Summer in Sorrento Read Online Free PDF Page B

But then Lori spoke.              “ Hal, you slept late today.  Why do n’ t we go out and do something.  Ther e’ s no use wasting our tim e— not that this house is n’ t lovel y— but I thought we were going to find that little trattoria that we visited on our honeymoon?  Why do n’ t we do that?  Maia said we could borrow the bike s— it wo n’ t be far from here . ”
                  But Hal was already shaking his head.  “ I really need a nap.  Why do n’ t you go ?” he said, turning toward the hallway.  “ Which way is our room?  You brought the bags in, right ? ”
                  Maia felt herself holding her breath.  If Jim ever pulled something like that, she would have exploded.
                  But Lori did n’ t offer fireworks; instead she took a slug of her wine and turned to look out the window.  “ Yeah.  I t’ s that way.  Down the hallway, second door on the left.  Enjoy your nap . ”   Lori looked back at Maia pointedl y— she was refusing to meet her husban d’ s eyes.  “ I hope you do n’ t mind if I go take a walk.  I need some air . ”
                 
     
    Camilla joined Maia in the kitchen shortly afterwards. She had contemplated going out and keeping Lori company, but it seemed clear that the woman needed some alone time.
    “ How is everyone getting on ?” Camilla asked.
    Maia shrugged and looked out into the garden, where Lori had found a home with her glass of wine.  “ I do n’ t know reall y— I feel like this current group might be good for reality TV, truth be told . ”
    Camilla joined her at the window and peered out.  “ Is she out there by herself ?” Maia nodded.  “ Well, tha t’ s not much fun.  Come on.  Le t’ s get to know her . ”   Maia was about to call out and tell her friend that she suspected Lori might need time to organise her thoughts, but before she knew it Camilla was out the door, calling out an introduction.
    “ Oh bloody hell ,” Maia cursed quietly.  “ Well, if you ca n’ t beat the m … ” She grabbed the open bottle of wine.
    Moments later, the trio found themselves in the middle of comfortable conversation.  Whatever melancholy Lori had been feeling obviously started to dissipate once Maia offered her another glass of wine.
    “ So tell me Maia, how did you end up here ?” Lori inquired.
    Clearing her throat, she offered the short version and Lori murmured her condolences when she got to the part about Ji m’ s passing.
    “ He sounds like he was a great man ,” she said with a small smile.  “ Anyone who follows a dream like thi s… I really admire you two.  I ca n’ t imagine ever living anywhere else except Florida . ”
    Maia shrugged.  “ I always thought that about us too.  It was hard for me to wrap my head around leaving the place I had lived for my entire life.  But now, I do n’ t know if I could ever go back.  This is home now . ”
    Lori nodded and sat back in her chair, getting comfortable.  “ Not a bad place to hang your hat, if I do say so myself . ”
    “ You are from Florida ?” said Camilla excitedly.  “ I have always wanted to go there . ”
    “ To visit Disney World I suppose ? ”
    But Camilla tilted her head.  “ No no to Miami Beach.  I am not a child after all . ” 
    Maia laughed.  It was true that she often forgot that Camilla was n’ t a teenager, but a woman in her mid twenties.  “ But I mean, maybe I will go to Disney too.  I love the princesses . ” 
    “ Ther e’ s a lot of fun things to do in the Sunshine State ,” offered Lori.  “ Not that I do many of them anymor e …”
    “ So how did you and Hal get together ?” Maia asked, hoping to change the subject to a happier topic.
    With that question, Lor i’ s eyes took on a faraway loo k— and Maia knew that she had asked the right thing.  It was apparent that she still very much loved her husband, but was living