An online novel by Gillette Edmunds

“Nothing,” he said and sat down on the bed. “Why? I went to get cheese.”

“I saw you,” she said walking in front of him. “Don’t lie.”

“Nothing’s going on Sonya,” he said. “I just asked her if she knew of any castles for sale. She was the most helpful in buying the car. She said she’d heard of one that had been a winery and was now closed. I tried to talk her into taking us out there. She said she couldn’t get off work. So big deal, Sonya.”

Sonya walked to the bathroom and put her hand on the door handle. “If you ever try something with another girl again, I leave,” she said.

She stepped slowly into the bathroom and then slammed the door.

He sat at the little desk and leaned over his wine and cheese. He started to open a bottle when he heard the shower going. He put the bottle down and sat on the bed by the phone. He listened for her splashing in the water and then dialed the office. He talked to the desk girl briefly and then had her ring Hotel Alfredo, Rome. Hotel Alfredo said they had a room for Dr. and Mrs. Ashe. Yes. It was 303. No, it had not been canceled. No, they haven’t personally talked with Mrs. Ashe. “Do you want me to ring the room or not,” the Italian asked impatiently. “We are very busy here. Fine. Good-bye.”

Sonya and Charles did not talk when Sonya came out of the shower. She looked at the unopened brie and wine and he looked away from her. They didn’t talk until midway through dinner in an underground restaurant, a former wine cave, when they looked up from their plates at the same time, smiled at each other and kissed.