Free Seeking Sara Summers by Susan Gabriel Page A

the floor.
    “His sister is here somewhere, too,” Julia said. “She’s quite the shy one. A little afraid of life.”
    “I can relate,” Sara said.
    A smile had not left Julia’s face since Sara had arrived. Sara suddenly wondered how she had managed to live this many years without seeing it.
    “You haven’t changed a bit,” Julia said. “Of course, we’re both a bit older.”
    “Just a bit,” Sara said.
    “Come in, come in,” Julia said, leading the way into the living room.
    Sara placed her handbag on a large, overstuffed chair near the entryway and followed Julia into the living room. The room was full of light. Large windows ran floor to ceiling and overlooked the rooftops of the city. A door stood partway open to a small balcony filled with flowering geraniums. The furnishings inside were antique, sophisticated, yet comfortable, accented with rich fabrics and colors. Sara was struck instantly by the absence of clutter. Yet Julia’s apartment had warmth and a lived-in quality.
    “It’s beautiful,” Sara said.
    “I’ll give you a quick tour, if you’d like,” Julia said.
    “I’d like,” Sara said.
    Julia showed Sara her kitchen where a rich assortment of eggs, fruit, and pastries awaited. The kitchen overlooked a courtyard with several small trees. Next was a small studio, which had a large blank canvas sitting on an easel close to the window, and then the bath, and the bedroom.
    “I know it’s small,” Julia said. “But you wouldn’t believe how expensive property is in Florence. There isn’t much turnover, either, as you can imagine. I was able to get this for what a small mansion would cost in the States.”
    “Oh, I don’t think it’s too small at all,” Sara said. “But are you sure my staying here isn’t too much of an inconvenience?”
    “Are you kidding?” Julia wrapped her arm around Sara’s shoulder. “We must have had a million sleepovers when we were girls. Was that ever an inconvenience? The sofa becomes a bed, and I’ve been told it’s very comfortable. We’ll be fine.”
    “You’re sure?”
    “I’m sure,” she said.
    Julia directed Sara to the small terrace. From there they could survey Julia’s little corner of Italy. Colorful laundry hung on clotheslines outside many of the windows. The scene could have been from a hundred years ago, if not for the small silver satellite dishes along the ancient roofs.
    Sara took a deep breath, wanting to memorize the scene. She told herself not to cry. Just being in Italy had let loose a fountain of emotion and her eyes watered with this awareness.
    The city appeared golden in the afternoon sunlight, the stone buildings baked to perfection for hundreds of years. Small clay pots of red geraniums lined the short black iron terrace, a perfect compliment to the city. The fiery crimson of the flowers softened the look of the iron and stone. Julia had learned what Sara imagined Florentines had known for centuries: how to make the best of small, exquisite spaces.
    Sara felt Julia watching her as she took in the scenery around them. Julia offered her a chair, one of two on the small terrace. Roberto joined them. He rubbed his whiskers against Sara’s slacks to get her attention. She invited him up and he leapt gracefully into her lap. The sounds of the city were unusually hushed. An occasional scooter shot through the alley searching for a shortcut. Neighbors talked quietly in the street below. Small children played, and the bells of the nearby cathedral tolled three times.
    “This is the most beautiful place in the world,” Sara sighed.
    Julia’s smile widened. “I’m so glad you think so. I love it, too.”
    A smaller orange tabby appeared in the doorway, cautiously sniffing in Sara’s direction. “Here’s Roberto’s sister, Bella,” Julia said. “Come here, my shy little one.” She wiggled a finger to entice her. For a moment Bella teetered at the cusp of the doorway. But then she backed away, into the safety of