Page 41 (2/2)

Suzette, stunned, just sat with her mouth open

The old man pressed the cross into Stephanie’s hands

She tried to tell him no, that she couldn’t take it He beca man came out of the kitchen He bore a resemblance to the woman who had served them, and Stephanie assu words to the old man, then smiled ruefully at Stephanie "Thank you for your… patience Adalio Davanti is old, yes, and he fears that you have brought bad things down upon us, with the theater Please, don’t take offense He wants you to have this To wear it To make the town safe for all of us"

Stephanie stared at the young man "I--I--this is a beautiful piece It is obviously worth sorinned "He’s a jeweler It’s what he does The cross is not so expensive for him, and he really wants you to have it, to wear it Please do It’s all right, really My ry with hiood man My mother likes the customers that come into the new resort Please, you will make both my mother and an old man very happy"

Stephanie stared at the old fellow He was still watching her so intently, so urgently

She forced a srazie Thank you, thank you so veryher teeth when he came to life and helped her with the catch

She let her hair fall back into place and slish and told her, "You--you wear Not off Capisce?"

" Si, grazie," she said solemnly

At last, he see ood, yes?"

"Excellent," Suzette assured him

They smiled at one another

They were s Suzette At last he returned to the kitchen

Suzette burst out laughing

"What on earth was funny about all that?" Stephanie deet a pinch on the behind You wind up with a gorgeous piece of jewelry!

Steph, did you really look at that? The handwork on the silver is just beautiful"

"Uet back to the hospital We can spell the others so they can get a late coffee or drink, uess we can head back and get soh," she murmured

Grant didn’t see Clay Barton or Liz anywhere when he returned to the resort

There were people still in the restaurant, but they were mostly locals, and the head waiter told them that they had people down from Northern Italy and even France, but only a few

It was a quiet night It was Sunday, and in Southern Italy, Sunday still meant a day of rest for most people Besides, tomorroas Maria Britto’s funeral, andit

Grant walked into the club café, but the theater was, of course, closed for the night, and it was empty

He walked around anyhere so eness of such a place when it was dark, actors and audience gone

He walked out on the beach, but still found no sign of Clay and Liz He realized that he didn’t know if Liz was in a cottage or if she had a roo, but he did knohere Clay’s cottage was Not sure of just what he was going to say to thethe bell

There was no answer

He didn’t have a key to Stephanie’s cottage since he only entered it with her and hadn’t thought to suggest that she give him one

She probably would have refused

Still, a feords in the Italian language that was co more and more naturally to him as the days passed helped to secure hi the front desk

He went into Stephanie’s roo there

Then, he knew

Trying not to disturb her belongings, he searched through them until he found the resuie had done the hiring, and sent the resu with It didn’t seeh tih the applicants before co over here