Tuscan Love Letter

CHAPTER 12

Most of us are already awake and doing our own things. Chris is still asleep, and as expected, Noah and Sofia are too. Sofia doesn't have to work this morning, so she'll be with us the whole day. I hoped she would wake up soon so I could spend more time with her. I know, Noah told me to back off, but I'm not doing anything wrong. Sofia seems to enjoy our conversations, so Noah can't just control who she talks to.

A little later, Sofia walks downstairs with Dante trotting happily beside her. Dante heads outside to play, and Sofia makes her way to the kitchen, where Lisa, William, and Hannah are chatting over breakfast.

"Good morning," Sofia greets them, her voice light and cheerful as she grabs a bowl of fruit and some yoghurt.

"Morning, Sofia!" Lisa responds, smiling warmly. "We were just talking about the local market. Do you think you could show us around? We'd love to see where you get all the fresh food."

"Of course," Sofia nods, her face lighting up. "I'd be happy to show you around. It's a lovely market with a lot of variety."

As they continue to chat, I lean back in my chair, watching Sofia intently. She has a natural ease about her, effortlessly engaging with everyone. It's one of the things that draws me to her.

Noah joins us not much later, walking into the kitchen with a relaxed smile. "Good morning," he says, wrapping an arm around Sofia and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Morning, Noah," Lisa greets him. "We were just asking Sofia if she could show us around the local market. We're all quite interested in seeing it."

"Sounds like a great idea," Noah agrees, looking at Sofia with admiration. "She's the perfect guide."

Sofia smiles, glancing around the group. "Alright then, let's plan to head out in a bit. It's always best to go early before it gets too crowded."

✽✽✽

Noah decides to stay in the villa, claiming he is tired. Sure, going out on a date with Sofia must be so exhausting, right? I can't help but roll my eyes at his excuse. But whatever, it means more time for me with Sofia.

Lisa, Hannah, William, James, Mark, Julia, and I all get ready to head out to the market with Sofia, and naturally, Dante follows her around like a shadow. As we set off, I make sure to position myself close to Sofia, engaging her in conversation and enjoying the casual banter.

The market is bustling with activity when we arrive. The colourful stalls are packed with fresh products, aromatic herbs, and various local delicacies. Sofia navigates the crowd with ease, greeting vendors in fluent Italian. I find it incredibly attractive how effortlessly she switches between languages, engaging everyone with her charm and friendliness.

"Buongiorno, Sofia!" one of the vendors calls out, handing her a handful of fresh basil.

"Buongiorno, Signor Rossi," Sofia replies, her smile bright. She introduces us to him, explaining that he has the best herbs in the market.

"This is amazing," Lisa says, looking around in awe. "Thank you for showing us this place, Sofia."

"It's my pleasure," Sofia replies warmly. "Let's pick out some fresh ingredients for lunch and dinner. Trust me, you'll love what we can find here."

As we move from stall to stall, Sofia points out various items and explains their uses, offering tips on how to prepare and cook them.

"Hey, Sofia," Lisa says, pausing by a stall of fresh vegetables. "What do you recommend for lunch today?"

"Oh, definitely these tomatoes," Sofia replies, picking up a few and inspecting them. "They're perfect for a fresh Caprese salad. And these herbs over here will go wonderfully with the fish."

As we walk through the market, Sofia introduces us to all her favourite vendors. She knows everyone by name, and they greet her like an old friend. It's impressive, and it makes me appreciate just how integrated she is into the local community.

We buy various ingredients for lunch and dinner, filling our bags with fresh products, cheeses, and breads. Sofia is the perfect guide, always knowing where to find the best quality items and negotiating the price with the vendors with a smile.

"You're quite the market expert, Sofia. I bet Noah doesn't even know half of these things," I say with a sly smile, watching her intently.

Sofia smiles at my comment. "Noah's learning. He loves trying new things," she replies, her tone polite but firm.

Lisa glances at me, her expression a mix of curiosity and subtle disapproval. I shrug it off, continuing to enjoy Sofia's presence and knowledge. The market tour is delightful, with Sofia effortlessly leading us through the vibrant stalls, sharing stories and tips.

Julia tugs at Sofia's hand, looking up at her with wide eyes. "Can we get some of those cookies we saw earlier, Sofia?"

"Of course, Julia," Sofia says, bending down to Julia's level. "Let's go find them."

As Sofia leads Julia to the cookie vendor, Hannah and Lisa exchange a knowing glance. It's clear they admire Sofia's grace and ease. As we near the end of our shopping, Sofia suggests we get some fresh bread from a nearby bakery. "It's the best in town," she assures us with a smile.

We head over, and as we wait for our bread, I can't resist making another comment. "Sofia, you're like the mayor of this market. Everyone knows you."

She laughs, a genuine sound that made me smile despite myself. "I've been coming here for years. It's like a second home to me."

I glance at her, my admiration evident. "Noah's a lucky guy."

Sofia's smile softens, "I'm the lucky one," she says simply, turning her attention back to the vendor who hands her the freshly baked bread.