Page 25 of Hello Goodbye Amore

They spent the day seeing the Trevi Fountain as well as the Fountain of the Four Rivers in Piazza Navona.

They ate wonderful food and had plenty of gelato, got T-shirts, and basically had an amazing day.

After dinner, they rode back to the villa, with Ricky falling asleep in the car seat almost as soon as they pulled away from the Piazza Venezia.

“Thank you. I’m not sure how much Ricky is going to remember, but I know I’m never going to forget this.

” Chase closed his eyes as the driver wove through the city traffic until they reached the outskirts and pulled into the villa driveway.

Antonello wasn’t sure if Chase would take Ricky right up to bed, but as soon as they pulled to a stop, Ricky’s eyes slid open and he peered out the windows.

“Can we go swimming now?” The kid had a one-track mind.

“THIS HAS been great,” Chase said as he stretched the following morning.

The house was still quiet, and Ricky had slept through the night after an hour of swimming and a day full of activity.

“I’m sort of sad to have to go back.” He rolled over with a smile.

“It seems kind of dumb to say that, since we’re returning to Florence, not some hick town in Idaho.

” Antonello loved that smile. “But this has been so much fun.”

“It has.” He reached for his phone, pleased to find no messages or emails that required his attention. Everything he had could wait until tomorrow. “I like Rome, but Florence is more….”

“Even with the tourists, it’s quieter,” Chase said softly.

“Yes,” he agreed and stretched himself. “I’m willing to bet that Ricky is going to be awake at any moment and that he is going to be hungry.” He got out of bed and bent over to pull on a pair of shorts.

Chase tugged him back into the bed, holding him tightly. “I locked the door after checking on Ricky.”

Antonello chuckled softly. “I see.” He kissed him, feeling happier than he had in a very long time.

The cares and weight of responsibility felt light at the moment.

It was like they mattered less with Chase around…

like he could handle them better. Maybe it was just his imagination, or maybe he just missed what Chase seemed to offer him: a kind of acceptance and care that had nothing to do with the family he’d been born into or the responsibility that carried.

“Daddy,” Ricky called from outside, “where are you?”

Chase groaned, but Antonello kissed him and patted his cheek. “It’s okay. Go see to him, and I’ll be down in a few minutes to get us something to eat. We slept in, and we need to leave for the station in a few hours.”

“Can I go swimming? I got my suit on already.”

Antonello sprawled back in bed as Chase went through the connecting door and closed it after him. He smiled, listening as Chase’s laughter drifted into the room, followed by giggles from Ricky.

“Ask Mr. Nello, okay?” Ricky pleaded, and Antonello could almost see that pooched-out lower lip and Chase trying to figure a way to say no, but knowing he’d cave.

“We need to have breakfast first, and then we can go swimming for a few minutes before we leave for the train.”

Antonello got out of bed, dressed, and cleaned up quickly before finding the housekeeper to let her know that they wanted to eat out by the pool.

“Breakfast will be ready soon,” he told them, and Chase took Ricky’s hand and led him out back to the table next to the sparkling water.

Ricky looked at it like the pool had sirens calling him.

“Grazie,” Antonello told Rachel as she brought their breakfast to the table and then left them alone once more. She worked for the service that cared for the villa, and he’d arranged for her to be there so they could be sure to depart on time.

“Can I swim now?”

“Go ahead. But you have to eat something when you get out,” Chase told him. Ricky pulled on his water wings and jumped right in. “Stay on this side of the pool.”

“I will, Daddy,” Ricky called back as Antonello poured juice and got a plate with some bread, cheese, and prosciutto, along with some lovely fruit.

“What will happen when we leave here? Do they close the place up?” Chase asked.

“No. The service will clean up and make sure the villa is secure. They are very trustworthy and will come in every few days and make sure things are okay.”

“Daddy, can we come back here again?” Ricky asked after getting out of the water, dripping all over the pool deck.

“Maybe,” Antonello told him.

“Yeah. Now go swim, because you have only five more minutes. And then you need to eat and get dressed so we can get on the train.” Ricky ate a piece of cheese before jumping back in the water.

“You’re really good with him,” Antonello said.

“How were your parents growing up?” Chase asked.

“I had a nanny who looked after me. I spent much more time with her than I did with my parents. They were always busy, but I saw them in the evenings at dinner. I was given the pasta course to tell them about my day. Even now, the sight of fish makes me talk faster. Dad was good and we did things together, but my mother… she was the tough nut. I don’t think she liked being a parent—at least not until I was twelve, and then I was sent to boarding school in Bologna.

It was a lonely way to grow up sometimes, but my nanny was good to me, and she made sure I got the attention I needed. ”

“Do you still see her?”

Antonello nodded. “You met Maria before. My first nanny, the one I had until I was eight, is in Naples now with her family. I see her whenever I’m there on business.” He couldn’t help chuckling. “She still makes me her amaretto cookies every time I tell her I’m coming.”

Chase watched Ricky play. “Jump in one more time, and then you need to get out and towel off.” Ricky did as he was asked, and then Chase wrapped him in a towel and got him settled with some food and a small glass of juice.

They talked through the rest of breakfast. Chase got Ricky dressed before packing up. Antonello ordered a car, and they met it in the drive. They piled in and rode to the main train station, where Antonello got Ricky a gelato before they boarded the train back home.

Part of him was ready to return, but another part, the one that was truly relaxed and happy, wished they could stay in Rome forever.

THE RIDE back was comfortable. Once they got off the train, they walked through to the historic center of the city. Antonello escorted Chase and Ricky home, sharing a kiss with Chase once Ricky had hurried to his room.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“I wish you could stay,” Chase whispered.

“Me too. But I better go. I have things I need to do before I go into the office, and I suspect Ricky is going to conk out at any time. I’ll see you in the office.

” They kissed again, and Antonello left through the front door, walking the streets he knew like the back of his hand to his family home.

He went inside, carrying his case, only to be met by his mother, her expression thunderous.