**The vescari foundation**

She didn’t let go of him for the next few seconds, but eventually the warmth in her cheeks and the dampness on his shirt nudged her gently back to reality. Valentina eased out of the embrace, rubbing under her eyes again even though most of the crying had already stopped. She sniffled, took a small breath, and stepped back fully.

“I was thinking…” she began, her voice still a bit raw from sobbing, “I could make you something for lunch. What do you ...