Page 162 of Play of Love
"Oh, son I don't like those things at all." Lucy smiled. "It was a good thing you were there."
"It was, wasn't it?" He still had that smug look.
My cheeks burned in remembrance, and I cringed inwardly, feeling my insides crumpling. That damn Gage knew he had me. It was bad enough that I'd mauled him with my naked self, but when I got dressed, he'd been sweet enough to carry me out of the room and into Lucy's while I clung to him for dear life. Squeezing my eyes shut so I wouldn't have to see those awful things ever again.
Who would have thought Italy had lizards? Okay, maybe many people, but it was the last thing on my mind. Now I'd be checking everywhere we went, and I certainly wouldn't be opening any windows.
"You're such a dear." Lucy smiled wider reaching up to tap his head like she used to when we were children, she habitually did the same thing to me too.
"I try my best." He cooed with an angelic expression, rolling up the sleeves of his long sleeved, black t-shirt. The movement drew my attention to the deep ridge and definition of muscle on his thick forearms, with its hint of a tan that made his skin look golden and sensual. "Especially when the rewards are great."
I narrowed my eyes at him. What did he mean byrewards?
His eyes met mine, capturing my gaze. Feeling my face burn beneath his stare I turned away and focused outside once more.
Lucy started talking to Gage about Tuscany. I would have joined in, but it was best to keep my focus away from them. At least outside had its own benefits to enjoy. The scenic landscape we passed as the train rolled on was a picture of fine beauty. Rows of dwarf olives, cypresses, walnuts and bay trees graced the land below and rang as far as my eyes could see. Then it changed to a golden sea of sunflowers, reminding me of a dream I had once where there were sunflowers everywhere. Except for that, I had never seen so many sunflowers in my life. I had to get out my camera and take pictures.
"It's so beautiful." Lucy stated, gazing out the window too. Her eyes gleamed at the picturesque sight.
I nodded. "I can't believe I haven't tried to make it here before."
Considering I'd always wanted to go to Italy, it should have been one of the first holidays I booked when I started earning good money. I wouldn't have had anyone to travel with, but this was the sort of place that I could have visited by myself. Of course, I would have to deal with the lizards, but even that wouldn't stop me.
"And I should have tried to make it back," Lucy replied with reflection. "When my family lived here we used to go to the beach in Tuscany as often as we could. Angelo took me once. He loved to paint and was so specific about capturing certain places at certain times. If he were painting a picture of the park at sunrise, then he'd make it his duty to be there right on the mark of sunrise. If it were the beach in summer, he'd go on the very day that summer officially began." Her eyes sparkled as she laughed.
"Like you when you're composing." I smiled remembering how eccentric Lucy could sometimes be. "Remember when you composedTree Magicand we went to Sayma Forrest, at night?"
Lucy started to laugh so hard her pale skin reddened.
"What happened?" Gage smiled. I risked meeting his eyes again.
"We got lost and had to call a ranger who thought we were completely mad, especially when he saw me. Lucy made me dress like a fairy."
Lucy laughed even more. I was happy to see her laughing like that as she'd looked so drained out yesterday.
"You're joking." Gage laughed. I shook my head.
Lucy was laughing so much she had to take a sip of water from the bottle she carried in her purse. "Sometimes I need to have something dramatized before I can write the music to it. I'm not as fortunate as you." She smacked my hands playfully.
"I learn from the best," I replied. Lucy gave my an appreciative look.
I thought back to my years of working with Lucy. While I may have had a natural gift that sounded weird and wonderful when I explained it, Lucy taught me how to harness it. She taught me how to control it all and make it work the way I wanted. She taught me how to focus and tap into the music itself to bring out the true beauty in the sound.
We started to talk about their music which even interested Gage. When the train climbed a green valley of oak and started to descend to the lowland the houses became visible again. I felt we'd be there soon. Just as the thought popped into my mind it was announced across the intercom and within minutes they pulled into the Santa Maria Novella station.
The differences between Rome and Tuscany were very clear from the first glance. Rome had all the glorious buildings, ancient and Renaissance architecture surrounding it that could captivate you for a lifetime. But Tuscany, was wow...
This was a different sort of beauty altogether. Tuscany had a mass of extraordinary countryside with rolling fields of sunny yellow and luscious green.
We observed it all on their drive to where they were staying. What I saw had the sort of beauty that demanded silence to appreciate, and silent we were as we journeyed along.
I didn't even consider where they were going until the sea came into view and I realized that our taxi was heading south. Last night before they went for their walk I'd looked in some of the brochures I'd gathered for the journey and did a little research. If I remembered right, we seemed to be heading to Monte Argentario located on the southern coast. If I was right, and it was looking like I was, then we were about to enter an Italian paradise.
"Gage. Where did you book us dear?" Lucy leaned forward in her seat. I'd sat in the back with I this time while Gage sat at the front with the driver. From the rearview mirror, I could see him smile.
"Somewhere with a lot of water." His smile widened as he caught my stare in the mirror.
Water.Like my composition.
