Lessons Learned, Healing Hearts

Addressing the Elephant (Chapter 45)

Leaving with the boys, the conversation and laughter continued in the car. Familiar with downtown Vancouver and knowing they would reach her hotel first, a sense of sadness began to sit in Marlow's heart. The night was ending, and she still had not accomplished what she set out to do. If she didn't take matters into her own hands, time would continue to be a cruel master. Under the disguise of checking up on her kids, she sent Piero a message.

"Would you be willing to go for a walk?"

"Everything good?" Gianluca asked.

"Uh," Marlow stalled, needing to give Piero time to answer. "I haven't gotten a response back yet." Getting a ding, Marlow smiled and said, "It's all good."

Setting her phone back in her pocket, glancing out the side window, all she had to do now was figure out how to get Piero alone.

"Do you know what I want to do before we have to say goodbye?" Piero spoke up. All eyes looked at him. "Let's you and I go back to the pier where we had our first race and revisit it. Would you be up to doing that?"

It took a moment for Piero's words to register in her brain. Finally, she smiled and said, "Sure. But I don't want to recreate the race. I didn't bring my runners."

Holding his foot up, Piero said, "Neither did I."

Laughing at himself, he caught both his bandmates smirking at him.

"Here you go," the driver said, pulling up to the curb.

Quickly exiting the van, Piero raced around the back of the vehicle and opened Marlow's door.

"Marlow, be sure to keep in touch," Ignazio said, moving from the very back seat to the middle.

"I will. I promise I will." Glancing over at Piero and then back at the passengers in the car, Marlow chuckled and added, "I have both your phone numbers now, so just never change them."

***

Though it was a lovely night for a walk along the harbour, for the first time all night, there was an unspoken uneasiness in the air. Talking about superficial topics, Piero asked most of the questions. Sharing with him that she had indeed purchased the house that he had visited, it was made even more like home by the addition of Everett and Amelia.

"I think those two are very lucky to have you as their Mama. You know, I thought for certain I would be a father by now," Piero said, a touch of disappointment evident in his tone. "It turns out my ex..."

"Your ex?" Marlow said, unintentionally cutting Piero off.

"Yes, my divorce became final a few months ago."

"I'm so sorry to hear that."

"Don't be. We stuck it out until we both agreed it wasn't working."

"I don't remember reading anything about you getting divorced," Marlow said, the words slipping out of her mouth before she could stop herself.

"You've been following me?" Piero asked, enjoying the slight embarrassment on Marlow's face.

"Only through the Fanclub page. It felt less creepy than actually following you on Instagram."

Bursting into laughter, Piero confessed, "I've checked out your Instagram on occasion too."

"You have? You don't show up as one of my followers."

"I cheat. I follow Harper."

Dropping her chin, Marlow smiled to herself. It felt good to know Piero checked up on her.

Stopping at a lookout point, Marlow slipped her hand from Piero's arm and sat down on the bench. This pretending that there hadn't been history between them was getting to her, and she couldn't take it anymore. Playing nervously with the necklace around her neck, she turned to face him.