Free Romance In The Tuscan Hills: A New Beginning by Jenniffer Cardelle Page B

you and why do you have my grandmother's phone?”
     
    “I am Lorenzo Zanutti, your grandmother's lawyer.   I am very sorry to inform you that your grandmother has passed.  You are her lone heir.  Everything she has is yours.  Will you be coming to Italy to settle the estate in person or shall we exchange all the information over the telephone, Miss Vierra?”
     
    Dani wasn't one for rash decisions, but she knew she owed it to Nonna to settle everything in person.   A phone call wasn't enough.  This was Nonna’s legacy – not ordering a pizza. 
     
    “No.   No, I'll come in person,”  Dani said.  “Just give me a few days to book a flight.”
     
    Dani clicked 'end' and laid her cellphone on her desk.  She stared blankly at her desk calendar with 'Nonna' written in red ink and circled.  She always looked forward to her weekly calls from Nonna.  Now she had absolutely no one in the world but herself.
     
    Unexpected tears welled up in Dani's eyes.  No, no, no, no.  Now was not the time to cry.  She needed to stay strong.  Instead of succumbing to the tears – she could save that for later – Dani scrubbed at her eyes, stood up, and walked roboticly over to Robert's office.  She lifted her hand to knock before hesitating.  What did she say?  'Hey, I'm taking off to Italy without any notice.  See you in two weeks' just didn't seem appropriate.  
     
    “Just tell the truth.  He'll understand,” she whispered out loud.  “Don't think too much about Nonna and you'll get through this conversation without any tears.  No tears.  You can do this, Dani.  No tears.  Nonna would want you to be strong.”
     
    “Come in!”  Robert called almost as soon as Dani knocked.  
     
    “Robert, it's me.”  Dani stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.  “I'm not sure really how to say this.  I'm going to need some time off for family issues.”
     
    “Family issues?”  Robert's heavy eyebrows knit into a perfect V in confusion.  “I thought you didn't have any family?  That's why you're such a good worker.  No family means no distractions.”
     
    “My grandmother in Italy was the only family member I have,” Dani said.
     
    “Was?”  Robert caught the word choice instantly.  “What happened?”
     
    Dani spread her hands in front of her palm up in defeat.  “I don't even really know.  I got a call from her lawyer.  He said she died.  I don't know if it was sudden or if she's been hiding some illness from me or what.  All I do know is that I'm the sole heir.  I need to go to Italy.”  She stopped and shook her head.  “No.  No, it's more than that.  I need to go to Italy.  I owe it to Nonna.”
     
    “When do you leave?”  Robert asked.
     
    “That's it?”  Dani asked.  “No complaints?  No 'we can't get on without you'?  Just 'when do you leave?'”
     
    “Dani, I'm not such a hard ass that I'd ask you to keep working when you just found out your grandmother died.  Grandmas are special.  I get that.  You're special too.  Your job will still be here when you get back so, I'll ask you again.  When do you leave?”
     
    Dani took a deep breath – barely able to hold in the tears this time.  “As soon as I book a flight.”
     
     

6. Chapter Four
     
     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     
     
    As the plane made its final descent into Florence International Airport, Dani tried not to remember that, when she got off the plane,  there would be a smiling, laughing Nonna ready to greet her, but some underling from  Zanutti's law firm.   All her memories of Florence were from childhood when everything naturally seemed bright, beautiful, and carefree.  Now, whenever she thought of Florence, there would be a dark cloud over the memory.  Nonna was one of a kind.  There was no replacing