Tuscan Love Letter

CHAPTER 7

I wake up and go downstairs, the sun already peeking through the villa's large windows. Noah, Victor, James, William, Mark and Hannah are already gathered around the kitchen, sipping their morning coffee and chatting.

"Hey Noah, you left your girlfriend upstairs alone?" I smirk, grabbing a box of cereal and some milk from the counter.

Noah frowns, looking slightly puzzled. "No, she's at work, like yesterday."

"Oh, what a shame," I say, pouring the cereal into a bowl. "It's so good having her and the dog around."

Noah gives me a slightly annoyed look but doesn't respond. I shrug it off, focusing on my breakfast. The room buzzes with morning energy, everyone gearing up for the day ahead.

"So, what are the plans for today?" I ask, taking a seat at the table.

Victor looks up from his phone. "We were thinking of checking out the local winery. It's supposed to be really nice, and they offer tours and tastings."

"Sounds good to me," James says, nodding in agreement. "I could use a good glass of wine."

"Count us in," Mark adds, glancing at Hannah, who nods enthusiastically.

"Do they have activities for kids?" Hannah asks.

"Yeah, I think they do," Victor replies. "They have a play area and some kid-friendly tours."

"Perfect," Hannah says, looking relieved. "Julia will love that."

As we continue to chat, the rest of the group slowly trickles downstairs. Chris and Adrian join us, followed by Lisa, who looks well-rested and cheerful.

"Morning everyone," Lisa greets us, heading straight for the coffee machine.

"Morning," we all echo back.

"So, winery today?" Chris asks, catching up on the conversation.

"Yep, that's the plan," Victor confirms.

"Awesome, sounds like a fun day," Adrian says, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.

As we finalise our plans, I can't help but glance out the window, wondering when Sofia will be back from work. There is something about her presence that adds a special warmth to our group, and I am looking forward to seeing her again later.

✽✽✽

Adrian calls the winery, and they tell us to be there by 11:30, so we still have a few hours to kill. After finishing breakfast and getting dressed, I decide to head outside for a walk. Every day, I see Sofia walk to the local market, and my curiosity finally gets the best of me. I want to check it out for myself.

It's about a ten-minute walk to the market, a small but bustling place with a surprising variety of stalls. As I wander through, taking in the sights and smells, I spot Sofia at one of the stalls. She is chatting with the vendor, her back turned to me.

"Hey!" I say, placing a hand on her back.

"Hi!" Sofia exclaims, clearly taken aback by my sudden appearance. "What are you doing here?"

"Well, you've been coming every day, and I thought about coming to see it myself," I explain.

She smiles warmly. "It's a lovely market. I get most of the fresh products for the villa here. Want to join me?"

"Sure," I say, happy to tag along.

We wander from stall to stall, Sofia chatting easily with the vendors in fluent Italian. I can barely understand a word, but I enjoy watching her interact with the locals. She seems to know everyone, and they greet her with warm smiles and friendly banter.