Free Falling for Italy by Melinda De Ross Page A

exclaimed admiringly, while Giovanni parked the car at the end of the lane.
    “Me too. I feel so at home here,” he replied and climbed out of the car. He opened her door and helped her out. Together they made their way to the massive front door. Giovanni urged her inside into the big homey hallway. It was warm and smelled of classy restaurant food. A white cat came to sniff her suspiciously. When she bent to scratch him behind the ears, he rubbed himself against her legs.
    “This is Pirata,” a female voice said. Sonia glanced up to see Linda Coriola, wearing a black and blue sweat suit and fluffy pink house slippers. Her slanted blue eyes were welcoming and curious.
    “Hi,” she replied to Linda, as Giovanni came up behind her, pushing her forward with a hand on her waist.
    “Hi, Sonia. Thank you for accepting our invitation. Come in,” Linda urged. “Dinner is ready.”
    They went into a beautiful dining room, simply furnished, where a huge Christmas tree reigned next to large windows. Lights and scented candles were scattered all over the room—actually, all over the entire house—making her feel like Alice in Wonderland.
    In front of the windows was a square table. Gerard, who was sitting in one of the chairs, stood to greet them.
    “Hello, Sonia. I’m glad you joined us for dinner tonight.”
    “Hi! Thanks for inviting me. Smells delicious.”
    He smiled and she noticed how attractive he was, with his dark sandy hair and exotic green eyes.
    “Yeah, well, Linda is a great cook, when she can be bribed to put on an apron. Let me take your coat,” he said and took her coat, disappearing with it in the hallway. Giovanni winked at her.
    “Have a seat. What would you like to drink?” he asked, pulling a chair for her.
    “I don’t know. Do you have Cola?”
    “Sure. Coming right up.”
    She sat on the very comfortable chair and Pirata jumped onto her lap. She stroked him delighted, as he purred enthusiastically, sticking his whiskered nose close to hers. He had a black fur patch around one eye and black spots on all four of his paws.
    She looked through the window and gaped in amazement, seeing an army of elves and dwarves holding multicolored torches in ceramic hands. They surrounded a now unused pool and seemed detached straight from a fairytale.
    “Like them?” asked Linda, who appeared in the doorway carrying an enormous platter.
    “They’re gorgeous! Do you need help?” Sonia asked her and started to get up, but Linda gestured her back on the chair.
    “No, no, thank you, I can manage. I hope you like Chicken Valdostana,” she said, putting the platter on the table.
    “I’ve never had this,” said Sonia, analyzing the food. It appeared to be chicken slices, with a crust of cheese and something else she couldn’t identify. “It looks and smells great.”
    “It is,” said Giovanni, who had returned along with Gerard. The latter carried some plates and proceeded to set the table, while Giovanni handed her a glass of Cola.
    Linda brought another platter loaded with fries, a huge salad bowl, bread, napkins, then sent her brother for cutlery.
    “I always forget something,” she told Sonia, laughing. “I’m a complete scatterbrain.”
    “I doubt that,” Sonia replied. “I couldn’t prepare this kind of meal with a chef breathing down my neck and guiding my every step.”
    “Wait ‘til you taste the dessert,” Gerard said, sitting next to Linda, so the two couples faced each other. When Giovanni joined them, handing forks and knives, they began eating.
    The food was delicious, juicy and spicy, just the way Sonia liked it. She praised both it and the cook, truly impressed by Linda. Although Giovanni’s sister was one year younger than herself, Sonia noted she was an excellent wife-to-be and hostess, unlike herself. She and Gerard fit so well together, they shared the same ideas, they anticipated each other’s words and completed each other’s sentences. Sonia found herself observing