After hours

Chapter 21

I wander out onto the balcony wearing Jacobs big t-shirt and leggings. Italy was amazing.

"Hey," he says coming up from behind me.

"I cannot believe you brought me to Italy."

"Only the best for you, my love." He says kissing my neck.

I start laughing. "You know that I'm ticklish."

"That's why I do it, I love hearing you laugh."

I turn around push him against the wall kissing him intently.

~

"Okay, I have another surprise. It's the last one before we go home." He grabs my hand and we walk down stairs.

There was a boat sitting in the river.

"We are riding in that! I've always wanted to." I say excitedly jumping in his arm.

"Haha, we are going around the whole city in the boat, we are going to shop, and we are going to eat at the fanciest restaurant."

"Aw, that is so sweet. Thank you!"

"Like I said, anything for you."

We head off onto the boat. Italy is absolutely the prettiest place ever. The people, the city, the smell of the flowers blooming. It's perfect. I couldn't picture anything less gorgeous. Jacob has this huge grin on his face.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Just imaging if we lived here."

"That'd be perfect. What about the twins and this little one?"

"Take them with us. Italy would be a great place for them to live."

"That's true but, what about our life back home?"

"I can work, you can take care of the children. Or we could both work, it's whatever you want."

"I-I don't know. It would be amazing, but I don't think so. Why don't we just get a vacation home? That way we can come here whenever we want. I just don't want to lose my life back home."

"Okay, that sounds perfect."

~

In the afternoon, we go to an exquisite restaurant. We are seated on the rooftop. The rooftop has christmas lights that surround the fence. Around the rims, multiple flowers are entwined together. We watch the sun melt into the earth with colors scattered across the sky. It reminds me of the time we went to amusement park.

The next morning, we went to the most adorable corner coffee house. The was patio furniture outside and french doors. The vines crept onto the railing of the building. Once we entered, I told them my name for our order.

When I said, "Evangelina Stevens-West." A women gasps and starts crying. The little boy, probably ten years old, tries to comfort her. She pushes him away and he comes towards me.

"Excuse miss? My name is Edmond. Will you please come with me."

Edmond. Oh my. Edmond.

"Uh-sure. C'mon Jacob."

We walk over to their table. The woman, who looks familiar, stares at me with wonder.

"Evangelina? My lovely Evangelina. Is that you?"

"Mom?"

Oh my god. This is my mother.

"Yes. Oh my. Yes!"

We pull into a huge hug.

"E-Edmond, is this you?"

"I'm sorry miss, I don't know who you are."

"I-I'm your sister." His eyes start to water.

"Hi."

"Mother, I thought you and Edmond were killed."

"No, dear. We are here. Edmond and I escaped before the intruder almost killed us. We lost all connection to you and the family. My great aunt somehow find out where I was and contacted me. We moved in with her, here in Italy."

"I...I just can't believe you are alive. I've missed you so much."

"I missed you too, lovely. Tell me everything."

"This is my husband, Jacob you remember, from high school. We have twin girls, Scarlet and Nikki. We are pregnant with our third. Jacob and I are both surgeons. We live in Florida by the coast."

"The things I have missed. How old are your girls?"

"They are seven months. I would love it if you could meet them."

"We can't go anywhere. We agreed to the FBI that we would never come back to the US."

"Why?"

"The intruder was my first husband and a mass serial killer. If he finds me or Edmond, he promised to kill us."

"That's horrible, oh my god."

"Yes, I know."

"I'm so sorry mother. Mother, Jacob has cancer."

"I'm sorry to hear that, son."

"It's okay, it's just stage two." Jacob says with his head down.

"Do you both want to come to my home?"

"Yes, we would love that. We were actually talking about buying a vacation home here."

"Oh, please do I would love for you to visit sometimes. I've missed so much already."

"I've missed you too mom."