Page 29 of Hello Goodbye Amore

“So that the roof would weigh less and so they could let light inside,” Chase said. “This was built a really long time ago.”

“Is it older than you?” Ricky asked.

Chase ticked him, his laughter echoing off the ancient walls. “Yes. It’s lots older than me. It’s even older than Grandma.”

Ricky’s mouth fell open, like that was a seemingly unfathomable amount of time. They stayed as long as Ricky wanted to look, then left.

They spent the day seeing the Trevi Fountain as well as the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona. They ate wonderful food and had plenty of gelato, got T-shirts, and basically had an amazing day. After dinner, they rode back to the villa, with Ricky falling asleep in the car seat almost as soon as they pulled away from the Piazza Venezia.

“Thank you. I’m not sure how much Ricky is going to remember, but I know I’m never going to forget this.” Chase closed his eyes as the driver wove through the city traffic until they reached the outskirts and pulled into the villa driveway. Antonello wasn’t sure if Chase would take Ricky right up to bed, but as soon as they pulled to a stop, Ricky’s eyes slid open and he peered out the windows.

“Can we go swimming now?” The kid had a one-track mind.

“THIS HASbeen great,” Chase said as he stretched the following morning. The house was still quiet, and Ricky had slept through the night after an hour of swimming and a day full of activity. “I’m sort of sad to have to go back.” He rolled over with a smile. “It seems kind of dumb to say that, since we’re returning to Florence, not some hick town in Idaho.” Antonello loved that smile. “But this has been so much fun.”

“It has.” He reached for his phone, pleased to find no messages or emails that required his attention. Everything he had could wait until tomorrow. “I like Rome, but Florence is more….”

“Even with the tourists, it’s quieter,” Chase said softly.

“Yes,” he agreed and stretched himself. “I’m willing to bet that Ricky is going to be awake at any moment and that he is going to be hungry.” He got out of bed and bent over to pull on a pair of shorts.

Chase tugged him back into the bed, holding him tightly. “I locked the door after checking on Ricky.”

Antonello chuckled softly. “I see.” He kissed him, feeling happier than he had in a very long time. The cares and weight of responsibility felt light at the moment. It was like they mattered less with Chase around… like he could handle them better. Maybe it was just his imagination, or maybe he just missed what Chase seemed to offer him: a kind of acceptance and care that had nothing to do with the family he’d been born into or the responsibility that carried.

“Daddy,” Ricky called from outside, “where are you?”

Chase groaned, but Antonello kissed him and patted his cheek. “It’s okay. Go see to him, and I’ll be down in a few minutes to get us something to eat. We slept in, and we need to leave for the station in a few hours.”

“Can I go swimming? I got my suit on already.”

Antonello sprawled back in bed as Chase went through the connecting door and closed it after him. He smiled, listening as Chase’s laughter drifted into the room, followed by giggles from Ricky.

“Ask Mr. Nello, okay?” Ricky pleaded, and Antonello could almost see that pooched-out lower lip and Chase trying to figure a way to say no, but knowing he’d cave.

“We need to have breakfast first, and then we can go swimming for a few minutes before we leave for the train.”

Antonello got out of bed, dressed, and cleaned up quickly before finding the housekeeper to let her know that they wanted to eat out by the pool. “Breakfast will be ready soon,” he told them, and Chase took Ricky’s hand and led him out back to the table next to the sparkling water. Ricky looked at it like the pool had sirens calling him.

“Grazie,” Antonello told Rachel as she brought their breakfast to the table and then left them alone once more. She worked for the service that cared for the villa, and he’d arranged for her to be there so they could be sure to depart on time.

“Can I swim now?”

“Go ahead. But you have to eat something when you get out,” Chase told him. Ricky pulled on his water wings and jumped right in. “Stay on this side of the pool.”

“I will, Daddy,” Ricky called back as Antonello poured juice and got a plate with some bread, cheese, and prosciutto, along with some lovely fruit.

“What will happen when we leave here? Do they close the place up?” Chase asked.

“No. The service will clean up and make sure the villa is secure. They are very trustworthy and will come in every few days and make sure things are okay.”

“Daddy, can we come back here again?” Ricky asked after getting out of the water, dripping all over the pool deck.

“Maybe,” Antonello told him.

“Yeah. Now go swim, because you have only five more minutes. And then you need to eat and get dressed so we can get on the train.” Ricky ate a piece of cheese before jumping back in the water.

“You’re really good with him,” Antonello said.

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