Never Let You Go Read Free Page B

don’t think we fooled anyone.
    The next Saturday, I again took the train into town. I spent the entire weekend with him and with more time available, we walked around London, looking for interesting restaurants and stores.
    “I want to take you someplace special for dinner,” Sam said.
    “Where?”
    “You’ll see,” he said and waved for a taxi.
    We got out on Piccadilly and walked up Swallow Street and down the stairs into a cellar restaurant, Fino’s. Inside the curved, grotto-like bistro, the brick walls and arches were lit with small sconces, looking like candles.
    When my eyes adjusted to the mood lighting, a large man in a tuxedo—large as in height, almost two meters, and with an immense chest—greeted us. His black curly hair framed a serious face, which changed into a child-like smile upon seeing us. He walked up, looked me over and in a hoarse, almost whispering voice, said, “You must be Marisa.”
    I looked at him, then at Sam, who said, “Marisa, meet a good friend of mine, Carlo. Carlo, yes, this is the beautiful, fascinating woman I told you about.”
    “I’m confused,” I said.
    “Let’s get a table and some wine, then talk.” Carlo said.
    He escorted us to a table where he held my chair for me and then left to order the wine.
    “Is he the Maître d’?” I asked.
    “No, the owner.” Sam said.
    Carlo came back and sat with us. A waiter brought three glasses and a bottle of wine. “A nice Cabernet or would you prefer white?” Carlo asked.
    “Cabernet sounds sublime. Thank you.” I said. “How do the both you know each other?”
    “I started coming to Fino’s when I arrived in London. Someone from the Piccadilly Hotel recommended this place, and I found it perfect. Carlo has a wonderful wine cellar and the food…well, you’ll find out when we get our order,” Sam said.
    “I haven’t ordered yet.”
    “I’ve taken the liberty to order for you both,” Carlo said.
    “After I became a regular,” Sam said, “Carlo offered to place my order when I asked him to surprise me. It did. After that night, I’ve never looked at a menu.”
    “One evening, Sam came in here and told me he met the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, and then he told me about you,” Carlo said.
    I nearly choked on my wine but recovered. I was able to swallow and laughed.
    “Mia Bella, your Sam came in here infatuated like a school boy and wouldn’t stop talking about you. I made him promise to bring you to my restaurant. I wanted to see for myself what woman is so beautiful and smart enough to capture this man’s heart. And, by the way, I agree with him about your beauty for you make my little restaurant glow.”
    “Carlo, if you don’t stop, I’m going to send Sam home and stay here with you.”
    “Alas, while the thought fills my heart, my lovely wife may not feel it is in my best interest.”
    “I needed someone to speak with after meeting you,” Sam said. “So, I came here and poured my heart at Carlo’s feet.”
    “Poor Sam,” Carlo said. “He was struck by a thunderbolt, lifted off his feet, and lost his way, until we talked.”
    In a daze, I said, “I don’t understand…”
    “I told him about you and how my feelings were confused in regards with seeing you again, knowing I had to go back to the States soon. Carlo asked me to examine how I felt and whether I could walk away from you. I said no.”
    Carlo told me, “Sam needed to hear himself. I was but an echo for him, and I believe he already knew the answer. However, I did tell him to prepare the path for the good Lord. All things on earth are possible, and sometimes we don’t know what’s good or bad when we think with our head, so let the heart lead the way.”
    * * * *
    Late on Sunday, before I had to leave, we sat on the bed talking. Sam told me about his mother, how she raised him as a single parent, and about growing up in Florida.
    I asked Sam whether he thought we were compatible. I really wanted to know if I was