Page 12 of The Fall Affair

“Oh. Okay. Well, thank you, I guess.”

I nodded.

She went back to looking at the antique shop for a minute before walking around to the backseat of the car and pulling out a small carrier. A cat meowed from inside.

What the hell is this woman doing? Before I could ask, she set the carrier on top of the first suitcase and started to pull a second bag from the trunk. This one looked like it weighed more than she did, and its wheels weren’t going to roll over the dirt and gravel too easily, so I hopped over the mesh fence and went to help.

The trunk of the car had two more big suitcases inside. I lifted one out. “Are you moving in?”

“No, just visiting for a while.”

I pointed to the shop. “And you’re staying at Sophia’s?”

She sighed and looked at the door. “Yes.”

The way she answered rubbed me the wrong way. If she wasn’t thrilled about the accommodations from the outside, she certainly wasn’t going to like the damage on the inside. Yet when Miss Straw Hat went to pull the last suitcase out of the trunk, I held my hand up. “Please. Allow me.”

“Thank you, but I’m capable of lifting it.”

I grabbed the bag anyway. “I’m sure you are, but I still like to do it.” Once I set the bag on the ground, I wiped my hand on my jeans and offered it. “Matteo Lucchese.”

“Allegra Bianchi.”

Her skin was so soft. It took a few beats to realize what she’d just said. “Allegra? Sophia’s granddaughter?”

The woman nodded. “That’s right.”

I offered a small bow. “I am very sorry for your loss.”

“Thank you.” Allegra looked up at the antique shop again. “It feels strange to be here without her.”

“Her spirit is probably still around.” I paused. “Whenever I think of her, I imagine she is either busy making trouble in Heaven or flirting with St. Peter.”

“That sounds about right.” Allegra smiled, and my eyes lingered on her lips for an extra second or two. “Did you know my grandmother well?”

“I like to think so.”

“Do you live nearby?”

I pointed to the property next door, though you couldn’t see the house from where we were standing. “Vicini…I’m not sure of the word in Inglese.”

“Neighbors. At least I think that’s what you meant. My Italian is pretty rusty.”

I nodded. “Yes, neighbors.”

She crossed her arms. “Pretty big coincidence that you rescued me on the side of the road today, and now we’re neighbors, isn’t it?”

I shrugged. “I do not believe in coincidences.”

She tilted her head. “What do you believe in?”

“I think things usually happen for a reason.”

“What’s the reason we’ve met twice in a day?”

“I am not sure yet.”

“Well, let me know when you figure it out.” She grabbed the handle of one of her suitcases. “I’ll be over here, probably cleaning dust bunnies for a while.”