‘Sure,’ Ellis said. ‘Would you like me to come with you?’

‘Could you come and find me in a few minutes?’ she smiled, letting go of his hand.

Grace made her way into the villa and went upstairs to the place in the photo where Connie had been standing in the doorway of the veranda with Giovanni’s Venice Salute painting on the wall behind her. She stood in the exact same spot and thought of Connie, telling her:

They are here for you, dear Connie. Your first truelove, Jimmy, and your darling Lara, together at last, here in Italy, the place where you found happiness. They’ve come back to you and will remember you for always. And I will too.

Grace walked out onto the veranda, the scent of lemon from the fruit trees filling the warm air all around her as she gazed across the breathtakingly beautiful Italian Riviera. She stood silently and thought of everything that had happened over the last few months. How her life had changed beyond recognition and how Connie, even after her death, had played a part in that. For if she hadn’t chosen Cohen’s Convenient Storage Company to look after her precious belongings, then Grace might never have discovered them and ultimately never have met her own truelove. For that’s what Ellis was. Grace had known it right from the moment when she first met him. But hadn’t allowed herself to even dream of a different life with him at that time. How things change … And talking of whom, she felt his hands gently touch her shoulders. Ellis was there now, standing behind her and wrapping her in a hug as he placed his arms around hers. She leant back into him, resting her head on his chest, savouring the moment here with him in this glorious place.

‘Are you OK?’ he asked softly, his lips warm on the side of her neck.

‘Mmmm,’ she murmured, nodding her head. ‘I was thinking about Connie and how her legacy has changed my life.’

‘How come?’

‘Well, I wouldn’t have met you if it wasn’t for her.’

‘True. And I have her to thank for that too. I can’t imagine my life without you in it, Grace,’ he told her.