Three Words for Goodbye by Hazel Gaynor

Author:Hazel Gaynor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Published: 2021-05-07T00:00:00+00:00

Maddie

Deflated by missing Matthias, we cheered ourselves up with a box of cakes and delicate pastries from the pasticceria beside the gallery and strolled back along the maze of winding streets, toward the Piazza San Marco.

Venezia, the Floating City, was as beautiful as Paris, but in its own unique way. I wished I’d studied Italian in school, but to my surprise, I found it somewhat similar to French and could make out signs and menus without much trouble. The trouble I did have was keeping my article about Charles a secret. I had to bite my tongue to keep from mentioning it to Clara. And though I was truly excited by the prospect of it being accepted, the promise of publication was tempered by the risk of ruining things between us—again. I thought of the envelope on the table in our suite, already addressed though not yet sealed. A mark of my lingering indecision. I’d need to decide what to do soon, or the opportunity would be lost.

The Piazza San Marco was a large open square in the center of the old town, a place Violet had not only instructed us to visit, but a location associated with so many of her fondest memories of the city. We found a table at a café beneath the ornate arches, and while Clara added to her sketchbook, I studied a map of the area, the cluster of many islands making up the historic city, and the canals that washed into the Adriatic Sea. I was fond of Venice already, but almost as important as the things I’d seen was the thing I hadn’t: Daniel Miller. It seemed he’d been respectful enough to keep his promise, and his distance. Perhaps he really didn’t enjoy the task Charles had sent him to do after all, and he was mortified by how upset he’d made Clara and me. I mused over the thought for a while as I watched people stride through the piazza, anxious to get somewhere, and others who strolled languorously beside a friend.

When I had only a few sips of coffee left, I pulled out my journal to detail my first impressions of bella Venezia.

VENICE

I can see why Violet fell in love here. The scent of delicious fritole—already my favorite Venetian treat of fried dough dusted with sugar—wafts from a nearby doorway, and an endless flotilla of boats and gondolas slip by on the Grand Canal. The piazza is magnificent with the Doge’s Palace and the impressive Basilica di San Marco standing watch at the easternmost edge. Laughing children gather near the bell tower while enjoying a break from classes.

I continued writing for a while, lost in my thoughts and my words, until the clock tower chimed the hour. I snapped my journal closed and reached for my scarf.

“Time to get going. Come on. Let’s see if we can climb that bell tower.”

Clara shook her head as she stared up at the tall tower in front of the Basilica. “First the balloon

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