Rome in Love by Anita Hughes Read Free Book Online

the most luxurious residence in Rome,” Sophie said, smoothing her hair. “Now it is one of the largest parks in the city, with a museum and galleries and a private lake.”
    Amelia followed Sophie through the entrance on the Piazza del Popolo and gazed at the leafy trees and colorful gardens and marble statues. She saw couples on bicycles and children clutching pencil boxes and sketch pads. She smelled roses and bougainvilleas and hyacinths.
    She walked along the gravel path, remembering Sundays at Golden Gate Park. Whit never worked on Sundays and they often attended outdoor concerts. Amelia loved strolling through the rose garden or flying a kite on the grass. When they got hungry they ate scones and jam in the Japanese Tea Garden.
    “It’s as if the city didn’t exist,” Amelia mused, standing in the Flower Garden. The noise and congestion of Rome stopped outside the gates. The only sounds were ducks splashing in the lake and children playing hopscotch on the cement.
    “The Romans loved the Borghese family because they opened the park to the public on Sundays and public holidays.” Sophie admired the marble arches covered with green trellises. “I want to create a park like this in Lentz, a place where people can come after church and bring their children. I’m going to fill it with roses and oak trees and a coffeehouse and a carrousel.”
    Amelia gazed at the lake and saw a familiar figure sitting on a stone bench. He held a turkey sandwich and a bag of roasted chestnuts. He had blond hair and wore jeans and a polo shirt.
    “You are the patient who didn’t write her name on the clipboard,” the man said to Sophie, walking toward them.
    “How did you recognize me?” Sophie asked. She wore a white tunic dress and flat sandals. Her blond hair was pulled into a ponytail and tucked under her scarf.
    “I know my own handiwork.” The man grinned, pointing to her bandaged ankle. “My name is Theo.”
    “Sophie.” Sophie gingerly shook his hand. “This is my friend, Ann.”
    “I told you to keep your foot up.” Theo frowned.
    “I’m good as new.” Sophie waved her hand. “I wanted to show Ann the Borghese Gardens. It’s my favorite place in Rome.”
    “What do you do when you’re not falling down staircases or disobeying doctor’s orders?” Theo asked, eating a handful of chestnuts.
    “Do?” Sophie repeated.
    “Do you live in Rome or are you on vacation?” Theo prompted.
    Sophie watched a group of schoolchildren throw bread crumbs into the lake and turned to Theo. “We’re tour guides, we lead school tours all over the city.”
    “I volunteer at an orphanage once a week.” Theo’s eyes lit up. “It’s my favorite part of being a doctor.”
    “We have to go.” Sophie tugged Amelia’s arm. “It was a pleasure to meet you.”
    “You should make your friend rest.” Theo turned to Amelia. He had smooth brown cheeks and a small cleft on his chin. “She’ll heal faster if she follows my orders.”
    *   *   *
    “Why did you say we were tour guides?” Amelia asked, sipping an iced coffee. They had spent an hour in the gallery admiring the paintings by Titian and Raphael and Caravaggio. Now they sat at the outdoor café, drinking iced coffees and sharing a chestnut puree.
    “I got flustered.” Sophie shrugged, scooping up whipped cream and nuts. “If I told him we were tourists he would have asked where we were from.”
    “He’s very handsome.” Amelia looked at Sophie pointedly.
    Sophie looked up from her iced coffee and flushed. “I didn’t notice.”
    They finished their coffees and visited the Temple of Diana and the Pincian Hill. Amelia looked down on the Villa Medici and wished Whit was standing beside her. She wanted to show him the lush gardens and the statues by Bernini and Rubens and Canova.
    “My feet are killing me,” Amelia said. “Let’s go home. I want to take a hot shower.”
    They walked to the entrance and stood in line for a taxi. Amelia saw Theo