Loving Adam Scott

When Italy Calls

Addison's P.O.V.

From my room, I heard the soft sound of tiny footsteps just before the doorknob turned.

"Mummy, it’s Pancake Day. What are you still doing in bed?" My little angel asked.

I stood up, placed my laptop gently on the bed, and walked over to the doorway where she stood in her pyjamas, eyes wide with excitement.

"I was working, Mia," I said, bending down to pick her up. "But I didn’t forget about Pancake Day. I was just waiting for you to wake up and be my little assistant chef today. You promised you would help, remember?"

She nodded with a big smile.

"Okay then, let’s march to the kitchen," I said, setting her down and holding her tiny hand.

She’s our joy, mine and Nate’s.

"Mix gently, Panky. We don’t want to mess up the kitchen again, do we?"

"No, Mummy," she replied sweetly and began stirring her small bowl of batter carefully. "I want to add strawberries. Daddy likes strawberries."

I chuckled and handed her the strawberry jam. Nate would eat anything she made, even if it was burnt. He loved her more than he loved strawberries.

"Daddy will love anything made by you because anything you make with your hands is golden," I said, pinching her soft cheek.

She giggled, delighted.

We had just finished baking and were setting the table when the honk of a car drew our attention toward the window.

Nate.

He was back earlier than usual.

"Daddy!" Mia squealed, abandoning the table and running outside like a whirlwind.

I followed more calmly and watched as she threw herself into his arms.

"Someone ordered croissants?" he teased, lifting a brown paper bag in his right hand. Mia clung to him, her little face turned toward the door.

I smiled and walked over, leaning in to kiss him. He kissed me back slowly, his lips warm and patient, like he had all the time in the world. His hand settled on my waist, drawing me closer. It was the kind of kiss that melted away the stress of the morning and reminded me of everything steady in my life.

"Hmmm," he murmured. "Did I miss Pancake Day? I can taste it on your lips."

"It’s always Pancake Day," I replied, smiling.

His eyes met mine over Mia’s shoulder; they were warm, steady and familiar. Nathaniel Rowland had only ever looked at me with love. Even in the early days, when I was a single, pregnant woman cleaning hotel rooms just to get by. There was something unshakeable about him, and for the past five years, I’d leaned into that more than I cared to admit.

He always looked happy to spend time with us. Not once have I ever doubted his love for me or for Mia.

"I thought you had meetings until noon," I said as we walked back inside.

"Got a call from the main branch. They need me in Sicily this week," he said, setting Mia down gently. "So I wrapped up what I could early. Figured I’d stop by and eat something that doesn’t taste like a conference room."

Italy.

My stomach tightened.

I was proud of him, proud of what he had built. But something about his trips to Italy always made me uneasy. As if when he left, the threads holding us together loosened just a little. He never stayed away too long, but the fear still crept in that one day he might not come back.

"How long will you be gone?" I asked casually, forcing the pancake into my mouth.

"A week," he replied, leaning against the chair. I’ve already asked Mrs Alvarez to pick Mia up from school and stay with her if you have to work late.”

"You didn’t have to—"

"I wanted to."

There was a brief silence between us.

Mia tugged at his sleeve. "Can I go with you to Italy one day?"

I already knew the answer.

Nathan smiled. "Someday soon, sweetheart."

He always said Italy was where his family lived. Where his business started. But in all these years, he’d never taken me or Mia there. He kept saying he would when we were ready to get married, but somehow it always felt like an excuse.

Especially because he knew my family.

It was like he didn’t want us to meet his.

Nathan wasn’t born in Italy. Despite being from New York, he didn’t grow up there.

"She’s never been to Italy," I said quietly, my smile faltering just a little.

His expression softened. "We’ll change that someday, love."

I nodded, not wanting to press the issue. Not today.

I knew he hated being away, especially from Mia, but the trips were becoming too frequent. Short, but constant. But he was the kind of man who showed up, not just for the big things but for all the little moments, too. So these brief trips shouldn't really matter, but somehow they do.

My eyes drifted to Mia, who was now feeding tiny pieces of pancake to her stuffed rabbit, Mr Buttons.

She was happy. Safe. Loved.

And yet…

There were still nights that I lay awake alone in bed, wondering how different things might have been if Adam had married me instead of Elara.

But he didn’t.

And I stopped waiting.

Or at least… I thought I had.