Chapter Nineteen

Thursday afternoon, Kate sat at the kitchen table to read Livvy’s latest article in that morning’s edition of the Chronicle. The sting of tears came again as she read about Livvy’s impressions of her two days in Assisi.

Joys Discovered in Assisi
by Livvy Jenner

The tolling bells from the Basilica of Santa Chiara gently woke me on our first morning in Assisi. I got out of bed and walked to the window, which I had left open the night before. The evening breeze had quickly lulled me to sleep.

As I approached the window, my breath was taken away. Directly in front of me, I could see the city of Assisi beginning to come to life as the sun crept up in the sky. I tried to count the number of church towers and stopped at about sixteen. So many other things were craving my attention.

I looked to my left and saw the early morning mist beginning to rise, revealing the olive groves rolling down the hillside from Assisi toward San Damiano. I was so enthralled I could hardly move. But when I glanced at the alarm clock, I realized that breakfast would be served in twenty minutes, and I needed to get ready.

Kate got up to pour herself a glass of iced tea as she struggled to get her emotions under control. I know it was in our best interest not to go. But how I miss realizing that dream.

She sat back down and picked up the paper again.

After breakfast, the tour’s first excursion was to the Basilica of San Francesco. The basilica was less than a mile away from the hotel, so walking was in order—though not your ordinary morning stroll, to be sure. Assisi is built on a hillside, so every street goes either uphill or downhill. And they are narrow cobblestone streets with sidewalks barely wide enough for one person.

The ubiquitous coffee shops—or coffee bars, as they’re called—sent forth the wonderful aroma of coffee and freshly baked bread as we made our way across town.

The article continued with descriptions of their visits to several sites of interest in the city of Assisi, ending with a side trip to the Carceri at Mount Subasio, where Francis and his followers often went to get away and pray.

Kate folded the newspaper and placed it on the counter so Paul could read it when he got home. The phone rang, and she hurried toward it, hoping it was Melissa.

It was Renee.

Renee’s voice took on the excited pitch of a much younger woman’s. “I just had the most wonderful news,” she breathed into the telephone. She rushed on, not waiting for Kate to respond. “It’s about Collin. He called this morning to tell me he was on his way to Heathrow.”

“To fly here?”

“Where else?”

“That’s wonderful, Renee. We can’t wait to meet him.” That was an understatement.

“And meet him you shall! That’s why I called,” she said. “I’m inviting a few friends over for a little welcome tea in honor of him tomorrow afternoon. I would like for you and Paul to attend.”

“I’ll check with Paul, but I think our calendar’s clear.” As mysterious as Paul’s behavior had been lately, she couldn’t be sure of where he would be when.

“Collin is staying at the Hamilton Springs Hotel.”

Kate wondered what she was getting at. “Mmm, that’s nice. It’s the loveliest place in town.”

“I’m telling you that so if anyone asks, you can assure them he’s not moving in here with Mother and me.”

“Oh, I don’t think anyone—”

“After the rumors that Mother’s been spreading all over town, don’t be surprised if it comes up in conversation.”

Kate sighed. “I’ll be glad to let people know.”

“Good. Four o’clock, then, tomorrow for afternoon tea.”

“I wouldn’t miss it.” She wondered at the shiver that traveled up her spine, though, as she replaced the phone in the receiver.

Of course, she wouldn’t miss the tea—for Renee’s sake. But something told her there might be more than social niceties exchanged.

She shivered again.