THE TWO HOURS HE COULDN'T GIVE

"Yes."

Vanessa's answer was barely audible.

Luca stared at her.

"Why?"

"Because there wasn't enough time."

"The part was here Tuesday."

"And the luncheon was Saturday."

"That's four days."

"Four days to find somebody qualified, install it, test the equipment, and prepare two floors of a historic restaurant for our guests."

Luca looked at the box.

"Then the elevator stays shut."

"I thought the issue was manageable."

"Frank Bennett told you it wasn't."

Vanessa's eyes filled.

"I know what he said."

The words hung between us.

I stood beside the table wearing my father's oversized jacket.

A few guests had stopped eating.

Rosa remained near the service station.

Marco looked as though he'd aged ten years since the previous evening.

Luca ran a hand over his face.

"Vanessa, what exactly did you expect would happen?"

She looked at her mother.

Then answered.

"The event would go ahead. The elevator would be inspected afterward. We'd pay for whatever repairs were needed."

"And if somebody got hurt in the meantime?"

She shook her head.

"I never believed that would happen."

"Believing something won't happen doesn't make it safe."

I looked at the unopened carton.

My father had believed in doing things properly.

He'd driven an old pickup because he refused to replace something that still worked.

He'd patched our kitchen ceiling himself.

He'd repaired my bicycle so many times that the paint wore off the frame.

But when it came to elevators, he never believed in shortcuts.

He used to tell me that a machine didn't care about anyone's schedule.

If it was unsafe, it was unsafe.

"May I say something?" I asked.

Luca turned.

"Of course."

I looked at Vanessa.

"My father knew you wanted the luncheon upstairs."

She nodded reluctantly.

"He knew Mrs. Moretti needed the elevator."

"Yes."

"And he knew you wanted everything finished by Saturday."

"Claire—"

"Then why didn't you tell him to come back when you had time?"

Vanessa stared at me.

"Because he'd already said the elevator shouldn't be used."

I waited.

She seemed to hear her own answer.

I swallowed.

"That's what he was trying to protect you from."

Vanessa looked away.

"I didn't need him protecting me."

"No," I said quietly. "You needed someone to tell you the truth."

Her expression hardened.

"Your father wasn't the only person with an opinion."

"Maybe not."

I looked down.

"But he was the one who signed his name to the warning."

Luca rested his hand on the carton.

"Marco, why did you allow the elevator to be restarted?"

Marco swallowed.

"Vanessa said another contractor had reviewed it."

"Did you see a written clearance?"

"No."

"Then why didn't you ask?"

Marco rubbed his forehead.

"Because I was afraid."

Nobody moved.

He looked at me.

"Claire, I wish I had a better answer."

I felt my eyes fill.

"What were you afraid of?"

"That the whole weekend would be canceled. Bellini Events had already paid several deposits, and Vanessa told me the restaurant couldn't afford to lose the bookings."

He looked toward Luca.

"Eighteen of my employees count on their weekend hours. Some have children. Some are paying rent they can barely afford."

His voice broke.

"I convinced myself I was protecting them."

Luca studied him.

"And what would've happened if somebody got hurt?"

Marco lowered his head.

"I know."

"You're the manager. You have authority to close unsafe equipment."

"I know."

"Then why didn't you use it?"

Marco looked at the carton.

"Because I was more afraid of disappointing Vanessa than of being wrong."

I felt something shift inside me.

Until that moment, I'd thought Marco was simply a kind man who hadn't been brave enough.

But he'd made a choice too.

He'd seen the warning.

He'd understood the risk.

And he'd let someone else decide whether to respect it.

I thought of Dad standing beside an elevator door, trying to protect people he barely knew.

Marco had been frightened of losing his job.

Dad had been frightened someone might lose their life.

Neither man had been comfortable.

Only one had refused to look away.

Luca's phone vibrated on the table.

He glanced at the screen.

Then looked toward Marco.

"The independent mechanic is downstairs."

A woman in her forties approached with a work bag and a plain navy jacket.

She introduced herself as Dana Walsh.

Luca explained the warning and showed her the replacement part.

Dana examined the packaging without opening it.

Then asked to see the maintenance records before inspecting the elevator.

Vanessa folded her arms.

"How long is this going to take?"

Dana looked at her.

"As long as necessary."

Luca almost smiled.

Dana continued.

"An elevator that's been taken out of service doesn't become safe because an event is scheduled. I'll inspect it and tell you what needs to happen next."

She left with Marco.

Vanessa watched them go.

Then turned toward Luca.

"You've already made up your mind about me."

He shook his head.

"I've made up my mind about the elevator."

"That's not what I meant."

"I know."

Her eyes filled.

"Do you remember what you said when you proposed?"

Luca looked at her.

"You said we were going to build something together. Something that lasted."

"I meant it."

"So did I."

She looked around the dining room.

"My parents spent twenty-six years building their company. Then my father got sick, contracts dried up, and suddenly everybody acted like we were failures."

Sofia quietly wiped her eyes.

Vanessa continued.

"This wedding was supposed to prove we could still do something extraordinary."

Luca's expression softened.

"You didn't have to prove that to me."

"I know that now."

He looked toward the elevator corridor.

"Then why were you willing to gamble with other people's safety?"

Vanessa didn't answer.

A few minutes later, Dana returned.

Her expression was serious.

"Mr. Moretti, the elevator must remain out of service. The upper landing assembly hasn't been replaced, and I cannot clear the system in its present condition."

Luca nodded.

"Understood."

Dana placed the orange warning tag beside the unopened carton.

"Frank Bennett's decision to shut it down was appropriate."

My chest tightened.

Somehow, hearing another professional say those words made me want to cry.

Dad had been right.

Even when nobody listened.

Dana turned toward Vanessa.

"Was the elevator operated after Mr. Bennett's warning?"

Vanessa looked at Marco.

"Only briefly."