a lot.’
They walked on, their feet easily finding the harmonious rhythm that usually comes with longer acquaintance. Melanie thought of how different the Spitieris were from what she expected. Listening to Sophia chatting about her family, her stories frequently interrupted to point out some of the more interesting blooms, Melanie couldn’t help but feel at home, however strange it sounded. Talking about herself in return came naturally. Sophia’s good-natured interest in her life spurred her on.
‘Well, that’s the end of it .’ They reached the lowest point of the garden, the low wall overgrown with ivy that separated the garden from the fields beyond. Melanie watched the evening air glimmer with the golden rays of the setting sun. The green fields turned bluish in the distance, feeling oddly peaceful and country-like considering it was Rome. Huge palms grew in clumps along the small country road dividing the end of the garden from the next field. Her delighted eyes noticed a small stone altar tucked between dark green yews overlooking a glimmering pond. Dark and mysterious, the water barely moved in the balmy evening air, the stone mirrored in its emerald surface.
‘There is a surprise around every corner .’ She smiled and turned to the older woman. Their chat along the way made it much easier to sound familiar without feeling like she was overstepping some invisible boundary. ‘I absolutely love it here.’
‘Well, that’s very good, because I am sure you won’t want to spend all your time with our men .’ For a second, Melanie wondered if she should make it clear Pete was not hers, but she dismissed the impulse almost immediately. She would come across as paranoid and ridiculous. The light comment was meant as a joke, nothing else.
‘But I have to warn you, you won’t have it all to yourself,’ Sophia continued, her eyes wrinkling from her smile. ‘My husband’s colleague who is paying us a visit has a soft spot for the garden as well. He arrived just yesterday. He had to go to the city today to meet with an archive clerk for his research. He should be back shortly, though.’
That was her chance to find out more about the mystery man. Pete hadn’t provided her with any details. He’d just said he was Spitieri’s old university colleague who happened to pick the same time for his visit, unfortunately. She could imagine some old, wise man sharing anecdotes from their time at the university over dinner. She still had no idea how was she supposed to distract him. The whole issue with his being in the way sounded ridiculous. Pete’s request was so outlandish and out of character she had problems taking it seriously.
She waited too long, though. One glance at her slim, gold plated watch sent Sophia in a rush back to the house, her hurried explanations of being late for dinner making stall ing any longer impossible. Well, there would be the next time; they walked on back to the house. Melanie was really hungry. Her stomach grumbled softly in protest of the horrid treatment it had received in the last twenty-four hours.
‘ Dio mio , here I am dragging you out while you’re starving, my poor child.’ A motherly hand patted her shoulder, and Sophia’s mood channeled into perfect hostess mode immediately. ‘Come, dear, let’s have something small to eat. You must excuse us eating in the small dining room, though. As it happens, we are still renovating the proper dining room, which takes forever. Naturalamente , Daniel is happy to eat at the kitchen table, if you ask him.’ She sighed comically, ushering Melanie right in.
If that was the “small” dining room, Melanie wasn’t sure she was up to ever entering the other “proper” one. They walked into a space big enough to hold half of her small apartment back home. With its dark paneled walls and oriental carpets in red, gold, and cream, it commanded enough elegance to make their dinner a lot more than just a casual affair, if anyone
They walked on, their feet easily finding the harmonious rhythm that usually comes with longer acquaintance. Melanie thought of how different the Spitieris were from what she expected. Listening to Sophia chatting about her family, her stories frequently interrupted to point out some of the more interesting blooms, Melanie couldn’t help but feel at home, however strange it sounded. Talking about herself in return came naturally. Sophia’s good-natured interest in her life spurred her on.
‘Well, that’s the end of it .’ They reached the lowest point of the garden, the low wall overgrown with ivy that separated the garden from the fields beyond. Melanie watched the evening air glimmer with the golden rays of the setting sun. The green fields turned bluish in the distance, feeling oddly peaceful and country-like considering it was Rome. Huge palms grew in clumps along the small country road dividing the end of the garden from the next field. Her delighted eyes noticed a small stone altar tucked between dark green yews overlooking a glimmering pond. Dark and mysterious, the water barely moved in the balmy evening air, the stone mirrored in its emerald surface.
‘There is a surprise around every corner .’ She smiled and turned to the older woman. Their chat along the way made it much easier to sound familiar without feeling like she was overstepping some invisible boundary. ‘I absolutely love it here.’
‘Well, that’s very good, because I am sure you won’t want to spend all your time with our men .’ For a second, Melanie wondered if she should make it clear Pete was not hers, but she dismissed the impulse almost immediately. She would come across as paranoid and ridiculous. The light comment was meant as a joke, nothing else.
‘But I have to warn you, you won’t have it all to yourself,’ Sophia continued, her eyes wrinkling from her smile. ‘My husband’s colleague who is paying us a visit has a soft spot for the garden as well. He arrived just yesterday. He had to go to the city today to meet with an archive clerk for his research. He should be back shortly, though.’
That was her chance to find out more about the mystery man. Pete hadn’t provided her with any details. He’d just said he was Spitieri’s old university colleague who happened to pick the same time for his visit, unfortunately. She could imagine some old, wise man sharing anecdotes from their time at the university over dinner. She still had no idea how was she supposed to distract him. The whole issue with his being in the way sounded ridiculous. Pete’s request was so outlandish and out of character she had problems taking it seriously.
She waited too long, though. One glance at her slim, gold plated watch sent Sophia in a rush back to the house, her hurried explanations of being late for dinner making stall ing any longer impossible. Well, there would be the next time; they walked on back to the house. Melanie was really hungry. Her stomach grumbled softly in protest of the horrid treatment it had received in the last twenty-four hours.
‘ Dio mio , here I am dragging you out while you’re starving, my poor child.’ A motherly hand patted her shoulder, and Sophia’s mood channeled into perfect hostess mode immediately. ‘Come, dear, let’s have something small to eat. You must excuse us eating in the small dining room, though. As it happens, we are still renovating the proper dining room, which takes forever. Naturalamente , Daniel is happy to eat at the kitchen table, if you ask him.’ She sighed comically, ushering Melanie right in.
If that was the “small” dining room, Melanie wasn’t sure she was up to ever entering the other “proper” one. They walked into a space big enough to hold half of her small apartment back home. With its dark paneled walls and oriental carpets in red, gold, and cream, it commanded enough elegance to make their dinner a lot more than just a casual affair, if anyone
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