Page 8 of Little Dark Deeds

CHAPTER 5

It was a little afterthree o’clock in the morning, and I was in bed, cozying up to Giovanni whose arms were wrapped around me.He brought my hand to his lips and said, “I hope the wedding was everything you’d hoped it would be.”

“It was one of the best days of my life.”

I could think of only one happier time in my life, the day I’d given birth to my daughter, Fallon.Her life had ended too soon, and while she was never far from my thoughts, today she felt especially near, like she was with me in spirit, alongside my father.

“I thought I’d be asleep by now, but I’m still a little wound up from the day we had,” I said.

“Me too.”

“I’m glad we changed our honeymoon plans.Holding off for a couple of weeks will give us time to relax before our European vacation.”

“Speaking of Italy, what are you most excited to see while we’re there?”

“The Sassi in Matera.”

Matera, a place steeped in history, had stood for over nine thousand years, making it one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.The enchanting area was most known for the Sassi, ancient cave dwellings carved into limestone cliffs.Often referred to as “the second Bethlehem,” its history dated back to the Paleolithic era.I’d spent years dreaming of visiting this place, and now, at long last, that dream was soon to become a reality.

“Matera is a place like no other I’ve been before,” Giovanni said.“I believe you’ll enjoy Florence just as much.Several years ago, I considered purchasing a villa there.It’s one of the few places you can immerse yourself in another culture, another way of life.”

“Why haven’t you mentioned the idea of buying a villa there before?”

“It’s not something I see in our present.In the distant future, perhaps.I prefer to be close by, here for you.”

I gave him a playful poke to the chest.“What makes you think I’d be here and not in Italy with you?”

“Your career, for one.”

“I won’t always be a detective.I imagine one day I’ll retire, sell the business, or leave it to someone I trust to keep it going.”

He let out a slight laugh.“I can’t imagine you’ll retire any time soon.”

“Soon, no.But one day.”

“All the more reason to wait.If we bought a villa in Italy, I’d want you there by my side.”