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Published by Signet, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. Previously published in a Dutton edition.

First Signet Printing, October 2003

Copyright © Richard Paul Evans, 2002

Excerpt from A Perfect Day copyright © Richard Paul Evans, 2003 All rights reserved

Tip-in photo: Capela Della, Val D’Orcia, Bob Krist

Italian proverbs from Treasury of Italian Love: Poems, Quotations & Proverbs in Italian and English and Dictionary of 1000 Italian Proverbs, published by Hippocrene Books.

eISBN : 978-1-101-14396-4

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To Carole Baron, con affetto

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Tante grazie to the following: Laurie Chittenden, for your insight, enthusiasm and patience. It’s nice being with you again. The whole Dutton crew: Carole, Lisa, Brian, Kim and Stephanie. Thank you for welcoming me into your family. My dear friend Laurie Liss (and Kate and Timothy), for everything, as usual. Artist Steve Smulka and Dolores Libera, for sharing your hearts. Author James McBride and Stephanie McBride, for your help in relocating. (Miracle at St. Anna was wonderful, James.) My staff, Celeste, Krista, Lisa, Karen, Fran, Dad, Paula, Tawna and Heather. Thank you for keeping the home fires burning.

The Last Promise would not have been possible without the assistance of my new Italy friends: Vahe and Andrea Keushguerian of Rendola—may your vineyards flourish! Enrico Marelli, with admiration. Miriam DiMarco—thank you for being so good to me. Andrea Venturini (www.accademiarealty.com). Luigi Tomassi, who first brought me to the villa. Andrea, Anna and Patrizio Santurro. My dear friend Maurizio Ventura (who in no way resembles the Maurizio in this book), Alberto and Maria Teresa Sottili. Laura Mongiat and the entire AISF crew. The Ferrini famly. Diane and Ugo Punteri. Steve and Mia Harper of the American Consulate in Florence. John Pitonzo, buona fortuna with your book. Megan and Mark at Villa Bagnolo.