I pulled him close and kissed him, truly amazed that such a wonderful man was now my husband.
He put both arms around my waist and we looked out over the precipice in Piazzale Michelangelo, overlooking Florence’s famed Duomo. The setting sun highlighted and gave added mystique to the red dome of the structure, and I couldn’t help but sigh at the beauty spread out before me.
‘Isn’t that just the most gorgeous view? Florence really was a great idea for a honeymoon.’
‘It’s not nearly as gorgeous as you. And, sweetheart, this is just the beginning of our adventures.’
Feeling happy, content and whole, we wandered on for a bit, while I kept snapping pictures with my Kodak Instamatic 30 of the places I had only ever read about or seen pictures of. I hoped all the pictures turned out well, as I definitely wanted to frame some for what would be our new home. It still tickled me that we were actually walking through the ancient streets of Florence. It all seemed too good to be true!
‘What do you think about stopping and getting a carafe of the homemade vino?’
‘Sounds magnifico,’ I said in my best Italian accent, the one that had been making my husband laugh since we stepped off the plane three days ago. ‘What about there?’ I pointed to a tiny little restaurant that had a few small tables on the street outside. ‘We can watch the world go by and I can consult the map.’
Moments later, we sat at a small wicker table, a glass jug of the house red before us. I opened the guidebook that I had purchased weeks before at a used bookstore back home and looked over an illustration of the city.
I looked up as he gave a snort of laughter.
‘Put that thing away. I think we have already determined that the map in that book is wrong or out of date.’
Indeed, we had. We’d got miserably lost the day before because of this map, but even so, I felt that there had to be some truth in what had been printed.
‘Stop it, I trust in maps. It’s how I will learn my way around Florence.’
‘You learn your way only if the map is right, though.’
I peered across the table, marvelling again at those bright blue eyes and fair hair that flopped over the back of his shirt collar. I thought about running my hands through it right then and there, but decided it might be better to save that for the hotel room.
‘You know, if you behave right now, I might feel the urge to misbehave later, when we are alone.’ I said this as seductively as possible, and ran my tongue over my lips, until I couldn’t take it any longer and burst out laughing.
‘You minx,’ he laughed with a twinkle in his eye. ‘I’m going to hold you to that.’
‘I hope you do, but in the meantime, what street are we on?’ I peered up at the corner of the building in which we sat. I had learned quickly that there were no street signs the way there were in New York, but rather that the street names were actually marked on the buildings. ‘Can you see what that says?’ I asked, pointing to where the name was inscribed in the marble of the building façade.
‘I think it says Viale Donato Giannotti.’
I looked back down at the map. ‘OK, so if that’s right, that means we are on this street right here. And our hotel is there.’ I pointed to each place.
‘I trust you, you’re the navigator,’ he shrugged. ‘I’ll follow you anywhere.’
I put the book down and reached across the table to take my new husband’s hand, the charm bracelet around my wrist jingling happily. ‘Likewise,’ I cooed. ‘Oh, this is all just so exciting, don’t you think? Doesn’t it feel magical, like all of our adventures are only just beginning? I feel like it’s a fairy tale, and that you are my knight in shining armour. I know it’s corny, but I can’t help but get caught up in the romance of this place. I feel as though our lives are just getting started.’
He squeezed my hand and toyed with my bracelet. ‘It’s just beginning. Everything is. Our whole life, together. There is no other person I want to experience everything with. And I know we will. I have never loved anyone the way I love you. You are my everything,’ he said softly.
I felt my eyes tear up, and I leaned across the table to kiss him again. ‘Such memories we are making.’ I tapped the top of my camera. ‘There’s no way this thing can ever give what’s in my mind justice. I love you, and I just know I am going to love where our lives take us, the family and the home we will make. Like I said, I’m a lucky girl.’
He kissed me again. ‘Well then, lucky girl. How about we finish this wine and head back to the hotel. I see some room service in our future.’
I smiled again, ‘Perfect.’
As we started walking back to our hotel, navigating the cobblestones of the street and holding hands, an interesting storefront came into view. A red awning bedecked the outside, and polished brass and other metals shone like a treasure chest from inside the small leaded windows. Italiancornain all shapes and sizes were displayed. An Italian talisman of ancient origin, acornowas a long, gently twisted horn-shaped object, believed to protect against the evil eye. I’d noticed that they were quite prevalent in Florence and came in a variety of sizes.
‘Oh, look at that!’ I let go of his hand and crossed to the store. ‘How pretty! Let’s go in.’
He held up the shopping bags that we had been accumulating throughout the day and made a look of surrender. ‘Sure, I mean, what’s one more shop in the scheme of things?’
‘Get used to it mister!’
We entered the store and were immediately hit by sensory overload. The entire store was covered incorna. It appeared to be all that this store sold.
