She’d been so dazzled and hopeful when they got married. He’d swept her off her feet, shown her only the best side of him—until after they were married. “You’re lucky to have someone like Ben—he’s so thoughtful. I can’t believe he didn’t have a problem with you coming to Italy for a whole month!”
Sloane started to say something, then stopped.
“What is it?” Charlotte asked.
“Nothing. I’m glad he was okay with it, too,” she said and gave her brother a hug. “What’s up withyou?” she asked him. “How is it that the highly in demand, internationally acclaimed photographer is actually taking a month off to hang with his lowly sister and her best friend?”
“I guess I finally have my priorities straight,” he said with a flash of his perfect white teeth.
“Those braces you had in high school really served you well,” Charlotte said, noticing how captivating his smile had become.
He laughed. “I didn’t have much to recommend me back then.”
“You’ve always had those eyes,” she blurted before she could stop herself—and immediately wished she could snatch the words back. She didn’t generally compliment him like that, so when he looked at her in surprise, she felt her face heat.
“I’m flattered,” he said with a wry grin.
Sloane didn’t seem to pick up on how awkward the moment had become. Fortunately, she brushed right over it. “Maybe he’ll find a beautiful Italian woman and fall in love while we’re here,” she said.
“Maybe,” Charlotte mumbled and pretended to be preoccupied with gathering up her belongings. She had a hold on her luggage when Julian insisted she trade her big suitcase for his. Hers had a wonky wheel that made it hard to pull, which shouldn’t have been the situation considering how much that case had cost. With all the miles his had logged, it looked like it’d been to hell and back, and yet it worked perfectly.
“Where’s the locker you texted us about?” he asked.
Sloane gestured for them to follow her. “This way.”
“You’re not going to respond to my Italian-woman comment?” his sister teased as they started off.
He shot her a sideways glance. “The only thing I’m looking for is food. Let’s get out of here.”
“Are you nervous?” Sloane asked.
“To meet my half sister? A little,” Charlotte responded while they shared a pizza that was every bit as good as it had been billed. They’d ordered thediavola, similar to pepperoni but made with spicy salami, which gave it even more flavor.
“She must be nervous, too,” Julian pointed out as he took a sip of the cabernet sauvignon they’d ordered to go with their first Italian meal.
Charlotte hadn’t told them about Heidelman’s warning—that Lilly could be difficult. She could see why he’d feel the need to prepare her, and yet she almost wished he hadn’t said anything. She needed to approach the situation with an open mind. Otherwise, she was afraid she’d allow herself to use that as an excuse to head home without her sister, when she was really just terrified of the responsibility. “How can shenotbe nervous? I can’t imagine being twelve years old and losing my only caregiver.”
“I wonder if she knew you existed before Sabrina died, or if having a sibling came as a surprise to her, too,” Sloane said.
Charlotte swirled what little wine she had left in her glass as she considered the question. “I don’t know. Heidelman didn’t share a lot of information. Mostly just the logistics on how to reach Luca Versetti, so we can meet.”
“Can Heidelman tell us where her father might be?” Julian asked.
“No one even knows who he is,” Charlotte said.
“Maybe we should hire a private investigator,” Sloane suggested. “If we can find him, he might want to be part of her life.”
Charlotte didn’t believe the chances of locating him were very high. “Heidelman used a private investigator to findme,” she told them. “He must’ve tried to find Lilly’s father, too. Maybe there wasn’t enough to go on. Or he’s in prison.”
“Or dead,” Sloane said. “Where was Sabrina living before she came to Italy?”
Julian had asked many of the same questions on the plane. Problem was, Charlotte had no answers. “I’d love to know all this, but I have very little information.”
Sloane leaned back as the waitress came to take away the empty plates and ask if they’d like anything else. Sloane immediately said no, but Charlotte had spotted tiramisu on the menu. She ordered some for dessert and so did Julian.
“Whoa, you don’t generally like sweets,” Sloane said to her brother. “What happened to being a health nut?”
He shrugged as the waitress left. “Might as well eat, drink and be merry...”
