Giovanni glanced beyond her to the mountain barely seen against the darkening sky. “It is. The volcano is still active. Many believe it will release again and the clouds of ash will reach as far as Napoli. Do away with us all.”
“Amazing.” She grinned. “I knew it!” Her smile almost made her eyes disappear under her long lashes. Eve had her mother’s smile, all cheeks. Giovanni was caught again off-guard at how easy happiness came when he was with her. “When I was a little girl Giovanni I read about Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius. I sat in the library and looked up pictures of the people frozen in time. Did you know that Pompeii was the first ancient documented city that actually had fast food?”
Giovanni frowned. “Fast food?”
“Food on the go. That’s the thing about Italy, civilization today mirrors so much of the way pagans lived here centuries ago. They had restaurants, courts, laws, and they worshipped these sex Gods. The things they painted on the walls. Well I was only twelve when I saw the pictures. It’s just fascinating that the more things change the more they stay the same.” Mira glanced back to the mountain and the hills that extended to the sea. “Something about Italy always made me wonder.”
“Wonder what?” he asked.
She shrugged. “I can’t explain it. You grew up with all this history and beauty around you. It’s inspiring. I read stories of Caesar and Cleopatra, and Roman’s cheering on gladiators who fought to the death in coliseums made of limestone. Me-ma, my grandmother, encouraged my reading, but my grandfather didn’t like it.”
“Why?” Giovanni asked. He was fascinated to know more about her life as a child.
“Old fashion I guess. We were poor, farming and preaching is all he knew. Plus there was the history with my mother. The way we lost her. He feared my curiosity would take me far from them. He was right. Look at where I am now.” Her voice took on a sad note. Giovanni tried to think of something to bring her back to the mood they shared just a moment ago. And then she turned and favored him with a braver smile. He could see her push down her sad memories for him. “Isn’t it strange that I’d eventually end up here, with you? So much time has been wasted.” She crushed rose petals under her feet as she approached him. He stroked his chin and his fingers. “I have a question,” she said stopping before him.
“Ask me anything, Bella.”
“Is this a place you brought your mistresses? You know, the ones not allowed to visit Melanzana?”
Giovanni froze. Twice she’d caught him off guard. “Ah, no. I recently acquired it from another business partner. I haven’t brought women here.”
Mira tilted her head right and squinted at him as if trying to determine if he were lying. “Good. I prefer you don’t take me anywhere you’ve taken them.”
“Them?”
“I’m not stupid sweetheart.”
“Mira, no woman has replaced you in my heart.”
“Hmm. Am I still the only woman who’s shared your bed since we met?”