Page 116 of No Stone Unturned

“Si, it does.”

A seagull screeched and circled above us. Suddenly it swooped down and skimmed its claws above the water, seemingly more interested in the simple pleasure of flying than fishing.

“Salerno is such a beautiful place, and now it holds even more meaning for us,” I said. “Not to mention, we’re honorary residents.”

“That we are, although I’ve yet to receive any hotel discounts.”

I smiled, relaxing against the contours of his lean body. The clouds were beginning to show the first tinges of pink from the impending sunset. This time and space with him felt exactly right. A sense of contentment within me had been growing. It couldn’t sweep away all our problems, but they felt more distant and less substantial when we stood together like this.

“I don’t know why, Slash, but the most transformative moments in my life keep happening near an ocean. Either it’s you or it’s an evolutionary thing.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” he said, his hand warm against my cheek. “Either way, the next time we have a fight, I’m bringing you to the ocean.”

I grinned. “I suppose there’s hope yet that I’ll embrace the sand, sun and salt someday. But I make no promises for suntan lotion, heat and oily beachgoers. Realistically, I don’t see that part happening.”

“Little steps,” he said, and I could hear the amusement in his voice. “Progress can be gradual.”

“True. For example, when I walked out onto the balcony just now and saw the sky, my first thought wasn’t ‘Look at that gorgeous turquoise sky.’ Instead, I was thinking how blue light scatters in short, small waves across the atmosphere in tiny molecules to create an illusion of a turquoise sky. Then, when I viewed the ocean, instead of simply enjoying the view, I found myself studying the wave motion and position of the moon overhead to determine if the tide was ebbing or receding. That seagull’s soaring over the waves made me think about how little discernment it has in regards to what it consumes. I mean, I’ve seen seagulls eating out of garbage cans.”

He slid a hand down to the curve of my hip, resting it there. “I love how your mind works.”

“Thank goodness,” I said with feeling. “I’ve spent my entire life looking at the world and trying to figure out how it works. It’s the main reason I’ve avoided people and relationships. People don’t make sense to me. Within a time span of fifteen minutes, someone can act both altruistically and selfishly. People’s moods are prone to change at random intervals, especially if feelings are involved. And don’t get me started about predicting the actions of people in a relationship. It’s totally confusing.”

A rumble of laughter sounded in his chest, but he said nothing.

I turned around in his arms so I could see his face. “But that day when we visited the cathedral in Salerno, I saw beauty and peace. Maybe not for the first time, but uniquely in the context of my own personal journey of working out the complexities of our relationship. I guess my point is, I don’t have to read music to enjoy the orchestra. Ever since I met you, I’ve become better equipped tofeela moment—like your strong arms around me right now. I can look at the water andfeelrelaxed, peaceful and loved. I think that’s why some people come to the ocean, despite the crowds, sand and salty water. I am never going to understand the speedos, though.”

He stroked a hand down my ponytail. “I adore you,cara.”

“Likewise.” I leaned my head against his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

“Slash, are you going to look for your mother?” I don’t know why I asked, other than I happen to be the queen of blurting out awkward things at the most inopportune times.

The hand on my hair stilled and then lowered to rest on my shoulder. “I already have a mother. She’s the only mother who matters to me. My biological mother made her choice regarding me a long time ago, and now I’m making mine. So, no, I’m not going to look for her.”

“I understand. I just wondered.”

He released me, slipping off his sunglasses and hooking them on the front of his shirt. Sitting down in the balcony chair, he rested his elbows on his thighs and regarded me. “She didn’t want me then, so why would she want me now?”

The expression on his face was so vulnerable and unguarded, I wanted to throw my arms around him and hold him tight. Instead, I answered him as honestly as I could.

“People change,” I said. “I’m the perfect example of that. I’ve also discovered that sometimes we hurt the people we love, intentionally and unintentionally, for many reasons. It’s complicated.”

“It’s always complicated.”

“So I’ve discovered.” I turned and sat down in the chair next to him. He reached out to take my hand. We still had matching bandages, so we rested our fingertips against each other’s. “You’ll do what’s right for you.”

“What’s right forus,” he corrected.

“For us,” I agreed.

We sat in companionable silence until he shifted in his chair, bringing my fingers to his lips and kissing them. “So,cara, when do you want to get married?”

I looked at him in surprise. “You’re thinking about the wedding?”

“It’s hard not to. Between Nonna, your parents and my family, it will be hard to avoid discussions regarding our plans. Especially now that Gio’s wedding is on.”

I glanced down at my engagement ring. “I guess you’re right. I don’t know. When do you want to have it?”

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