All Chapters of Fading Snow, Long Island: Chapter 11 - Chapter 13

We shared a bed again. But we were never intimate. Enzo knew I rejected him—physically, mentally. So he didn’t touch me. His walk‑in closet was on the second floor. Every morning I’d pick out the suit and shirt he’d chosen the day before, then go to the accessories area for a watch, cufflinks, tie. These were our final days. We mimicked the routines of the past five years. With one look, I knew what he wanted to wear. With one glance from me, he knew to tilt his head up for me to tie his tie, or raise his hand for me to fasten his cufflinks. Outside the floor‑to‑ceiling windows, Long Island trees cast shifting shadows. Wind blew through the leaves, throwing pale green light onto the white marble floor. In the mirror, he wore a charcoal Brioni suit. I wore a peach silk slip dress. At that moment, peaceful and gentle, we really did look like newlyweds. But we weren’t. We were just temporary lovers. Or not even that. The hatred between us far outweighed any lov

My flight was tomorrow morning, direct to Toronto. Tonight was our last night in Budapest. Our last night together. I wanted to take a cruise, drink champagne. But he was trying to make me admit I still loved him. “Lucia, don’t be so cold to me. Laugh at me, cry at me, get angry at me—I can take it. The only thing I fear is your indifference.” I gave him a small smile. “Don’t overthink it. Tomorrow we part. Let’s end this peacefully, without bad blood.” He stared at me. “I can’t.” I pulled my coat tighter against the river wind. Just as I lowered my head, he said softly: “Because I love you.” I thought I’d misheard. But he said it again. Firm. Steady. “I love you.” “Don’t,” I said. “You don’t love me. You love control. Because I ran away, because you can’t hold me, you want to pull me back.” His blue eyes fixed on me. “Why can’t I love you? I have the ability to love. I want to be good to you. I want to travel the world with you. I know my feelings for y