“No. I'm glad she's doing well. So, she must have gone to see her brother in Madrid then. And she’s justgetting back now? Wow, that was a long trip,” Alex said walking toward a grove of trees. “Did she ask about me?”
“No, but Corinna did. I told them that you were still in South America. But Aria was interested to hear about you. That was clear.”
“It’s fine. She, uh, she seems to know what she wants. And I only want what will make her happy,” Alex answered as he closed his eyes.
“Are you coming back to Positano then? Maybe the time away’s been good for both of you. You never know what can happen.”
“I don't know what I'm going to do, brother. Anthony has a few more offers he’s waiting for me to decide on. But we’ll talk when I know for sure. Thanks for calling,” Alex assured his friend.
When he ended the call, he let his body slide down a massive weeping fig tree nearby, its shade a welcome reprieve from the heat.
She’s back. And doing great. I should leave her alone. She finally went on that adventure, and she obviously doesn't need me.
Heading back inside the large work tent, he sat at the table that doubled as a workstation. He sent emails to the project committee about the timeline for his photos to be ready. He’d spent all those lonely nights editing, so there wasn’t much left to do.
Alex was tempted to reach out to Aria, but what was left to say?
He needed to decide where he was going next. Leaning back in the fold-up chair, he opened the latest email from his agent. There were projects in India and Nigeria. He rubbed his jaw as he contemplated his next move.
I could just visit Adrian in Portugal.
Pulling up his favorite airline site, his finger hovered over the purchase button for a flight to Mumbai, India.
Just then, a strong gust of wind caused the flap at the front of the tent to open, bringing with it the subtle fragrance of something floral.
Alex had been at the compound for two days and hadn’t seen any gardens nearby. He bent down to pick up the papers that had scattered on the ground and when he sat back up, the floral scent became stronger.
Fly back home, my albatross. I’m waiting for you.
Something strong was drawing him home. To Positano. To Aria.
“I really am losing it.”
Shaking his head, he turned back to his laptop. He switched tabs back to the flight to Mumbai. Decision made, Alex clicked the link to purchase his ticket, his hand trembling.
Eighteen hours later, Alex pulled up to his house, grateful he had once again put his car in storage near the Naples airport so he could retrieve it without letting anyone know he was back.
Not until he was ready, anyway.
Once out of his car, the scent from his new garden assaulted him. The day he left for Argentina almost two months before, he called Enzo’s client and made plans to have the garden built, then arranged for a groundskeeper to care for it.
Despite the pain he was in and the belief that Aria didn’t love him, planting that garden was like sowing a seed for the life he dreamed of having with her. It was a wish and a prayer.
He had paid an exorbitant price to have mature orange trees planted, but as he passed by them, he realized that might have been a mistake.
They were in full bloom, their blossoms beckoning him closer. But the memory of her fragrance forced him to keep walking toward the house.
Questioning his sanity for doing this to himself, he entered quickly, laying his keys and sunglasses on the counter.
He poured himself a drink and sat on the sofa, looking at the photographs on the walls. With a sigh, he scanned the room, the fatigue of another long travel day catching up with him. The pictures told a story of a man who loved adventure and the thrill of meeting new people, facing new challenges.
As his eyes settled on the gallery wall that housed a dozen black and white photos of his time in Africa, he frowned as he remembered how lonely he felt during that trip when faced with the joy and love of the families he had met. He was sure it was there that he realized something was missing from his life.
Instinctively, his eyes flicked to the small, framed photo on his coffee table. The one he had said goodbye to months before.
Just looking at her hazel eyes as they crinkled in laughter made his heart ache.
I want to put down roots, to find my mate. I’m tired of roaming the world alone. And I want those things with Aria. I found what I was looking for right here at home.
