Elena’s friends were gathered together around three tables near the edge of the dance floor when she and Carter walked into the nightclub. A sizable crowd filled the remaining tables, but at the moment only two or three couples were out on the floor dancing to the music thumping from the sound system. Once again, as she had done earlier that evening on the piazza, Elena entwined her arm in Carter’s and walked very close to him as they approached under the watchful eyes of her friends.The two squeezed in at one of the tables, drinks were ordered, and Carter settled back to see what the night would bring. Alfonso, he saw, was sitting at the next table over. At seeing Carter glance in his direction, he quickly looked the other way. By this point in the evening, Carter could not have cared less about Alfonso and his political convictions. His thoughts were too wrapped up in the beautiful young woman sitting next to him. For her part, Elena sat there saying very little to Carter, or to anyone else, for that matter. Instead she looked about the club with impatient eyes. Carter wanted to ask what was bothering her, but then one of Elena’s girlfriends sitting on his opposite side tapped him on the shoulder and leaned close to his ear.

“Ciao, Carter,” she said, all but shouting to be heard above the music. “I am Agostina.”

Agostina was a plain-looking girl with short brown hair and a thin, angular face, but she had bright, playful eyes and a very nice smile.

“Yes, I remember meeting you earlier on the piazza,” said Carter, smiling in return.

“Ah, you do speak Italian very well,” she said pleasantly. “Do you like Italy? Are you having a good time here?”

Carter nodded enthusiastically. It was simpler than trying to be heard.

“And what do you think of Roccasale?” said Agostina. “Do you like it here, too? “

Carter grinned.

“I do,” he answered, glancing back with affectionate eyes at Elena, who by now had her cell phone against one ear and her hand cupped over the other. He leaned back to Agostina. “More and more,” he added.

Agostina looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before smiling again, but this time in a way that struck Carter as a little bit sad.

“I hope you will stay here for a while,” she said.

“So do I,” he replied.

Agostina smiled in that same way again, patted his arm, and turned to talk to one of the others.

“Carter, what are you doing just sitting there?” he heard Elena cry suddenly. Her cell phone once again out of sight, she jumped up, took Carter’s hand, and pulled him to his feet.

“Andiamo a ballare!” she exclaimed. “Let’s dance!”