“It seems that way to me too,” Ross said.

“Still, after a week or so I can’t wait to get back home. Casa, dolce casa,” she said. Home, sweet home.

Ross just smiled.

“I must say I’m surprised by how much things have changed in my absence.”

“In what way?”

“Eliana, mostly. I don’t remember the last time I saw her so happy.”

“It’s probably just because you’re back. She’s missed you.”

“Not as much as usual, perhaps,” she said cryptically. Ross suddenly felt a little uncomfortable.

“And then there’s little Alessio. He was showing me the soccer trading cards you gave him. He’s pretty taken with you. You’re all he’s talked about since I got back. I’m happy for him; it’s good for him to have a man interested in him.” She turned to face Ross. “But then I could probably say the same for Eliana, couldn’t I?”

Ross looked at the ground. She was playing with him. “Where are you going with this?”

She smiled slightly. “That was my next question.”

Ross looked over, studied her face. As direct as her accusation was, there was no hint of condemnation in her eyes.

“I know what you’re thinking, me being Maurizio’s sister. Don’t worry, I’m not going to tell anybody. Especially my brother. I may be his sister, but I don’t like him. I think he is a fool. He doesn’t deserve Eliana, and when I think of how starved Alessio is for his father’s approval and attention, it makes me want to cry. So if you are bringing a little happiness to my two favorite people in this world, then God bless you.”

Ross still didn’t speak and there was quiet again. Anna suddenly clasped her thick hands together, as if in prayer. “I think you’re a good man, Signor Story. I have a sixth sense for things like that. But my allegiance is to Eliana and Alessio. Eliana’s as innocent as an angel. She loves the Lord and she loves Alessio more than herself. And now she’s in love with you.” Ross showed no reaction, though he wondered how Anna knew Eliana’s feelings.

“Oh, don’t pretend you didn’t notice, she is.”

“She told you that?”

“She didn’t need to.” She paused, swatted at a fly that had landed on her hair. “Listen to me. The road you two are on might seem like a simple joy walk now, but make no mistake, it is perilous. And you’re further down it than either of you realize. If you’re not serious about the journey, I suggest you get off the path, because you are setting Eliana up for a fall I don’t think she can handle.”

Ross only rubbed his hands together in thought.

“You know, this whole affair ought to be black and white. What God has brought together let no man tear asunder—not even handsome Ross Story. But as God is my witness I don’t know what’s the right thing to do. Because I can’t believe it’s right that a heart as good as Eliana’s needs to live without love for the rest of her life. And unless Maurizio undergoes a conversion akin to the apostle Paul’s on the road to Damascus, that’s exactly what’s in store for her.” She looked away in thought. Her eyes were moist now; her voice turned solemn. “Frankly, I have no desire to spend the next decade watching her wither away. So I have no idea what’s right and what’s wrong here. I’m just praying that you have some idea of where you’re going and what to do when you get there.”