Anger simmered, but it was the hurt that made it worse. I’d actually done it again. Believed she meant it when she said no work for the rest of the week. She’d managed for a while as long as nothing big happened, but the moment a problem cropped up, she disappeared like a guy after a one-night stand. She’d been getting worse the last few years, but now the truth couldn’t be denied anymore.

Mom cared about her career more than me. Yep, a definite slap in the face, but maybe it was time I stopped spinning my wheels and hoping for a change that would never come.

This past week, I felt like we’d gotten closer. Since Enzo, she seemed less of her control-freak self and more open. She smiled and laughed and freely gave affection to both me and Nonni. Honestly, she seemed happy for the first time. Didn’t she realize how stressed out work always made her? Her attention constantly on her phone or computer, distracted from the world around her?

I thought having Enzo here would make a difference, but it didn’t. None of us meant enough to her. It was a good thing she wasn’t involved in a real relationship, because it’d be impossible to maintain. No man would put up with constantly being chosen last.

I was stuck with it. Enzo wasn’t.

He must be pissed. Sure, he was acting nice, but I bet inside he was wondering why he’d even come out to visit when he was going to be dumped.

We began the climb upward to walk the various footpaths on the famous walls. Enzo kept up a steady chatter, probably hoping to distract us, checking his phone for a text message now and then.

I tried not to snort. She’d be gone for hours, then offer apologies that were too little, too late. But it was probably best he find that out for himself.

“Ah, she made it. Just in time.”

I tilted my head, confused, then saw my mom turn the corner and head toward us. I blinked in shock, and she stopped in front of me, her gaze fastened on mine.

“I made a mistake,” she said firmly. “I broke my promise. So I told my team to handle things and I came right back. Because you’re more important than any client, Allegra. I need you to know that and forgive me.”

Stunned, I needed a few minutes to register that she was not only back, but being completely direct. “Will they be able to handle it?”

She paused. “No, I lost the account. But I needed to put my family first this time.”

She lost a client? My eyes bugged out. “Are you sure?” I asked, a bit off-kilter from her announcement. She’d never lost an account. They were her bread and butter, her life and death.