Read A Year at 32 September Way for Free Online

start, new surroundings…what took me so long?” She walked to the window near the sitting area and gazed out toward the red clay tile roofs nearby and the city around her. From her vantage point on the second floor, she couldn’t see all the hustle and bustle from the surrounding streets, the nearby piazza and the market. Although Carlisle couldn’t see beyond the surrounding area, she could feel its energy and hear the humming of activity. She knew she could easily become a part of all of it, and perhaps now she’d finally forget the past and begin to live again.
    ***
    “Oh my god, I don’t think this apartment has seen an architectural or decorative update in about a thousand years,” groaned Nicolette as she looked around from the doorway where she’d stayed since Marcello had showed Josh around.
    “Sweetheart,” Josh replied with saint-like patience, “I don’t think the apartment is that old. Besides, it’s a perfect representation of the mixture of history and progress that makes up Verona.”
    She watched her husband walk from the sunlit sitting and dining area into the bedroom with suitcases in tow. “Can you help me put the clothes in the wardrobe?” she heard him say, but she pretended that his words had fallen on deaf ears.
    Nicolette walked over to one of the large windows near the kitchen and eating area. She pulled the sheer white curtain aside and eyed the surrounding buildings suspiciously, noting that they all looked as old as the one they were stuck living in. “What on earth will I do with myself in this city?” she wondered aloud.
    As if reading her mind, her husband called from the other room. “There’s so much for you to see and do here when I’m on the set, Nic.” The shuffling sounds of unpacking drifted out from the bedroom as he continued. “You can also come to Tuscany with me and, if you don’t like that idea, there will also be a driver at your disposal.”
    The entire time he was talking and unpacking, Nicolette had remained frozen by the kitchen window, trying to process her new living arrangements. Josh popped his head out of the bedroom, interrupting her thoughts. “Hey, you always used to love an adventure. Why don’t we look at the next year as an adventure and see what we can make of it?” He walked over to Nicolette, ran his hand over her silken blond hair, then let it fall to grasp her hand.
    “ You know I love you” he whispered as he kissed and nibbled her ear. “I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t think you would end up loving it.” His hand let go of hers and slid to the small of her back.
    “Come here, Sig nora Reardon,” he whispered as he drew her close. “Let’s go have our first adventure now.” He led Nicolette off to the bedroom as the creases on her forehead softened and her lips began to turn up in a smile. Italy was going to be their new start, Josh thought.  He lay her down on the canopy-covered bed, covered her with kisses and then looked into her eyes. They made love tenderly and passionately, and Nicolette forgot all about her initial disappointments. At least for now.
    ***
    Charles had been sitting in his third-floor apartment for an hour, alternately staring at the cup of tea in front of him and the view outside his kitchen window. He had to admit it was quite a view. Yet he felt frozen to the kitchen chair, unable to move and unsure of what to do next.
    His entire adulthood, Charles had worked. The bank had been his life, except for the brief months with Emma, which were only a memory now. His schedule, his desk, his focus on work had filled in the gaps and provided him with the soothing reassurance that life was okay, that he was okay. When he rose in the morning, he dressed for work and thought about his morning agenda. Before he went home at night, he organized the brown leather-bound planner on his mahogany desk so the next day was planned out and waiting for him when he returned.
    The garment bag full of suits