Tuscan Love Letter

CHAPTER 4

The Tuscan evening air is warm and fragrant as the group gathers on the terrace after dinner. The children have been put to bed, their laughter replaced by the gentle hum of cicadas. The adults settle into comfortable chairs, enjoying the tranquillity and each other's company. Noah and Mark are inside, preparing drinks, while the others have already begun to chat outside.

Finn, maintaining a friendly facade, discreetly sits next to Sofia, before the group, curious about their newest addition, begins to ask her questions about Sofia's life in Italy and how she and Noah have met.

"So, how come you were already here?" Lisa asks, a note of curiosity in her voice.

Sofia smiles warmly, her eyes reflecting fond memories. "Well, I partly work for a family here, the Diontri family," she explains. "I cook, clean, and teach the kids English, and I've been doing that every July for the past few years."

The others nod in understanding, realising why Sofia has been in the area before their vacation begun. For Sofia, Italy is like a second home, and her bond with the Diontri family runs deep. Over the years, she's become an integral part of their lives, and the familiarity of the surroundings brings her a sense of comfort and belonging.

"I love spending time here," Sofia continues, her voice tinged with affection. "It's such a beautiful place, and the Diontris have become like my second family."

Finn listened intently, his eyes following Sofia's every move. "And why Italy?" he asks, his tone casual.

"Well," Sofia starts. "I was born here. My mother was Italian, and my father is American. When I was 14, my mother passed away, and I moved to USA with my father. I came back to Italy when I was 18 to study, and now I split my time between here and USA, depending on the season and my work schedule."

"What kind of work do you do?" Adrian asks.

"In Italy, I work for the Diontri during June, and from mid-April to around mid-September I prepare their house to rent out when they're not here. Back in the States, I run an event planning business with a friend. We handle all sorts of events, from weddings to corporate functions, though I also help form here."

The group seems impressed by Sofia's diverse and busy life. They pepper her with more questions, and she answers them all with ease and charm. Finn, however, can't help but feel a pang of jealousy as Sofia speaks about her life with such enthusiasm and joy.

Just then, Noah and Mark emerge from the villa, carrying trays of drinks. Noah hands out the glasses, his smile broad and genuine. "Here you go, everyone," he says, passing around the drinks.

As Sofia rises from her seat to allow Noah to sit, he reaches out, pulling her gently onto his lap. She wraps an arm around his shoulders and Noah wraps an arm around her waist, pulling her closer.

"How did you guys meet? You've never told us your story." Victor asks

Sofia smiles, glancing up at Noah. "It's a bit of a story," she begins. "I was planning an event for a movie premiere, and the client was a friend of Noah's. It was a big night, and everything had to be perfect."

Noah takes over, his eyes twinkling with the memory. "I was at the event to support my friend. I saw her rushing around preparing everything, and it was love at first sight. So, I went to present myself, and at some point," Noah continues, "I leaned against a table which was supporting one of those champagne towers, and well, I broke it. The whole tower fell to the floor."

Everyone burst out laughing knowing Noah can be so clumsy when he's nervous. "No way!" James exclaims.

"Totalmente." Sofia says, shaking her head at the memory. "I was already stressed out, and then I saw this guy breaking things and not to mention it all splashed on my dress. I was about to lose it."

"But," Noah interjects, "I felt so bad. I offered to help clean her dress, and that's when we started talking."

"He was so nice and genuinely helpful." Sofia adds. "We ended up cleaning the dress together, and in the process, we talked and got to know each other a bit."

"It was the only time I was glad I was clumsy." Noah says with a grin.

"And the rest is history." She says, leaning into him. "We just clicked after that."

Mark chuckles. "So, love at first sight, huh?"

Noah nods emphatically. "Absolutely. I saw Sofia across the room, busy making sure everything was running smoothly, and I was instantly captivated by her."

She laughs softly. "Well, he wasn't bad to look at either." Sofia teases, nudging Noah playfully.

While the conversation goes on, no one seems to notice the subtle tension that is beginning to simmer beneath the surface. The conversation continues, laughter ringing out into the night, but Finn's eyes linger on Sofia, his friendly demeanour masking the growing complexity of his feelings.

As the evening wears on, the group's camaraderie deepens, but so does the unspoken tension. Noah, sensing none of the underlying currents, is content, enjoying the evening and the company of his friends.