Taking Tuscany by Renée Riva

dang novel. Now I’m torn between two new endings.
    Unpredictable Ending: Janeà sees the guy in the park with the dog named Christopher. She runs to him … but when she reaches him … it’s not Tanner. It’s Joe. Even though Joe is really cute, his dogs remind Janeà too much of her past life. “So long, Joe. You really are cute, but … your dogs bring back too many memories from the corners of my mind.”
    â€œB-but, Janeà … we can make this work … I’ll trade them in for poodles … ”
    â€œForget about me, Joe … I hate poodles.” Janeà jumps on a ship and sails back home. She shows up back at her island and everything has changed, except the little hut that she grew up in. “Anyone here?” she yells. The two dogs come running out to meet her. But where’s Tanner?
    She notices a note tied to Christopher’s collar. “I’ve gone to Milan to search for Janeà. Please feed the dogs.”
    The End
    I think I’ll go mail my postcard.
    On my way through the lobby, I pass the gift shop where I plan to buy all of my souvenirs before returning home. Scanning the items in the window display, my eyes catch on a painting titled Paradise , and I put the skids on my sandals. It’s the same image I’ve had in my head ever since I was a kid: a small child wearing a white robe, leading all of the animals through paradise. This is how I picture heaven, and what I hope to be doing once I’m up there.
    What I really like about the painting are the bright colors. Crystal prism colors;like the prisms in the movie Pollyanna. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, all in a gold frame … I’m fascinated how the little child is leading the animals toward a bright sunset—so bright, it leaves you feeling like they’re being led to Jesus. That’s what good art should do … leave one feeling led to Jesus. After all, God created the artist and gave him the gift, and if he uses his gift to inspire, it should reflect his Creator …
    â€œHey, A. J., I gotta go to the bathroom. I need your room key. The pool bathroom’s being cleaned.”
    Dino is dripping wet in his swimsuit, with a towel draped around his waist. Handing off my key, I focus back on the masterpiece in the window. “Hey, Dino, what do you think of that painting?”
    Dino cocks his head to one side. “Pretty dumb.” He drips his way down the hall.
    Another inspired moment snatched away by a pesky brother. I check the price. Too much. Back to plan A. Cheap trinket souvenirs.

    â€œOne postage stamp please.”
    The man at the concierge desk hands me a stamp.
    â€œCharge it to room 503.”
    The man frowns at me. “You’re from room 503?”
    â€œYes, sir,”
    â€œI have a phone message for you.” He takes a slip of paper from our room box. ”Do you know this person?”
    I look at the name. Juliana Gulliano. “Yep, that’s my Nonna.”
    He glares at me. “She said her family abandoned her and left the country.”
    I just smile. “Yep, that’s Nonna. I’ll give my folks the message. Thanks.” It’s really not worth the energy trying to explain Nonna to people.
    Returning to the pool, I notice Mama’s engaged with more tourists, so I just hand Daddy the message. “She told the desk clerk we abandoned her and left the country.”
    â€œAgain?”
    â€œYeah, she talked to a different desk clerk this time. By the time we leave, no one will be smiling at us anymore. Are you planning to call her back this time?”
    â€œNo, it didn’t help last time. I’m sure she’ll be just fine at Aunt Gen’s until we get back.”
    Daddy crumples up the note and goes back to his crossword puzzle. A few minutes later the desk clerk comes out and waves me back into the lobby. He sends me back to the pool with a pool phone on a