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- Herausgeber: Paraclete Press
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Sprache: Englisch
From John Gray, bestselling author of Manchester Christmas and Chasing Manhattan, comes the third novel in a heartwarming trilogy full of charm, romance, and mystery. Always blazing their own path, newly engaged couple Chase and Gavin decide to forego a typical American wedding, followed by a honeymoon in Italy. Instead, they'll spend the month of December in Rome with a local Italian family, learning the customs and exploring every romantic adventure they can find. On a trip to the famed Colosseum, Chase and Gavin meet an elderly artist who offers them four riddles that he promises will unlock the most romantic places in all of Italy. As the couple deciphers each clue, they are taken from the canals of Venice to the Bridge of Sighs over the Tiber, to a monastery on the Island of Elba — meeting others who are struggling with secrets, love, and loss. They encounter heart-pounding intrigue and old-world charm on the ancient streets of Rome, and discover that almost nothing is as it seems. Will Chase and Gavin make it to their wedding on Christmas Eve or will they forever find themselves Chasing Rome?
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Seitenzahl: 407
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022
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PRAISE FOR Manchester Christmas
“Sweet, romantic, and suspenseful, Manchester Christmas is an unexpected gift.”—Richard Paul Evans, #1 New York Times best-selling author
“Stuffed to the seams with wholesome holiday cheer, Manchester Christmas is an adorable Christian romance set in a snow globe-worthy small town in Vermont.”—Foreword Reviews
“Gray has authored three children’s books and has released his debut novel, a heart-filled book about a young writer who is drawn to a small New England town in search of meaning for her life. She encounters kindness, romance, and is pulled into a mystery. It has the sort of happyending story that everyone could use right now.”—Berkshire Magazine
“Manchester Christmas is a fun story, perfect for those times when you like a happy ending that brings a tear to your eye and a smile to your face.” —CatholicMom.com
“The author brought to life the spirit of rural Vermont on every page. The characters are engaging. The story twists and turns in ways that make it difficult to close the book.”—The White River Valley Herald
PRAISE FOR Chasing Manhattan
“Chasing Manhattan is one of those rare books where the sequel lives up to the first book. Chase and Gavin’s adventures are the perfect read for those that love New York City, a great mystery, and a little something special that pulls it all together.”—Dana Perino, Fox News, and New York Times best-selling author of Everything Will Be Okay
“Chasing Manhattan is like a visit from a friend. Filled with love and mystery, it is a sequel with all the charm of the original.”—Richard Paul Evans, #1 New York Times best-selling author
To KELLER
For keeping me company as I write and reminding me every day of courage, kindness, and God’s eternal grace.
Chasing Rome
A Novel
John Gray
author of Manchester Christmas
2022 First Printing
Chasing Rome: A Novel
Copyright © 2022 by John Gray
ISBN 978-1-64060-778-1
The Paraclete Press name and logo (dove on cross) are trademarks of Paraclete Press
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA
Names: Gray, John (John Joseph), 1962- author.
Title: Chasing Rome : a novel / John Gray.
Description: Brewster, Massachusetts : Paraclete Press, 2022. | Summary: “The third book about Chase Harrington and Gavin whose adventures take them to Rome. Join them as they make new friends, solve a mystery, and in the end surprise you”-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022015943 (print) | LCCN 2022015944 (ebook) | ISBN 9781640607781 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781640607798 (epub) | ISBN 9781640607804 (pdf)
Subjects: BISAC: FICTION / Christian / Romance / Suspense | FICTION / Romance / Action & Adventure | LCGFT: Romance fiction. | Christian fiction. | Novels.
Classification: LCC PS3607.R3948 C49 2022 (print) | LCC PS3607.R3948 (ebook) | DDC 813/.6--dc23/eng/20220408
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022015943
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022015944
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in an electronic retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
Published by Paraclete Press
Brewster, Massachusetts
www.paracletepress.com
Printed in India
Chasing Rome
Contents
Chapter 1: You Take the Biscuit
Chapter 2: Giuseppe Is Watching
Chapter 3: Levi and Leo
Chapter 4: Not Really My Type
Chapter 5: He Was Just There
Chapter 6: Ordinary Things
Chapter 7: Get an Old One
Chapter 8: That’s When I Knew
Chapter 9: It Always Belonged to You
Chapter 10: Locking Your Love
Chapter 11: Wrap It to Go
Chapter 12: You’ll See
Chapter 13: Hurry or You’ll Miss It
Chapter 14: Know It When I See It
Chapter 15: The Other Siena
Chapter 16: Dream On
Chapter 17: A Sweet Plan
Chapter 18: Call You Odysseus
Chapter 19: Top That, Juliet
Chapter 20: He Saved Everyone
Chapter 21: Tears on the Heart
Chapter 22: Not a Police Matter
Chapter 23: True as the Northern Star
Chapter 24: You’re the One
Chapter 25: The Miracle He Needs
Chapter 26: Clean as a Whistle
Chapter 27: That’s Not Possible
Chapter 28: We Love You, Chase
Chapter 29: Her Name Was Taylor
Chapter 30: A Very Big Favor
Chapter 31: A Day for Heroes
Chapter 32: There You Are
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER1You Take the Biscuit
There are more than six thousand languages spoken in the world and Chase Harrington was proficient in exactly one: English. Yet, no translation was needed to understand the snarky look she was getting from the neatly dressed barista at the Sciascia Caffè in the Prati neighborhood of Rome.
Chase and her fiancé, Gavin, boarded a flight out of JFK the evening before, just as Jeopardy was coming on the television at the airport bar. After nine sleepless hours on the plane, a six-hour time change, and a bumpy cab ride into Italy’s capital city, she needed an immediate influx of caffeine to make this day possible.
It was two in the afternoon on a crisp December day when faded brown floorboards that no doubt had been cut and nailed in place more than a century ago were creaking and whispering secrets under Chase’s light feet. She noticed, the moment she walked in, that this coffee house was nicer than the ones back home, with its ornate wood molding, an exposed brick wall, and large chunky furniture that dared you to sit.
“Did I pronounce it wrong? Do you call a cappuccino something else here?” Chase asked politely.
The barista remained still as a statue, his frozen gaze fixed on Chase’s lovely, albeit tired face.
Just then, a different voice chimed in, “He won’t give it to you, luv.”
The words, in an alluring accent, came from an attractive young woman with long red hair who was seated at a small table to Chase’s left.
Chase turned to the lady with the charming brogue and asked, “Why not?”
The redhead put her newspaper down now and replied, “Cappuccino is never served this late in the day in Rome. Better to get a coffee.”
Before Chase could change her order, the front door to the café flung open and a tall, handsome man stepped halfway in.
“Are you good, babe?” he said, turning every head in the place.
It was Chase’s fiancé, Gavin Bennett, holding a brown leather leash that led to her Australian shepherd, Scooter.
“Yes,” Chase replied, a bit flustered. “Just trying to get the hang of ordering something to drink in Italy. We’ve been here less than an hour and I’ve already broken a rule.”
She could see Gavin’s confusion but waved him away with her hand, saying, “I’m fine. Be right out.”
Gavin flashed that broad, disarming smile and replied, “Sounds good. Hey, can you grab me a coffee, hon?”
Chase turned back to the waiting barista and said, “Forget the cappuccino. Two coffees, please.”
The man immediately smiled, then turned his back to Chase and got busy working at a large silver machine with enough shiny knobs to launch a space satellite. There were hissing and banging noises that for some reason reminded Chase of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Oompa Loompa spun back around and placed two small cups on the counter in front of Chase.
“Here we are, that is two euros,” the barista said in perfect English.
“Oh, so we do speak American, eh?” Chase said with a hint of mischief in her voice.
The barista didn’t crack a smile but gave Chase a quick wink with his right eye.
Chase reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out a fistful of strange-looking coins and currency.
“They gave me this at the exchange counter after we landed,” she said, hoping the man in the apron could offer some assistance.
Chase looked at the redhead, who was enjoying the show from her table, and said, “I’m a shopkeeper’s dream, the silly American who doesn’t know what anything costs and will probably pay fifty bucks for a drink.”
The woman replied, “Not to worry, Antonio is very honest.”
Chase looked back to the barista and said, “So, you’re Antonio. Nice to meet you.”
The barista plucked coins from her open hands and said to Chase, “These are each worth one euro. I’m taking two.”
Chase smiled, answering, “Thank you, Antonio. Let me give you a tip.”
The barista stepped back as if she had offered him poison, raising both hands in front of him.
“Not allowed,” he said firmly.
Chase, then mumbling to herself, “Wow, okay. So, no cappuccino after noon and no tipping, got it.”
As Chase was about to go outside with her two coffees, she turned to the redhead and said, “Thank you for the help earlier. I’m Chase.”
The woman, wearing a white knit sweater and jeans, rose from her seat and extended her hand to shake, answering, “Riley, and you’re welcome, luv.”
Chase smiled, asking, “Is that an Irish or Scottish accent?”
Riley feigned a shocked expression and raising her voice, “Oh, St. Francis on a bicycle, my poor granda must be spinning in his grave back in County Cork. That’s Ireland, dear.”
“Gran-what?” Chase replied.
“Da, Gran-Da, that’s my grandfather,” Riley explained.
Chase nodded, “Gotcha. Well, I love the accent and your name, very pretty.”
Riley folded her arms and replied, “You wouldn’t think so if you knew the rest of it.”
Chase had to ask, “The rest? “
“O’Reilly, is me last name, believe it or not, as you Americans say.”
Chase trying not to smile, then said, “So, your name is Riley O’Reilly?”
“It’s worse than that,” she answered. “My full name is Ophelia Riley O’Reilly.
Chase chuckled, then said, “So, if we use your first initial?”
“That’s right,” she replied. “My name is O. Riley O’Reilly. My da had a sense of humor.”
The thought of it made both women share a laugh.
Chase liked this stranger and smiled warmly, saying, “I have to run, but it was really nice meeting you, Riley.”
Just then the door opened, and Gavin poked his head back in again. “Not to be a bug, but it’s chilly out here.”
Chase set down the coffees, ran to the door, and grabbed Gavin by the hand. “This is my fiancé, Gavin. And Gavin, this is Riley.”
Gavin extended his hand to shake hers, saying to Chase, “We just landed and you’re already making friends.”
Riley grasped Gavin’s hand with both of hers and exclaimed, “Stop it, now. I’ve seen some dingers in my day, but you take the biscuit.”
Gavin couldn’t help but laugh out loud, “I’m sorry. What?”
“The biscuit, what you’d call the cake,” Riley explained, adding, “And dinger means good-looking.”
Chase intervened, saying, “I think she’s calling you a stud muffin, babe.”
Riley laughed and replied, “I don’t know that expression, but she sounds about right.”
Riley’s eyes then darted down to the floor looking at Chase’s dog. “And who have we here? Is he Irish? He looks a wee bit Irish.”
Gavin answered, “Australian, actually. His name is Scooter.”
Riley bent down on one knee to see the pup’s face and rub his head, saying, “Sorry your gal is leaving you out in the cold, Scooter. I could talk the hind leg off a donkey if you let me.”
Gavin looked at Chase, then whispered, “A donkey?”
Riley rose and looked at the happy couple, explaining, “Old Irish saying. Just means I’m a chatterbox.”
Gavin picked up the small drinks Chase had just purchased, asking, “What’s this?”
The cups were much smaller than a normal cup of coffee and filled with a dark black liquid.
Riley, again in her thick Irish accent, explained: “I saw the whole thing, Gavin. She tried, but ordering drinks in Italy can be a bit tricky if you don’t know the lingo.”
Gavin and Chase just stared at Riley, enjoying her accent and personality.
Riley continued. “Here you can only get cappuccino in the morning, and if you ask for coffee you get espresso.”
Chase looked at Gavin and said sarcastically, “You read ten books on life in Italy and somehow you missed that chapter?”
Riley poked her red head in between them and whispered, “What you want to order is a Caffè Americano.”
“And that’s coffee?” Gavin asked.
“Not exactly,” Riley answered. “But close.”
Gavin looked at his watch. “Hon, we should, you know?”
Chase agreed. “I didn’t realize it was that late.”
Riley, curious now, asked, “What hotel you staying in? Is this your honeymoon?”
Chase held up her left ring finger to reveal the Tiffany’s diamond Gavin had given her the year before. “Engaged, but that’s why we’re here, to be married.”
Riley gave Chase and Gavin an unexpected hug, “Well, good on you both then.”
Gavin explained, “We’re actually not staying at a hotel. Chase thought it would be more fun to stay with a family for a few weeks and learn the culture. So, we’ll be in a home in the Monti neighborhood of Rome.”
Riley lit up. “Very nice indeed, and not so far from the Vatican, if you fancy a chat with the Pope.”
Chase finished her strong drink in one gulp, put the cup down on the table, then said, “It was so nice to meet you, Riley. I hope I see you again.”
Riley returned to her seat and replied, “This is my spot most afternoons at two.”
Riley sipped her own drink, then added, “And it was nice to meet you both.”
Outside the café, Chase and Gavin spied a large orange taxi sign on a metal pole at the corner. They didn’t stand more than two minutes before a car arrived and a stout man in a wool cap stepped out to open the door for Chase.
Gavin fished a small piece of crumpled yellow paper from his jacket pocket. Speaking slowly, he read aloud, “Via dei Capocci, number eleven.”
The driver didn’t respond. Instead, he returned to the front seat, put the car in gear, and off they went.
A few blocks into the trip the driver turned and said in almost perfect English, “Three minutes. You weren’t too far.”
Chase smiled at the driver and asked, “Do most people in Rome speak English?”
She saw him nod his head up and down in the rearview mirror, before answering, “Sì. I mean yes. Most.”
Both Gavin and Chase were mesmerized by the beauty of the architecture as they slowly made their way down the streets of Rome. Some Gothic, most with a Greek vibe. Occasionally they’d come to an abrupt halt and the driver would gently tap on the horn to get someone’s attention.
Double-parking was common on Rome’s narrow streets, and the two of them swallowed hard as the cab squeezed through passages that appeared too small to fit.
When three minutes were up, the driver double-parked himself and said, “Eleven on Via dei Capocci.”
Chase paid him in euros and the pair emerged from the cab holding hands.
The building looked like many of the brownstones back in Manhattan, with a red brick façade and a thick tile roof, serving, now anyway, as a landing pad for a half-dozen noisy birds.
“Tell me again what we’re doing here?” Gavin asked facetiously, as he looked up at the building.
Chase turned to meet his eyes, “Come on, anyone can stay at the Marriott. I want to feel like we’re a part of it.”
Gavin, answered back: “By staying with strangers in a strange place?”
Chase sighed now, asking, “Since when are you NOT up for an adventure?”
Gavin could see disappointment in her face and quickly snapped out of his funk, answering, “You’re right. You’re always right. This could be fun.”
Chase then shifted to a more serious tone, saying, “And remember, Mr. Bennett, you have the most important assignment of all.”
Gavin smiled. “I know, you want me to plan a month of romantic adventures.”
Chase then spun in a circle on the cobblestone sidewalk with her arms extended to each side, saying, “And with all of Italy to choose from, the options are endless.”
Gavin looked up at the building again, asking, “You sure about this place? The lady of the house barely spoke English on the phone, and she sounded—”
“Rude?” Chase finished his thought.
“I was going to say, um, what’s the word?” Gavin added. “Joyless.”
Chase took his hand again. “Perhaps we can bring her some joy then. Besides, if we want real Rome, this is the place—I can feel it.”
Gavin replied, “And she’s okay with Scooter staying?”
Chase answered, “I told her about him, and she said fine.”
Just then, the two of them heard an older woman clear her throat from above. Both sets of eyes traveled up the front of the building to a tiny balcony where a woman in a modest house dress stood with her arms folded like a proctor giving an exam.
“Are you two going to talk all day or get in here?” the woman called down with a heavy Italian accent.
Curly gray hair framed her wrinkled face and dark, sad eyes.
“Not too late for the Marriott,” Gavin mumbled to Chase, as he looked up at the woman hovering above like a hawk on a tree branch.
Then a different voice called out from behind, “Ignore her, she’s just mad that I didn’t clean up after breakfast.”
Gavin and Chase turned to find a beautiful woman a bit older than Chase with long dark hair, full lips, and dusty brown eyes.
She said in a welcoming tone, “I’m Francesca. That’s my mother-inlaw barking at you. Let’s go in before she dumps water on the three of us.”
Chase squeezed Gavin’s hand, and with Scooter in tow the three began their Italian adventure. They didn’t know that the moment they stepped through that door, they’d be walking into a mystery filled with hope, loss, and endless love.
CHAPTER2Giuseppe Is Watching
It took fourteen steps to reach the second-floor apartment that Chase and Gavin would call home for the next twenty-eight days. Before Francesca reached for the faded brass doorknob, the door opened on its own and Gavin and Chase were greeted by a teenage boy and his dog. Scooter stepped in front of Chase protectively. The dogs gave each other a quick sniff, and soon both tails were wagging.
“Good boy, Giuseppe,” the young man said, extending his hand to shake Gavin’s like a gentleman.
“Welcome,” he said. “I’m Giovanni. Everyone calls me Gio. It’s spelled G-i-o, but in Italian it’s pronounced like ‘Joe’ in English.”
Gavin, who towered over the boy, gave him a firm shake back. “I’m Gavin. This is Chase, my fiancée.”
Gio shook Chase’s hand as well, adding, “Wow, you’re pretty.”
“Giovanni Michael,” Francesca scolded from the hallway. “Forgive my son’s boldness.”
Gio turned a light shade of red, looked down and said, “Sorry. Sometimes I just say things.”
Chase intervened, “Hey, if compliments are thrown at me, I’m happy to catch them.”
“You all speak English so well,” Gavin observed.
Francesca answered, “If you live and work in a place popular with tourists, it helps.”
All conversation stopped then as an older woman standing just inside the large apartment cleared her throat, securing everyone’s attention.
“Did you say fiancé?” she asked.
Chase answered, “Yes ma’am. We are here in Italy to be married.”
Francesca, sensing what was coming next, spoke, “Mamma. It’s okay.”
Chase looked at Gavin, confused as to what was wrong.
The old woman answered their doubt in slightly broken English, “A fiancé is not a husband. So, until you are married, due camere.”
Gavin looked at Francesca for a translation.
“Two rooms, she’s saying. Until you’re married you must be in two rooms,” Francesca explained.
Chase smiled wide. “Oh, ma’am, that’s fine. We feel the same way. We have forever to be together.”
“Nonna,” the old woman replied.
Gavin then: “I’m sorry?”
The woman smiled for the first time since they lay eyes on her, “Call me Nonna.”
Gio explained, “It means grandma. Everyone calls her Nonna.”
Gio started toward the back of the apartment, calling back over his shoulder, “If you need two rooms, I need to move my exercise stuff out of the way in the spare bedroom.”
Chase looked around the simple, yet spacious apartment and said to Francesca, “So we’ve met you, Gio and Nonna. Does your husband live here as well?”
The moment the question left her lips Chase regretted it, as she watched the smile drain from Francesca’s face. The woman bit down on her lip as if searching for something to say.
Francesca then responded, “Matteo, my husband, died recently.”
Gavin wanted to take hold and support the poor woman; her posture seemed to grow frail before his very eyes.
All he could was offer a soft, “We’re so sorry.”
Neither Chase nor Gavin wanted to ask what how the man died. Judging from the widow’s age and her son Gio, he would have likely been in his early forties. Cancer? That’s where the mind automatically goes when someone so young passes. As both Chase and Gavin learned long ago, some loose threads need not be pulled, so they left the matter alone.
Chase reached over to touch Francesca’s arm instead, saying, “I didn’t mean to pry. Forgive me.”
Francesca nodded and managed a small smile, when Gio returned, asking, “Forgive you for what?”
Nonna intervened, “Nothing. Not for your ears.”
Gio looked to his grandmother, answering, “Okay, grumpy.”
Francesca then let out a deep breath, as if merely mentioning her late husband took something out of her.
She then hugged her son, Gio, and said, “Ti voglio bene.”
Gio hugged his mother back, saying, “I love you too.”
Gavin broke up the tender moment, asking, “So, two rooms. Is there one I should take?”
Francesca answered, “The one to the right is prettier, with a view of the street. Why don’t we give that one to Chase.”
Chase grabbed her bag from the floor and said, “Sounds good to me.”
Francesca then said to Gavin, “And we’ll put you in the room to the far left. I’m sorry if it smells like a teenage boy.”
Gavin flashed his country-boy smile, “No worries, Francesca, I’m accustomed to the smell, having once been one of those myself.”
As they started toward their rooms, Chase stopped, saying, “I just realized something. Nonna, when we agreed on a price to stay here it was for one room, not two. We should pay more.”
Nonna, looking confused, turned to her daughter Francesca, and they shared a quick exchange in Italian.
Francesca then turned to her guests, saying, “Nonna says one, two, doesn’t matter. She’s happy you are here.”
Chase smiled at the older woman, answering, “Grazie.”
Gio lit up when he heard Chase say thank you, asking, “You speak Italian?”
Chase giggled, “Me? Gosh no. I only know about ten words.”
Francesca and Gio both smiled, letting Chase know they appreciated the effort just the same.
Chase’s room was, as advertised, the prettier of the two, with rosecolored wallpaper and a soft, queen-size bed. A set of beige doors creaked open to a small balcony that looked down on the busy street below. Chase swept her eyes left to right, taking in more than a dozen shops and restaurants she’d have to explore. Off in the distance, a short walk away, she spied the top of a church. It was faded tan stone, with an old cross peeking over the building tops, like a child looking over a fence.
Scooter nuzzled up next to Chase’s leg, taking in the view himself. Suddenly Scooter’s body went stiff, his eyes focusing on something down on the street.
“What’s wrong? What do you see?” Chase inquired.
She looked out herself and spotted an orange tabby cat snaking his way through the chairs of an outdoor café. The customers, busy eating and chatting, didn’t seem to notice him.
Scooter let out a low growl as his head shifted left, causing Chase’s eyes to follow. Another cat. No, wait, two more. Then three and four. What was going on? Who owned all these stray cats?
Chase and Scooter emerged from the room to find the welcoming family all sitting at the kitchen table enjoying a late-in-the-day snack of bread and cheese.
“Sit, sit, please,” Francesca motioned to Chase.
Gavin entered the room and joined them.
“Hey Gav, I can see the whole city from my room,” Chase said. “How’s your view?”
Gio put his hand over his mouth, trying not to laugh.
“Um, well.” Gavin began. “I’m looking out at a stone wall. I’m guessing the building next door.”
Francesca explained, “It is. Sorry about that, Gavin. But hey, take three steps out the front door and you’ll have plenty to see in every direction.”
Gavin took a bite of the cheese and said, “Oh my God, this is so good.”
Nonna turned to him, saying, “Italy is known for three things: romance, wine, and cheese.”
Gio intervened, “Not to mention the Vatican, Venice, the shopping, and about a million other things.”
Chase smiled at the boy, saying, “You really do live right in the middle of a history book here. It’s so cool.”
Francesca then asked, “Where are you two from? In America, I mean.”
Gavin with his mouth half-full of cheese, tried to answer, “She’s from Seattle and I’m from Manchumstum.”
Chase laughed, “Gavin, really? He said Manchester. It’s in Vermont. That’s a little state where—”
Francesca interrupted: “I know Vermont. They have the pretty orange trees and those funny bridges.”
Chase was curious, asking, “Funny bridges?”
Francesca stood up from the table, and using her hands, explained, “Yeah, they’re kind of short and fat and have a roof on them.”
Gavin jumped in, saying to Chase, “She means covered bridges. Yes, Vermont has lots of those.”
Chase then asked, “Speaking of architecture, outside my window, over the buildings, I could see the top of a beautiful church.”
Nonna, listening quietly, finally spoke, “Santa Maria dei Monti. Sì. It is beautiful. That’s my church.”
Gavin then, to Nonna: “We’ll have to check it out. We have lots of places to visit and not much time, really.”
Francesca asked, “What do you mean?”
Chase took Gavin’s hand across the table, “We decided to get married in Italy, but we wanted to spend a few weeks here meeting people, seeing the sights, figuring out the best place to say I do.”
Gavin added, “You know, kick the tires first.”
Nonna asked, “Tires?”
Chase turned to Gavin, saying, “Honey, they don’t understand what that means.”
She then turned to the others, explaining, “What Gavin means is, he wants to look around Italy before he decides where we should get married. Capish?”
The three nodded in agreement, as Gio asked with a smile, “Is that another one of the ten Italian words you know?”
Chase chuckled at the boy. “I guess it is.”
As Gavin devoured another piece of thick bread, Chase inquired, “Can I ask you for advice on getting around? We can take a taxi, but, um—”
“Nonsense,” Francesca jumped in. “My brother, Giuliano, is like a taxi, only better.”
“Better?” Gavin asked.
“Yeah,” Francesca continued. “Giuliano—we call him Jules when we speak English—can drive you, and he’s fun and cheap.”
Gavin smiled, then asked, “Do you think you could call him and see if he’s available? Does he speak English too?”
Nonna answered, “Sì, yes, he does. Francesca will call.”
Chase then mentioned, “We don’t need him right away. We both want to walk the neighborhood with Scooter first.”
“Speaking of which,” Gavin said, “are we okay bringing a dog through the streets of Rome? I don’t know if there are any rules against it.”
“Rules no, but cats, yes,” Gio cautioned.
Chase then, “I meant to ask you, what is it with all the cats? I saw four of them out my window.
Francesca explained, “There are three hundred thousand stray cats in Rome.”
“Wow,” Gavin exclaimed.
Francesca continued, “You mentioned on the phone that you lived in New York City?”
“Yes, for a year,” Chase replied.
“Well, you have pigeons, we have cats,” Francesca replied.
Gavin nodded his head, answering, “I guess you do.”
Francesca then said, “I will talk to Jules and put the two of you together.”
Chase nodded, saying, “Thank you so much, for everything.”
Gavin put his fourth piece of cheese back down on the plate and said, “I’d better stop, or I’ll have no room for dinner.”
Gio looked at his watch and said, “Dinner? It’s barely five o’clock.”
Francesca could see their American guests looked a bit confused again, so she explained, “Nobody eats dinner in Rome until after seven.”
Gavin asked, “Since we’re in Italy, is there a place nearby you’d recommend spaghetti and meatballs?”
Gio covered his mouth, laughing again.
“What?” Gavin asked.
Francesca explained, “That’s an American thing. Here you get pasta with delicious things mixed in.”
“But not meatballs?” Gavin asked, smiling.
Gio patted Gavin on the shoulder like a big brother, answering, “Not so much.”
Chase laughed at Gavin and said, “This sounds like my cappuccino I tried to order today.”
The Italians at the table all turned, giving Chase their undivided attention, curious about what she meant.
Chase explained, “I was in this really nice coffee shop and asked for a cappuccino at three in the afternoon.”
Nonna mumbled something under her breath in Italian and made the sign of the cross on her forehead and chest.
“I know,” Chase said to Nonna, enthusiastically. “They totally freaked out.”
Gavin then said, “So no cappuccino after noon and don’t order the spaghetti and meatballs like you’re at the Olive Garden.”
Gio curious, asked, “What olive garden?”
Chase laughed, “No, not an actual—”
She patted Gio’s hand across the table, explaining, “That’s the name of a restaurant chain in America. It’s supposed to be authentic Italian food but it’s not.”
Gavin interrupted, saying, “The breadsticks are good, though.”
Francesca then said to Gavin, “You certainly like bread.”
The five of them all shared a laugh as Chase said, “Well, I’ve got jetlag from the long trip, so I’m going to grab a quick nap and then we can go find a place to eat.”
Francesca answered, “La Taverna is a great spot, just a two-minute walk.”
Gavin rose from the table and said, “A nap before dinner does sound good.”
As the two slowly made their way to their respective bedrooms, Nonna called out in her fractured English, “Just reminder, fiancé is not a married. So, we stay in our rooms all night. Capite—you understand?”
Gavin saluted and replied, “You have my word, ma’am.”
Chase then, “Once we turn in later, you won’t see us until morning.”
Nonna reached down to pet their dog, Giuseppe, and said, “He’s old and a little deaf but he sleeps in the hallway, and if anyone comes out of their room, Giuseppe barks.”
Gavin smiled, answering, “He sounds like a great watchdog.”
Nonna looked Gavin in the eye and said, “You’re a nice young man and I can tell you honest.”
“Thank you, Nonna,” Gavin replied.
Her face took a serious turn now, as she added, “Just know, Giuseppe is watching.”
Gavin smiled and looked to Chase, silently mouthing the words, Giuseppe is watching!
CHAPTER3Levi and Leo
There are roughly 450 islands off the coast of Italy, some large, while on others you could toss a Frisbee from one side to the other. As the sun rose on Chase and Gavin’s first full day in Rome, two hundred miles away, a quiet, gentle man named Levi rose to begin a very long day on one of those islands. The small stone structure he called home housed a dozen men with a singular dedication to their faith.
Levi opened the closet door in his room to reveal a half-dozen brown hooded robes, neatly pressed, lined up like soldiers on hangers. Despite their all looking identical, Levi paused to consider his choice for the day, saying to himself, “This one, I think.”
He pulled the robe over a T-shirt and matching brown slacks, leaving just his footwear to choose. Many at this religious retreat preferred sandals, but Levi felt a touch of rebel in him today, opting instead for a pair of bright red running shoes.
Once dressed, Levi made his way down a long corridor, finding the others in the house already up and sipping coffee in the large kitchen.
“Good morning,” Levi said. “I’m heading inland, to Rome, if anyone needs anything.”
A man in his eighties raised his hand, but before he could speak, Levi said, “Your favorite wine from that shop near the Tiber?” The old man nodded in agreement.
A younger man in a robe matching Levi’s then asked, “Has it been a month already?”
Levi responded, “Just about.”
Another of the half dozen men at the table then inquired, “How is the game going?”
Levi, busy taking down a box of cereal from the cupboard, answered, “Good, I think I’ve got him on the run.”
The older man who wanted Levi to get him wine then asked, “Game?”
Levi turned to him, speaking louder now, “My CHESS GAME against my brother. Remember? Once a month, after I shop, I sit with my brother at his church, and we play chess.”
The older man scratched his bald head and nodded, “Yes, of course. I remember now.”
Levi then turned to the newest member of their religious retreat and said, “Anything for you, Tommaso?”
The man with dark hair and a noticeable scar above his left eye shook his head no.
Levi touched his own forehead, still looking at the man, asking, “How are the headaches?”
Tommaso, in barely a whisper, answered, “I’m fine.”
“Good,” the kindly monk answered, sitting down to eat his bran flakes.
After breakfast, Levi took a short walk from the house down to an aging dock where a small boat was waiting. The man behind the wheel was dressed in mustard-colored overalls, a thick wool sweater, and a black seaman’s cap.
“How’s the game going? Did you get his queen yet?” the saltylooking sea captain asked.
“Not yet, but I’m closing in,” Levi replied with a wink.
It would seem everyone on this island knew of Levi’s year-long chess match with his brother. Once a month, at least, he’d travel from the island to Italy’s mainland, making his way to Rome.
The captain untethered the rope from the dock, then said, “Hold tight, Levi, the sea is talking today, and she has plenty to say.”
Miles away in Rome, Gavin and Chase awoke to the smell of fresh rolls baking in Nonna’s kitchen. Gavin was wearing a pair of white sweatpants he picked up cheap at T.J. Maxx back in New York and smiled when he saw Chase shuffle into the kitchen in one of his old Boston University T-shirts that stretched down to her knees.
“Something smells amazing,” Chase said.
Francesca was at the counter pouring fresh coffee into two mugs, replying, “Every day Nonna makes homemade rolls.”
Gio emerged from his room, adding, “There’s also biscotti and pastry in the fridge if you’d rather that.”
Gavin replied, “If we eat like this every day the plane won’t be able to fly us back home.”
Nonna, Gio, and Francesca looked him, puzzled, causing Gavin to explain his joke, “Too heavy. We’d be too heavy for the plane to get off the ground.”
Nonna, still confused, replied, “From one roll?” Francesca explained, “He’s joking, Nonna.”
Chase’s eyes were fixed on something that was right in front of their noses last night, but she’d failed to notice until now.
“We had those on my house growing up,” Chase said.
Gavin turned to see she was talking about and saw, stuck to the front of the refrigerator, were dozens of cheap plastic magnetic letters—A, B, C … the whole alphabet.
Francesca walked over to touch the scrambled letters, and replied, “Oh, these? We use them to leave notes for each other.”
“Notes?” Chase asked.
Gio explained, “Let’s say we are out of eggs. You write the word EGGS on the refrigerator with these letters, and it tells anyone who is going near a store to pick them up.”
“Ah, clever,” Gavin replied.
Francesca then said to Gio, “Tell them about the game we play.”
“Game?” Chase asked.
Gio answered, “Every time you open and close the refrigerator door the letters move around. After a few days you’ll see a clump of letters together and we try to make words out of them.”
Chase looked at Gavin and immediately thought of a board game they played when they lived in a mansion in Briarcliff Manor, outside of New York City. Sometimes those Scrabble letters revealed words as well.
Reading Gavin’s face, she shook her head no, agreeing, without words, that they should leave the past where it was and not mention it. Besides, she was anxious to eat breakfast and start exploring Rome.
The boat ride for Levi to the mainland took less than a half hour. What came next for the monk was a three-hour car ride through the winding hills of Follonica, Grosseto, and Tuscania. If all roads lead to Rome, this was a bumpy one.
Once in Rome, Levi made his way on foot through the charming streets, stopping at his favorite stores, making certain to grab wine for his friend as promised. The brand he liked was easy to spot because of the beige-colored label with a small cross on the top. The name of the vineyard was printed in black letters below: Paraclete.
Being from a monastery, of sorts, and having a priest for an older brother, Levi knew the term Paraclete was from the Greek word advocate, but in the world of Christianity it usually meant Holy Spirit. He wasn’t sure if the old monk from the house liked it for the taste or the religious roots. Either way, it was a bargain at just twenty euros.
His early start from the island assured Levi would reach Santa Maria church in Rome shortly before 11 a.m. His best friend in the world, his brother, Leo, celebrated a short Catholic mass in Latin at 10 a.m., followed by the hearing of confessions.
On days like this, when Levi was early, he took a seat in his favorite pew positioned directly in front of the church’s west wall and the stations of the cross. Levi looked up at the ninth station depicting the third time that Jesus fell under the weight of the cross. Levi was transfixed by the detail in the statue’s face showing the determination in Jesus’s eyes to rise again despite all the torment and pain.
There were several elderly Italian woman clutching rosaries waiting their turn to spill their sins to Father Leo, so Levi rested his tired feet on the red velvet pad of the kneeler in the pew, knowing it might be a while before he played chess with his brother.
Three blocks away, Gavin and Chase emerged from the well-appointed home where they were staying, with Scooter on his leash ready to greet the day.
“Left, or right?” Gavin asked with a smile.
“Surprise me,” Chase said as she squeezed his hand tight.
Before they made the trip to Italy, Chase and Gavin spent hours looking at photographs of the places they planned to visit. None of those pictures came close to capturing the true beauty of this ancient city, now that it was before their very eyes.
Each building they strolled past was straining to get their attention, heralding stories of war and love, chariots, and mystery. Chase was careful to hold tightly to Scooter’s leash, as cats of every stripe darted in and out of the shadows along their walk.
Monti, the neighborhood where they were staying, was a well-heeled section of Rome, and the stores that lined both sides of the street reflected it with exotic names like Shiva, Kaja, and Eventi.
Gavin waited on the sidewalk with Scooter as Chase ducked into a store that sold a variety of tea. Once inside, Chase was struck by the decor, which looked more like an art museum in Paris than a store in Rome. Each box of tea was thoughtfully presented and lit. When that perfect lighting illuminated the prices however, Chase quickly did an about-face and was back outside in the fresh air.
As Chase reached Gavin on the sidewalk, he said, “Hold this a second,” attempting to hand her Scooter’s leash.
Unfortunately, the leash fell to the ground just as a cat darted out from behind a parked car, and Scooter took off like a rocket.
Both Gavin and Chase ran after Scooter, but with each step the dog seemed to double the distance between them.
A block away at Santa Maria church, confessions were complete, and Levi rose to give his brother a hug hello.
“I trust it was a safe journey, little brother?” Father Leo asked.
Levi, thinking of the choppy seas, answered, “Safe enough.”
To the left of the church’s altar, in an area where they performed baptisms on the first Sunday of the month, sat a small table with two folding chairs. On the table rested a chess board with a game already in progress, a bottle of wine, and two empty glasses.
“Shall we?” Leo asked, turning to take his seat for the battle to come.
As Levi walked by a large statue of Mary holding the baby Jesus, he spied a young man with tan skin kneeling and praying by himself.
“He looks intense,” Levi said to his brother.
Father Leo looked to see who Levi was speaking of, then whispered, “Four times a week, for the last few months.”
Levi noticed the boy looked thin, and said, “Perhaps he’s sick. Things like that drive people to prayer.”
“Perhaps,” Leo replied, adding no more to the conversation.
The sudden silence caused Levi to ask, “Even if you knew something about that young man, you wouldn’t tell me, would you?”
Leo nodded slowly, “No I wouldn’t.”
Levi mocked him a bit now, adding, “You don’t trust your only brother. Tsk, tsk.”
The priest shot back, “Oh and you tell me you everything that you and the others at your monk house are up to?”
“Excuse me, sir,” Levi replied. “We call it a hermitage, not a monk house.”
Leo adored his brother, so he just smiled and said, “Remind me again, is it my move? This frail old mind forgets things.”
“Oh, nonsense,” Levi replied. “You know it’s my turn, and don’t try sneaking any of your players back on the board.”
As Leo leaned in, watching for the next move, he asked, “You mentioned a while back, you had some secret project on the island. Can you elaborate?”
Levi shook his head from side to side, “You keep your secrets, I’ll keep mine.”
As Father Leo poured wine, the young man who had been praying alone rose and started toward the church’s door. Just as he pulled it open, a black cat running as if the devil himself was after him, dashed into the church and hid under a marble pedestal that held holy water.
Right on the cat’s heels came Chase’s dog, Scooter, barking as he pushed through the door and zeroed in on his prey.
“What in heaven’s name?” Father Leo called out. “Somebody grab that dog!”
The young man, without hesitation, let go of the door and moved quickly to snatch Scooter’s leash.
No sooner did he have it in hand than the church doors opened again, this time with a beautiful woman and her fiancé in hot pursuit.
“Jesus, he’s fast,” Gavin said out loud.
Chase, realizing where they were standing, turned to Gavin, saying sharply, “Gav, language!”
Gavin saw the church was empty, except for two men dressed like clergy and the young man holding Scooter’s leash.
“Sorry, fathers, about screaming Jesus,” Gavin called out to Levi and Leo.
Father Leo smiled and replied, “Oh, we’re used to hearing that name in here, son.”
Chase turned her attention to the boy holding her dog and tried to meet his eyes to say thank you. Instead, he quickly shoved the leash in Chase’s hands and scurried toward the church door. As he pushed by Chase, she noticed he was wearing a yellow hooded sweatshirt with a red emblem on the front and an animal at the center. It was all so quick; she couldn’t make it out.
“Grazie,” Chase called out to the teen.
His only answer was the door slamming behind him.
Gavin realized the two men at the chess board were still watching, so he said, “Apologies, fathers, the dog got away from us when he saw the cat.”
“Occupational hazard for dog walkers in our fine city,” Father Leo replied. “And we’re both not fathers. I’m a priest, he’s a brother. Brother Levi.”
Chase saw the chess game and the two glasses of red wine waiting, and said, “I can see we disturbed you. We’ll be going.”
As Gavin, Chase, and Scooter opened the church door to go, Gavin called back to the men, “Hey, don’t forget you’ve got a cat loose in here.”
Levi answered, with a twinkle in his eye, “This is Rome; there’s a cat loose everywhere.”
Chase smiled and gave Scooter a firm tug as the three stepped back onto the street.
“Shall we continue our tour of the neighborhood?” Gavin asked.
There was silence as Chase just stood and stared at nothing.
“What?” Gavin inquired. “Is something wrong?”
Chase answered, “Nothing. Something about that boy.”
Gavin was silent now, looking at his fiancée, waiting for more.
Finally, Chase said, “It’s nothing. Let’s finish our walk.”
Every few steps Gavin looked up at Chase for more, wondering if their morning adventure was as random as it seemed, or if something besides a cat had led them to that church.
CHAPTER4Not Really My Type
Day three in Rome began with a knock on the front door of the apartment where Chase and Gavin were guests.
“I’ve got it,” Gio called out, stomping his feet across the room.
“Go easy, Giovanni, we have people below us,” his mother scolded.
“Mi scusi,” Gio called back.
Chase noted quietly to Gavin, “That means sorry.”
Gio flung open the door and was immediately picked up by a bear of a man with wavy dark hair and arms the size tree trunks.
“Gio, nipote,” he said with glee. “Come stai?”
“I’m good, Uncle Jules,” Gio replied in English.
After his feet hit the floor again, Gio pointed to Gavin and Chase, saying to his uncle, “These are the Americans staying with us. We’re trying to use English as much as we can for them.”
Jules’s face lit up as he sauntered toward them, saying in a strong accent, “I love America. Especially your movies. Toto, we not in Kansas anymore. You can’t a handle the truth. Houston we gots a problem. Sì? Is good?”
Gavin and Chase instantly broke into laughter at the man’s gregarious nature.
“WOW,” Gavin answered. “It’s as if Tom Hanks was standing right in front of us.”
Jules, recognizing the name, responded, “Tom Hanks, yes, the castaway on the island. WILSON, you come back my silly ball. I cried at that movie.”
Chase extended her hand to shake Jules’s. “I think we all did. Hi, I’m Chase.”
Gavin followed with a handshake of his own. “I’m Gavin.”
With that, Jules took Chase’s shoulders in his hulking hands and planted a kiss on both of her cheeks, saying, “Welcome to Rome.”
Gavin wasn’t offended by the personal gesture but was taken off guard when Jules turned and did the same to him, a kiss on both cheeks.
“Alrighty then,” Gavin said, blushing a bit. “We don’t get much of that in Manchester.”
Jules got excited again, asking, “Football? Manchester United. Sì?”
Chase stopped him there. “No, no. He means Manchester, Vermont. It’s a place, in America.”
“Ah, my bad, as you say,” he replied. “So, you need a driver?”
“We do, thank you,” Gavin shot back.
Chase then said, “We walked around the neighborhood, but we want to see more.”
Jules then spoke to Francesca and Nonna in Italian, they responded the same, and he turned his attention back to Chase and Gavin.
“Twenty euros for the hour. You want more hours, more euros. To drive you around Italy, yes?” he said.
Gavin nodded and smiled, “Sounds fair, let us both grab our coats.”
