Chapter 19 - The Father
"Daddy!"
Damiano broke the kiss and looked down. Elara was tugging on his trouser leg, holding a fistful of slightly crushed dandelions.
"Look what I found!" she declared proudly.
Damiano felt a lump form in his throat. Daddy. It was the first time she had called him that. He dropped to one knee, uncaring of the grass stains on his expensive suit, and accepted the flowers as if they were made of gold.
"They are beautiful, piccola," he said softly, tucking one of the yellow flowers behind her ear.
"Can we go inside?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. "I'm sleepy again."
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Damiano smiled, a true, brilliant smile that erased the hard lines of his face. "Yes. We can go inside."
He scooped her up into his arms, resting her head against his shoulder. He reached out and took Clara’s hand, intertwining their fingers. Together, they walked back up the hill toward the massive stone mansion.
