Disclaimer: I don't own anything to do with ER or any of the characters
(although Kes is all my own work! Hehe!) I also don't live or own anything
to do with the lovely town of Positano.
I'd just like to tell you that Positano is a real place and it's in Italy. Never been to it, but it looks gorgeous! Visit Positanonline.it to see for yourself! You can then see what Elizabeth can see and some of the places they go!!
Another little note. I have some Italian in this so the words in brackets are the translations.
Thanks for all your kind reviews, and keep them coming, the more reviews, the more confidence I get to write more!!
SUNSET IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Chapter 4
It had been a hectic week for Robert, but persuading Dr Anspaugh to give Elizabeth the time off wasn't hard. He agreed that she looked stressed and needed a well-earned break, so it was all sorted. He couldn't wait. The flights were booked and he had phoned ahead to his Italian housekeeper to set everything up for Ella and to put some food in the place. He wanted it to be prefect and by the end of the week, everything was ready for their arrival.
At the end of her last shift of the week, she was sitting in the lounge waiting for her nanny to arrive with Ella. She wanted to take Ella to the park before the left in the morning. Elizabeth didn't tell anyone about going on holiday. She knew the rumour mill would go into overdrive if they discovered that she was going on holiday with Robert. She didn't need that extra stress on her this week, so she just didn't mention it to anyone. Of course Anspaugh asked about it, but she just told him that she needed a holiday, but didn't mention it was with Robert. It was well known that Robert was going on holiday for two whole weeks and frankly, most people couldn't wait to get shot of him. Elizabeth had to put up with all the comments about how they didn't want him back. It made her laugh thinking how they would react if they knew who was going with him.
Susan came into the lounge with her pink shirt covered in something.
"Boy in exam four thought I needed a Cola bath!" She said going into her locker for a spare top she had learned to keep in there. "End of your shift?"
"Yeah. I've also got the next two weeks off." Elizabeth gloated.
"Lucky you. Wish I had two weeks off. Romano's going on holiday for two weeks too." Susan commented. Haleh came into the lounge.
"Dr Corday, your nanny's here." Elizabeth got up and couldn't help but add to Susan.
"I know Romano's going on holiday. I'm going with him." Susan's jaw hit the floor. She didn't just hear that?
Elizabeth left the department for home. In twelve hours she will be on a plane to Italy. Ella enjoyed her time in the park. She fed the ducks, played hide and seek and played on the swings.
Her suitcases were packed and ready to go by the time she went to bed. The flight was at eight so Robert had ordered a taxi to pick her up at seven. She had trouble sleeping that night she was so excited. Robert had phoned earlier that night just to make sure she was still going.
The nine hour flight went quicker than Elizabeth expected. She and Robert talked the whole time while Ella slept. They were both relaxed and in a good mood so their conversation was light, even though at the back of her mind, Elizabeth wanted to ask him something.
Robert tried to teach Elizabeth a little Italian, like "Ciao" and "Grazie". He spoke fluent Italian and said something to her but she didn't understand what was actually said, but he said it in his tone of voice that she knew he only used on her.
For the whole journey Robert had to remind himself that he was awake and she really was with him, laughing and joking and smiling. She looked beautiful, he even told her so, in Italian, but she seemed to get the message. He knew she would love it in Italy, its seas were as blue as her eyes and the scenery had beauty to match hers.
When they finally arrived in Rome, they got into another taxi and drove off to Positano. Elizabeth had heard much of this place from Robert and Kes and was really looking forward to seeing what they were on about. She knew that it was three and a half hours from Rome and was a little town overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It sounded beautiful.
"We're arriving in Positano now Lizzie." Robert told her. "I've asked the driver to drive round the place so you can have a look. You can wander around any time you like."
Elizabeth looked around at the S.Maria Assunta Church, the town square and all the houses with their flat roofs and understood why Kes and Robert had a passion for this place. It was beautiful, more beautiful than she ever imagined.
After driving around for about half an hour, they arrived at this quite big white house half way up the mountain side. The garden was in full bloom with the orchids and the Alpine Soldanella covering the garden in a blanket of red and purple. Elizabeth could smell the sweet smell of jasmine growing in the garden. Robert was studying her face. She seemed to like the place. He really hoped she did, he loved it here and he wanted her to love it as well.
As they were getting their stuff out of the taxi a round woman came running out of the door towards Robert. She gave Robert a hug almost crushing him, but she was smiling.
"Ciao! È buono per vederlo ancora. Come lei sono? (Hello! It's good to see you. How are you?)" She shouted obviously excited about seeing Robert.
"Sono bel considerane (I'm fine considering)." He replied. He turned round and saw Lizzie standing there with Ella in her arms. "How rude of me." He said. "Lizzie this is Carina, my house keeper here. Carina this is Elizabeth Corday and her daughter Ella."
"Hello Elizabeth. I've heard much of you." Carina said in perfect English much to the surprise of Elizabeth.
"It's not all true." She joked shaking Carina's hand. Elizabeth had a sudden thought. That was the second person who had said that to her. Kes had said that as well. Does he talk about her? She looked up and saw a young boy come running out of the house towards Robert.
"Ciao Roberto!" Robert said to the boy. He turned to Lizzie. "This is Carina's son, Roberto." He explained.
"Roberto? Named after you Robert?" Elizabeth said playfully as they entered the house.
"Actually he is." Carina answered. "Robert is an old family friend and he use to spend a lot of time here and it only felt right to name my son after him. After all, Robert is such a sweet man." Robert blushed at the compliment. The house may have looked big on the outside, but on the inside, it was huge. It was a complete contrast to Robert's Chicago house. The walls were all white and it was light and airy. There were flowers in every room, which Elizabeth suspected that Carina had put in.
"Robert, I didn't have chance this morning to get any food in. If you want I'll go down now." Carina suggested.
"No, if you don't mind, I'd like to go. Lizzie, fancy coming down into town to pick up some food? You wouldn't mind looking after Ella while we're gone would you Carina?" Both ladies agreed and Robert and Lizzie walked into the town.
Robert and Elizabeth walked into town. Robert knew it doesn't take long to walk down the winding roads into the small seaside town, but he wanted to take as long as possible. He wanted to be alone with his beautiful Lizzie.
"There are only a few shops here Lizzie, but we can get what we need. It will be good to see how things have changed over the last few years." Robert commented.
"When were you last here?" Elizabeth enquired.
"It would be 6 years now. I used to spend a lot of time in Europe, which I'm sure Peter probably told you when you first came to County. This use to be my little refuge. My get away."
"Why did you stop coming?"
"Work. My work at County became more important and I had to be around the hospital a lot more so I had to stop coming. Coming back's made me realise how much I miss the place."
"It's beautiful. I thought maybe that you and Kes were exaggerating when you described this place but now I know you weren't." They walked in silence for a while, letting them take in the sights and sounds around. It was Elizabeth who broke the silence.
"So what are we getting up to this week?"
"Well..." He said in a seductive tone.
"Robert! I mean what are Ella and I going to be doing this week?"
"Disappoint a guy why don't you! You'll do a bit of sightseeing, relaxing and having fun hopefully. One day I'll take you back into Rome."
"Rome? I've always wanted to see Rome."
"Well then, we will definitely be going."
They made it into town. The town was amazing. Most of the houses and shops around were white and small. The shops were airy and very traditional. She could plainly see why Robert liked the town so much. Robert seemed to know his way around as well and took shortcuts through back streets till he reached where he wanted to go.
"It hasn't changed you know. Most of the shops are still here. I wonder if anyone will recognise me?" Elizabeth laughed.
"Like anyone could forget you Robert!" she teased.
To Robert, it felt like he had never left. Everything was so familiar. Everything was still as charming as it was when he first found the place. Robert knew it was Elizabeth who made this place seem special again. Robert knew he had lied to her. It wasn't work that had stopped him from coming here but the memories that it could bring back to the surface. But today, they didn't seem to matter. Elizabeth was there with him and she was helping him make happier, newer memories to relate to this place.
They walked into the grocers shop and the man behind the counter instantly recognised Robert.
"Robert!" He shouted coming from behind the counter to embrace Robert. "Il tempo lungo no vede! Spero che lei sono bene? (Long time no see! Hope you are well?)"
"Sono bello (I'm fine)." Robert answered. Elizabeth was still amazed at Robert's apparent fluency in Italian. She had never heard him speak it before. It was a lovely language, very romantic, no matter what he was saying, it made her heart beat faster, they way the words rolled off his tongue with such ease. She loved to listen to it although she had no idea what was being said.
"La donna nuova? (new woman?)" The shop keeper asked.
"Qualcosa ciò ama. È bella, non è? (Something like that. She's beautiful, isn't she?)" Robert stared at her. She picked up a few bits and a bottle of wine.
"Better pick up another bottle if I were you. You remember how much we got through last time." Elizabeth knew he had a point. He picked up some tagliatelli, sun ripened tomatoes, mince and some strange sauce in a jar with no label. Once they had bought all they needed they left the shop and made their way back to the house.
"So what are we having for dinner?" Elizabeth asked.
"While in Italy, do what the Italians do." Robert said, completely confusing Elizabeth. "Spaghetti Bolognese with a difference."
"The difference being?"
"Well if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise now would it." He teased.
"Do you want a hand to make dinner?" she innocently asked.
"Think you're funny now do you?" He said.
"No, I didn't mean that. I just....."
"Calm down, I'm joking." He said.
"Well, you're cooking skills haven't diminished because of your......" she really didn't want to finish off the rest of the sentence.
"My arm. I know. I've learnt to work around it. It's taken a bit of getting use to but I've learnt to cook, iron and do the washing up too with it. Or without it I should say." She smiled. It was good to hear that he was getting use to life without his arm. She was worried that he would never give up hope of a recovery. She knew, as well as he did, that it was highly unlikely that his arm would improve, let alone get back to normal, so it was good to see on his way to finally accepting the loss of his arm.
"There are things I can't do, you know, like surgery, but I can still get on with my life and be the best Head of the ER ever. That'll show them!" He said to her. That was the Robert she knew and loved. The Robert that would make sure nothing stood in his way, and do exactly what he wanted to do.
They finally made it back to the house, after walking all the way back up hill. It was a very steep hill to, but Elizabeth was sure, by the end of the holiday she would get use to walking up and down that mountainside.
While Elizabeth and Ella sat and played with Roberto on the balcony, Carina took the chance to talk to Robert alone.
"She's a sweet woman Robert." She commented.
"She is. Out of everyone at County, she's the only one who has ever cared about me." He told watching them though the window that looked onto the balcony.
"Ella is a beautiful little girl too. He and Roberto got on well while you and Elizabeth were out shopping." She paused. "I'm also glad to see you happy. You deserve it after everything that has happened to you."
"Thanks." Robert said quietly, turning his attention to the boiling pasta.
"Does she know about Eliza and Matthew?" She asked cautiously.
"No. I've almost told her so many times, but something's always happened to prevent me. I want her to know."
"Well, that offer still stands Robert. I'll look after Ella anytime you or Elizabeth want and you can talk then."
"I'm still trying to get use to the fact that she agreed to come. No- one, especially in County, would want to spend time with me."
"You put yourself down too much Robert. You are a lovely bloke and if she can see though your defence system, then see that as a good thing." Carina had a point. Most people couldn't, or wouldn't, see past his sarcasm and insults. Lizzie did. She saw that underneath that, and saw there was a man who had real feelings.
Dinner went well. Ella and Roberto had become firm friends and so did Carina and Elizabeth. Carina obviously had known Robert a long time and was more than surprised to hear what Robert was like in Chicago. Every so often she would exclaim "Realmente?" and shake her head at Robert, who was sitting blushing at what Elizabeth said.
"It's a lovely town. Very much what you and Kes described, Robert. It looks like the sort of place that would have a long history, and an interesting one." Elizabeth said
"Well, I know the history and legends of the town if you like to hear. Robert will correct me if I miss something out." Elizabeth turned to Carina to listen to the story.
"I once read a history book which stated "the origins of Positano are lost in the mists of time." It's a very romantic view of Positano but we do have our legends. The three archipelagos just off the coast were always supposed to be the abode of the bewitching Syrians." Carina explained
Roberto cried after his mother, so the stopped and dealt with her son, while Robert continued the story.
"According to legend, Positano was founded by Poseidon, the Latin Neptune, the god of the sea, for the sake of the nymph Pasitea, whom he loved." He looked straight at Elizabeth who felt herself sinking into his gaze. Carina joined them again and Robert broke his gaze with Elizabeth. But Elizabeth still looked Robert.
"You might have noticed the towers that are around the town, Elizabeth. They were put in place during the Angevin and Aragonese domination in which Positano was exposed to the Saracen pirates. They built three guard towers to defend themselves from these pirate raids."
"I didn't realise that the Romano family went back that far!" Elizabeth teased. Robert laughed. Just like her to attack him like that. He never did mind though. She was of the very few who would stand up to him and tell him what she thought and particularly what she thought of him
"Yeah, we Romano's have been rattling cages for centuries." Robert humoured her.
"It's a pity Elizabeth that you didn't come later in the year. On the 15th pf August, there is a huge feast. It helps us gain the title La gemma della Costa Divina or Gem of the Divine Coast."
"It's a colourful history." Elizabeth said.
"And one we here are proud of." Carina said.
They sat talking for a couple more hours before Carina suddenly announced she should get home.
"My husband will be wondering where I got to."
"Yeah. Tell Marco I said hi will you Carina?" Robert said, getting up and going towards the front door.
"It was nice to meet you Elizabeth." And they embraced. "I hope this won't be our only meeting." She said.
"Of course not. I still want to hear more stories about Robert. I need more blackmail material." Elizabeth joked. Carina bundled a very sleepy Roberto in her arms and walked off home leaving Robert and Elizabeth alone.
"It's been an exciting first day Robert." Elizabeth said to him as they returned to the balcony.
"Yeah. I'm glad I came back here. I really have missed it."
"Well, I'm glad you invited me to come along. I love it here." They sat down on the swinging seat on the balcony. Elizabeth curled her feet up and drank her wine while Robert pushed the chair with his feet. The rocking motion relaxed Elizabeth and she rested her head on Robert's shoulder. They sat there the rest of the evening watching the sun go down behind Mount Paipo and the town being slowing covered in darkness.
I'd just like to tell you that Positano is a real place and it's in Italy. Never been to it, but it looks gorgeous! Visit Positanonline.it to see for yourself! You can then see what Elizabeth can see and some of the places they go!!
Another little note. I have some Italian in this so the words in brackets are the translations.
Thanks for all your kind reviews, and keep them coming, the more reviews, the more confidence I get to write more!!
SUNSET IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
Chapter 4
It had been a hectic week for Robert, but persuading Dr Anspaugh to give Elizabeth the time off wasn't hard. He agreed that she looked stressed and needed a well-earned break, so it was all sorted. He couldn't wait. The flights were booked and he had phoned ahead to his Italian housekeeper to set everything up for Ella and to put some food in the place. He wanted it to be prefect and by the end of the week, everything was ready for their arrival.
At the end of her last shift of the week, she was sitting in the lounge waiting for her nanny to arrive with Ella. She wanted to take Ella to the park before the left in the morning. Elizabeth didn't tell anyone about going on holiday. She knew the rumour mill would go into overdrive if they discovered that she was going on holiday with Robert. She didn't need that extra stress on her this week, so she just didn't mention it to anyone. Of course Anspaugh asked about it, but she just told him that she needed a holiday, but didn't mention it was with Robert. It was well known that Robert was going on holiday for two whole weeks and frankly, most people couldn't wait to get shot of him. Elizabeth had to put up with all the comments about how they didn't want him back. It made her laugh thinking how they would react if they knew who was going with him.
Susan came into the lounge with her pink shirt covered in something.
"Boy in exam four thought I needed a Cola bath!" She said going into her locker for a spare top she had learned to keep in there. "End of your shift?"
"Yeah. I've also got the next two weeks off." Elizabeth gloated.
"Lucky you. Wish I had two weeks off. Romano's going on holiday for two weeks too." Susan commented. Haleh came into the lounge.
"Dr Corday, your nanny's here." Elizabeth got up and couldn't help but add to Susan.
"I know Romano's going on holiday. I'm going with him." Susan's jaw hit the floor. She didn't just hear that?
Elizabeth left the department for home. In twelve hours she will be on a plane to Italy. Ella enjoyed her time in the park. She fed the ducks, played hide and seek and played on the swings.
Her suitcases were packed and ready to go by the time she went to bed. The flight was at eight so Robert had ordered a taxi to pick her up at seven. She had trouble sleeping that night she was so excited. Robert had phoned earlier that night just to make sure she was still going.
The nine hour flight went quicker than Elizabeth expected. She and Robert talked the whole time while Ella slept. They were both relaxed and in a good mood so their conversation was light, even though at the back of her mind, Elizabeth wanted to ask him something.
Robert tried to teach Elizabeth a little Italian, like "Ciao" and "Grazie". He spoke fluent Italian and said something to her but she didn't understand what was actually said, but he said it in his tone of voice that she knew he only used on her.
For the whole journey Robert had to remind himself that he was awake and she really was with him, laughing and joking and smiling. She looked beautiful, he even told her so, in Italian, but she seemed to get the message. He knew she would love it in Italy, its seas were as blue as her eyes and the scenery had beauty to match hers.
When they finally arrived in Rome, they got into another taxi and drove off to Positano. Elizabeth had heard much of this place from Robert and Kes and was really looking forward to seeing what they were on about. She knew that it was three and a half hours from Rome and was a little town overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It sounded beautiful.
"We're arriving in Positano now Lizzie." Robert told her. "I've asked the driver to drive round the place so you can have a look. You can wander around any time you like."
Elizabeth looked around at the S.Maria Assunta Church, the town square and all the houses with their flat roofs and understood why Kes and Robert had a passion for this place. It was beautiful, more beautiful than she ever imagined.
After driving around for about half an hour, they arrived at this quite big white house half way up the mountain side. The garden was in full bloom with the orchids and the Alpine Soldanella covering the garden in a blanket of red and purple. Elizabeth could smell the sweet smell of jasmine growing in the garden. Robert was studying her face. She seemed to like the place. He really hoped she did, he loved it here and he wanted her to love it as well.
As they were getting their stuff out of the taxi a round woman came running out of the door towards Robert. She gave Robert a hug almost crushing him, but she was smiling.
"Ciao! È buono per vederlo ancora. Come lei sono? (Hello! It's good to see you. How are you?)" She shouted obviously excited about seeing Robert.
"Sono bel considerane (I'm fine considering)." He replied. He turned round and saw Lizzie standing there with Ella in her arms. "How rude of me." He said. "Lizzie this is Carina, my house keeper here. Carina this is Elizabeth Corday and her daughter Ella."
"Hello Elizabeth. I've heard much of you." Carina said in perfect English much to the surprise of Elizabeth.
"It's not all true." She joked shaking Carina's hand. Elizabeth had a sudden thought. That was the second person who had said that to her. Kes had said that as well. Does he talk about her? She looked up and saw a young boy come running out of the house towards Robert.
"Ciao Roberto!" Robert said to the boy. He turned to Lizzie. "This is Carina's son, Roberto." He explained.
"Roberto? Named after you Robert?" Elizabeth said playfully as they entered the house.
"Actually he is." Carina answered. "Robert is an old family friend and he use to spend a lot of time here and it only felt right to name my son after him. After all, Robert is such a sweet man." Robert blushed at the compliment. The house may have looked big on the outside, but on the inside, it was huge. It was a complete contrast to Robert's Chicago house. The walls were all white and it was light and airy. There were flowers in every room, which Elizabeth suspected that Carina had put in.
"Robert, I didn't have chance this morning to get any food in. If you want I'll go down now." Carina suggested.
"No, if you don't mind, I'd like to go. Lizzie, fancy coming down into town to pick up some food? You wouldn't mind looking after Ella while we're gone would you Carina?" Both ladies agreed and Robert and Lizzie walked into the town.
Robert and Elizabeth walked into town. Robert knew it doesn't take long to walk down the winding roads into the small seaside town, but he wanted to take as long as possible. He wanted to be alone with his beautiful Lizzie.
"There are only a few shops here Lizzie, but we can get what we need. It will be good to see how things have changed over the last few years." Robert commented.
"When were you last here?" Elizabeth enquired.
"It would be 6 years now. I used to spend a lot of time in Europe, which I'm sure Peter probably told you when you first came to County. This use to be my little refuge. My get away."
"Why did you stop coming?"
"Work. My work at County became more important and I had to be around the hospital a lot more so I had to stop coming. Coming back's made me realise how much I miss the place."
"It's beautiful. I thought maybe that you and Kes were exaggerating when you described this place but now I know you weren't." They walked in silence for a while, letting them take in the sights and sounds around. It was Elizabeth who broke the silence.
"So what are we getting up to this week?"
"Well..." He said in a seductive tone.
"Robert! I mean what are Ella and I going to be doing this week?"
"Disappoint a guy why don't you! You'll do a bit of sightseeing, relaxing and having fun hopefully. One day I'll take you back into Rome."
"Rome? I've always wanted to see Rome."
"Well then, we will definitely be going."
They made it into town. The town was amazing. Most of the houses and shops around were white and small. The shops were airy and very traditional. She could plainly see why Robert liked the town so much. Robert seemed to know his way around as well and took shortcuts through back streets till he reached where he wanted to go.
"It hasn't changed you know. Most of the shops are still here. I wonder if anyone will recognise me?" Elizabeth laughed.
"Like anyone could forget you Robert!" she teased.
To Robert, it felt like he had never left. Everything was so familiar. Everything was still as charming as it was when he first found the place. Robert knew it was Elizabeth who made this place seem special again. Robert knew he had lied to her. It wasn't work that had stopped him from coming here but the memories that it could bring back to the surface. But today, they didn't seem to matter. Elizabeth was there with him and she was helping him make happier, newer memories to relate to this place.
They walked into the grocers shop and the man behind the counter instantly recognised Robert.
"Robert!" He shouted coming from behind the counter to embrace Robert. "Il tempo lungo no vede! Spero che lei sono bene? (Long time no see! Hope you are well?)"
"Sono bello (I'm fine)." Robert answered. Elizabeth was still amazed at Robert's apparent fluency in Italian. She had never heard him speak it before. It was a lovely language, very romantic, no matter what he was saying, it made her heart beat faster, they way the words rolled off his tongue with such ease. She loved to listen to it although she had no idea what was being said.
"La donna nuova? (new woman?)" The shop keeper asked.
"Qualcosa ciò ama. È bella, non è? (Something like that. She's beautiful, isn't she?)" Robert stared at her. She picked up a few bits and a bottle of wine.
"Better pick up another bottle if I were you. You remember how much we got through last time." Elizabeth knew he had a point. He picked up some tagliatelli, sun ripened tomatoes, mince and some strange sauce in a jar with no label. Once they had bought all they needed they left the shop and made their way back to the house.
"So what are we having for dinner?" Elizabeth asked.
"While in Italy, do what the Italians do." Robert said, completely confusing Elizabeth. "Spaghetti Bolognese with a difference."
"The difference being?"
"Well if I told you, it wouldn't be a surprise now would it." He teased.
"Do you want a hand to make dinner?" she innocently asked.
"Think you're funny now do you?" He said.
"No, I didn't mean that. I just....."
"Calm down, I'm joking." He said.
"Well, you're cooking skills haven't diminished because of your......" she really didn't want to finish off the rest of the sentence.
"My arm. I know. I've learnt to work around it. It's taken a bit of getting use to but I've learnt to cook, iron and do the washing up too with it. Or without it I should say." She smiled. It was good to hear that he was getting use to life without his arm. She was worried that he would never give up hope of a recovery. She knew, as well as he did, that it was highly unlikely that his arm would improve, let alone get back to normal, so it was good to see on his way to finally accepting the loss of his arm.
"There are things I can't do, you know, like surgery, but I can still get on with my life and be the best Head of the ER ever. That'll show them!" He said to her. That was the Robert she knew and loved. The Robert that would make sure nothing stood in his way, and do exactly what he wanted to do.
They finally made it back to the house, after walking all the way back up hill. It was a very steep hill to, but Elizabeth was sure, by the end of the holiday she would get use to walking up and down that mountainside.
While Elizabeth and Ella sat and played with Roberto on the balcony, Carina took the chance to talk to Robert alone.
"She's a sweet woman Robert." She commented.
"She is. Out of everyone at County, she's the only one who has ever cared about me." He told watching them though the window that looked onto the balcony.
"Ella is a beautiful little girl too. He and Roberto got on well while you and Elizabeth were out shopping." She paused. "I'm also glad to see you happy. You deserve it after everything that has happened to you."
"Thanks." Robert said quietly, turning his attention to the boiling pasta.
"Does she know about Eliza and Matthew?" She asked cautiously.
"No. I've almost told her so many times, but something's always happened to prevent me. I want her to know."
"Well, that offer still stands Robert. I'll look after Ella anytime you or Elizabeth want and you can talk then."
"I'm still trying to get use to the fact that she agreed to come. No- one, especially in County, would want to spend time with me."
"You put yourself down too much Robert. You are a lovely bloke and if she can see though your defence system, then see that as a good thing." Carina had a point. Most people couldn't, or wouldn't, see past his sarcasm and insults. Lizzie did. She saw that underneath that, and saw there was a man who had real feelings.
Dinner went well. Ella and Roberto had become firm friends and so did Carina and Elizabeth. Carina obviously had known Robert a long time and was more than surprised to hear what Robert was like in Chicago. Every so often she would exclaim "Realmente?" and shake her head at Robert, who was sitting blushing at what Elizabeth said.
"It's a lovely town. Very much what you and Kes described, Robert. It looks like the sort of place that would have a long history, and an interesting one." Elizabeth said
"Well, I know the history and legends of the town if you like to hear. Robert will correct me if I miss something out." Elizabeth turned to Carina to listen to the story.
"I once read a history book which stated "the origins of Positano are lost in the mists of time." It's a very romantic view of Positano but we do have our legends. The three archipelagos just off the coast were always supposed to be the abode of the bewitching Syrians." Carina explained
Roberto cried after his mother, so the stopped and dealt with her son, while Robert continued the story.
"According to legend, Positano was founded by Poseidon, the Latin Neptune, the god of the sea, for the sake of the nymph Pasitea, whom he loved." He looked straight at Elizabeth who felt herself sinking into his gaze. Carina joined them again and Robert broke his gaze with Elizabeth. But Elizabeth still looked Robert.
"You might have noticed the towers that are around the town, Elizabeth. They were put in place during the Angevin and Aragonese domination in which Positano was exposed to the Saracen pirates. They built three guard towers to defend themselves from these pirate raids."
"I didn't realise that the Romano family went back that far!" Elizabeth teased. Robert laughed. Just like her to attack him like that. He never did mind though. She was of the very few who would stand up to him and tell him what she thought and particularly what she thought of him
"Yeah, we Romano's have been rattling cages for centuries." Robert humoured her.
"It's a pity Elizabeth that you didn't come later in the year. On the 15th pf August, there is a huge feast. It helps us gain the title La gemma della Costa Divina or Gem of the Divine Coast."
"It's a colourful history." Elizabeth said.
"And one we here are proud of." Carina said.
They sat talking for a couple more hours before Carina suddenly announced she should get home.
"My husband will be wondering where I got to."
"Yeah. Tell Marco I said hi will you Carina?" Robert said, getting up and going towards the front door.
"It was nice to meet you Elizabeth." And they embraced. "I hope this won't be our only meeting." She said.
"Of course not. I still want to hear more stories about Robert. I need more blackmail material." Elizabeth joked. Carina bundled a very sleepy Roberto in her arms and walked off home leaving Robert and Elizabeth alone.
"It's been an exciting first day Robert." Elizabeth said to him as they returned to the balcony.
"Yeah. I'm glad I came back here. I really have missed it."
"Well, I'm glad you invited me to come along. I love it here." They sat down on the swinging seat on the balcony. Elizabeth curled her feet up and drank her wine while Robert pushed the chair with his feet. The rocking motion relaxed Elizabeth and she rested her head on Robert's shoulder. They sat there the rest of the evening watching the sun go down behind Mount Paipo and the town being slowing covered in darkness.