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The s at the café where locals were ordering theirfix She chattered to people as she waited for her cappuccino, happy to be a part of the scene Could she do this on a regular basis? Live here, become involved with the community, raise Aimee as a local? It wouldn’t be impossible, or uncohter growing up in Italy

Thedid that to her, no matter where she was People in need of care were her specialty, and it didn’tor old, rich or poor; pain and illness affected everyone the saht place Sorrento was pulling her in with its prohter, friendly people—and Mattia The real sticking point Falling under his spell, she could alain, while his et over Might pass on that She’d probablyspot

‘Hi, Colleen,’ she said to the charge nurse she’d ht her in on their way home from Naples ‘Where do you want me?’

‘Hello, did you bring two of those?’ Colleen nodded to the take-away coffee in her hand

‘Tell et you one tomorrow’

‘Black Let’s find you a uniform before I introduce you to our patients I’ve rostered you to look after Gino since he hasn’t stopped singing your praises Then there’s Joanna, who had pancreatic surgery yesterday But hoorks around here, we all keep an eye on everyone’

‘No proble on those crutches yet?’

‘No’ Colleen shook her head ‘That’s another reason he’s yours this ot hi you’ll be able to continue with that’

‘Why doesn’t he want to get walking?’ Most people who had hip replacements couldn’t wait to be up and about afterincapacitated

Colleen sighed ‘So three decent mea

ls a day can be a huge step up Others don’t have someone at home to look after them while they recuperate’

‘That’s sad’ She’d never knohat it was like to go without, but she had done her share of helping those who did by working in the second-hand goods shop to raise funds ‘Everyone’s entitled to the basics’

‘Entitled,them is another story Which is why Mattia is fierce about keeping this place going Here, put these on’

Another reason he’d loathe to relocate to her side of the world The list was growing in his favour Strange how that wasn’t tipping her into despair, instead focusing her on ashave you worked here?’

‘Nearly two years I orking full-time at the main hospital and decided to volunteer here instead My husband’s a general surgeon and contributes time when required We moved out from Ireland for the war’

‘Why would anyone when it’s so beautiful?’ Re here wouldn’t be hard She could rent an apartment nearby, work paid hours at the hospital and put in some extra here And ht she’d talked to herand it had been late when she finally went to bed Her youngest sister was turning twenty-one tomorrow and she wouldn’t be there for the celebrations Homesickness hit, then she remembered why she was here and pushed it away Aimee would never knohat it was like to be rejected by those nearest and dearest Never

‘You’re staying with Mattia, right?’

‘I ao see Gino’

He saw her coiorno, Elene They told lad to see you’