Free Summer in Sorrento by Melissa Hill

firs t …”

9
     
    When Lori opened her eyes, she felt momentarily discombobulated, like she had forgotten where she was.  As her mind snapped into motion, she remembered where she wa s— the Italian farmhouse. But what confused her more was the bouquet of fresh azaleas that had suddenly appeared on her bedside table.  That had n’ t been there the night before, when she had gone to bed angry next to Ha l— the two of them sleeping with their backs turned to each other.
                  It had been far from romantic, she thought. Some vacation!
                  She sat up and edged closer to the side of the bed, dipping her face into the fresh blooms, their fragrance at once centering her, calming her.  Lori looked behind her to Ha l’ s side of the bed only to find it empty.
                  Hal is an early riser, she thought, could he have put the bouquet on her nightstand?  Without considering the thought for another moment, she decided no, it had to be Maia, or Camilla.
                  Getting up from bed and putting her robe on, she opened the door and padded down the hallway with bare feet.  Entering the kitchen, she found it empty, but smelling of fresh coffee and hot bread.  The sound of voices outside trickled into the house and she followed her ears.
                  Opening the kitchen door, she was immediately met with a cool summe r’ s morning.  The heat of the day had not yet found its way up the side of the mountain to the farmhouse.  She was also welcomed by her husband and Maia, who were both sitting and chatting happily in the wooden lounge chairs that peppered the courtyard.
                  Feeling immediately annoyed, primarily that her husband could get up and carry on with the landlady, talking and relaxing happily and he could n’ t do it with her, she was about to offer her displeasure, when Hal cut her off, speaking first.
                  “ There you are ,” he smiled.  “ Good morning.  I hope you liked your flowers . ”
                  Momentarily stunned, Lori opened and closed her mout h— and then opened it again.  “ Those were from you ? ”
                  Hal nodded and Maia nudged him with her elbow.  “ Yes I was up this morning and found Maia cutting them.  I… helped.  And I put those in you r… ou r… room . ”
                  Lori tilted her head out of confusion.  “ You helped Maia cut flowers ?” She could n’ t believe her ears.
                  Hal shrugged, as if looking for a way to diminish his role, but Maia spoke before he could say a word ,“ He did help me.  And he also did something else.  Hal why do n’ t you tell her?  Lori, would you like some coffee?  I just brewed another pot, I’ m afraid that Hal and I drank the first . ”   Lori nodded her assent and Maia got up to go into the house.
                  Lori plopped down in the chair next to Hal.  “ What else did you do this morning ?” she inquired, all of the vitriol was gone from her voice and absent from her mind.  She was curious to know what her husband had been up to while she had been sleeping.
                  Hal shifted in his seat.  “ Well, I um, cleaned off the bikes that Maia mentioned yesterday.  And I thought that maybe, we could go on a picnic.  Maia said ther e’ s a spot that she and her husband used to go to, and we are on holiday after all.  I mean, unless you want to go to that trattoria first?  We can save the picnic for another da y… o r…. ”
                  But Lori was smiling, a grin so genuine she resembled a child on Christmas morning.
                  “ You want to go on a picni c ?  Wit h m e ? ”
                  Ha l’ s face reddened and Maia smiled with certain pleasure at the couple.  Quietly, she excused herself from the scene,