amounts of fresh whipped cream. Carlisle had tasted tiramisu in Verona, and it was even better than the tiramisu she’d enjoyed back in Seattle. This woman’s version was certain to be amongst the best in Italy.
***
Nicolette sat on the couch in a semi-stupor drinking a cup of coffee. She didn’t really feel the need to be friends with her neighbor from the second floor. It had actually been a month and a half, not a few weeks, since Carlisle had stood her up, and Nicolette had moved on to greener pastures.
As it turned out, she’d had no problem meeting and making new friends each night when she went out on the town, just as she had the night before. There was a regular group of men and women her age that met at this club or that club, depending upon the night, and Nicolette didn’t really feel like befriending a neighbor she knew she’d have little in common with. But then she relented and decided “what the heck?” Knowing someone in the building might come in handy one day.
But the woman from Seattle would serve as a backup friend, Nicolette decided, and not someone she’d invest a lot of time in. Since she began venturing out that first night Josh was away on location, Nicolette had continued going out on a regular basis. Except for weekends when he was home, of course, because she knew he would never approve. The crowd she spent time with was a comfortable, fun-loving set, and she looked forward to enjoying the nightlife with them whenever Josh was away.
Nicolette’s newfound friends and social life in Verona were definitely not something she intended to share with Josh; he’d never understand how alive it made her feel to be surrounded by the excitement of those unpredictable evenings. Initially, Nicolette felt sure she’d be very unhappy in Verona, but things had certainly changed. She loved her life here now; well, at least her nightlife.
Fortunately, the dinner with other tenants was timed well. Josh was on his way home from Tuscany for the weekend, and they normally spent the first night in. Nicolette weighed their typical sedate Friday night plans against the prospect of a potluck dinner with the other tenants, and suddenly the potluck dinner didn’t sound as boring anymore. Plus something told her it would be a good idea to go.
“Well, then I guess I’d better wake up, get myself ready and head out for some bread and cheese,” she told herself. Maybe she’d pick up a few things for Josh, too. The refrigerator was all but empty, and he normally went shopping when he returned each Friday. But this week she’d surprise him with some fresh fruit and vegetables. It was the least she could do in return for the social freedom he ’d unknowingly gifted her with.
***
“It looks like you’re stuck with salad,” Sofia told Charles. She was visiting again from London, and she and Charles had planned some outings together. They were just heading out for lunch when the handwritten sign posted above the mail slots caught Sofia’s eye.
“We don’t have to attend, you know,” he gestured toward the sign, knowing Sofia had some places in mind she wanted to show him that evening.
“No, I think it’s a good idea for you to get to know your neighbors. Besides, it might be fun.” And so it was a done deal. The two friends headed out for a light lunch and then were off to the market to buy salad fixings.
Charles had kept in touch with Sofia since she’d found him a mess on her first visit. The young woman had been tremendously kind and patient with him, and he knew what a rarity that was. He had never experienced such care and concern in his own home. Charles knew his mother loved and cared for him; she had showered him with love when he was a young boy. But his father was of the mind that a young boy becomes a man only if you treat him like one. By the age of thirteen, Charles’ mother had been told there’d be no more “coddling.”
When beautiful Sofia Benedetto found Charles two weeks
***
Nicolette sat on the couch in a semi-stupor drinking a cup of coffee. She didn’t really feel the need to be friends with her neighbor from the second floor. It had actually been a month and a half, not a few weeks, since Carlisle had stood her up, and Nicolette had moved on to greener pastures.
As it turned out, she’d had no problem meeting and making new friends each night when she went out on the town, just as she had the night before. There was a regular group of men and women her age that met at this club or that club, depending upon the night, and Nicolette didn’t really feel like befriending a neighbor she knew she’d have little in common with. But then she relented and decided “what the heck?” Knowing someone in the building might come in handy one day.
But the woman from Seattle would serve as a backup friend, Nicolette decided, and not someone she’d invest a lot of time in. Since she began venturing out that first night Josh was away on location, Nicolette had continued going out on a regular basis. Except for weekends when he was home, of course, because she knew he would never approve. The crowd she spent time with was a comfortable, fun-loving set, and she looked forward to enjoying the nightlife with them whenever Josh was away.
Nicolette’s newfound friends and social life in Verona were definitely not something she intended to share with Josh; he’d never understand how alive it made her feel to be surrounded by the excitement of those unpredictable evenings. Initially, Nicolette felt sure she’d be very unhappy in Verona, but things had certainly changed. She loved her life here now; well, at least her nightlife.
Fortunately, the dinner with other tenants was timed well. Josh was on his way home from Tuscany for the weekend, and they normally spent the first night in. Nicolette weighed their typical sedate Friday night plans against the prospect of a potluck dinner with the other tenants, and suddenly the potluck dinner didn’t sound as boring anymore. Plus something told her it would be a good idea to go.
“Well, then I guess I’d better wake up, get myself ready and head out for some bread and cheese,” she told herself. Maybe she’d pick up a few things for Josh, too. The refrigerator was all but empty, and he normally went shopping when he returned each Friday. But this week she’d surprise him with some fresh fruit and vegetables. It was the least she could do in return for the social freedom he ’d unknowingly gifted her with.
***
“It looks like you’re stuck with salad,” Sofia told Charles. She was visiting again from London, and she and Charles had planned some outings together. They were just heading out for lunch when the handwritten sign posted above the mail slots caught Sofia’s eye.
“We don’t have to attend, you know,” he gestured toward the sign, knowing Sofia had some places in mind she wanted to show him that evening.
“No, I think it’s a good idea for you to get to know your neighbors. Besides, it might be fun.” And so it was a done deal. The two friends headed out for a light lunch and then were off to the market to buy salad fixings.
Charles had kept in touch with Sofia since she’d found him a mess on her first visit. The young woman had been tremendously kind and patient with him, and he knew what a rarity that was. He had never experienced such care and concern in his own home. Charles knew his mother loved and cared for him; she had showered him with love when he was a young boy. But his father was of the mind that a young boy becomes a man only if you treat him like one. By the age of thirteen, Charles’ mother had been told there’d be no more “coddling.”
When beautiful Sofia Benedetto found Charles two weeks
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