Runaway Love Read Free Page B

respectfully patient when it came.  Everyone in San Rafaele delle Montagne knew this and honoured it.  The locals understood why he had virtually disappeared from their midst, and honoured that too.  Indeed, Lorenzo had been touched by how they shared his sorrow.  Yet, in recent months, he had reached the point where he never expected casual visits to last. 
    By the same token, his occasional visitors had fallen into the habit of never expecting to stay long. 
    In any event, the catalogue of casual visitors could be counted on one hand.  They consisted, mostly, of people making deliveries and a regular weekly visit from Bernardo Testa, the local Commissario of Police, 'when he was passing.'  Since the road to Lorenzo's farm ended at Lorenzo's farm, both accepted Commissario Testa's 'passing' for what it was – an excuse. 
    Always, his stated aim was 'to make sure his good friend, Lorenzo was in sound health'.  Nevertheless, if pressed, he would 'reluctantly' share, with 'his good friend', a glass - or two - of Lorenzo's home-made wine, fermented from his excellent grapes.  While doing so, he wasn't above trying a little matchmaking on behalf of one of the local beauties - whether or not the said lady was aware.  
    Other than these moments, Lorenzo's own company was sufficient for him.  Domino and his livestock injected as much additional life into his farm as he wanted.  
    However, this new visitor could not, by any stretch of the imagination, be seen as casual.  She was here for the long haul.  It will mean a major adjustment in his lifestyle.  He faced the prospect with some apprehension.  He had become very set in his ways - almost fossilized.  He wasn't sure if he wanted to adapt his carefully protected status quo to an intruder - even one as attractive as Genie.   
    If Anna could see him now, she’d laugh at his predicament.  Since they’d known each other practically all their lives - the final eight years married - she knew his thoughts almost before Lorenzo thought them. 
    He stared out of the kitchen window at the stark deep blue sky framing the snow-clad mountain peaks. “I miss your clairvoyance, Anna,” he said. “What would you have to say about our guest, I wonder?” He turned his attention back to preparing food with the beginnings of a smile playing around his lips. “Frankly, I don't know what to say, either.” 
    After all, what could he say when on the one hand he mourned the disruption of his lifestyle and, on the other, looked forward to sharing the breakfast table with...with... this Genie, with disturbing eagerness?
    Domino's doggy mind appeared to run along the same track.   He kept his distance from Genie, clearly sensing she had trouble relating to him.  Nevertheless, Lorenzo surmised the St. Bernard considered this condition to be temporary. 
    Knowing his canine companion as he did, he could see that he was working on a plan to solve this unrequited love situation.  He'd shown the signs that this was his strategy from the moment he discovered the girl.
    Ordinarily, after their completing their daily early-morning chores, Domino contented himself by flopping down in front of the log fire. 
    Not today.
    Fresh from the drama in the barn, he had followed closely while Lorenzo showed Genie to a bedroom she could claim and during the quick tour of the more important facilities.  Grand tour over, Genie disappeared into her new bedroom.  Domino settled down to set up a vigil outside the bedroom door, clearly enraptured by the faint sound of Genie splashing about under the shower.
    Lorenzo didn't join Domino in his vigil.  However, his imagination kept him at the bedroom door in spirit, while his hands set to work preparing breakfast. 
    Such persistent thoughts angered him however.  Angry that this girl's childlike sexual magnetism ignited fires within him that had lain dormant for longer than he cared to admit.  Angry that the protective wall he had so carefully