Dante laid her down alongside Rose and got in beside them. ‘But now I will be there, too, to chase the bad dreams away,’ he said firmly and smiled at Rose as their child nodded contentedly and laid her curly head on his shoulder.
* * *
With the prospect of parting from Dante looming over her, Rose found it hard to smile for Bea on the flight home as her child chattered about seeing Gramma and Tom again. She felt uneasy and oddly tearful. Stupid, she lectured herself. Soon they would be married and could be together for the rest of their lives. A prospect she’d never imagined, ever. And in the meantime she would have enough to occupy her with her normal workload added to the wedding arrangements and finding a purchaser for her business.
‘You are sad, tesoro?’ said Dante quietly as the plane began its descent into Heathrow.
‘Yes,’ she said honestly and tried to smile.
He clasped her hand tightly. ‘I will miss you both so much,’ he said as Bea began to stir from her nap. ‘Wake up, piccola. We are almost there.’
Since Rose had texted her mother on the car journey from the airport, Grace and Tom were waiting at the front door of Willow House, arms outstretched as Bea ran to them, talking at the top of her voice.
‘Gramma,’ she cried as Grace snatched her close to kiss her, ‘Daddy’s mummy is Nonna, and his daddy is Nonno, and I got lots of cousins, and Daddy bought me a doll. Her name is Dolly.’ She turned to Tom, arms up. ‘Auntie Charlotte gave me a present for you, Tom.’ Beaming, she gave him two smacking kisses as he swung her up.
‘Thank you, Honey Bea,’ he said, returning the kisses with gusto as Rose hugged her mother. ‘How was Auntie Charlotte?’
‘She’s a lot fatter,’ Bea informed him as he put her down. She ran to Rose and picked up her left hand. ‘Look, Gramma—Daddy gave Mummy a present.’
Grace took a look at the ring and hugged Rose close again. ‘How absolutely lovely.’ She smiled warmly at Dante as he brought the luggage. ‘Welcome back.’
‘Thank you, signora.’ He kissed her hand and turned to Tom. ‘Charlotte is looking very well, sir.’
‘Good to know. Any hope of Fabio letting her fly over soon?’ said Tom wryly.
‘As a matter of fact, yes,’ said Rose, and exchanged a smiling glance with Dante. ‘Let’s go inside so we can tell you why.’
* * *
Bea was incensed the next day when she found Dante was leaving, and clung to him in tears when the taxi arrived.
‘Soon,’ Dante promised as he held his child in his arms, ‘we shall be together at the Villa Castiglione, but until then you must help Mummy and Gramma plan the wedding, yes?’
Bea’s tears dried a little as she looked at her mother. ‘Can I, Mummy?’
Rose nodded. ‘Of course, as soon as Daddy arranges the date for the party.’
Bea brightened. ‘With balloons?’
Dante laughed as he set her on her feet. ‘With balloons, yes! Now I must go, but first I will kiss your mamma goodbye.’ He held Rose close as he kissed her. ‘Do not work too hard, and take great care of yourself, carina.’
‘You, too,’ she said and smiled brightly.