Rome in Love (32 page)

Read Rome in Love Online

Authors: Anita Hughes

“Philip was here?” Amelia asked. “What did you tell him?”

“I said you ran some errands,” Ernesto replied weakly.

“I have to find him,” Amelia exclaimed. “Where did he go?”

“He didn’t tell me.” Ernesto shrugged. “Perhaps you can ask Marco.”

Amelia ran onto the sidewalk and waved at Marco.

“Miss Tate, how lovely to see you again,” Marco beamed. “It is a beautiful day. Would you like a taxi?”

“Did you see a tall man with dark hair?” Amelia asked.

“I see many guests,” Marco replied.

“He has dark eyes and wears a lizard-skin watch,” Amelia said desperately.

“The American!” Ernesto exclaimed. “He asked me to call a taxi.”

“Where was he going?” Amelia felt her heart pound in her chest.

Marco rubbed his forehead. Suddenly his eyes gleamed and he smiled. “I remember, he went to Roma Termini.”

* * *

Amelia stepped out of the taxi and walked through the tall glass doors. She glanced around the vast space and saw flashing signs reading Milan and Turin and Pisa. She saw men in gray uniforms and tourists rolling leather bags and canvas suitcases.

She searched the kiosks full of paperback books and the cafés selling iced coffees and packaged ham sandwiches. She was about to leave when she saw a man wearing a white collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He carried a black briefcase and flipped through a copy of
Time
magazine.

“Philip.” She approached. Suddenly her cheeks burned and her heart hammered in her chest.

Philip closed the magazine and turned around.

He gasped. “Amelia, what are you doing here?”

“I went to your apartment,” Amelia stammered. “Signora Griselda said you were going back to New York.”

“I am.” Philip nodded.

“Are you going to work for your father?” Amelia asked.

“My parents came to Rome for my mother’s birthday.” Philip hesitated. “It seems my mother told my father he has to stop telling me what to do. She said if he made me join the firm she would leave him.”

“When did she say that?” Amelia raised her eyebrow.

“She called me an hour ago.” Philip grinned. “Apparently she got quite drunk after dinner and told my father I was old enough to make my own decisions. I don’t think he liked it but he would never survive without her.”

“I met your mother by accident at the Hassler Bar last night,” Amelia said. “She’s a beautiful woman, I enjoyed her company very much.”

“She’s one of the smartest people I know,” Philip agreed. “I’m very grateful.”

“She said you borrowed ten thousand dollars from your father to buy an engagement ring.” Amelia looked at the floor.

“I told Adam I couldn’t write the articles, I never meant to hurt you. I realized I was in love with you and didn’t care if I sold stocks or washed dishes as long as I could be with you.” Philip took Amelia’s hand. “But I guess I was too late.”

“You’re not too late.” Amelia’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m still here.”

Philip drew her close and kissed her softly on the lips. He ran his hands through her hair and pressed her against his chest.

“Why are you at the train station if you’re going to New York?” she asked when he finally released her.

“I wasn’t ready to leave Italy yet,” Philip replied. “I’m taking the train to Portofino.”

“Portofino,” Amelia whispered.

“I booked a room at the Hotel Splendido,” Philip said. “I missed their seafood ravioli.”

“I love Portofino.” Amelia sighed, picturing the green inlets and the hills filled with yellow and purple daisies. “Can I come with you?”

“It’s a very small room.” Philip smiled.

“I can always sleep on the floor,” Amelia murmured.

Philip wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her on the mouth. He ran his fingers over her cheeks and touched her chin. “What kind of a host would I be if I made you sleep on the floor?”

* * *

They sat on hard leather seats and watched the train pull out of the station. Amelia gazed out the window and saw the Roman Forum and the Colosseum. She saw the spires of Saint Peter’s Basilica and the lush gardens of the Villa Borghese.

“My agent sent me a script for a Broadway play,” she mused. “It’s a remake of
Gigi
.”

“You’d be wonderful on Broadway,” Philip said slowly.

“He thinks I’d be perfect for the Audrey Hepburn role.” Amelia nodded. “She played Gigi right after she finished filming
Roman Holiday
.”

She felt Philip’s hand on her knee and pictured long walks in Central Park. She imagined weekends exploring the Guggenheim and the Metropolitan Museum. She pictured Sunday mornings reading the
New York Times
and eating scrambled eggs and bacon. She turned to Philip and smiled.

“I’ve always wanted to do a play.”

Discussion Questions

1. Amelia is very reluctant to give up acting even though Whit doesn’t approve of it. Should she be content to “get it out of her system” and return to studying medicine in order to save the relationship? Or should she continue to pursue her dream?

2. Amelia says she loves being on a film set—the lights, the costumes, the cameras—because it makes her feel alive. Is there something you feel so passionate about that you can’t live without it?

3. Describe Sophie. Is she a throwback to an earlier time or is she a modern woman who puts her responsibilities before her own needs and desires?

4. Max says to Philip it is okay for him to lie to Amelia because she lied to Philip first. Is there ever a reason to lie in a relationship? If so, what situations would make you lie to a boyfriend or husband?

5. How do you feel about Philip? Is it understandable that he accepts Adam’s challenge at Amelia’s expense or should he give up his journalism career and return to Hamilton and Sons?

6. What lessons does Amelia learn from Audrey Hepburn’s letters? Have you ever read a book or seen a movie that had a profound effect on your own life? If so, which ones?

7. When the novel opens, Max seems young and carefree. Describe how Max changes and grows throughout the story. How do you feel about Max at the end of the book?

8. The novel is full of descriptions of Rome. Do you think being in a foreign city affects Amelia’s judgment? Would she have fallen in love so quickly if she were home in California?

9. Amelia often says that she can’t live without love. Do you feel the same way or do you think one can be happy alone?

10. Audrey Hepburn was one of the most beloved actresses of the twentieth century. What else do you know about her? If you have seen any of her movies, describe how you feel about her through her letters compared to how she appears on the screen.

St. Martin’s Griffin

acknowledgments

Thank you to my wonderful agent, Melissa Flashman, and my fabulous editor, Hilary Rubin Teeman, for your wisdom and enthusiasm. Thank you to everyone at St. Martin’s Press: Hilary’s fantastic assistant, Alicia Clancy, and my publicity and marketing team, Staci Burt and Janet Chow, and Elsie Lyons for another gorgeous cover. Thank you also to Jennifer Weis and Jennifer Enderlin for making St. Martin’s my wonderful home.

And thank you to my family: My husband, Thomas, and my children, Alex, Andrew, Heather, Madeleine, Thomas, and Lisa, for bringing me so much joy.

about the author

ANITA HUGHES
is the author of
Lake Como, Monarch Beach,
and
Market Street.
She attended the University of California, Berkeley’s, master’s of creative writing program. Hughes lives in Dana Point, California, where she is at work on her next novel. Visit her Web site at
anitahughesbooks.com
. You can sign up for email updates
here
.