The train finally came to its last stop. The crowded car was dusty, the air unbreathable. When Darrin stepped outside the sun burned him. Sean and Victor descended next, shielding their eyes with their hands. "So, this is the place?" Sean said. He looked around, unimpressed.

"Apparently," Darrin replied. "I hope so anyway."

"What now?" Victor asked.

"Let's have some breakfast and get cleaned up," Darrin suggested. "She isn't going anywhere."

They arrived at the picnic spot early. Only a handful of people were there. Rose was relieved to see the McCulloughs hadn't gotten there yet. Maybe they wouldn't come after all. Or maybe, and this was her real hope, Lucy wouldn't come. It was ridiculous, she knew, but she dreaded another encounter with her. Lucy's feelings were justified; Rose sympathized with her, but there was nothing she could do to change them, short of presenting Jack to her and leaving forever. That wasn't going to happen. She didn't want Lucy as an enemy, but she saw no other possibility for them if Lucy wasn't willing to let go.

"This is a nice spot," Fabrizo said. They had the shade of a large tree. They were close enough to see the lake glittering.

Jack set down their basket. "Let's eat here," he said.

Rose spread the blanket on the ground. "Shouldn't we wait until everyone arrives?" she asked.

"It's not formal," Jack said. "We can eat or leave whenever we choose."

"What's the point of all these people coming then?" she said. She sat down and tried to figure out how to keep her skirt arranged properly. Rose glanced at the other women to see what they were doing.

"Just to get together," Jack said. "Talk. See people. Sometimes, when it cools off, there's dancing."

"Really?" Fabrizo and Rose said in unison. They looked at each other and laughed. Jack watched them, amused but happy about their closeness. No matter how many jokes he made, he wasn't jealous. It even made him feel more secure, knowing Fabrizo cared so much about Rose. If Cal did find them-but no, that was crazy. He would never find them.

"Did you come to picnics like this often?" Rose asked.

"A few times every summer," Jack said. "Me and my parents. They liked the dancing best too." He smiled wistfully. He saw them so clearly in that moment; it was as if they were really there. What would it be like if they were? What would they say if he showed up, unannounced, with Rose and Fabrizo? Or with just Rose?

Rose squeezed his hand. "We don't have to talk about it."

"No, I want to," Jack said. "I want you guys to know more about what it was like back then."

"In my village we had picnics all the time," Fabrizo said. "On Saints days, not all of them, but the big ones, we had parties, dancing, after the Mass, of course."

"What are those?" Rose asked

"Holidays," he said. "Sort of. If you celebrated them all you'd never stop. I don't know how many saints there are, but I know there's a lot."

"He took me to some of those," Jack said. "You'd like 'em."

"It sounds like a side of Italy I didn't get to see," Rose said. "It's somewhat different from the museums and ruins and elegant drawing rooms I did see while I was there."

"Those aren't so bad," Fabrizo said. "But, we go back, and I will show you the real Italy."

"I'll show you the stuff he misses," Jack said.

"I'd enjoy that," Rose said. "A tour from both of you sounds perfect."

She felt Lucy's gaze before she saw her. Rose turned, and there she was, talking to another woman but glowering at her. The McCullough brothers were busy setting up their area. They brought three baskets, two blankets, and what looked to Rose like a violin case. For dancing, she realized. There would have to be music.

Tom smiled and waved. Jack waved back. "Our neighbors," he explained to Fabrizo, who nodded.

"They can't be too close," Fabrizo said.

"About a mile away. That's as close as anyone's gonna get out here," Jack replied.

"You know everyone here, don't you?" Rose said.

"There's plenty of people here I don't recognize," Jack said. Before he could say anything else an older couple approached them. He wore freshly pressed trousers and a crisp, white shirt. He was clean shaven, except for a mustache, and his hair was steel grey. She wore a yellow summer dress. It was slightly out of date but clearly well-cared for. They regarded the three of them curiously, but their primary interest was in Jack.

"So, you finally came back," the man said gruffy, but not unkindly.

Rose and Fabrizo watched Jack, taking their cues from his reaction. "Yes, I came back, Mr. Edens," he said. H stood up and held out his hand. "It's good to see you again."

Clyde looked at him a moment before shaking his hand. "Always said you would, m'boy."

"Thank you," Jack replied.

"We heard you got married," Edna said.

"Yeah," Jack said proudly. Rose stood next to him; Fabrizo followed. "I'd like you to meet my wife, Rose."

Rose smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"This can't be your wife," Clyde said. "You couldn't have married a girl this lovely. She must be with your friend here."

"No, she's with me," Jack said. "And this is Fabrizo."

"That's an interesting name," Edna said. "Where are you from?"

"Sicily," Fabrizo answered. "In Italy."

"Really?" Edna said, intrigued. "What brought you all the way out here?"

"Jack and I came to America together," Fabrizo explained. "He's my closest friend here, so when he and Rose decided to come back, I came along. It's better here than in the cities."

"Quite right," Clyde said. "You made a wise choice."

"Are you married as well?" Edna asked.

"No, ma'am," Fabrizo said. "Not yet."

"A nice young man like you should be married," Edna said.

"I'm working on it," Fabrizo replied cheerfully.

"Now Edna, don't scold the boy," Clyde said. "And don't go playing matchmaker either."

"Men don't understand a thing," Edna said to Rose in a confidential tone. Rose just smiled in response, pleased to be accepted by this woman. They were fellow women, wives, and as such, they shared a common perspective. They understood one another.

After more talk, all light, the Edens moved on. "They seem like nice people," Rose said. "They certainly like you, Jack."

"They were friends with my parents," Jack said. His blue eyes were thoughtful. "Well, should we eat?"

…..

Picnics, Rose concluded, were indeed wonderful. As the afternoon went on more people stopped to talk. They all commented on Jack's sudden arrival in town; his responses remained polite if somewhat vague. Some made no secret of their curiosity, openly staring at Rose and Fabrizo, as if their faces could reveal secrets. Rose spoke little. She was afraid of slipping up and saying the wrong thing. Fabrizo charmed nearly everyone, though a few of them were put off by his accent. If he noticed he didn't let on. Rose wondered what it was like to be him, to be surrounded by people whose looks, customs, and even way of speaking were completely unlike her own. It must be incredibly difficult. She didn't stop to consider that her situation was rather similar.

The sun began to set. Torches were lit and planted in the ground. Rose watched, fascinated, as instruments were taken out of cased and a band assembled. A space was cleared for dancing. Couple formed, and people stood up to watch.

"Do you want to dance?" Jack asked.

"I'd love to," Rose said.

It wasn't a proper dance floor, or even really a floor at all, but that didn't matter. Jack led her to the center as the first song began. He put his arm around her, his hand on her back. This time he didn't have to pull her closer; she did that on her own.

"I don't know the steps," Rose said.

"Neither do I."

But he did, as far as she could see. Jack knew how to move with the beat; he knew how to lead her around the grass floor so that she felt like she was flying. Nothing else mattered. Nothing else existed. It was just the two of them, the cool summer night, and the music.

"Do you want to dance?"Lucy looked up, surprised by the question. Fabrizo leaned over her, a friendly smile on his mouth. He held out his hand. She stared at it, momentarily unsure what to do. "It doesn't mean anything," he said. "I just thought I'd ask."

"Why?" she said.

"You're alone here."

"Maybe I want to be alone," she replied.

"And you're pretty," he said, not flinching at her sharp tone. "All the other girls already have partners."

"I guess they do." She saw Jack and Rose in the crowd, so happy, so oblivious. "Alright," she said. "Let's dance."

"Yeah?"

"Why not?" Lucy took his hand. "It might even be fun."

Fabrizo was handsome, even in the dim light. His accent intrigued her. He was Jack's friend; that was all she knew. She found herself wanting to know more.

They moved out onto the floor with the other couples. He kept her at arm's length, which was surprising to her. "Can I put my hand there?" he asked, as he placed a hand on her waist.

"I think you have to if we're going to dance," she said. "But yes, you can."

"It's only polite to ask," Fabrizo said good-naturedly.

"You speak English well."

"Thank you. It's been getting better," he said.

"How long have you been in America?"

"A few months."

"Why'd you come?" she asked.

"I wanted to see what it was like. I heard stories about America all my life, and Jack won us tickets," he said. "How could I say no?"

"He won tickets? You mean, he was in Europe with you?"

"In a poker game," he explained. "He bet all our money, everything we had. If we lost-" He clucked his tongue disapprovingly. "Who knows where we'd be now?"

"Probably back where you started," Lucy said drily.

Fabrizo chuckled. "Yes, probably."

"What do you think of his wife?"

Would the questions about her never cease? Maybe, someday, when the town's curiosity was finally satiated. It shouldn't be him who gave the answers, though. "Rose is a lovely woman," he said.

"I'm sure she is."

Fabrizo saw the dislike in her eyes. Why did this girl care about Rose? She didn't know her; she couldn't. And then it him him: Jack. She knew Jack, somehow, from another time, and she was jealous. "I don't want to talk about her," he said. "I'd rather talk about you."

Lucy smiled in spite of herself. "Really?"

"I'm dancing with you, aren't I?" he said.

The next time they passed Jack and Rose she didn't notice. Jack did, and he was glad to see them together.

"The whole town is supposed to be there," Darrin said. The three of them struggled through the dark woods.

"Couldn't we have brought a light?" Victor said irritably. Behind him, Sean tripped over a tree root. He fell, crying out, more from surprise than pain. "Really," Sean said, pulling himself up. "A light would have been nice."

"Do you want us to be seen?" Darrin asked. "Do you want to fail?"

"Well, no," Sean said. "But-"

"But nothing," Darrin snapped. "These are just woods. Trees. They won't hurt you, and look, there's light up ahead. We're almost there."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Victor said. "Like you said, the whole town's gonna be there. We'll definitely be noticed."

"The crowd is why we won't be noticed," Darrin said, with exaggerated patience. "We're just going to find them in that crowd and follow them home."

"It still seems risky," Victor said.

"There's a reason neither of you are in charge," Darrin said. "Now, shut up. They'll hear us."

There she was. In the firelight her hair was even redder. Darrin smiled. At last, he'd found her.

…..

Rose was breathless when the dancing finally ended. The torches still burned, but the crowd had begun dispersing. She sat down on their blanket, suddenly tired. She took off her shoes. Her feet stretched, glad to be free. "Thank you," she said, as Jack passed her the bottle of lemonade. Amazingly, it was still cold. She drank greedily. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Jack watching. "It doesn't have to be beer," she said, with a laugh. He kissed her, and whatever was left of her legs melted. "We should go home," she said.

"We should," he agreed. He helped her to her feet. "Or we could go swimming."

"Now?" Rose looked around. "But there are people here."

"There's no-one on the other side of the lake, where we usually go," he pointed out.

Now that they weren't moving she was aware of how hot she was. Her dress clung to her, glued by sweat. "That's not a bad idea," she said. "It would certainly be easier than a proper bath."

Jack pulled her closer and kissed her again. His hands pressed against her back. He didn't seem to care about the dampness of her dress. She put her arms around his neck; they were safe in the dark. His hair was wet on the bottom. She breathed in the sharp scent of his skin. It wasn't bad; the joy of their dancing was in it. "Let's go," she said.

Meanwhile, across the clearing, Fabrizo and Lucy were saying their good-byes. "Thank you for the dances," Lucy said. "This was fun."

"Thank you, Luciella."

"Is that my name in Italian?"

"Yes," he said. "Do you mind if I call you that?"

"No." She kept her tone even, disguising just how much she liked it. He still held her hand. His grip was firm but gently. She heard her brothers behind them. The picnic supplies had been gathered, and they were waiting to leave. She wondered if they could see her.

"Lucy!" Tom called.

"I'm coming," she called back. To Fabrizo she said, "I have to go."

"I know. I can't walk with you, can I?" he asked.

"I'm not sure my brothers would like that." In fact, Lucy wasn't sure how she felt about it or about him. In a few hours he had upset her entire life, and to make matters worse, he didn't seem to notice at all. She doubted she had the same effect on him. He just wanted a dance partner, and she was the only girl available.

"I understand. Could I see you again?" Fabrizo asked.

"Oh. I don't know. Maybe," she said. "I'm sure we'll run into each other again." He couldn't be serious. He was just being nice. "I really have to go," she said, freeing her hand. Before he could respond, she was gone.

…..

Rose stopped. "Did you hear something?"

"No," Jack said. He looked around. "There's nothing out there. Maybe it was a squirrel or something."

"Maybe. It sounded like footsteps," she said.

"Who else would be out here?"

"I don't know. I could be wrong," she said. "I heard something coming toward us, or I thought I did." Rose shivered, aware of her nude body for the first time. Jack put his arms around her. "We're alone," he said. "There's nothin to worry about, Honey-Rose."

She looked over her shoulder as they walked into the water. The trees rustled in the wind. There was no-one there, just like he said.

Cal stared at them, his face blank. It had been nearly five minutes since Darrin finished talking; since then, silence had reigned. Victor shifted from one foot to the other. Sean stared at the wall, counting grains in the wood. Darrin did his best to appear calm.

"So," Cal said quietly. The three of them stood at attention. "It wasn't her after all. You tried to bring her back before you made this discovery. It didn't occur to you to check the photographs I gave you." He picked up a paperweight, a large glass ball, and squeezed it. His arm twitched with the urge to throw it.

"That's basically what happened," Darrin said.

….

"Where are you off to so early?" Rose asked. Fabrizo was still combing his hair. His boots sparkled from a fresh polishing. He wasn't wearing work clothes.

"I can't tell you," he said. "I might ruin it if I talk about it."

"Oh really?"

"Si. I'll let you know how it goes, Rosa."

Jack came into the kitchen as the door closed behind Fabrizo. "Where's he goin?" he asked.

"He wouldn't say. He was afraid talking would ruin it," she answered. "He looked nice."

"You don't think he met a girl, do you?"

"That's exactly what I think," Rose said.

"He hasn't said anything about it if he did. It's been almost a week since the picnic. It had to have happened there," Jack said, pouring himself coffee.

"I didn't see who he danced with."

"I did," he said.

"Who?"

"Lucy."

"Just Lucy?" Rose said. "Really?"

Jack nodded. "All night."

"Well, that's interesting. Do you think she's who he's going to see?"

"Maybe," he said. "They definitely looked happy together."

"I'm glad. He needs to find a girl."

….

Fabrizo walked quickly. There was a chance Lucy didn't want to see him, but he didn't think about that. If she sent him away, fine, but there was no reason to discourage himself. Her brothers were outside. He hesitated, his confidence beginning to wane. What would they think about him? They wouldn't want some strange man spending time with their sister, especially not a foreigner like him. But then she came out. She was even prettier in the morning light. Fabrizo smoothed his hair and went forward.