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I read your letter today, you bastard!!!!

How dare you divorce me!

As soon as I get to heaven, I am going to kick your ass! I hope you know that!

And I fucking know you’re laughing right now as you look down.

God, I wish I could hear you laugh…

But I know what you meant.

Two whole years without you, Vita.

Sometimes I still feel like you’re here, on this earth. But then I need you and I can’t find you and… you’re not here anymore.

I think I know that now.

Still, I miss you.

Nora

CHAPTER 26

Eleonora

MAY

I sign my name across the title page and slide the book toward the woman standing in front of me.

“Thank you so much.”

“No, thank you.”

She hugs the book against her chest. “I can’t wait to try the lasagna.”

“Extra Parmesan,” I tell her.

“Always.”

“Then you’ll be fine.”

She laughs and moves away, and I smile at the next person in line.

“Next!” Chiara calls from beside me.

I slowly turn my head toward her. “They're not cattle.”

“There’s a line around the building, superstar. Keep signing.”

I flip her off beneath the table, but of course Mamma catches me.

“Nora!”

“She started it.”

“You’re almost twenty-eight years old!”

“And?”