“Jaime, of course.” Edith held out her hands. “I texted her to see if you were still here in Venice. And she filled me in with all the details.”
“Ah.” Joy nodded.
“Why on earth are you working in a florist shop? You’re supposed to be on vacation.” Edith smirked.
Joy shrugged. “Things just happened.” She took their hands into hers, then spun around. “Dina! Come meet the friends I met when I was in Rome.” She faced Edith again. “I told her all about you two.”
Dina appeared from the backroom and nodded. “Buongiorno.”
“Come stai?” Martin said, then told her in Italian how much he liked her shop.
Edith pulled Joy to the side while Martin and Dina conversed.
“Hey.” She held up her left hand, revealing a large and impressive diamond ring on her finger.
Joy covered her mouth and gasped from shock. “You got married?”
Edith laughed. “Yes. We went to Pompeii and then Positano, where he proposed. I said yes, but then I told him how I wanted to get married right away, so we did.”
Joy hopped up and down as she pulled her friend to herself. “I am thrilled for you both. More than you know. What about Millie? Does she know?”
“Of course. She was the first phone call I made. Guess what? She’s coming to Florence with Walter on a honeymoon they never had. We’re going to meet them there for a week-long vacation later this year.”
“She’s coming back to Italy? I can’t believe she convinced Walter to return so soon.” Joy furrowed her brow. “How did she manage that?”
“Walt’s a different man now. He’s all about traveling. From Italy, they’ll head to Austria, France, and then England.”
“Wow! He really has changed, hasn’t he?”
“Ciao,” Alessandro said before heading out the back door.
Edith’s eyebrows rose. “Who’s that?”
“Alex? Can I introduce you to my friends?” Joy waved him over.
Martin greeted Alessandro with a firm handshake. The two chatted in Italian for a minute.
“This is Alex. He works here too. Well, he delivers flowers to the shop from his flower farm near Caorle Beach.” Joy’s wide smile revealed her feelings. “He took me to the farm a few days ago, and it’s lovely there. You should see it. Acres of various kinds of flowers and a lovely garden by the house. The house is a converted barn. Simply amazing.”
“Oh, really.” The corners of Edith’s mouth rose into a curious grin as she nudged her.
“What?” Joy giggled. “Oh, stop. Don’t read too much into it. I’m not in Venice for romance but adventure.”
“I see.” Edith narrowed her eyes and studied Joy as if studying a bug. “Seems you’re having quite the adventure.”
“Hello,” Alessandro said as he held out his hand to Edith. “Pleased to meet you.”
“Piacere di conoscerti,” Edith replied and squeezed his outstretched hand.
“Molto contento.” Alessandro turned to Martin. “Martin tells me you two were recently married? Felicitazioni!” He kissed her on both cheeks.
“Grazie.” Edith winked at Joy.
Martin and Alessandro continued chatting in Italian, so Edith grabbed Joy’s arm and pulled her aside. “He’s wonderful. So handsome.”
“Isn’t he?” Joy batted her eyes. “When he took me to the family farm, I met his adult children. Such a lovely family. And his daughter is engaged, just like Jaime is! What a coincidence, huh?”
“And his wife?” Edith asked with a raised eyebrow.
Joy lowered her eyes. “He’s a widower. Anna passed a few years ago.”
“Understood . . .” Edith grinned like the Cheshire Cat.
“What are you suggesting?”
“Nothing.” Edith shrugged. “I feel badly for him. But it seems he’s recovered nicely from his grief?”
“It’s just a coincidence that he has an engaged daughter and so do I.”
Edith raised her eyebrows up and down. “Indeed. Interesting how you both have so much in common and that you met here in Venice even though you came here on a whim.”
Joy tilted her head. “Edith, what are you getting at?”
“I’m writing another romance set in Italy, and well, this would make a great book.”
“Hello.” Dina approached.
“Dina, this is the famous novelist Edith Engram.” Joy presented her as if presenting a trophy. “It’s a pleasure to call her a friend.”
