Page 138 of Enzo

My shoulders slump and I clasp my hands in my lap. Miss T still believes in me, and that's something.

That's all I have.

“Can I at least see the children?”

“I'm afraid not, Molly.”

“But they've only just returned.” I see their excited little faces in my mind’s eyes, and the way they'd all want to tell me what they'd gotten up to.

“I'm sorry, Molly. If this were solely my decision, we'd be having a very different conversation.”

“But ...” My voice turns into a whimper.

“What is it, Molly?” Miss T still wants to listen to what I have to say.

“I haven't done anything wrong. I never set out to deliberately hurt anyone.”

“I know, Molly. I know. I’m so sorry.”

Her kindness almost undoes me. My throat closes and I press my lips together, trying desperately to hold myself together. Because if Miss T is sorry, then this is real. I'm actually leaving.

My gaze drifts towards the hallway to my beloved classroom. Soon, my tiny little children will come through those doors, full of chatter and stories, expecting to see me.

But I won't be there.

They’ll have another teacher.

For how long?

The question hurts more than I expect it to. I wipe at the tears now rolling down my face.

I leave the school, get back in my car and drive out of the other entrance. A quick glance at the main entrance shows me that the number of people there has mushroomed.

With an aching heart, I drive back home.

Chapter 37

ENZO

I need to leave at some point, but I don’t want to.

Molly left for work this morning and I lay in her bed thinking of how I could get used to this life. A life with Molly in it. I lay there for the longest time, and I don’t do that. Usually I’m up and out of bed, dressed and ready for work. I’m in the office by eight most days, but today, I didn’t crawl out of bed until much later.

I glance at my phone as I make breakfast. Another thing I’ve stopped doing. Checking my phone so frequently.

My world was in here, with Molly. I’m not ready to tell my brothers about us yet. Not because I’m not sure about us. I’m sure. But because I want to hold onto our secret a little longer.

Rio would be irritatingly nosey. Dex would be the same, and together they’d annoy the heck out of me. I don’t even want to tell Matteo yet, even though he’d be cool about it. I want to keep this to ourselves for now.

My phone shows a few missed calls from Rio and Father, and a few texts and emails from Matteo.

For a moment it feels like Venice all over again. I go to click on one of the links, when Matteo calls.

I pick up instantly.

“Hey.” He sounds controlled. A little too controlled.

I stop pouring my coffee. “What?”