She took a deep breath and exhaled. “You’re right,” she agreed. “I’m just not used to spending money like this.”
“I am. So allow me,” he gently replied.
“What are you rich or something?” she said with a grin.
He thought carefully before responding, “I have enough.”
“As long as I don’t leave you with not enough.”
“I won’t let that happen,” he assured her.
“So, if you’re not worried, I shouldn’t worry?”
“Correct.”
“Okay then.”
She looked back at the menu and settled on an order of clams and baked scallops with a shrimp risotto. Viktor ordered a crab dish with grilled asparagus and steamed vegetables.
“What would you like to do this evening?” Viktor asked once the waitress had taken their order.
“I don’t know. I thought we could decide together.”
“There is a park where we could walk along the water and watch the sunset.”
Amanda just sat gazing at him with a wide smile.
“What?” he asked, wondering if she was unhappy with his suggestion.
“I missed you.”
He blushed and looked away as his heart rate spiked. “Is that a ‘yes’?”
“That is a definite ‘yes’,” she agreed.
“Good.” He took a deep breath and tried to relax. “And for the record, I missed you too.”
After dinner they ordered coffee and shared a piece of tiramisu. They were both quite full and spent a few minutes finishing their drinks before paying the bill and leaving. They had a couple hours before sunset which would give them time to enjoy the park before it got dark.
They walked along down Viale Giardini Pubblici to start. It was peaceful, even with the flurry of tourists around them. They crossed the Ponte dei Giardini and continued walking down Viale Vittorio Veneto. On their left was a large grassy area filled with rows of tall trees. On their right was the turquoise water that Venice was famous for.
As they walked side by side, Viktor began contemplating all the possible responses and reactions if he were to reveal to Amanda his feelings for her. Part of him felt sure that she liked him as well, but that part was drowned out by a skeptical side that kept imagining a “let’s just be friends” response that would completely crush him.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Amanda broke into his thoughts.
He smiled and let out a nervous laugh. “Sorry. I drifted for a minute.”
“Where did you drift to? Anywhere nice?”
He grinned. “Not as nice as this.”
She wrapped her arm around his and gave him a smile. “Well then, stay with me.”
“Okay,” he agreed.
“So you haven’t told me about your family?” she said, trying to make conversation.
He took a deep breath. “My father, like yours, also died of a heart attack. I was 21. 5 years later I lost my mother to breast cancer.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged. “It happens.”
“Do you have any brothers or sisters?”
“I had a sister but she died as a baby.”
“That’s so awful. Your poor parents.”
“It was tough. Especially on my mother.”
“Do you have any living family?” she asked.
“I have an uncle and cousins back in Russia but I don’t speak much with them.”
“Must be lonely.”
“Sometimes,” he admitted. “But not right now.” He offered her a warm smile.
Amanda smiled back and squeezed his arm.
“Shall we take a seat?” Viktor gestured towards an empty bench overlooking the water just up ahead.
“Sure,” she cheerfully agreed.
Viktor glanced at his watch as they sat down. “45 minutes before sunset. Is this spot good for you?”
“It’s perfect.”
They both sat quietly enjoying the view. Various boats of differing sizes passed by in front of them. There was a breeze coming off the water that at first felt nice but since they were no longer moving, it began to feel cool. As the sun lowered, filling the sky with a golden yellow, the once pleasant breeze caused Amanda to feel cold. She pulled her arms in close to her to try and conserve body heat.
“I guess I should have brought a sweater,” she reflected out loud.
“Here, let me help.” Viktor moved closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Better?”
She pulled his other arm across her waist so that he was partially shielding her from the wind.
“Yes, that’s better,” she replied.
Viktor turned his attention back to the sky and tried not to think about the fact that she was in his arms.
The sun began to transform the sky into a palette of pinks, oranges, yellows and purples as Amanda began to ponder just what kind of relationship she had with Viktor. She had thought they were just friends but friends didn’t sit together the way they were sitting together. If she was honest with herself, she had to admit that she liked it. She wondered if he thought they were just friends or if perhaps he wanted something more too.
While she wrestled back and forth with that idea, she scolded herself. Although she and Viktor seemed to get along great and enjoyed many of the same things, she still didn’t know him very well. Not to mention the physical distance between them. He lived on the other side of the continent. As much as she wanted to entertain the idea of a relationship with him, she decided it would be better not to let things get more out of hand. She allowed herself to take advantage of the warmth he was offering in this moment but told herself she should put a little distance between them before things escalated.
As the sun set below the horizon and the sky filled with darker blues and purples, Viktor gazed at Amanda, treasuring the serene, peaceful expression on her face.
Amanda sighed as the last of the light began to fade. “I guess that’s it.”
“We should wake up early tomorrow and watch the sunrise in St. Mark’s Square,” Viktor suggested.
“That is a great idea!” Amanda excitedly agreed.
“Good.” He smiled, seeming pleased. “Shall we get you someplace warm?”
“Definitely.”
They stood and
