It sounded like the decision was hers to make and whatever she chose didn’t matter, but there was a tightness around his eyes that told another story.
‘Let’s do the elevator.’
It was almost like he let out a long breath. ‘Good choice.’
Even with their express tickets, there was a small queue. When they finally got into the lift Leo seemed bristling with what she guessed was excitement.
‘This is the best view of the city. Even with all the tourists it’s one of my favourite places in Milan.’
The doors opened, and they walked out through a plain, stone-walled corridor, then up a few more stairs and onto a rooftop.
Simone gasped.
Above them towered the Gothic spires of the cathedral, like a forest of stone intent on piercing the heavens. Each spire topped with a figure, like sentinels watching over the city. Everywhere she turned there was another intricate carving. Gargoyles, animals, people. The flying buttresses a marvel in themselves, richly decorated with their own architectural carvings.
‘This…’ Words were stolen from her. It was overwhelming, surrounded by all the glorious excess.
‘Now you understand why it’s my favourite place in the city,’ he said pointing. ‘Look. It’s clear enough. Today you can see the Alps.’
The mountains rose above the horizon, capped in snow.
‘It’s so beautiful.’
He smiled, but Leo’s gaze wasn’t on the view, but on her. ‘I know.’
The moment seemed to slow, like a pause in the world turning. Then he blinked and focused on the city ahead of them.
‘Would you like a photograph to send to Holly?’
‘That’d be great,’ she said pulling her phone out of her bag, setting up the camera and handing it to him. She stood with the spires and buttresses behind her, smiling as he took pictures.
‘That should do for now.’ He handed the phone back to her. She opened her gallery and flicked through. She almost couldn’t recognise herself because she looked…
Happy.
As she was about to slip her phone back into her bag a text notification popped up on the screen. Whilst they were having downtime, it was from Circolo’s accountant. She opened the message in case it was important.
Leo hasn’t picked up.
Pls ask him to call re the charity for Roma.
Strange, she didn’t know anything about Rome, or a charity.
‘I have a message from Roberto. Something about Rome? He wants you to call. It sounds urgent.’
Leo’s mouth tightened almost imperceptibly. ‘I’ll deal with it later. We’re sightseeing, remember?’
‘Are you sure? Is there anything—’
‘No. Nothing.’
She frowned. Leo walked up to her, reached out and stroked his finger gently down the middle of her forehead, as if smoothing out the crease there.
‘Allow us to have this time. If there’s anything I need your help with, I’ll ask. I recognise your value to me, in all things.’
He pressed her against the marble balustrade, slid his arms round her waist, dropped his head and captured her lips in a gentle, passionate kiss.
It was like she was standing on a precipice of choices and in this moment she simply let herself fall into it, above this beautiful city, like she was standing in the heavens. It overwhelmed her, the sensation.
