Chapter 9 - A New TraditionOne week later.
The rose garden had been completely redesigned. The old, tainted soil had been dug up and replaced with fresh earth, planted with brilliant white lilies and red roses that caught the summer breeze.
Alessandro sat on a stone bench near the fountain, reading a financial report.
Footsteps crunched on the gravel path.
He looked up to see little Emma running across the lawn, wearing her daisy dress and the pink butterfly clip in her hair. Behind her walked Serena, carrying a small plate with a freshly baked blueberry muffin.
Emma stopped right in front of Alessandro, placing her hands on her hips with a dramatic, serious expression.
“Mr. Moretti,” Emma announced. “Are you still sad today?”
Alessandro closed the report, set it aside, and reached out, scooping the little girl effortlessly up onto his lap.
“No, Emma,” Alessandro said, a genuine, warm smile finally breaking across his face as he looked out over the sunlit gardens. “I’m not sad anymore. In fact, I think it’s time we baked another cake.”
May you like
Emma clapped her hands together in delight. “Can I put pink frosting on it this time? Lots of it?”
“Only if you promise to let me blow out the imaginary candles,” Alessandro laughed, pulling her close.
