page30 (1/2)

He’d never been a bad father He’d never ignored his children He’d just been a littlevacant

Seeing this picture of him so full of life and joy almost wrenched the heart from Matteo’s chest Phoebe was oblivious She had a dreaes The next showed hisvows The love and devotion was painted on their faces for all the world to see

Phoebe let out a little wistful sigh “How gorgeous,” she whispered

The twisting sensation in his chest stopped He looked at the picture again with new eyes It was gorgeous It was a ers to the page “I think I’d quite like to copy that photograph,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion

“You’ve lost them both now, haven’t you?”

The eer—despair Everything about this place overwhelle coh these photos was helping him to take stock

His parents on their wedding day So ether His father’s business had flourished His mother had always been adventurous She’d relished the move to the United States She’d loved New York and been happy to plan to bring her children up here

She’d been happy She’d adored her husband, and looked forward to a lifetiave a little twist But fate and misfortune had cut that short He lowered his head If he’d raised the alar

Phoebe turned toward hi up around him Her face was only inches away fro on the floor, but placed between her ar at the album they’d practically found themselves intertwined Was this fate? Or was this fortune?

It was almost as if all his instincts about Phoebe fell into place at once She lifted her head, her nose brushing against his chin, and reached up and touched his cheek

It was the smallest of movements, with a whole lot of heart

“I think it would be beautiful as a black and white canvas,” she whispered “So to look at, and remember” She paused for a second then added, “We all should res that are precious to us”