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He’ll never get these, but I like to think he somehow does.

I look at my phone, pick it up, then put it away.

It’s Christmas Eve. We’re having Dami’s family over, and even Matteo flew in from Italy to see Chiara…

I sigh as I put on my shoes and make my way downstairs.

***

By midnight, Christmas Eve has been… a lot. Happy yet sad. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried, and now we’re exchanging gifts.

As I look around at the people I love, I can’t help but take my phone out and find Jude’s number.

Hey…

Delete.

Hello, Grumpy…

Delete.

Merry Christmas, Grumpy. I miss you.

Delete.

I sigh and put my phone away.

JANUARY

Vita!!!

They're going to publish my book!!! Can you believe it? They even asked for more books in the future, and they're going to translate it into five other languages!!!

I still have the letter you wrote me. I take it out, stare at it, then put it right back…

I've decided to read it on the second anniversary of your death… I want to spend that day with you.

Miss you, always.

Nora

FEBRUARY

Vita!

They did an entire article on me and my cookbook! Tirreno is now known all over, and people are trying out all of our recipes!!!

I did it! Just like you said I would!

I wish you could see it all. I really do!

Dami… do you think they’ll have my cookbook available in Lander too? Maybe I can send it to Lily or Lexy… but I don’t know…

I’m achieving it all! Yet… I sometimes still find myself staring into the void and… I don’t know. I guess I understand why you missed Lander so much when you moved here all those years ago…

That place really does steal your heart.

Love and miss you, always.