Summer in Sorrento Read Online Free PDF Page A

is.  And you must be Maia.  We are so happy you had a vacanc y— this place looks perfect . ” 
    Lori had bright red hair and Maia knew right off the bat that she was a natural redhead, as much because of her pale ivory skin that was dotted with freckles as the fact that the highlights in her hair simply could not be bought in a salon.
    Maia smiled at the compliment.  “ Well, thank you for that, but in the interests of full disclosure, I just want to warn you that our air conditioning is broken at the moment.  I t’ s a new unit though and we do have someone working on it currently. I have no doubt we will have cooler air inside shortly . ”
    With her comment Hal, the husband of the pair, perked up.  “ I know something about air conditioning units.  For my engineering degree I worked for a heating and air company in Orlando. I can go help if you like . ”
    Maia shook her head, touched.  “ Oh, I appreciate it.  But yo u’ re on holiday.  You do n’ t need to do that.  Besides, my handyman, Giorgio; h e’ s the one who installed it.  I’ m sure he can manage . ”
    Lori looked to her husband, clearly in agreement with what Maia was saying.  “ Come on honey, sh e’ s right, i t’ s our vacation. You do n’ t need to go mess with the AC, the y’ ll get it fixed . ”
    But Hal was shaking his head in the negative.  “ No really, I do n’ t mind.  Point me in the right direction.  What did you say his name was Maia?  Giorgio ? ”   He pronounced i t“ Georgie- O” without the necessary Italian accent.
    “ Um ,” Maia said, looking nervously between the pair and feeling immediately worried when she saw the happy expression that had been on Lor i’ s face disappear.  “ I mean, yes, Giorgio is his name, but honestly he has it covered.  You should n’ t feel the need to do thi s— you are a guest after all . ”
    But Mai a’ s words had obviously fallen on deaf ears.  At that moment, Giorgio emerged from the house, apparently to fetch another tool from his truck, and Hal honed in on the man.  Seemed he knew he was the AC repair guy by sight alone.
    “ Hey man ,” Hal called.  “ You fixing the AC?  Need an extra pair of hands?  I know what I’ m doing in that department . ”
    Giorgio, who had pulled a rag from his back pocket to wipe grease off his hands, cast a curious albeit confused look at Maia.  For a moment, she just hoped that her friend would pretend to not understand English in an effort to deflect Ha l’ s hel p— but no such luck.
    “ Yes.  I’ m fixing it now, bu t —“
    However Hal did n’ t allow Giorgio to offer a protest.  He had already dropped the bag that he had been holding on the ground and was walking forward, ready to help the man with whatever he needed.
    “ Great. I used to work in heating and coolin g— a long time ago, but I know my way around a repair, you know?  So what are you dealing with?  How many BTUs? Is that how an Italian system works?  I wonder if the output is the same as American units ? ”
    Giorgio shrugged and looked at the women who were standing behind Hal.  “ Yes, I think so.  I just need to grab some tools . ”
    Getting what he needed, Giorgio turned back to the house with Hal following in his wake. The bag he dropped had n’ t moved, and Hal had n’ t come back to fetch it.  Apparently, that was to be left to his wife, who was now looking despondent and completely crushed by her husban d’ s actions.
    Maia was n’ t quite sure what to say, so she made the simplest of offers.
    “ Can I help you with the luggage ?” she asked quietly.
    Lori looked close to tears and she bit her lip, casting her eyes downwards.
    “ Ten years.  This is our tenth anniversary.  We honeymooned here - in Sorrento.  I thought that coming back here woul d … ” Lori swallowed hard.  “ But no, he wants to fix the goddamned air conditioning . ”
    Maia leaned forward and picked up the bag that Hal had dropped.  “