Chapter 10 - THE NEW HEARTBEAT
Six months later, the air in the Swiss Alps tasted like crushed ice and pine needles.
The sun was setting behind the snow-capped peaks of Zermatt, casting a golden-orange glow over the wooden chalet nestled against the side of the mountain. Smoke curled lazily from the stone chimney, drifting up into the vast, star-studded night sky.
Inside, the kitchen was filled with the warm, rich smell of garlic, basil, and simmering tomatoes.
Gia sat at the heavy oak dining table, furiously coloring a drawing of a horse with a very confused expression while humming a little tune under her breath. Her cheeks were rosy, her dark curls bouncing with every movement, and her chest rose and fell in a steady, perfect rhythm.
At the stove, Salvatore stood wearing a thick wool sweater and an apron that said Kiss the Chef, carefully stirring a large pot of pasta sauce with a wooden spoon.
The back door opened, and cool mountain air swept into the kitchen alongside the soft crunch of boots on fresh snow.
Iris stepped inside, shaking the white flakes from the brim of her knit beanie and unzipping her heavy red winter coat.
“How was the clinic in town?” Salvatore asked, turning from the stove and walking over to her.
“Quiet,” Iris said, smiling as he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his warm chest. “Just routine check-ups and a few runny noses. It’s a nice change of pace from New Orleans.”
“Good,” Salvatore murmured, pressing a warm kiss to the top of her head. “Because I didn't move you across an ocean to let you work seventy-hour weeks.”
“I’m a surgeon, Salvatore. I’ll always find someone to patch up,” she teased, turning in his arms to wrap her own around his neck.
From the dining table, Gia looked up from her coloring book, blinking her big dark eyes at them.
“Papa, are you kissing Dr. Iris again?” Gia asked with a mock-serious tone.
May you like
Salvatore laughed, a rich, booming sound that echoed off the wooden beams of the chalet. He looked down at Iris, his dark eyes filled with a lifetime of devotion, peace, and unconditional love.
“Always, little bull,” Salvatore said, leaning down to press his lips softly against Iris’s. “Always.”
