Page 101 of Sunrise By the Sea

‘How is she, yournonna? She better, she fine?’

‘Here.’ She went to hand over the tray. He looked at it and frowned.

‘Take it! It’ll drop down the cliff.’

‘She is so well you can make me lunch?’

He took it in one big paw, still eyeing her suspiciously with those narrow brown eyes.

‘I have a proposition for you,’ said Marisa nervously. Then she was cross with herself: she should at least have waited till he’d drunk his beer. Sure enough, those disconcerting eyes looked at her steadily.

‘Huh,’ he said.

‘Um,’ she said, staring at the floor. ‘I was thinking. Maybe . . . um. I thought. You might like to . . . take a trip with me. To Italy? It’s so beautiful there.’

Her face flushed.

‘I have heard it is very beautiful,’ he said gravely.

‘Have you been?’

‘To Milan, yes . . .’ His voice sounded faraway and Marisa cursed herself for asking. His girlfriend was probably dancing at La Scala or something.

‘But not the Riviera?’

He shook his head.

‘You’ll love it.’

She pointed to a dark cloud on the horizon. ‘And look. The forecast for the next week is horrible. And there are lots of bedrooms in my grandmother’s house and I can buy your ticket and it’s . . . I mean, the food is amazing and . . .’

She realised she was gabbling and this had come out completely the wrong way, even more so as he didn’t change his calm restful expression. He put down his beer.

‘Marisa,’ he said. ‘You want me to come with you to visit your grandmother?’

‘Um. Yes.’

‘You should just ask me.’

Marisa blinked. ‘Would you come with me to visit my grandmother?’

There was a long pause.

‘No,’ he said.

She looked at him, stricken, aware that the hurt and sadness would be showing in her face.

‘Fine,’ she said, making to turn away.

‘Marisa!’ he said. ‘Wait!’

She half-turned back in case he was going to say he was only kidding but his face was as solemn as ever.

‘It is hard,’ he said, ‘to go by yourself, yes? To get there?’

She nodded.

‘And you think I will make it easier?’

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