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But instead of taking Jack’s hand, Lucia said, "You need to proood husband to my little one That you will never hurt her And that you will love her even when she makes mistakes"

Mary flushed as she translated her mother’s demands All the while, Jack never took his eyes froaze rehter" He spoke in English this time and paused so that Mary could translate "I will always put her and our faain, he paused while she translated his sweet vow in a voice that grew thicker and thicker with emotion "And I promise you, I will never, ever hurt her"

Finally, Lucia s his hand, she opened her ared him as if he were already her son-in-law

That hen hersound that jarred Mary’s heart just as badly "Mama, you need to rest"

"No, I need you here with me I need you to stay"

It hat hertrapped by the words this ti she was loved

"I’ the hair back from her mother’s forehead, just as her mother used to do when she was sick, Mary said, "Rest now, and when you wake up I’ll have ether"

"I don’t want soup I want to talk to you I need to talk to you" Her er as she was obviously too exhausted to fight it "I need to tell you everything I was too proud to say before"

Both men had left the bedrooain "I never stopped loving you, not for one single second How could I?"

Mary pressed a kiss to her mother’s soft cheek She could see the pill bottles by the side of the bed for antibiotics and cough suppressants, but while she prayed they would do the job of healing the infection inside hershe kneould likely beher mother’s recovery

"I need you to be healthy and happy at !" Her mother smiled then and finally sank back into the pillow to let Mary tuck her in Lucia’s voice was heavy with drowsiness as she said, "Yes, we’ll give you and your Jack a perfect wedding, on the day before Christmas Eve" Mary could see the pride sparkle in her mother’s eyes as she declared, "You will be the most beautiful bride in the world"

When Jack had seen that Mary and herto be just fine, he followed Mary’s father, Marco, out into the walled garden Although it was barely noon, when her father handed hilass of prosecco, Jack took it with a slass "A amore!"

Jack could easily translate--"To love"--and repeated the senti how much could be said with so feords Jack could see, could feel, how hter, and Marco could clearly see the sa in a patch of winter sun, sharing a companionable drink "Of course I should have known you’d fit right in," she said to Jack as she walked outside and pressed a kiss first to his forehead and then to her father’s "I’s tohaving a man around the house Stay with him, I’ll be back soon"

Jack knew that she needed a little ti up with herback to her childhood home She’d made it over the first hurdle, but Jack knew she wasn’t done yet Forgiveness had been freely given, thank God, but both Mary and her mother still needed to explain and understand each other’s behavior over the past thirteen years so that old wounds wouldn’t ever accidentally open up

Taking a moment to think of everyone back in California, Jack realized that the Pocket Planner was now officially on sale Finally, people would be using the invention that he and his partners had created And he hoped it would be a gift found under arden in Italy, Jack Sullivan silently toasted the hope that sales were going well and that customers were pleased with the value of their new purchase Then he turned back to Mary’s father to continue their extreestures and laughter

Chapter Twenty-Two

Mary wrapped her winter coat tightly around her as she set out on foot through town Tomorrow, she’d show Jack all of her favorite childhood haunts, but right now she appreciated the fact that he’d understood she needed to see the by the fountain stopped their gairls chattered excitedly about her boots, her outfit and hairstyle The boys wondered what the big deal was When she sirls and waved at the boys, their cheeks colored and they quickly turned back to their gaed for little boys with Jack’s sirls with her passion and determination Love had come quickly for her and Jack She hoped a family would, too

Mary put a hand over her flat stomach She and Jack hadn’t yet said their "I do’s," but Mary had never been one to hen there was so she wanted