11

Katrina stood behind Luca’s desk chair. He listened as she detailed the final report she had prepared on Ashley’s reception and exhibit.

“We received offers for five of the eight sketches, and serious interest on the others. I believe we’ll receive calls on those over the next few days. Also, Giselle Mansuto went crazy for Ashley’s work and is offering a commission. Evidently she wants Ashley to create a charcoal sketch, gray-hue, of her villa in Umbria. That would require Ashley to travel to the locale; do you think she’d be willing?”

Good question, Luca thought, wondering the same thing himself. Given last night’s results, would she be motivated to consider staying? Rather than hazard a guess, he continued to absorb facts. “She’s earned a commission? Already? That’s amazing. Not surprising, but…” Pride washed through him. “I held out the hope someone might invest in her work. Giselle would be a perfect entrée for Ashley. They loved meeting each other and seemed to connect immediately.”

Katrina didn’t respond. No matter what became of his feelings for Ashley, Luca didn’t want Katrina to be hurt, so he used the opening as a segue. It was time to talk, and reestablish the parameters of their relationship.

“I want to tell you how much I appreciate your efforts on the event last night, and on the tracking of sales. You’re the best ambassador for this gallery I could imagine.”

“L’arte Della Vita is part of my heart, Luca. You know that.”

“I do. I recognize that fact and appreciate it. I rely on you heavily when it comes to the daily operations of the gallery, but beyond that, you’re a friend I treasure.”

“That goes both ways, of course, but where are you headed with this?”

He could see her straighten her spine, as though bracing.

“I don’t want to lose the affection and respect of a friend I value as much as you, and it seems the lines between us aren’t as clear or easy as they used to be.”

At once those tight shoulders sagged; sadness touched the depths of her eyes. “No worries there. I’m fine. We’re fine.”

“Are we?” Luca looked at her in doubt, and waited. When a stilted silence fell into place, he took her hand and stood, leading the way to the chairs opposite his desk. After they sat, he kept his hold in place. “I want you in my corner, Katrina. I trust you, and I care for you very much. I want…and hope…you can support me as I move forward in my personal life as well.”

“Meaning Ashley Coratini.”

“Yes. Meaning Ashley. She’s a remarkable woman who’s won my interest both as an artist and as a person with whom I can explore a future. Knowing me as well as you do, I’m sure you’ve picked up on my attraction to her. I guess I’m surprising myself by realizing I’m ready to look ahead again, and find a level of happiness in my life that extends beyond the gallery.”

“I have no problem with your decisions about the gallery when it comes to Ashley’s work. The exhibit, the opportunities for her to show her work in varying venues and aspects, is a tribute to her talent, but…”

It was Luca’s turn to brace himself. “But what?”

She delivered a sharp look. “Are you sure you want to hear this?”

“Yes, I am. Friends are honest, and open.”

It wasn’t often he saw Katrina venture into a place of uncertainty, but she released his hand, fidgeting nervously for a moment. “I apologize if what I’m about to say seems reactionary. I don't mean to behave like a jealous shrew, but you mean a great deal to me.”

“And I say the same to you.”

“Understood. That's why I want to ask you to think. You need to consider all the aspects of what she can and can’t bring to your life before you dive into a relationship that might not be for the best.”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning”—her voice wavered—“Meaning she’s young. Inexperienced. I wish you could see that, right before you, is a person who provides answers to the life you’ve created. The life you’ve been happy with. I could be much more than a colleague if you’d let me.”

Perhaps, but the feelings weren’t there. How could he make her understand his perspective without inflicting damage on a person he loved—if not in the way she wished?

“Katrina, you’re a beautiful, loving woman. I admire you, and always have, but I can’t offer you the kind of life or the kind of emotion that you’re talking about.”

She looked down, froze stiffly, so he took her hand once more. Thankfully she didn’t resist. “That doesn’t lessen my affection for you, or make you any less important.”

“I understand, and I’m glad we’ve been open with each other.” She stood gracefully, with typical poise. Her professional persona fell into place, though with traces of pain. “I’ll leave you to sort through the results of last night’s event. I only hope she doesn’t disappoint you.”

Katrina left swiftly, though she closed the door with a gentle click. Luca sank back against his leather chair and sighed in time to its squeak and give. Katrina’s logic wasn’t lost on him. In fact, it pressed against the strength of his resolution to be bold about his emotions. That didn’t mean the doubts would leave him be, though. Luca could feel the way uncertainty battered against the thick stone walls he’d built around his heart.

But when he looked into Ashley’s eyes, when he stood at her side, the doubts evaporated, vanishing into a tempting and potent stream of hope, joy and longing. Luca couldn’t—wouldn’t—back away. Madelyn’s death had taught him life was short, and too precious to be denied.

~*~

After a fitful night of tossing, turning, agonizing, and praying, Ashley made her decision. The most difficult decision of her life. She was leaving Florence.

The time she had spent in the heart of Italy had transformed her, given her opportunities the likes of which she had never dreamed might come true. Now, it was time to descend the mountain. It was time to perform real work in the real world. It was time to secure her position at Windermere High School and bookmark this remarkable episode as an incredible Christmas gift from God.

Would Luca see it the same way? Would he understand?

Nervous energy accompanied her across the threshold of the gallery where she was greeted by Katrina.

“Good afternoon, Ashley. He’s in his office, and he’s expecting you.”

“Thank you.”

The closer she came to this moment of truth, the harder it became to put one foot in front of the other. She knocked on his closed door and was asked in at once. Gathering a deep breath, Ashley pushed through.

As they reviewed results and sales numbers, the fact that she had been offered a straightforward sketch commission from an art patron the likes of Giselle Mansuto nearly sent the walls of Ashley’s resolve toppling—but there were ways to satisfy both aspects of her burgeoning career. She could always return to Italy for visits, and…

“Ashley…Ashley…are you OK?”

Tenderness, love, worked its way through Luca’s tone, through his eyes and into the touch of his hand against her arm. Evidently she had drifted.

“Sorry. I guess I’m a bit tired, and overwhelmed.” The simple words covered a multitude of complication.

“Don’t be overwhelmed. This is good news, and I think the event exceeded all expectations. Here’s the quote Giselle offered for your services.”

Ashley nearly swooned. A trip to Umbria. Her artistic spirit melted into ripples of pure bliss.

“I’ll take this to Geoffrey Pulter when I meet with him tomorrow morning. I know he’s eager to hear how things went.”

Luca chuckled. “As I said, exceeds expectations.”

Ashley’s eyes stung. She bit her lips together, dipping her head in the hopes that he wouldn’t detect her heartbreak. This severing was necessary, she told herself. Brutal, but necessary.

As she’d come to expect in the short time she’d known him, there was no hiding from Luca. He swept around the edge of his desk and knelt next to her chair. “What’s wrong, Ashley? What happened?”

Oh, Lord, she beseeched through the pain of a ripped spirit, please help me. Please help me do this. Give me the words.

She tumbled into a halting, tearful explanation of the offer that had come through from New Jersey, from home, and all that she knew, all that she trusted as being stable and safe…realistic.

“I leave in less than a week. When I meet with Geoffrey, we’ll align my return for Giselle’s commission, probably in the spring when the land is ripe and blooming.” She aimed for a brave smile, but her lips trembled and as close as Luca studied her, she knew he detected her turbulence.

“I wish I could make you see you don’t need safety nets and a stable routine to be happy. The greatest adventures we embrace involve taking a chance, spiraling off a precipice and into God’s care.”

When she looked into his eyes, she came upon defeat, and a level of sadness that matched, if not surpassed, her own.

Luca stood. “It’s not up to me to convince you to stay, and I refuse to encourage you to go because those answers belong solely to you, just like this voyage of discovery has belonged to you.”

Straightening, smoothing the lines of his suit coat while he cleared his throat and took a deep breath, Luca shook his head as if awakening from a dream. Meanwhile, Ashley fought for control, struggled to keep her eyes dry, her throat clear of a choking lump.

“Stephano stopped by earlier today.” Luca’s ‘all-business’ tone was so at odds with the moment that she was shocked to attention. “He gave me this, and asked that I share it with you.”

Across the desk, he handed her a paper bag with S&J Rocca’s insignia across the front. When she extracted the contents, she gave a soft cry and covered trembling lips with the press of her fingers.

“Oh. Oh, my. Oh, my goodness.”

Stamped by the logo of S&J Rocca, supple, fragrant leather of dark blue came open in an accordion-style tumble of her sketches. She beheld her folio, which would land in the hands of people throughout Florence by nothing but the grace of God. Beads of tears tumbled down the rise of her cheeks.

Through a visual blur she noticed Luca clenched his hands and remained in place behind his desk, as though purposefully maintaining distance. She didn’t blame him. How could he do otherwise, given her decision?

“Let this act as a reminder to never think about the negativity and push-back of other people when they try to steal your dreams. You deserve all the best, Ashley, all the success that’s headed your way. So, don’t think about others. Focus on the mission God gives you, the gifts you possess. If they lead you back to America, then so be it. No matter what, though, I pray you hang on to the passion, the joy I’ve been privileged to share with you during the past few weeks. That’s what I want you to take with you when you leave.”

Leave. He had said the word aloud and she braced against the emptiness that loomed just ahead like an evil specter.

“I don’t know how to say goodbye.” She looked away from him, focusing instead on the sketches now spread across her lap. She whispered the words in a choked voice as she glossed loving fingertips against this precious offering.

“It’s not goodbye, Ashley. You’ll be back. We’ll see each other. Our fates are tied together by your future works, and by my hope that you might still contribute sketches for me to display and sell.”

She sensed Luca imbued his words with as much optimism as the moment would allow. When she met his gaze once more, his eyes glinted with fierce conviction. “This is the beginning for you. This is based on your talents alone. People are drawn by what you create. What’s happened to you during this trip needs to continue. You need to let go and have enough faith to say you’ll give your gift the chance it deserves, whether that happens within the halls of your new school or here in Italy.”

“I couldn’t have done any of this without you, Luca. You gave me confidence, and opportunity. You helped nurture the gifts you saw. There’s nothing more affirming than that.”

At the moment, her mind was crowded and spun with such uncertainty; all she could think of was her impending departure and the ramifications of everything that had come to pass since those fateful moments on the Ponte Vecchio.

Luca’s tortured gaze would haunt her forever. So would his silence as their meeting reached its inevitable conclusion. Ashley lifted on wobbly legs and unearthed just enough strength to conclude. “I want you to know, Luca, no matter what comes next, you’ve helped me become the best version of myself that I can possibly be. You’ve taught me to believe in myself and my gifts as an artist. Thank you for that, and for so much more.”

They exchanged a hug, a dual kiss of the cheeks. All the while, Ashley felt crushed. The dreams that had followed her to Italy had come true. All, that was, except one—the dream she hadn’t even known she possessed, until Luca.

That dream was of love.