“Just hold me.” Ross pulled her back into himself and she was happier than she believed possible. “Promise me you’ll never leave me again.”

Ross pulled her still tighter, pressing his wet cheek against hers, then whispered in her ear, “All right. But it’s my last promise.”

Eliana sat back in her chair as if punctuating the story’s completion.

“Just another girl’s story,” she said.

“And living happily ever after?” I asked.

Her smile answered me. “He really is sweet. I don’t know if you ever write from real experiences, but if you want it, it’s yours.”

I thought about her offer. “Why would you want to share your story with the whole world?”

She considered my question for a moment then replied softly, “There were days when I could have used such a story. Maybe there’s another woman out there, another Eliana, trapped and wondering if life has forgotten her. Afraid to love. Afraid to hope. Afraid of hope. If I knew where she was, I would put my arms around her and hold her and tell her that it’s okay to cry. It’s okay to scream. It’s even okay to pound the walls. But it’s never okay to lose hope.” She looked up at me. “But I don’t know where she is. Maybe your book will find her.”

“Forse,” I said. Perhaps.

I looked out at the children playing in the pool. “Is Alessio here?”

“No, he’s with Anna. We bring him at least once a year to see his father and all his relatives.”

“Do you see much of Maurizio?”

“Actually we saw him yesterday. And we talk on the phone from time to time. I keep him updated on Alessio. He’s still usually on the road, though he does try to get back if he knows we’re coming. He’s changed. It’s funny how things go. He has more interest in Alessio now than he did before. And he’s very kind to me. Anyway, he has a new girlfriend. He’ll probably marry her in a couple of years.”

“Thank you for sharing your story.”

“You’re welcome.”

I sat back in my chair and thought. She had given me much to think about and my mind wrapped around her story like a sculptor’s hands around clay. It was about a half hour later when a man entered the pool area. He was about my height, slim, yet muscularly built, with dark, short hair. He was barefoot, wore an open shirt and swim trunks. From Eliana’s expression I immediately knew who it was. She waved to him. “Amore.”

Ross smiled as he walked toward us. “Ciao, bella,” he said. When he was near her, he leaned over and kissed her.

“Amore, this is Richard.”

He looked at me. His eyes were piercing, yet kind. “Piacere.”