Page 317 of Valentino

“You too.”

“Plan the wedding,” he calls.

“You plan the wedding,” I call back as the door bangs closed. I smile into my coffee, I am not planning the wedding, he can plan the damn wedding. The sun catches my diamond and I smile down at my hand.

I really want to pick up my ring box, I do the math as to when that can happen.

Wait a minute, if I have to be in Athens on Monday morning that means I will have to leave here on Sunday. So that only leaves Saturday to pick it up.

I mean we can still go and visit but I don’t want it to be a have to trip if Val is tired from work or something. I want that vintage ring box, I’m not leaving it there for weeks, it’s already making me nervous not having it now. I’m annoyed that I left it there in the first place.

Hmm….

Maybe if I can get all of my work done this morning, I might get the boys to drive me up this afternoon to collect it.

I could have a visit with Franco…. And see those chickens before they go to bed.

He’s such a kind soul and it would be nice to spend some time alone with him, I’m really going to try to nurture our relationship. He doesn’t have a daughter of his own. Yeah.

That’s what I’m going to do.

Should I call first?

I’d really like to surprise both him and Val, he’s going to be my father-in-law and I can go and see him whenever I want. Kind of exciting actually.

Luigi and Gino pull into Franco’s driveway, just on 3 p.m.

“Thank you.”

Luigi opens the door for me. “Do you want to come in?” I ask.

“No, we’ll stay out here.”

“I was thinking I might stay for half to an hour…. If that’s okay.”

“Of course. Take your time.”

I walk up the path and I hear him get back into the car behind me, the old metal screen on the front door is open.

Strange.

Knock, knock. I knock on the wood beside it.

“Franco,” I call.

Silence.

“Franco, it’s me…Anna.”

He must be out the back in the garden, should I walk around the outside to the back yard or…I’ll just go through the house.

“Franco.” I walk in through the living room and my eyes land on a lamp tipped onto its side and smashed on the floor.

What the hell?

“Franco,” I call, more urgent, I walk into the kitchen, there’s a large pot tipped over on the floor. Soup is everywhere, and alarm bells start to go off.

Something’s happened.