The Last Promise by Richard Paul Evans

Author:Richard Paul Evans [Evans, Richard Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, pdf
Tags: Romance
ISBN: 9780613709187
Publisher: Signet
Published: 2002-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 15

“Non si può dettar leggi al cuore.” One cannot make laws to rule the heart.

—Italian Proverb

“I spent the day with Eliana in Arezzo. Even amidst all the pomp and pageantry it was difficult keeping my eyes from her. I hope that I was not too obvious.”

—Ross Story’s diary

Ross’s phone rang about eight. He was waiting for Eliana’s call. “Pronto.”

“Ross, this is Eliana.”

“Ciao, bella.”

“Ciao. Did I wake you?”

“No, I’ve already been out running.”

“If the invitation is still open we’d like to go with you today.”

“Great, I was hoping you would.”

“I was thinking I could make a picnic supper.”

“You don’t need to go to that much trouble.”

“It’s no trouble. There’s a lovely picnic site just past Incisa.”

“What can I bring?”

“Just yourself. When do you think we should leave?”

“Around noon.”

“We’ll come over. Ciao.”

“Ciao.”

Eliana and Alessio knocked on Ross’s door shortly before noon. Eliana held a large wicker picnic basket in front of her with both hands. It was a bright day and Eliana wore sleek, Italian sunglasses and a crimson tank top with matching shorts, vibrant against her bronze skin. She wore sandals that laced up past her ankles. She had clearly inherited the fashion sense of the Italians. She always looked different whenever he saw her. She was like a work of art; each time he saw something new in her—each time he saw the same painting in a different way, a perspective that belonged only to him.

“Hi, Alessio.”

“Hi, Mr. Story.”

Alessio wore denim shorts that fell past his knees and a gray T-shirt with the word CIAO in large black letters across the front. He also wore a small backpack, though his most notable accessory was the large grin on his face.

“Can we bring the soccer ball?”

Ross smiled at Eliana. “Of course,” he said, stepping forward to help her. “Here, let me take that.” He lifted the basket from her.

“Thank you. It’s a little heavy.”

They walked outside the courtyard; then Eliana opened the car’s trunk for Ross. He set the basket inside and she handed him her car keys. Ross opened her door while Alessio threw his backpack onto the backseat of the car and followed it in. As soon as they were on the freeway, Alessio began drawing pictures.

Ross glanced up at him in the rearview mirror. “Are you going to be an artist like your mom?” Ross asked.

“Yep,” he said without looking up.

Eliana smiled.

Forty-five minutes later they exited the freeway and headed east toward Arezzo, passing several small hamlets along the way. It was clear they were headed in the right direction, as colorful flags from the different competing quarters hung from the buildings and street corners of the cities they passed.

The weather was beautiful, tranquil blue skies with a few wisps of clouds, and the city was crowded for the event. Arezzo is an ancient city of stone, cold and dour, built as if its primary hope was to keep people out. A modern writer called the city nothing less than a dignified prison.

The closest parking they could

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