It was really late when they arrived to the farm. The boys were sleeping heavily so Charlie and Sophie carried them to the guest room, where they had two bed prepared already. Lorenzo welcomed with a smile, even though everyone could see that he looked tired, a little bit sad as well. Sophie hugged him tightly as Charlie did.

"Is she awake? Charlie asked.

Lorenzo smiled a little.

"No but she would hate me if I didn't wake her up to tell that you have arrived."

He went upstairs to the bedroom. The couple followed after him and they entered the large bedroom, where their beloved Claire was lying on the bed. Lorenzo tapped her lightly on the shoulder and whispered in her ear that Charlie and Sophie were here. She smiled at him and he went aside, to let the couple say hello. She looked so thin and so vulnerable, was Sophie's first thought. She went forward to kiss her on the cheek and Claire smiled at her, calling her little darling. Charlie bent forward to kiss his grandma.

"Hey Gran."

"My little darlings. Are the boys sleeping?"

"They are. You will meet them tomorrow. Go to sleep now."

Claire fell asleep quickly and they left the room, to let her sleep in peace. Outside, Sophie looked at Lorenzo with concern.

"How much time does she have left?" Charlie put his arm on his wife's shoulders.

"Not much said the doctors. Two weeks at the most." Lorenzo was on the edge of tears when he said that so Charlie consoled him with a hug.

"She is not gone yet. You will have time to say goodbye."

"Charlie? I will go to bed now." Sophie left the men alone and Lorenzo asked Charlie if he wanted a glass of wine. Charlie answered with the affirmative, thinking that a bit of wine could maybe help against the sorrow that had started to creep on him.

Sophie checked on the boys before she went to bed. Edwin and Harry were sleeping deeply, unaware of the imminent tragedy that would hit them soon. They would have had great memories of Claire. They had spent each summer at the Bartolini villa since they were babies. Tuscany had been their escape place, to be away from noisy and tiring New York. This would be a terrible loss for them. Their great-grandma had meant the world for them and that would be snapped away from them. And what was this for Sophie? It feels unreal yet, thought Sophie as she put on her nightgown. They needed to help each other to survive the sorrow and the emptiness Claire would definitively leave behind. She had been like a surrogate mother for Sophie and for Charlie. They would survive this alive. Sophie stood at the balcony, enjoying the last piece of sunlight before it would disappear behind the hills. Suddenly she felt two strong arms around her waist and she let her head drop on his shoulder.

"How are you honey" Sophie asked.

He kissed her in the neck and behind the ears. "I'm fine. I'm going to need a bit of courage to survive this."

Sophie turned around in his grasp to face him. She put her arms around his neck and kissed him softly on the lips.

"Charlie?"

"Yes love?"

"Will you come to me in bed? Can you just hold me in your arms?"

In response, Charlie put his arms behind her legs and carried her to bed. She was carefully putted down on the bed and he held her tight against him, caressing her hair softly. Her head was on his chest and she unbuttoned his shirt so she could feel the naked skin under her cheek. They feel asleep like this, holding on to each other like life depended on it.

The sun brought a new morning and even if the couple had fallen asleep peacefully, their awake was less so. Edwin and Harry thought it appropriate to jump in their parents' bed, shouting and laughing loudly at seven in the morning.

"Mum! Dad! We are here! Is Grandma awake? Can we go and see her? Please?" Edwin shouted.

"Mum! Dad! WAKE UP!" Harry shouted.

Sophie buried herself in the pillow. She loved her boys unconditionally but sometimes they could be a bit annoying. Charlie sat up straight, making his shirt to drop from his shoulders.

"Calm down boys! You can only see Claire if you calm down! Love, you better get up and make the coffee, eh?" said Charlie playfully at his wife. He got only a groan as a reply. "Never mind. I will do it."

"All right, I'm up! You make disgusting coffee and you know that, you British tea lover. Go and see if Claire is awake. The boys are obviously impatient to see her."

Indeed they were. They were jumping up and down on the bed, trying desperately to cover their excitement and impatience. Sophie went down to the kitchen, only to discover that breakfast was already ready and coffee made. She took a cup and filled it with coffee, enjoying the lovely taste of hot beverage in the morning. She felt more awake now; coffee had the power to bring her energy back, as millions of people worldwide also shared. Lorenzo soon appeared in the kitchen, smiling warmly at her when he saw her.

"How is the coffee?"

"Delicious as always," replied Sophie with a smile. "How is Claire this morning?"

"She is in better moods. The boys have just entered the room and I left the room hearing her laugh."

Sophie smiled. The boys had powers too: to spread joy everywhere they went.

"I'm glad. They were so impatient to see her. I'll see what I can do with them today. Is there any place you can recommend?"

Lorenzo thought deeply for a while.

"Have you been to Cortona yet?"

"No, I think that it is the only place we haven't seen."

"It is worth the visit I promise you."