When was the last time her own family had made time for one another?
Her mind conjured an image of her parents, sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews gathered around the large, square oak dining table in the Hill family dining room, enjoying a family brunch of orange juice and hot cakes.
Too bad that would never happen. Everyone is too busy to sit down and have a meal together. Mom and Dad would start arguing before anyone was able to take a bite. Maggie, Brian, and the boys would have to run off to whatever activity they signed the boys up for. I’d be left sitting at the table alone, eating in silence.
“I’m sorry for the long-winded explanation. That’s probably much more information about me than you wanted to hear,” Sabrina said.
He’s like speaking to Nora or Maggie. Our conversation just flows.
“No apologies required. Never be afraid to speak your mind. As you’ve seen, we often speak freely.” Lorenzo slowed the car. “If I could offer you one suggestion?.?.?.”
A tour bus ahead of them maneuvered down the road to Riomaggiore at a speed of five miles per hour. The half hour had flown by.
“Of course.”
Lorenzo spoke in a hushed tone. “Don’t rush your next move. Take the time to ‘go with the flow,’ as you Americans would say, and let events unfold at their own pace, in their own time. Change, after all, is the process of growing into the person you were meant to be.”
I thought once I arrived in Europe, I might experience an ‘aha’ moment where I would instinctively just know what to do next. Instead, all I’ve found is I’m more confused than before. I can try to let things happen, but there are some things, like money, that are beyond my control.
Pulling into a parking space, Lorenzo turned off the engine and unbuckled his seat belt. His eyes bore intently into hers. “I can sense you are a strong person. No matter what life tosses in your direction, youwillfind a way to succeed.”
Her body grew warm. “I hope I can live up to those expectations.”
“You will. You just need time and patience. Think on what I’ve said.”
“I will,” she whispered.
They watched the door to the bus beside them pop open. Tourists clamored off and followed a tour guide carrying a large pink umbrella with a floral pattern. Voices spoke in Spanish, English, Chinese, and Italian.
Through the cracks of the parted clouds, rays of sun shone through and reflected off the puddles on the ground. The last group of tourists departed. The quiet returned. Sabrina heard the clink of glasses and soft chatter from the corner café.
She stepped out of the car and stretched her stiff muscles. “Thank you so much for the ride.”
I’m not ready to leave Lorenzo’s company. How can I find a way to extend it just a little more?
“You’re welcome.” Following her example, Lorenzo also exited and clicked the alarm. “Now, would you prefer to walk through the town first, or a find a room for the evening?”
A surge of excitement coursed through her body. Sabrina rubbed her hands together. “All of the above? I thought you would just drop me off.”
“I all but promised you a wine sampling,andI would be remiss in my duties as a host if I did not give you a proper tour of the village.” Lorenzo opened the trunk of the car and hoisted her backpack onto his back. “If you don’t care, we’ll drop this off first.”
“I’d love that.” Her eyes fluttered.
“There’s a bed and breakfast down by the harbor called Castillo Roccia. The owner, Giulia, always keeps a spare room for my family. I have the perfect area in mind for us to watch the sunset.”
Sabrina had to keep from pinching herself. “That would be so much better than staying in the town of La Spezia.”
Lorenzo winked. “Once the day-trippers depart, the city will be yours for the taking. There are some secrets Riomaggiore holds that can only be viewed from a local’s point of view.”
* * *
From the parking lot, it was a short walk to the Via Colombo, the main street of the city. Riomaggiore was a smaller version of Vernazza. They passed shops with large window displays of leather goods and clothing, and walked through a tunnel-like alley away from the hubbub of the main thoroughfare. Plaster peeled off the side of the buildings, exposing brick on many of the two-story buildings crammed together.
“Do the owners of the buildings get to select what color the outside can be?” Sabrina asked.
Their footsteps echoed against the cobblestone steps. Lorenzo strolled beside her with his hands in his pockets. “To an extent. There are strict building regulations set by the town. With all the bureaucracy involved in the process, most owners opt for the easy way out and keep the building’s color the same.”
“Who can blame them?” Sabina said.
