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Vincenzo's POV
The house was spotless, cleaner than ever, but it was best not to say that in front of the old man had slowed down a lot in the past few years, but he refused to retire. Now he just greeted visitors and passed along the schedule to the rest of the staff. But even with a whole team of maids, the house had never been this clean.

And that was all Raella’s doing.

I walked across the gleaming tiled floors that carried the scent of lemon, and once I reached the bedroom, I found Raella buried in the far corner of our enormous walk-in closet. The pile of clothes and boxes around her was so high I could barely see her.

“What are you doing?”

She didn’t even look up, tossing more clothes into the pile.

“I’m organizing.”

“Organizing? Doesn’t look like that to me.”

“I cleaned and organized the house,” she said, finally meeting my eyes. “Now I’m sorting. This place is full of things that go back decades. I tried to take care of Elena’s closet, but she threw me out and locked the door.”

Our sixteen-year-old daughter had actually mentioned it to me: “Mom’s freaking out, go talk to her.”

“But I finished Matvei’s room,” she added. “I sorted and organized everything so he can enjoy the summer in peace.”

Raella blinked back tears but quickly looked away, hoping I wouldn’t notice. But as always, I saw everything.

“Elena went to pick him up at the airport.”

“Elena went to pick him up?” she exclaimed, staring at me. “By car?”

“Well, I don’t think Matvei’s luggage would fit on her bike.”

“She only just got her license! Traffic around the airport is insane. She can’t drive alone. I can’t believe you let her do that. I should’ve gone with her.”

Raella pulled out her phone and started dialing, then stopped.

“I don’t want her answering while she’s driving.”

“Then don’t call her. She’s fine. Besides, Lorenzo and Danny went with her,” I added.

Danny had also gotten her license last month. In fact, she and Elena had gone together. Just like their parents, the two of them were best friends.

Raella collapsed into the pile of clothes, visibly relieved.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because everything was under control. Elena asked Lorenzo to go with her. She knew there would probably be traffic and she wanted backup in case something happened. Our daughter is strong and capable, and she knows her limits.”

Raella stared at me. So much had changed in the eighteen years since we met. But the way her green eyes pierced straight into my heart was still the same.

“You think I smother her,” she said flatly.

I shook my head.
“I think you have trouble letting go. Same with Matvei.”

“Matvei is already gone! He’s at university all year.”

“And every time he comes home for the holidays, you scrub the house until it’s unrecognizable. Then you spend all your time baking him cakes and planning family game nights until he goes back to school practically screaming.”

Raella threw a few old dresses onto her lap and crossed her arms.

“So first I smother them, and then I drive them away? Which is it, Vincenzo? What exactly am I doing wrong?”

She started to get worked up, so I stepped closer.

“Both,” I told her, resting a hand on her shoulder. “I know it’s hard watching the kids grow up, but we’ve done a good job, love. They’re good kids and they’re thriving. They don’t need you deep-cleaning the house and planning nonstop activities for five days straight to remember that we love them. Matvei loves you, and he doesn’t care if his closet is spotless.”

She let out a soft laugh and rested her head against my chest. I wrapped my arms around her.

“It sounds so stupid when you say it like that.”

“It’s not stupid,” I murmured, kissing the top of her head. “You love them.”

She exhaled a long, melancholy sigh.

“I just don’t know what I’ll do when the house is empty. Elena told me yesterday she might graduate high school early. She’s already taking college classes online. I thought I had two more years with her, and now…”

“… Now you still have a whole life with her,” I cut in.

I lifted her chin until her eyes met mine.

“The kids are going to move out, but they’re not going to vanish forever.”

I still saw doubt in her eyes, so I pressed my forehead to hers.

“We’re not our parents, Raella. Our kids care about us. I even think sometimes they actually like us.”

She smiled faintly and wiped her nose.

“I just love having them here. It’s been eighteen years of running through these halls, making snacks, always having someone to watch a movie with or go shopping with. I don’t know what it’ll be like when it’s just us again.”

I glanced behind her and spotted a familiar shape half-hidden under the pile of clothes. Memories flooded in. I knew exactly what my wife needed.

“I think you’ve forgotten what life was like before the kids,” I said, stepping away. “Let me remind you.”

I pulled the clothes off and revealed the black cover.