I can’t give in to it.
For six years, from the time I discovered I was pregnant until now, I’ve had no choice but to keep him away.
"What do you want me to say, Luca?"
He gives me a small laugh. “Maybe tell me why you act like I’m the one who fucked things up when it was you.”
I summon anger to keep up the charade. “Gee, was it that you put my father in prison… where he died?”
“I did not—”
“Or maybe how you went to Italy and didn’t look back? Take your pick.”
His jaw is tight. "I went to Italy for family business. You knew I was coming back."
“No, I didn’t.”
He shrugs. “Why do you care? It’s not like you didn’t move on. Your kids are proof of that.”
I want to slap his face for what he’s suggesting, but to do so might reveal the truth. So I don’t say or do anything.
“What? You have no answer?” He shakes his head. “Don’t act like I’m the bad guy when you’re the one who moved on within weeks of my leaving.”
“You put my father in prison—”
“No. I didn’t. In fact, I tried to… You know what? Never mind. You only believe what you want.”
The tragedy is that I know he didn’t.
At least I do now.
But to protect my children, to protect him, I pretend that I still blame him for my father’s incarceration and death in prison.
"It doesn't matter now," I say. "We've all moved on."
As I brush past him toward the door, his hand catches my wrist, gentle but firm. "Have you?”
I pull my wrist from his grasp to break the yearning that surges through me. "Yes.”
"I planned to come back for you," Luca says quietly, almost like he doesn’t want me to hear it. "I had everything arranged. But then I heard you were expecting. Never heard about the wedding or lucky guy but… well, why come back to that?”
I blink, momentarily thrown off balance. "What?"
"I’m not to blame, so stop acting like I am, unless it’s your guilt that has you treating me like shit every Christmas.”
He was coming back to the U.S. For me?
I shake my head because it wouldn’t have mattered.
In fact, it would have made things more difficult.
Or perhaps led to his death.
Maybe even my children’s deaths.
"It doesn't change anything.” I can’t endure this discussion, being alone with him.
One would think after all this time, the feelings would have waned, but they haven’t.
Luca is the only man I’ve ever loved.
The only man I’ll ever love. "I need to check on my kids.”
"Elena—" Luca reaches for me again, but I step back.
"Our time together is in the past, Luca. It should stay there. We're different people now."
His eyes narrow slightly, studying me with that penetrating gaze that always made me feel transparent.
There was a time I liked it, liked that he could see me, knew me, loved me.
"What matters is that we've both moved on,” I finish. “You’ll be back in Italy and I’ll be here, and we’ll keep on with our lives.”
“Actually, I'm not just back for Christmas. I'm back for good.”
The room tilts slightly. "What?"
"My father needs me here now. His condition…" Luca shakes his head. "It's time I stepped up."
My mind races through the implications.
Luca, here permanently. Luca, attending family gatherings. Luca, inevitably spending time with the triplets.
"I see," I manage, though all see are complications, the carefully constructed life I've built threatening to collapse around me.
"This changes things," he says softly.
You have no idea, I think. "It changes nothing.”
Luca studies me for a long moment, his dark eyes searching mine for something I can't afford to let him find.
"I guess I'll see you around," he finally says, his tone casual, his eyes anything but. He turns and walks out.
I stand paralyzed, wondering how long I have before everything falls apart.
I've built our lives so carefully, created a family unit with Dominic as my children’s protective uncle, crafted vague stories about their father that satisfy curious questions without revealing too much.
I've made peace with my choice, knowing it protected everyone involved, including Luca.
But now Luca is back.
Not just visiting, but staying.
Taking his place in the family business.
It's only a matter of time before my world falls apart.
Before Luca discovers the kids he thinks belong to another man are actually his.
Before that knowledge could get us all killed.
To be continued.