Dean walked back to the townhouse, tired as usual from a long day of back-breaking work, but satisfied and humming. A glow of happiness his constant companion.

He found Atillio perched on the top step, an empty espresso cup beside him, waiting for him. “Come, Dean, we must go for a walk. I will buy you a coffee.”

Dean had only come back to the house to grab a quick shower. He had planned to persuade a tired and stressed Hazel to let him take her to dinner. But, he always had time for Atillio, the old man's guidance and advice had been key since he found himself marooned in Borgotaro.

“Sure Atillio, what did you have in mind?”

“A walk first, yes?” Atillio started off down the hill without waiting for an answer. “I want to hear what you have to say about your new job. Which I see you got.”

“You’re a nosy old man, Atillio, but I’ll indulge you.” Dean pulled his hands through his sweaty hair, dusted off his jeans and set off after Atillio. They would pass right by the house. If he was lucky he'd catch a glimpse of Hazel and give her a wave. He’d left only five minutes ago, but his craving for her company seemed insatiable.

“So, Hazel is very beautiful.” Nothing like cutting straight to the point. Dean smiled as he quickened his pace to keep up with the old man.

“Yes, she is. And before you ask, yes I think there is something between us, at least I hope there is.”

“I am told that Indigo and Stella have met. Indigo has confirmed that Hazel has, how do you say, ha perso il suo cuore, lost her heart?”

“Hah! I didn't know those two knew each other? What a pair!” He laughed at the image that popped into his head. Stella and Indigo were sitting at the townhouse table gossiping away about him and Hazel, dissecting every minute detail of their lives.

“They just met. And you are right. They are a pair. The Italian gossip magazines have competition, yes?”

“They certainly do.”

They were passing the house now and Dean strained to see through the front windows. The shutters were open, and the windows were cracked to get some air into the rooms they were working on. Dean found that he was enjoying the lack of air-conditioning. He liked that instead of a fake, sterile, constant cool, he got to experience the exquisite pleasure of a lavender scented breeze blowing across sweaty skin. It was very sensual. They'd made great progress on the downstairs and had also started on one of the bedrooms. The house was showing her lovely bones. He couldn’t see Hazel, she was probably taking a shower, which is what he should be doing right now as well. He had a flash of disappointment, followed by a vivid image of Hazel's luscious body standing under streaming water. He turned his face away from Atillio to shield his grin.

“Stella tells me you have a lady friend back in America.”

“She did, did she? Why am I not surprised? Did she also tell you I broke up with her?”

Atillio laughed, “Stella loves you like a son. You are a part of her family. Your real secrets are your secrets. But doesn’t the whole world know most of your secrets already, Dean? What about the papers in America? They don’t publish that you have a girlfriend?”

“Had a girlfriend, and I’m sure they do. I've told Hazel all about Isabella. She understands. Isabella didn't take it very well. I even snuck away today to call and check in on her.”

“Ah? And?” They had reached the bottom of the hill now and Atillio steered them across the road and into the bottom of the giardini.

“It was weird. She was at a party or something and she accepted the call, but then she didn’t say anything. I could have sworn I heard Adam in the background, but that couldn’t be right because she hates Adam. He’s not too fond of her either. Then the line went dead. I guess she was in a bad cell zone.” They had walked through the bottom of the giardini and now stood in one of his favorite spots, directly in front of the old hotel. Atillio had stopped. “Why are we here?”

“This is a beautiful hotel, no?”

Dean nodded, embarrassed. Had Atillio seen him mooning over this property? He must pass by here at least twice a day to daydream. Daydreams that now included Hazel. “It is beautiful Atillio. I’ve noticed it before.”

“When I was made Syndico, you say Mayor, eight years ago, one of my promises was to rebuild this hotel. The town was excited. If I could keep that promise it would bring jobs and a high-class of tourist. Plus, a beautiful hotel like this in the center of town would make people happy. We Italians like beautiful things.”

“And what happened?”

“I can find no one to take the risk. We have no other big hotels here. Most of our tourists are immigranti returning to family homes, or Italians staying nearby who drive in to enjoy the Borgotaro experience.”

“I’m sorry,. It was a good idea. This would be an amazing place. All it needs is a little love.”

“And this is why I think you should buy it. I think you should stay with us in Borgotaro and buy this hotel and make it an “amazing place.”

Dean stared at Atillio, nonplussed. Had he crawled inside his head? All of his daydreams felt exposed. But they were just daydreams. They couldn't be his reality. His daydreams were crazy thinking. He had a life and a career in LA. He couldn’t just dump everything and leave all of that behind. Could he?

Dean tested his feelings about going back to the set. Anxiety rushed through him. But he would love to do this. Sure he missed his little cottage on the ocean but it would always be there. Dean had more money than he knew what to do with. He donated much of his income and savings but still had a bulging bank account balance that stunned him. Not to mention that his royalties would continue to pour in even if he didn’t make another film for the rest of his life.

“You’re crazy, Atillio. That is a crazy idea. I have a life and career in Hollywood. People don’t just walk away from all of that.”

Atillio just shrugged and walked toward Via Nationale. “Just think about it. Glass of wine?”

“No Grazie, I have to get back. I thought I would try to get Hazel to come out with me. She told me this morning that today is the anniversary of her father’s death and she gets a little sad about it. I don’t want her to be alone.”

Atillio stopped walking. “What do you mean her father’s death?”

"Her father died when she was young. She never knew him."

Atillio raised an eyebrow at Dean and then turned toward Gio’s again. “I think it’s time you talked with Indigo.”