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“I...” I look down at my coffee. “I'm sorry.”

Jude shakes his head. “You don't owe me an apology.”

Silence settles between us.

I study him for a moment. Most people rush to fill silence, but Jude seems perfectly content to just let it exist.

“If you need anything.” He nods toward his own house.

I nod and look at his house through my kitchen window. “Thanks. For the groceries too...” I shake my head. “You didn't have to.”

“No problem.”

He walks to the door and reaches for the knob, but stops before opening it.

“Nora?”

“Yeah?”

A smirk tugs at his lips.

“Welcome to Lander.”

I smile.

CHAPTER 9

Eleonora

Three days have gone by since I was forced to move to Lander. I've cleaned the entire house, bought some groceries with the little money my parents sent me, and Jude has brought over fresh tomatoes and other vegetables from his garden.

I haven't cooked in... well, since Damiano died.

I stare at the vegetables spread across the counter. I could make one of Nonna's recipes, or maybe Damiano's famous tomato sauce...

Nope.

Not gonna go there.

I look down at my hands, but something inside me feels... blocked. I know what to do with all of this. My hands know what to do. I've done it a thousand times.

I just can't.

Cooking was our thing, and I still don't know what it is without him.

I sigh.

Salad it is for today.

I know I'll have to start cooking again eventually, but not now.

Not today.

I found a box of old DVDs in the attic earlier, so I make my way over to the couch with my salad and dig through them until I find an old Italian movie I haven't watched in years.

I eat about half the salad before giving up and setting the bowl on the coffee table. The movie is one I used to love, but no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to keep my mind on it. My eyes keep drifting shut, my head growing heavier against the couch.

Maybe I'll just close them for a few minutes.