—
It was the most exciting and terrifying experience of my life.
A few men helped carry our luggage and we began the steep hike. Halfway there, I was huffing and sweaty, but my aunt kept chattering and pointing things out, her heels not slowing her down as we climbed. She cheerfully informed me we’d climbed 181 steps and said by the end of summer, she was always in the best shape of her life. The idea of living far in the suburbs to drive half an hour to a mall used to scare me. Now I wondered if I’d live without pizza delivery.
“Here we are!” Aunt Silvia announced, her hands sweeping outward in a welcoming gesture. “Our cottage for the summer!”
I gasped. If this was a cottage, I wanted to live here my entire life.
The bright blue door emphasized the sunny yellow shingles and quirky, sloping roof. Lemon trees burst from the sides and framed a gorgeous garden, overflowing with blooms that seemed to explode from the ground in a happy mess. She ushered me inside and I was struck by the coziness of the place. The floor was a gorgeous hand-painted tile of florals. An overstuffed sectional and love seat with curved lamps created a cozy reading space. A square, carved pine table lay in front of me, with bright blue cushioned chairs. The kitchen was open, with butcher-block wooden counters. White-shuttered arched windows were flung open so the spectacular hillside view could be seen from every angle.
I poked through the rooms, taking in the gorgeous bathroom with an old-fashioned tub, and the full-size bedrooms with private wrought-iron balconies.
I was living in a paradise.
“It’s so beautiful.” I breathed out. “It almost hurts to look at.”
Aunt Silvia smiled with pleasure. “I always have the place cleaned and opened up before I arrive. Now, why don’t we rest, have something to eat, and then I’ll take you into town to meet a few people.”
Nerves tingled in my belly, but I readily agreed. If I was going to be spending my summer here, I wanted to meet as many people as possible. Hopefully, they spoke English like my aunt had said.
Later, I changed into denim shorts, a white lace top, and my pair of comfortable sneakers. We made the long trek back down the hill, stopping here and there for my aunt to call out greetings and introduce me to a few neighbors. My senses were overloaded as I tried to take it all in: the crowded, zigzagging narrow streets, the endless displays of shops and outdoor cafés, the whizz of scooters on the main road. Aunt Silvia maneuvered deftly around and we headed back toward the pier, where the light caught the water and the smooth movement of the boats.
“I’d like you to meet someone special,” Aunt Silvia said. Her eyes shone mischievously like she had a secret. “He’s a good friend of mine, so we’ll be spending time together. You’ll adore him, and his son.”
I cocked my head and studied her elegant profile. “Is he your boyfriend?”
She let out a booming laugh. “Something like that, but we’re not in a serious relationship. For now, we just make each other happy.”
I thought of my mother’s accusations that Aunt Silvia had loose morals and enjoyed the thrill that skated down my spine. I hoped I’d find my own adventures like her. I hated being socially awkward and shy in front of people and was trying to push myself out of my comfort zone.
“Eduardo!” she called out, waving her hand in the air. “Over here!”
I turned and watched a stocky man walk over to us. His dark hair was short and glossy, and his smiling face seemed kind. I noticed his dark eyes lit up when he stared at my aunt. His nose dominated his face, and his skin was a warm, toasty brown. He broke into a litany of Italian and kissed my aunt full on the lips. When he looked down at me, his eyes crinkled when he smiled like he’d been out in the sun too long, and his teeth were blindingly white. “Signorina, welcome to Positano! Your aunt told me all about you and we are so happy you have come to visit. Your aunt desperately needs a chaperone.”
I smiled and he took my hand, dwarfing it with his grip, making me feel immediately welcome. “Grazie. I’m so happy to meet you.”
“How are the tourists today?” Aunt Silvia asked.
“Keeping me busy. We had a fishing trip this morning, and a general sightseeing tour.”
“Oh, you have a boat?” I asked.
“Sì, hopefully you will join me one day for a tour. I give you good rate,” he said with a wink.
“Is Rafe here? I’d love for him to meet Olivia,” Aunt Silvia said.
“Of course, he will be happy to show a pretty girl around.” Eduardo called out while I tried not to blush, and a young man strode down the dock, pushing his sunglasses to the top of his head as he closed the distance.
“Olivia, this is my son, Rafael. He is my assistant in our boat business and knows everything about this enchanting city. I’m sure he’d love to show you around. Rafe, this is Silvia’s niece, Olivia. She is staying for the summer.”
I couldn’t have known at the time how often this moment would play out in my mind. How I’d pick apart every second of my reaction; the way his chocolate-brown curls hit the light, or the shy smile curving his full lips, or the way he shifted his hips in an almost nervous stance, as if he was just as tongue-tied as me. He ducked his head, and his father repeated his name, as if he needed urging to look up. I’d remember that, when he reached out to shake my hand, his fingers were warm as they enclosed mine, and lingered just a few seconds too long, enough that I’d obsess over whether or not it was deliberate. He was tall, with broad shoulders that stretched out the navy-blue T-shirt he wore. Jeans rode low on his hips. Battered boat shoes clad his feet. And he smelled of the sea, and sunshine, and laundered cotton—all the things I wanted to bury myself in and savor.
But it was his eyes that mesmerized me. Thick eyelashes framed a dark, sooty gaze that seared right to my soul. The rings around his irises were so dark, his eyes seemed almost black, with a bottomless depth that gave me goose bumps.
I blinked; my tongue tangled so much I could spit out only one word. “Hi.”
“Ciao. Is this your first time in Italy?”
I nodded a bit too vigorously. “Yes. I love it here. I think it’s one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.”
He grinned, ducking his head again, and I fisted my sweaty palms. “I’m glad. I’ll be happy to show you around when you’re free. Mi dispiace, I have another appointment to get to. I will see you later, no?”
“Yes! Um, yes, whenever. I’m good.”
He nodded, said goodbye to Aunt Silvia and his father, and walked away.
Did my heart already recognize that nothing would ever be the same again?
chapter four