Page 34 of Tempted Hearts
So why did it bother me?
You know why.
“That was a quick change.” And then I remembered the question I had in the shower. “Why did you knock, anyway?”
“Forgot my key.”
Of course. “Hmm. Well.” Suddenly, it was awkward again.
“You mentioned wanting to see all five towns. I hope you don’t mind but I grabbed a ferry pass for us both. To see all four in one day, we’ll need to get moving.”
So he still wanted to stay. That was something, I supposed.
And so it went.
On the ferry. At the first of the five Cinque Terre towns. At lunch. At the second town. Vernazza was lovely, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d done something wrong. Finally, after we got off the ferry in Corniglia, after climbing the infamous Lardarina steps to the top, I decided to say something.
“This looks like a good spot for a drink,” I said. An outdoor restaurant, poised just at the top of the stairs, was mostly already filled. Not surprising, given the view. We were rewarded for our uphill hike with an unparalleled view of the sea below. Breathtaking.
I ordered a limoncello spritz. Cole, a beer.
“Wouldn’t have taken you for a Peroni guy.”
“I’m not usually,” he said, thanking the waiter who came back with our drinks. “Was in the mood for a cold drink after that climb. It was deceptively high.”
“Supposedly this town is famous for it. But the payoff is pretty sweet. Look at the view.”
“Spectacular,” he agreed. “The woman at the front desk said only about two hundred people live here. Must be hard to get supplies.”
“I’d assume they come from inland. Can you imagine dragging a case of beer up that hill?”
“Or limoncello,” he said, nodding to my drink.
I tried to imagine other necessities that would have to be hauled up here. “Or bushels of bananas.”
Cole smiled. “Or a new mattress.”
On and on we went, each thinking of increasingly outrageous “necessity” items.
“Or a stroller,” I said, seeing a father carrying one past us.
Cole ordered us another round.
“Do you want kids?”
My answer was immediate. “Absolutely. My mom had some trouble when I was born, was told it would be dangerous to have another baby, so I’ve always wanted to have a big family. You?”
A shadow passed his features. Cole didn’t respond. Realizing he was looking at something beyond me, people hiking up the cliffside, I turned completely. But there was nothing except a family. Parents and twin sons.
I turned back around, about to ask him the question again, when Cole finally answered.
“I would like them, but don’t see it happening.”
“Why?” I asked bluntly.
He shrugged. But I wasn’t letting him off that easy.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked. “You’ve been off since last night. And this”—I waved my hand to him—“is the old Cole.”
