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He held her gaze The candles flickered on the table between the across his brow Her hand itched to reach over and brush it away To touch him, to feel his skin under the palm of her hand For a few seconds it really felt as if no one else were there but them

His voice broke through the silence It gave the slightest waver “So is alorse” He bowed his head a little “And don’t be afraid, Phoebe I’ll be with you on the way home”

She could hear the emotion in his voice His shoulders had tensed, as had his jaw

“What are you afraid of, Matteo?” The words cah Froliht his way out fro above his head He was sonize that She just didn’t know if she could help

She reached across the table and gently interlinked his fingers with hers

His gaze was dark, intense, but she held it, not letting herself flicker for a second

“I’ht happen to my sister”

“Your sister?”

There was a flash of regret on his face and she could sense his fingers pull away a little But she held them firmly

“She’s pregnant, isn’t she? Why could so happen to her?”

His eyes fixed on the table He sucked in a deep breath “Because it happened to my mother”

It was as if the almost mild air in Rome vanished and a chill swept over her body Every tiny little hair on Phoebe’s arms stood on end Her stomach clenched

She reached over and put her other hand over their intertwined ones “What happened to your mother, Matteo?”

He pulled his hand back sharply, throwing it in the air in exasperation as he shook his head “It’sit’s too complicated”