She read the message.

I remembered that today is your favorite holiday. Happy Halloween! I hope you’re having the best time whatever it is you’re doing.

Keira read it over and over, hearing Shane’s musical Irish accent in her head, comforted by his contact. In a moment of weakness, she messaged him back.

I’m in a hostel in Venice. Long story. How’s Calum?

Shane’s response came almost immediately.

Venice! That sounds interesting. Dad’s back on his feet and working on the farm again, thanks for asking. You were right about him recovering quickly. But then again, you’re usually right.

Keira frowned as she read the cryptic message. What did he mean by that? You’re usually right seemed to be implying something, referring to something specific. He didn’t mean about them not breaking up, did he? Surely not!

Keira composed her next simple message and hit send.

What else have I been right about?

There was a long pause. Then, finally, her phone buzzed again with Shane’s response.

You were right about us. I made the wrong decision. I should have been patient instead of ending things the way I did. I think I was in shock. I made a dumb mistake.

Keira stared at the words on her screen, her heart pounding. If she’d received this text message October 22nd she’d have been overjoyed. But now, just as October was preparing to move over for November to dawn, her feelings were conflicted.

She needed someone at this point in time, she knew that much. And she loved Shane, always had, even as she was falling for Cristiano. It had been Vanni who made her realize the possibility of loving more than one person at one time; one of the many lessons on romance she’d learned since arriving here.

But if she replied to Shane at this point in time, when she was at her lowest, how would she know she was behaving in accordance with her heart rather than as a way of alleviating her pain and loneliness?

She read the message again and again. In the end, she decided not to reply. Her mind was a mess right now, her heart in turmoil. It would be reckless to carry on this conversation with Shane while she was feeling so vulnerable.

There was one thing becoming more clear in Keira’s mind now, though, and that was the fact that she’d blown her assignment. No laptop to work on anymore and her extensive handwritten notes had been destroyed.

Finally, she realized she had no choice but to call Heather.

“Don’t tell me you’ve been pickpocketed again,” Heather said as she answered.

“No,” Keira said. “It’s worse.”

She listened to the sound of Heather drawing a breath. When she spoke her tone was practically a wince. “What’s happened?”

“It’s my laptop,” Keira said. “It’s gone.”

“What do you mean gone?”

“There was an incident with a gondola,” Keira replied. Half truths were easier to say than lies.

She heard Heather exhale sharply. “Did you drown your laptop?”