Her granddaughter’s 1^st birthday was the perfect reason to return to Verona. She wasn’t sure about being here in the cold winter months, for she so loved Verona during the summer. But she couldn’t miss out on Elisabetta’s party. Ava and Nico wouldn’t forgive her.

“Mom!” Rona called out. Elsa turned around to find her older daughter holding her daughter’s hand. Tori didn’t look the slightest bit happy. “Mom, can you take Tori?” Rona pulled her two year old daughter along by the hand.

“Hey, honey?” said Elsa, bending over slightly. “Why does my little Tori not look happy?” She reached out for the girl’s hand.

“Temper tantrum,” whined Rona. “She’s having another temper tantrum.” Elsa smiled. “You had plenty of those in your time.” She turned back to Tori. “Shall we go to the chocolate fountain?” The little girl nodded, with her finger in her mouth. “Let’s not put that in there, shall we?” Elsa gently pried the chubby little finger out.

“What’s happened now?” she asked Rona.

“She’s jealous.” Rona’s eyes darted to the side where Elisabetta sat on a red velvet chair watching, along with the other children, the entertainer who was conjuring up magic tricks.

“It’s Elisabetta’s birthday, honey.” Elsa picked up the tiny little girl in her arms and gave her a hug. “Do you remember when it was your birthday and you had all those presents?” The little girl nodded. “Well, today it’s Elisabetta’s big day.”

The little girl made a face.

“You have to be nice, Tori.”

Rona rubbed her stomach. “I sure hope she snaps out of this by the time number two comes along.”

“She will,” Elsa told her. “You did.” With only a year’s gap between her two daughters, Elsa had felt the craziness of the early years. It had been exacerbated by having two children under the age of 18 months.

But her girls had grown up so fast. Now, not only was Ava expecting her second child in May, but Rona had also announced that she was expecting another child in June.

Elsa smiled. It was a bittersweet smile. Her family was expanding. The grandchildren had arrived within a short space of time. Her girls were busy now in their own lives, and these days she felt lonely because they didn’t need her as much. Come to think of it, they hadn’t needed her much for years, and increasingly it felt to her as if she watched the years pass by while watching from the sidelines.

The life that had been theirs, hers and Viktor’s, built around the girls, had vanished with him. She had forsaken having things for herself—in order that they might experience life as fully as possible, in order that they might not suffer for the loss they had experienced at such a young age. Her wonderful neighbors, Bert and Edie, and her parents, and her brother and his wife, and Vernon, and so many more people had rallied around to help her.

“Why aren’t you watching the show, Tori?” Ava asked, suddenly appearing in their midst.

“She’s jealous because she’s not the center of attention,” whispered Rona.

“Awww, come here,” cooed Ava, and reached for Tori’s other hand.

“I was going to take her to the chocolate fountain,” Elsa said.

“We’ve got an entertainer,” said Ava. Then to Tori, “He can make you anything you want.”

Tori’s eyes grew bigger. “Want ball.” She said, her lips pouty, not unlike her mother’s.

“A ball?”

Tori nodded.

“Come on, let’s go and see if he can make you a ball.”

“I’ll take her,” said Rona. “Nico’s calling you over.” She pointed in the direction of the marquee entrance. Rona led Tori away.

“Who’s that with Lizzi?” Elsa asked. She felt safer, asking about the young girl, Lizzi, than she did about asking who Salvatore was with.

Ava looked over. “You mean with Salvatore?”

Elsa’s cheeks tinged with heat at the mention of his name. “Yes, with Salvatore. I’ve never seen her before.” Who on earth was she?

“I have no idea, Mom. I’m being summoned by Nico.” And she disappeared, leaving Elsa to make eyes at the woman who stood beside Salvatore.

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