Kate sipped at her coffee before turning to Alessandro. ‘When will you go to see them?’
‘Soon. Before I go home.’
‘I’ll come with you.’
‘There is no need—’
‘I think it would help. A woman would be less threatening and I could talk to his mother.’
‘You don’t speak Italian,’ Alessandro reminded her.
‘Oh. . .’ Kate said.
He gave her a warm smile, the first sign of the Alessandro she had got to know over the last few days that she’d seen that morning. ‘I judged you badly and for that I am sorry. You are good and kind and I will not forget that.’
Kate blushed. ‘Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m doing a rubbish job of trying to help.’
‘But you are trying to help,’ Jamie said. ‘And that’s what counts.’
‘If you wish to come then please do,’ Alessandro said. ‘But it may be better to stay with your friend until he goes home. I will come back to see you both after I have spoken to Pietro’s family and tell you what happened there.’
Kate glanced at Jamie. He looked like someone who needed a friend right now. ‘OK,’ she said. ‘But you’ll definitely come back?’
‘Of course.’
‘And then maybe we should let you get to your bed,’ Jamie said with a smile that spoke to Kate of his relief and faith in Alessandro to sort the whole mess out. It was strange, because although she barely knew him, Kate had faith that he would too. She was already beginning to see that he was a man of his word, and if he said he would do something he would move heaven and earth to do it.
‘I am getting hungry,’ Kate said. ‘And those pastries do look good. Maybe it wouldn’t be such a hardship to stay for a while and polish the rest of the breakfast off.’
Jamie gave her a broad smile. ‘I was hoping you’d say that. I’d appreciate your company.’
Alessandro drained his cup. ‘Va bene. Then I will go now.’
Breakfast at Jamie’s hotel was good – better than the breakfasts Kate had been taking at her own hotel. She supposed when you travelled to Rome as much as Jamie did then you got to know the best places to stay. She wondered vaguely, as she demolished her third pastry and washed it down with a second cup of excellent coffee, whether one day she’d be a seasoned almost Roman, just like him. It seemed like such an impossible idea – at least it was one that she would have laughed at a year, even six months ago – but it was within her grasp now, if she could be brave enough to take the chance.
‘It’s funny,’ she said as Jamie pushed his plate away and declared he’d finished, ‘I’ll miss you when you go back home.’
‘I’ll miss you too. I’ve loved getting to know you these past few days and you’ve been such a support. But you’ll have Alessandro. . .’
Kate gave him a rueful smile. ‘Who knows? I can’t be sure of where I stand with him.’
‘You’re going then? Do you think you’ll do what you said yesterday?’
‘Move here?’ She shrugged. ‘Things felt different yesterday. . . I don’t honestly know. My head is in a whirl over it all. Maybe it was just silly dreaming.’
‘It sounded like more than dreaming to me. And I think Alessandro is crazy about you, if that helps make up your mind.’
‘It’s funny, because I don’t see that. His sister said he was fond of me. . . fond? What the hell does that mean?’
‘That he’s being cautious where his feelings are concerned and he doesn’t want to tell anyone the truth?’
‘Unlike me – bull in a china shop?’
‘What does that even mean?’
Kate laughed. ‘I don’t know. It’s another of those British things. But I think we need a happy medium somewhere.’
‘What the hell is a happy medium?’
‘You don’t know much, do you?’ Kate giggled. ‘It means Alessandro and I need to meet somewhere in the middle. If we could both take a healthy and calm approach it might be perfect.’
‘I don’t think love is often found in happy mediums.’
‘I’m sure there’s some sensible accountant sitting on Tinder that would take me on.’
‘I’d marry you myself before I saw that happen. You deserve way better than that. You deserve adventure and excitement and romance. I see the way Alessandro looks at you – he could be the man to give you all that and more.’
‘Everyone seems to see that but me. I don’t know why that is.’
‘Because you’re full of doubts and you’re scared after the way things ended with Matt. It’s totally understandable for you to be like that but you shouldn’t be. A bit of you must think you can make Rome work for you? Why don’t you try it out for six months and see how you feel after that? I know plenty of people who could help you set up with some work and I could talk to them. You can start small, just like you said, work from your apartment until you start making enough money to hire people and a workspace.’
‘Ah, I don’t know. I can’t help but feel it was a silly, impulsive daydream – pie in the sky. Just like my fashion business idea. Who would want to buy my clothes when they have Gucci and Prada and all those other amazing shops here?’
‘Plenty of people hate those labels and plenty more can’t afford them. There’s always a place for niche stuff. I think you’d be crazy not to try it. What have you got to lose?’
‘Apart from my job, my house, my savings, the goodwill of my sisters and my sanity? Nothing,’ Kate laughed. ‘Put it that way and it’s a no-brainer.’
Jamie grinned. ‘That’s the spirit. It’s what America was built on and look how that turned out.’
She smiled in return but then it faded. ‘Are you really OK? What will you do now?’
‘Me? Sure I’m OK. I’ll go home, get some TLC from Brad and in a few days I’ll have forgotten all about the assault. It will never put me off coming to my favourite city in the world, if that’s what you mean, so when you live here I’ll be visiting all the time.’
Kate didn’t think for a minute that he was telling the truth about being OK, but she let it slide. If he wanted to believe it, then such a positive outlook was half the battle. He wasn’t OK now, but he would be in time, she was sure.
‘And if I live here you’ll always be welcome. But if I end up staying in England, you’ll come to see me there too?’
He furrowed his brow and scrunched his nose. ‘England. . . hmm. . . remind me where that is again. . .’
‘Cheeky!’ She smiled. ‘We’re not that tiny and insignificant.’
‘You’re like the size of Central Park or something, aren’t you?’
‘Central Park is bloody massive though, isn’t it?’
‘True. Probably a lot more dangerous to cross too.’
‘You’ve obviously never been to Manchester on New Year’s Eve,’ Kate said darkly and Jamie laughed.
‘Of course I’ll come to England. I want to meet these amazing sisters I keep hearing about.’
‘I want you to meet them too. I think you’ll get on famously.’
‘And you have to take me to see Manchester United.’
Kate raised her eyebrows. ‘Man United? You want to see a match or the grounds?’
‘I don’t know. Any of it.’
‘I didn’t have you down as a soccer fan.’
‘I’m a David Beckham fan. . . big difference.’
Kate giggled. ‘And I bet it’s not about his free kicks, is it?’
‘What’s a free kick?’
‘Oh my God!’ Kate’s giggles rang around the restaurant, causing a waiter and several other patrons to stare. ‘You know David Beckham doesn’t actually live in Manchester? And he doesn’t play for United any more?’
‘I know, but some of his sweat might be in the walls, and that’s close enough for me. . .’
‘Jamie, you are a tart!’ Kate snorted. ‘Yes, I’ll take you to Old Trafford and I’ll even get you a souvenir shirt. How about that?’
‘Deal.’
It was just as Jamie was giving up on Alessandro returning, and had announced to Kate that if he didn’t come back in the next ten minutes he would have to go and pack for his flight, that Alessandro strode into the restaurant and made his way to their table. He looked calm and determined, and Kate wondered at his stamina – he’d been working all night and was still racing back and forth way after his shift had ended. She’d have been barely able to stay on her feet, let alone play peace envoy in a warring family. He pulled out a seat at their table and dropped into it. Jamie signalled to a watching waiter that they needed more coffee as Alessandro began to speak.
‘All is well,’ he said. ‘I have spoken to Pietro’s mother and father. They did not know about Roberto’s actions last night; Roberto had not told them and Pietro has been too afraid to go home since he told them his secret.’
‘So where has he been all night?’ Jamie asked anxiously.
‘At a friend’s apartment. His mother phoned him while I was there and told him to come home. She will talk to him, but I think they will make friends.’
‘What about, Luigi. . . Pietro’s dad?’ Kate asked. ‘What did he have to say?’
‘He is sorry for Roberto’s actions and he is ashamed of his oldest son,’ Alessandro said, accepting the new coffee pot from the waiter with a nod. ‘He wanted me to tell Jamie that. He would like to make amends.’
‘What about Pietro?’ Jamie asked, clearly not enthralled by the idea of Pietro’s father making amends and what that might entail. ‘Shouldn’t he be his number one priority?’
‘We must be patient. It is not easy for him to accept this news and he will take a long time to get used to it. He feels he now has two sons to bring him shame. He understands that it was not your doing and he will have to talk to Pietro when he comes home. I do not know what they will say to each other, but they understand that if word of any more trouble comes to me I will visit again as a police officer and things will be bad for them. He has worry for Pietro and for Roberto now.’
‘I think a good smack in the face is what Roberto needs,’ Kate said. ‘So that’s one sorted. As far as Pietro is concerned a hug and a bit of acceptance would go a long way to solving that situation too.’
‘It’s not that easy for some people,’ Jamie said. ‘And maybe Roberto needs a little bit of patient tolerance too. He’s a product of his upbringing, and if his family have always had such traditional values and have always voiced their opposition to homosexuality, then it’s only natural Roberto would freak out. What he sees is a challenge to the order of their little world, and the breakdown of his family. I can totally understand why he would lash out against that, and I don’t think more violence is the answer.’
Kate gave a wondering smile. ‘You’re amazing. How many other people would see it like that when they’d been at the receiving end of that lashing out?’
‘Perhaps Jamie is right, however,’ Alessandro said. ‘They need time. Pietro will not work in his father’s restaurant for a few days while he decides what he is going to do next, and Roberto will take his work as punishment for his insult of Jamie. I feel happy that they will resolve things now in the family. It may not be perfect, but it will be peaceful.’
‘I hope so,’ Kate said. She turned to Jamie. ‘But from now on promise me you’ll try to stay out of trouble. You’ve given me more than enough headaches this week.’
‘Nope, I can’t do that,’ Jamie said. ‘Trouble is in my blood so I might promise it but I’d break the promise no matter how hard I tried not to. Best not to make the promise at all so nobody is disappointed.’
Kate rolled her eyes. ‘At least next time don’t keep everyone in the dark and take someone with you when you get invited out to a dodgy alleyway by an angry brother.’
Jamie laughed. ‘Sure will. I can do that much, but you’d better bring your boxing gloves.’ He turned to Alessandro. ‘I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done, except to extend the invitation I’ve already made to Kate that you should absolutely come and stay with Brad and I next time you’re in New York.’
Alessandro inclined his head. ‘That is very kind. I will do that.’
‘You never know,’ Jamie added, an impish look now creeping over his face, ‘you might want to come over together. . .’
Alessandro smiled at Kate and her cheeks burned crimson again. The old feelings were back to plague her, and she wished that she could have heard Lucetta say something other than he was fond of her. Fond didn’t even begin to cover the emotions engulfing her right now.
‘I’m glad that Pietro is going to be OK,’ Jamie added. ‘I guess I really need to get packed now for my flight home. What are you guys going to do for the rest of your day?’
‘I still haven’t seen the Trevi Fountain – at least not properly yet,’ Kate said. ‘I suppose I might do that as it’ll probably be my last opportunity.’ She looked hopefully at Alessandro.
‘Would you like me to accompany you?’ he asked.
Kate glanced at Jamie, and she caught the hint of a smile. He gave her a tiny nod.
‘You must be exhausted,’ Kate said, turning back to Alessandro, her heart pounding, hoping that her flimsy platitude would be ignored and that he would insist on taking her out. It might not end the way she wanted it to, but despite all that she had said before, she wasn’t ready to let him go. ‘I bet you’re heading home to bed.’
‘I have to work this evening,’ he said. ‘But I am not tired yet.’
Chapter Seventeen
When she was a little girl her mother used to warn Kate about the old cellar of their house. She’d tell her it was unsafe and cold and dark, that she shouldn’t go poking around down there because there were all kinds of dangerous things stored there. The warnings only served to inflame her curiosity, and one day when nobody was looking she unlocked the old door and went in. It was dark, and the steps were slippery with years of damp and mould, and Kate fell down them and broke her wrist.
Her mother’s warning was very much like the sorts of warnings her brain was issuing about Alessandro right now, warnings that she was cheerfully ignoring as she revelled in what she had forbidden herself only a few hours ago. This time the risks included a broken heart rather than a broken wrist, but she was willing to take them. She had leapt at his offer to accompany her to the Trevi Fountain, and the only misgiving she was allowing herself to acknowledge was the fact that she wasn’t exactly looking her best and if she’d had the time she would have gone back to her own hotel to change first. She was also aware that Alessandro, despite his assurances to the contrary, must be getting tired, and that he had to work again later, and she didn’t want to keep him up all day. But guilt wasn’t going to put her off – she was greedy for his company, and she wanted to spend as much time with him as she could get.
He had reached for her hand as they stood and gazed over the crystal water of the fountain and the imposing colonnaded backdrop, adorned with sculptures of gleaming travertine stone that dominated the skyline. It felt like a theatre, the way a long seat curved around the stage of the sweeping pool, already filled with tourists rapt at the view. She left her hand clasped in his as the sun warmed their necks, enjoyed the thrill of the contact as he shared his knowledge of the fountain, explaining the figures of the god of the waters, the seahorses, about how the cascading water arrived from an ancient Roman aqueduct, and how the fountain had just been renovated so that it was now even greater than the wonder it had once been. He was so knowledgeable and so obviously bursting with pride, so patient and willing to answer all her questions, she could have listened all day. Just the sound of his voice gave her chills, the delectable accent and idiosyncrasies of his pronunciations when he spoke English, the slipping between that and his perfect native Italian, and Kate didn’t think she had ever been so entranced by a man before. Perhaps this could all be hers if she would only take the leap. Now more than ever before she yearned to stay, if only to be near him, to be able to see him every day.
But it was still an impossible dream, wasn’t it? Though his actions now whispered feelings stronger than fondness, she couldn’t be certain, not until he said it. And perhaps he never would. Romance like this happened, but not to people like her.
‘What are you thinking about?’ He looked down at her, noting a brief, pensive silence as she watched the sparkling waters race over the stones. ‘You are tired? Hot? Would you like to sit down?’
‘I should imagine you’re the one who’s tired,’ Kate said. ‘You’ve been up all night.’
He waved away the comment. ‘I can sleep later, an hour or two will be enough.’
‘I’ll remind you of that when you’re on duty at midnight,’ she smiled. It was probably true, and anyone nicer than her would insist that he went home to get some rest, but she didn’t feel nice right now. ‘I was just thinking how beautiful everything is here and how dull home will seem tomorrow. Do you ever get so used to Rome that it all looks very ordinary?’
‘How could I think this looks ordinary?’ He swept a hand towards the magnificent structure in front of them. ‘I love my city; it is my heart.’
‘That’s what I thought,’ she said quietly. ‘If you lived somewhere like this you’d never want to leave it, would you?’
‘Where else would I live that would make me feel so happy?’ He turned to her. ‘You are sad to leave tomorrow?’
She nodded.
‘I am sad too,’ he said. He pulled her around by the shoulders to face him squarely and took both her hands. ‘Kate. . . this is difficult for me to say but I must tell you what is in my heart. Like Pietro, I must not lie to myself any longer.’
There was a pause, and Kate held her breath as he continued.
‘I feel things for you,’ he said.
She stared at him, not knowing how to respond and hungry to hear more, to hear the words she longed to hear and yet dreaded at the same time, because finally hearing it from him would make her soar today but her departure tomorrow all the more painful.
Rome is Where the Heart is: An uplifting romantic read, perfect to escape with (From Italy with Love Book 1) Page 18