A Soul Mate's Promise by Robin H Soprano Read Free Book Online Page A

there. What made you come in?”
    He shrugs. “I don’t know, I just got a powerful urge to go in and check on you. Glad I could help Princess.”
    Again, I sense that somehow Sal and I have a connection that I don’t understand. I look out through the windshield and contemplate the thought.
    “So you get panic attacks a lot?” he asks.
    I nod. “Lately they’re not as bad or frequent as they used to be, like when Rich still lived home. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night though, and it scares the hell out of me.”
    “What do you do about it?”
    I glance over at his strong hands, easily steering the Viper along the winding road. “I get up, walk it off, go out on my balcony look out over the ocean. I have a prescription for Xanax  which helps. Some times I take a sleeping pill.”
    “Does it really help you?” he asks, taking his eyes off the road to look at me.
    “Sometimes,” I say, “but I don’t like to be alone in the middle of the night when it happens. I feel like I can’t breathe. It’s scary but having Toby there helps.” I look up and we’re pulling into Tony’s little driveway.
    “Home sweet home!” he says with a grin. “Let’s go eat!”
    “That was fun Sal. We’ll have to run errands like that again soon,” I tell him.
    “Yes…or...” He hesitates and my heart goes thump. He climbs out of the Viper cockpit and comes around to open my door. “Maybe we could go out? You could show me around, get a drink one night or whatever.”
    It’s all I can do not to pump my fist in the air like a school kid. I don’t look at him as I climb out of the low seat. “Yeah, I’d like that, Sal.”
    I stand by the garage door while Sal lifts the dog food onto his good shoulder and delivers it to the back door of the lanai. He jogs back and we take the file and the bread and climb the stairs to the back deck.
    Toby spots me instantly and almost runs me down before I squat down and let him give me hello licks like I’ve been gone for days instead of two hours!
    Inside on the table is a big antipasti platter of meats and cheeses, all kinds of olives, bright red roasted peppers and roasted garlic cloves with sliced roma tomatoes. I put the bread on the table as Sal opens a bottle of Sangiovese wine. My stomach grumbled loudly. Tony grinned at me.
    “Ah, mio caro, you-a-hungry? Good! Manga.. eat, eat!!”
    Sal cut up the bread, and I was making myself a sandwich and scooping olives and stuff onto my plate in no time!
    “Hey look at that! Sal said, a girl who actually eats! You don’t see that very often.”
    Tony laughed. “Oh yeah she’s a good gal she lova-to-eat not shy, it’s a good thing.”
    I take a bite of my sandwich and smile when Sal notices I’m not shy around food. “I’m no fun when I’m hungry and I don’t want to be cranky.”
    “You are-a-beautiful, Gracie, just the way you are...You agree, Sal?” Tony winks.
    Sal looks up from his plate. “Yes, Pop, she is quite unique. One might say, passionate, complex and voluptuous.”
    I almost choke on my food, and grab for my glass of wine to wash it down before I do. “Geeez, thanks guys!”
    Tony shoots Sal a look intended to knock him off his chair. “Hey, hey..”
    “Pop no, it’s a compliment. I’m sorry, Gracie. Did I offend you?”
    I cut them both off with raise hands. “Absolutely not! I need the boost. Thank you!”
    Tony mutters something in Italian then looks to me “ if-a-my son talks outta line you have-a-my permission to smack ‘em in-a-the head, yes?”
    “Pop!” yells Sal.
    I laugh  “This is great–makes me feel like home. I miss my family.”
    Tony reaches for my hand. “You are home, Caro. Ti adoro, la mia casa `e la tua casa.”
    I almost cry and again gulp my wine to get myself collected. I adore him as well and he knows this.
    After lunch, I sit on a lounger and tuck my legs underneath me. I expect Toby to join me but he is busy sniffing around the deck. After a few minutes Sal