Cassie watched Pop and Hannah from the doorway leading to the veranda. They had spent the last hour playing together in the pool, while she made lunch. Over the past three days, the two had become much closer then she imagined they would, and it made her mind feel less stressed. Her daughter finally had a male figure in her life that wasn’t a guard. She had a grandfather.

The timer on the oven began to beep, and she turned around, walking back into the kitchen. She pulled out the casserole dish and set it on the stove, then took three plates from the cupboard. She spooned out the noodles onto each plate, then added the sliced fruit she’d made earlier.

Cassie took the plates into the dining room and set them on the table, along with silverware, napkins, and glasses, then walked back out to the veranda. She watched Hannah splash Pop who groaned and fell backwards under the water.

“I got you,” she called out.

“You slewed the horrible sea monster again,” Pop told her, rising out of the water and wiping his eyes.

“If you two are finished saving the seven seas, lunch is ready,” Cassie said. “Come eat, and then we’ll go into town and do some shopping.”

“I want chock-ate,” Hannah said, swimming to the side of the pool.

“I think we can arrange that,” Pop chuckled, following behind the child.

Cassie smiled as she watched the two dry their arms and legs with the soft towels, them wrap them around their waists. They followed her back into the house and into the dining room. Hannah squealed when she saw her favorite macaroni and cheese casserole. It might have been the only thing her mother knew how to cook, but it was her favorite, nevertheless.

Since Pop’s arrival, meals had become a combination of laughter and stories. Hannah told Pop all about the castle, the horses she loved to ride with her mother, and Liam’s son Ell-Gee. Cassie listened and corrected her when it was necessary but allowed the girl to tell her tale. Pop smiled and nodded, agreed with her when she asked if he liked horses, then stuffed another spoonful of the casserole in his mouth.

“I have a wood horsey, but it don’t walk,” Hannah said around a mouthful of strawberries.

“Doesn’t walk,” Cassie corrected.

“I like birds too,” Hannah continued as if she hadn’t heard her mother. “We have angels living in the mountains behind us.”

“Eagles,” Cassie corrected again.

“My daddy likes woofs,” she added, offering her mother a glance. “He had a whole bunch before they died.”

“Wolves,” Cassie said, looking at Pop. “Hans raised wolves to help protect the castle, but last winter some photographers came snooping too close to the property and Zeus caught them off guard. They shot him and called in the authorities. They claimed they were attacked. The villagers were frightened, and there had been issues in the past with the wolves killing when someone crossed into their territory, so they demanded the animals be destroyed. Before Liam could stop them, the wolves were dead.”

“Yeah. I liked them. My daddy likes them too.”

“Your daddy sounds like a very nice guy,” Pop said with a warm smile.

“He is,” Hannah confirmed, taking a bite out of a piece of garlic bread. “My Uncle Dee-der is finding him. His plane fell down in the mountains. Not our mountains, but some others. He was hurt, but he’s better now. He’ll be home soon.”

Cassie froze in mid-movement, the spoon poised in front of her mouth, her eyes wide with surprise. Pop’s reaction was much the same, and the two just stared silently at the child.

“Hannah…” Cassie said in a soft, shaky voice as she lowered her spoon. “How do you know…where did you hear…”

“Who told you about your daddy’s plane?” Pop asked, taking up the conversation when Cassie paused, trying to find the right words.

“I just dreamed it. I saw Daddy working with some people in a garden. His head hurts, and he’s been sick, but he’s feeling better and Uncle Dee-der will bring him home soon.”

“You know this for sure?” Pop asked.

“Yep. I dreamed it last night. Mommy, I’m done. Can we go get some chock-ate now?”

Cassie didn’t answer, she just nodded her head and watched Hannah climb down from the stool she’d been sitting on and run upstairs. She looked to Pop and realized her cheeks were damp with tears. She held hope in her heart that Hans would be found, but this was something…bizarre. The child was certain her father was alive and well and was coming home.

“I have forbidden anyone from speaking about the accident around Hannah. How could she know?”

“I’ve heard of children predicting future events and telling parents they were pregnant before they even knew it,” Pop said gently. “I think children are more insightful than people give them credit for.”

“Pop…” Cassie paused as she wiped her cheeks dry on the napkin. “Would it be so bad to believe her?”

“I don’t think it would be bad at all. Who knows. Maybe you have the next Nostradamus on your hands.”

Dieter leaned closer to the window as the helicopter flew across the Himalayas. He had rented the chopper earlier that morning after sending Franz in one direction, and Erich in another.

It had taken the past three days to convince the authorities in India, as well as China, that they had been searching in the wrong area. Dieter presented his theory, and his calculations to the officials in charge of the investigation, until they finally agreed to look once more. But that was all they would agree to.

One pass over the new area, by air, and then it was over. If Dieter’s research was correct, then they would find the plane and the authorities would reopen the search, then send a rescue team out to recover the black box. But if they didn’t find anything, he wouldn’t get a second chance. It all depended on this one day.

The search and rescue teams felt it was a long shot, and they had exhausted all their resources allotted. Even with Cassie as a benefactor, they refused to continue. The team she hired when Hans was declared dead, hadn’t found anything more than the officials did. But at least they were still willing to look.

Dieter managed to get the officials to agree to let them search on foot, only if they spotted something by air. There were several small villages in and around the Himalayas, most very impoverished. The authorities said they didn’t want a bunch of foreigners imposing on the locals, or trampling over nature, so it was all just a matter of keeping their eyes open at this point.

“Have you seen anything?” Dieter asked the pilot through the headset.

“Not yet, but we still have a few miles before we get to the area you indicated.”

“What about these villages your leaders told us about? Maybe someone saw something. Can we ask them?”

“I have orders to stay in the air,” the pilot said in a tone that hinted toward sympathy. “If you want to search on your own, then you’ll have to trek up the mountain. I’m not allowed to land unless we find something.”

Dieter leaned back in the seat and pulled out his cellphone. He had been in the helicopter for nearly an hour, and they still hadn’t seen anything. If they didn’t find something soon, they would be out of luck.

He texted Franz and Erich and asked how the search was going on their end. Their reply wasn’t much more confident than his own. They had flown over three areas with no luck, Erich still had two to search, and Franz had four. At this point, they’d be happy if they found a wing or a tire, but being in the air was going to make it difficult. They could barely make out the ground beneath the trees.

With a deep sigh, Dieter continued to look out the window. He was far from being a religious man, but over the past week, he had said more than a hundred prayers. He was growing as weary with the lack of evidence as the rest of them had. He didn’t want to let Cassie down, but the prospect of finding anything was slim and growing slimmer.

“Look,” the pilot told Dieter over the earphones. “Over there. There’s an area of uprooted trees. It’s too long and too wide to be a natural occurrence.”

“Can we get closer?” Dieter asked with a frown as he looked out the windshield.

“I’ll try.”

They came back around the area and flew a few meters lower. There appeared to be something among the layer of broken tree trunks, and a wide ditch had been dug into the earth. As they passed over it once more, Dieter could see the tip of an airplane wing.

“That’s it,” he said, shouting through the earphones louder than he intended. “We’ve got to get down there.”

“It’s getting late and I don’t see anywhere safe to land. You’ll have to come back tomorrow. I can arrange to bring you up to the pass about fifty kilometers from here, but you’ll have to hike the rest of the way.”

“I’ll do it.”

“We’ll come back at sunrise. After three years, I doubt anything is going to happen to it overnight.”

The pilot made one more pass before turning around and heading back. They both felt he tingle of excitement and the renewed hope of finding something to put an end to all of this.

Dieter sent a message to Erich and Franz and told them to meet back at the airport in New Delhi. They would contact the team of searchers Cassie hired, and meet up in the morning. Together, they should be able to find out what happened to the Baron, once and for all.

Veneto Italy was a lovely city, with old streets and shops that welcomed the tourist and locals. They walked from one shop to the next, listening to Hannah discuss everything from her dollies, to pictures she liked to draw. Cassie was having a hard time concentrating on anything since Hannah announced that her father was alive.

They stopped in front of a candy store and looked through the window. Hannah squealed excitedly, pulling on Pop’s hand until they were inside the shop. She pointed to everything in the display case and told the old man it was her favorite. The shopkeeper handed her a small platter with samples and said something in Italian.

“I’m sorry,” Cassie said with a pink color to her cheeks. “Do you speak English?”

“Some,” the young woman behind the counter said.

Cassie took her phone out of her purse and pulled up the app she had used back in Austria years before. She scrolled through until she found the Italian translation and smiled at the woman.

The next half hour was spent conversing about the homemade confections, as Hannah asked for a little bit of everything she saw. They left with four bags of chocolates, a bag of hard candies, and another of peanut brittle. Hannah snacked on one candy after another while they continued to walk down the street.

Pop listened intently to the child, commenting when it was appropriate, and smiling as he nodded to passersby. Cassie couldn’t help but grin at the two. Her daughter had taken to the old man as much as she had all those years ago. Time seemed to melt away, and it felt as if he had been a part of their lives all along.

They stopped by a clothing shop and bought Hannah four new dresses, and like the candy, each one was her new favorite. Cassie bought the child a sunbonnet with a large silk purple flower on the front band and a new pair of dress shoes.

One shop after another was visited until the sun was low in the sky. They stopped by a small sidewalk café and ate dinner, then returned to the car with all their bags and boxes. By the time they arrived back at the villa, Hannah was sound asleep in her car seat, and Pop was dozing in the passenger seat next to Cassie.

She stopped by the front gate and programmed in the code, then drove onward, nodding to the guard who was patrolling the front yard. She had met each one of the twelve guards hired to care for the property, and even discovered the entrance to the training area, hidden in the back of the stables. With a curious eye, she opened the coded door with Hans’s code, and advanced down to the single underground level, to inspect the empty rooms.

It was similar in design to the castle’s training levels, only much smaller. It had been divided into four sections, with one shared common room. The first area was designated for the first level of training and was locked tight with two Exchange Rooms and a bathroom dedicated. Once the women advanced to the second stage, they would mingle with those learning the advanced lessons, and share the same training.

Since the new program had begun, the training sessions had slowed dramatically. They held only three sessions a year, avoiding the cooler winter months completely. Once the women advanced to the fourth stage, they were transported to the castle, as they always had been.

Like the castle, the guards handled the lessons, as well as the discipline and the protection of the property. Due to a problem in the electrical system, however, the level had been closed until it could be corrected. Ilario, the head guard for the villa, told her it should be fixed and ready to take in more applicants by the end of the month.

Since Cassie had been answering the reservations, she knew over a hundred women were asking to be taught how to make love, and eighty-two of them asked to have lovers found for them. That part, she left up to Liam. It was his task to sort through the males who wanted women, and decide which ones were best, and match them to the women.

Cassie pulled the car up in front of the villa and shut off the engine. Pop opened his eyes and looked around with a groggy expression, then turned to Cassie and smiled.

“I’ll take her inside if you want to start on the packages,” he volunteered.

“It’s a deal,” she smiled in return.

Hannah stirred awake as soon as she was unfastened from her seat but quickly went back to sleep with her head resting on her gampa’s shoulder. Cassie opened the trunk and began pulling out the shopping bags, when the sound of footsteps on the gravel drive, startled her. She turned quickly, seeing Santos walking toward her. He held a platter in his hands and a stupid grin on his chubby face.

“Buona sera, bella signora,” he said.

“Hello, Santos,” Cassie answered, turning back to her task.

“I have brought you some zeppola Mama has made for you,” he told her in broken English.

“Thank you. You can take them inside and give them to my father.”

“Your father is here? With you now?” Santos asked with a strange sound to his voice.

“Yes. He’s staying with me until Hans is home. Please, take them inside. I’m busy here.”

“I can help you,” Santos suggested, but Cassie shook her head.

“I’ve got it.”

She didn’t want the man staying any longer than he had to, and if it meant carrying a hundred pounds alone, she would. Despite how much she admired and cared for Eva, she didn’t like her son at all.

“I’m actually glad you’re here,” she told him, closing the trunk and turning around. “Did your mother speak with you regarding those photos you took of my daughter and me?”

Santos lowered his eyes. She knew there was no way he could deny taking them or spying on them. She had seen him, and he knew it.

“Si,” he said softly. “But I was not going to sell them. I swear it.”

“Then why did you take them?” she asked in an accusing tone.

“I just…you are very beautiful…I just…”

“I would suggest you remember I am a married woman, and Hans is not the type of man to trifle with. Especially when it comes to me, or his daughter. He’s done much worse to men who have only looked at me. I’d hate to think of what he would do, if he knew you were spying on us.”

“But…he is dead…the news said so.”

“He is not dead, and my men will find him. When they do, I would strongly suggest you avoid him the next time we visit Italy. As for those photos…”

“My mama, she takes them from me. I do not have them no more.”

“Good. And don’t try it again. I don’t need my husband around for protection. I’m very capable of taking care of myself. Or didn’t you read the news three years ago, when I killed a man?”

Cassie didn’t like to remember the night she shot Anson, but if it kept this creature away from her, she would mention it a thousand times.

“Si, I read, but I did not think it was true.”

“Trust me, it was true.”

Cassie walked ahead of the man and up the stairs to the front door. She paused when she realized he wasn’t following her and turned around.

“Were you going to bring those inside or leave them on my car?” she asked, watching Santos shake himself out of his stunned silence.

“Si, I bring them inside.”

Cassie walked into the front door as Pop came down from putting Hannah to bed upstairs. He hurried to her and took some of the bags, then looked over her shoulder to the tall, chubby man who followed her inside.

“Santos, this is my father, Jack Lawson. Pop, this is my neighbor’s son,” she introduced them. “Eva takes care of the house while we’re away. Hans loves her cooking and has her make every meal when he’s here. I guess he doesn’t like my casserole as much as his daughter does.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Santos,” Pop said, reaching a hand out to shake the man’s.

Santos didn’t know what to do, and instead of shaking Pop’s hand, he placed the china platter in it.

“I must go. Thank you,” he stumbled, trying to regain his composure. “My mama, she makes these. They are very good. I must go now. I will tell Mama you are here. She will be happy.”

Cassie almost laughed as she watched the man hurry from the house. Santos nearly ran to the front gate and out it before she had the chance to close the door. She knew she’d been rude, and she would have to apologize to Eva when she saw her again, but she didn’t like the man, and she wouldn’t pretend she did. He gave her a creepy feeling, and after catching him taking photos of her, she liked him even less.

“That was interesting,” Pop said with a crooked smile. “What was that all about?”

“The guy’s weird,” Cassie answered, locking the door and turning around. “He’s the one who was taking pictures of Hannah and me at the pool. He’s a pathetic pervert and nothing at all like his mother. He kind of reminds me of Norman Bates, only he doesn’t dress up in his mother’s clothes.”

“Thank heavens for that. Perhaps we should consider going back to Germany before the end of the week. I’m not sure if I like the idea of you being next door to a guy like that.”

“He’s harmless, and I have a dozen guards to protect me. I’m not worried about him. I guess in a way, I feel bad for him. He must have been that weird kid in school who always followed behind the jocks, pretending he was popular. Maybe I’ll talk with Hans when he returns, about finding him a woman. It’s obvious the guy needs to be laid.”

“Cassidy!” Pop said in a shocked voice.

“Sorry, Pop,” she chuckled with a blush to her cheeks. “Living at the castle changes people. Trust me, I’ve gone through a lot, and my opinion of sex has changed. Hans saw to that.”

“Cassie, did Hans ever…” Pop paused, watching the frown cross her delicate features. “I mean…he didn’t…were you ever…”

“Pop, stop stuttering,” she smiled as she led the way into the sitting room. “Just say it. I’m sure it’s nothing I haven’t already heard a hundred times.”

“Did Hans ever rape you?” the old man asked a few moments later after he set the bags on the floor next to the sofa, then put the platter on the coffee table.

“No,” Cassie said honestly. “Hans was always very gentle, and very loving. He was an amazing man. He 'is' an amazing man, I mean. He is arrogant, and domineering, but kind and passionate at the same time.”

Cassie turned away before the tears filled her eyes again, placing the bags on the floor and blinking repeatedly to block the moisture from caressing her cheeks. She would not give up hope. She had to remain strong and faithful to her husband, for Hannah’s sake, if not her own.

“Well, should we try some of these?” Pop asked, unwrapping the plastic from the platter as an attempt to distract Cassie’s thoughts. “What are they, anyway?”

“Zeppola,” she told him. “They’re like an Italian donut. They’re very good, especially with chocolate sauce.”

The two sat and talked while they snacked on the pastries, leaving two of the dozen they’d been given, for Hannah. It was just after midnight when they finally decided to go to bed, taking the bags upstairs with them.

Cassie placed hers and Hannah’s next to the closet in the master bedroom, then hugged Pop goodnight, and watched him take the bag of shirts he’d bought himself, into his room. She closed the door and turned around, looking at Hannah snuggled beneath the blankets.

She looked so innocent with her blonde braid across her shoulder, and her tiny hand against the pillow next to her head. Again, Cassie felt the stab of pain as she thought of how much of the child’s life Hans was missing.

If she was to be believed, and Cassie had no reason not to, then Hans was alive, and Dieter would be the one to find him. She had to keep her faith, and hope for a happy ending. There was nothing else to do. It was all a matter of waiting and praying, both she had been doing for three long, lonely years.

Eva hummed softly as she prepared lunch, giving Cassie some much-needed rest. Since Hannah woke her early that morning, Cassie had spent the morning cleaning the villa, scrubbing floors, washing clothes, and making beds. It had been a long time since she’d done anything for herself, and she needed something to distract her thoughts.

Hannah woke up twice during the night calling out to her father. She held a one-sided conversation with him in her sleep, telling him to be brave, assuring him that Uncle Dee-der was coming for him. It made sleeping difficult, and more frustrating than all the nights combined.

Cassie smiled as she reclined on the chaise lounge, listening to her daughter’s laughter as she played in the pool with Pop. The innocence of her voice echoed around the veranda, making her mother’s heart feel lighter than it had all day.

The afternoon was warmer than any since she’d arrived in Italy, and she was enjoying the feel of the sun against her skin. Even though she tried to make a normal routine for Hannah, with hours of playing in the pool at the castle, and riding horses, she didn’t take the time to relax like this. It was a rare, and treasured treat.

Pop climbed out of the pool, followed close behind by Hannah. She was talking to him about her favorite ice cream when Eva came out and announced lunch was ready. Reluctantly, Cassie opened her eyes and sat up. If she didn’t have her daughter to worry about, she’d ignore eating and stay where she was.

The house was cool with the windows open and the soft breeze blowing through. The aroma of Eva’s panini filled the dining room with a friendly inviting scent, that left Hannah and Pop both sniffing the air. They sat down as the older woman brought in a pan of grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches.

Hannah was still talking, though nobody was really listening. Even Pop had learned to nod and say and occasional 'really', 'is that right', or 'okay'. Cassie felt bad for not paying attention to her daughter, but the girl had a habit of always talking. The only time she was quiet was when she was asleep or had her mouth full, and the latter was debatable.

Pop sat down at the table next to Hannah and glanced up to Eva, as she sat the glass dish down in the center. He smiled at the woman who seemed to blush, thanking her for the meal, then watched as she took a chair across from him.

Cassie smiled as she watched Pop, happy that she insisted the woman share the meals she prepared for them. She didn’t like to eat alone and felt guilty for everything Eva did for them. Unlike the women at the castle, she didn’t start as a slave, and she didn’t have to feed Cassie and Hannah. Since Santos was her only child, and he was far from getting married, Eva didn’t have any grandchildren. Hannah was very much like a granddaughter to the woman, and she enjoyed spoiling her, even more than her mother did.

“This is delicious,” Pop said, taking a bite out of the panini. “I’ve never had a cheese sandwich with tomatoes, before.”

“Italians use tomatoes for everything,” Eva said in a cheerful tone. “We make only the best sauces.”

“I don’t know about all Italians, but yours are amazing,” Cassie assured the woman.

“Grazie,” Eva said with a wide grin.

“Your husband must be a very happy, chubby man,” Pop said, taking another bite from his sandwich.

Cassie looked at the man and rolled her eyes, unnoticed by those at the table. She was used to Hans and his guards’ direct approach. Pop’s hinting at whether the woman was married or not, was old and very much cliché.

“My Luigi died ten years ago, God rest his soul,” Eva said, crossing herself. “It is just me and Santos.”

“I’m sorry,” Pop said in a sincere tone. “I lost my Helena a little more than fifteen years ago.”

“My mama used to say that God takes the young, only when his grief of losing them is so strong, he can bear it no more. Luigi was a good man, but he died too soon. At least I have Santos.”

“You’re a very lucky woman. Helena and I never had the opportunity to have children.”

“But I thought Cassie…”

“Oh, she’s mine alright,” Pop said with a proud expression. “But she’s my adopted daughter and the best thing to happen to me.”

“Thank you, Pop,” Cassie said with a wide grin. “I think you’re pretty wonderful yourself.”

The meal continued until Hannah started to doze off in her chair, causing Cassie to abandon her strawberry cheesecake, and take her up to nap. As she was climbing the stairs, she paused momentarily and listened while Pop and Eva continued to talk. They seemed to have begun an instant friendship, and Cassie wondered just how far either of them was willing to take it.

Neither one was too old to start over or to try and find love again. They both shared a great deal, from what she’d heard over lunch. Both were widowed earlier than they thought they would, both were religious Catholics, and both came from large families. They seemed to share the same interest in music and movies, as they discussed their younger years together as if they’d grown up in the same neighborhood. If Cassie didn’t know better, she’d think they were teenagers, trying to find the courage to go out on a date.

Upstairs, Cassie laid Hannah down on the bed and pulled her soft pink blanket up across her. She sat beside her daughter for a long time, smoothing her hair with her hand. She thought back over the past few years with a curiosity that always seemed to embrace her. Hans once told her, he would have found a way to meet her, even if she’d never come to Germany. In her heart, she knew it was true. She felt as if they were destined to be together, and perhaps that was the reason she hadn’t given up hope.

Hans was a strong, independent man, with a brilliant mind and a good heart. It showed in everything he did, even if she hadn’t recognized it at first. When she first woke up in the castle, she was angry and scared. She hated the man and everything he did. Then she learned how to control him through their game of bartering, and how to use his desire for her, to her advantage.

If someone were to tell her then, where she’d be today, she’d have called them a liar. She would never have predicted falling in love with the man who kidnapped her. And she knew it had nothing to do with Stockholm Syndrome. She loved the man for his passion, his strength, and even his dark, perverted ideas. She loved the way he kissed her, the way he touched her, and the way he looked at her.

Drawing a deep breath, Cassie left her sleeping daughter and went into the bathroom. She looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled. With a lot of dedication on Hans’s part, he helped her regain her figure after Hannah was born.

He spent an hour every day in the gym with her, putting their baby in a bassinet in the corner, while he taught her to use the weights. The best part of their workout sessions was when his lust would get the best of him, and they’d make love on one of the machines. His favorite was always the weight bench. It was flat and offered a variety of possible positions.

Shaking herself back to the present, she turned and inspected her new tanned features. Her legs were slender and long, her buttocks firm, and her breasts…well, they were still large, even if they were a little saggy.

She didn’t mind that they were slightly misshaped. She had been fortunate to have been able to nurse her daughter. Unlike Anne, whose milk dried up almost as soon as L.J. turned a month old, Cassie had more than she knew what to do with. Hans didn’t seem to mind it either, she thought with a blush to her sun-kissed cheeks. He always enjoyed sharing her breasts with their daughter.

Cassie turned away from the mirror and reached in the shower, turning on the faucets. She was hot and sweaty from laying in the sun, but very relaxed. Coming to Italy had been one of the best ideas she’d had over the past three years.

Slipping her swimsuit off, she looked in on Hannah once more, than stepped beneath the spray of water. The bathroom was far from being as elaborate as the one at the castle, but she enjoyed it nevertheless. The tub had been replaced a few years back and turned into a jetted masterpiece, and the shower had been retiled. The pedestal sink was the same as when Hans’s grandmother was here, as was the toilet, but the room had been enlarged by using part of the walk-in closet.

In all, the villa had changed little over the past sixty or seventy years. It was old-world style, and comfortable. It felt more like home, than even her old apartment back in New York. There was a sense of security and happiness among the bricks, and Cassie was finding it hard to think of leaving.

She told Anne and Liam she would be coming on Friday, but that was a prospect she didn’t want to think about. She wasn’t ready to face the emptiness of the castle or the loneliness of her large bed. Everywhere she walked, she could see Hans, or hear his voice. It was growing more depressing as time passed, and she wasn’t looking forward to returning to all of that.

Cassie washed her hair and shaved her legs, then shut off the water and stepped out of the shower. She wrapped the towel around her torso, then glanced out the door again. Hannah was still asleep. She’d rolled onto her back and was snoring softly, bringing a smile to her mother’s lips.

She removed the towel and began to rub it across her hair when she heard Pop’s cheerful whistle coming down the hallway. She knew he’d never enter the room without knocking, but she still managed to close the door a little further to avoid embarrassing either of them.

The whistling continued until she heard the soft squeak of the bedroom door. She pulled the towel around her again, and stepped out, watching Pop lean across Hannah and kiss her forehead.

“I didn’t mean to bother you,” he whispered, turning to see Cassie by the bathroom door. “I just wanted to let you know I was going to take Eva to the market. She needs some cheese and tomatoes for lasagna and I offered to drive her, that is if I can borrow your car.”

“The keys are on the table downstairs,” Cassie smiled. “Will you pick up some apples for Hannah while you’re out, please? I forgot to get any when were in town.”

“No problem,” he told her with a wide grin, then left the room and practically bounced down the stairs.

Cassie smiled as she walked to the bedroom door and closed it tight. She knew Eva was never out of cheese, and the old woman grew her own tomatoes. It was just an excuse to be together a little longer, and Cassie wasn’t going to stand in their way.

She chuckled as she went to the closet and pulled out a summer dress. If it meant giving the two a chance at romance, who was she to argue? If there was one thing she learned from Hans, it was that love came in many sizes and shapes, and there was someone for everyone. Sometimes it just needed a little nudge in the right direction.

Like buying cheese and tomatoes at the local village.