He chuckled. “No. In my experience it is much better in private.”
“Oh boy,” she replied nervously, fearing the conversation was heading in the wrong direction. “I think we should leave it at that.”
“Did I say something wrong?” he laughed.
“No,” she said, grinning. “I agree with you and we should leave it at that.”
“Okay,” he agreed, feeling entertained by her bashfulness on the subject.
After the gondola ride ended it was time for dinner. They chose a restaurant and each paid for their own meals, though Viktor insisted on paying for the bottle of wine, arguing that he drank more of it than she did. She acquiesced, much to his relief.
They walked along the water again as the sun set before returning to their hotel to turn in for the night.
“Would you like to have a cup of tea with me before we part ways?” Viktor asked as they walked to the elevators.
“I would love to have a cup of tea with you,” she agreed. “But first, I’d like to call my mom while I’m not too tired.”
“Okay. Do you want to join me in my room when you are finished speaking with your mother?”
“Sure. That sounds fine.”
“Okay. I will wait for you.”
Chapter 10
Amanda was already calling her mother as she entered her room. She had just sat in one of the chairs at the table when her mom answered.
“Hi sweetheart! How was your day?” her mom asked.
“It was great! We had a terrific day. We watched the sunrise. After breakfast we toured some of the shops and then went on a gondola ride through Venice which was worth every penny. We will definitely have to do that when you come.”
"Sounds like you had a nice time. How is Viktor?”
“He’s great. We get along really well. I’m really glad he’s here.”
“Yeah?”
“Mom,” Amanda said with a reprimanding tone.
“I didn’t say anything,” her mom asserted.
“You’re thinking it.”
“Well, honey. You don’t think it’s at all strange that he had this entire week free to spend with you?”
Amanda looked visibly exasperated. “Mom, I told you. He was already here. It just worked out.”
“And you don’t think that’s a bit much of a coincidence?”
“Are you saying he’s lying?”
“No, honey. I’m not saying that.”
“What are you saying then?” Amanda asked.
Knowing she wouldn’t win the argument when Amanda’s back was up, she decided to change the subject. “What are your plans tomorrow?”
“We haven’t talked about that yet but there's still so much to see.”
“After tomorrow you’re heading to Rome?”
“Yeah, we’ll probably leave in the morning."
"Is he going to be there the whole time or does he leave before you?"
"He leaves the day after me."
"Where is he going after Rome?"
"I don't know. I haven't asked him."
"Well, at least you won't be alone," her Mom reasoned.
"Yeah," Amanda agreed as she seemed to peer off at something.
“What’s on your mind, honey?” her mom asked.
“Nothing.” Amanda tried to brush it off.
“Amanda, I can read you like a book. What’s wrong?”
Amanda took a deep breath, unsure if she wanted to disclose her thoughts to her mom just yet but deciding maybe she could use some advice. “What if …” She paused to think about how she wanted to word it.
“It’s about Viktor, isn’t it?”
“He doesn’t like me. Not like that.”
“If you say so.”
“But maybe I like him, like that.”
“Amanda, honey. I think you’ve liked him since Scotland.”
Amanda seemed grieved by it. “Maybe.”
“So what’s your question?”
“I don’t know what to do. How do I stop liking him?”
“Why do you think you need to stop?”
“Because even if he liked me back, it couldn’t work. He lives in California. I’m too busy with work and helping you. I don’t have the time. And it’s just not …” She shook her head as she lost her train of thought.
“I’m not going to have cancer forever and even if I was, I wouldn’t want you passing up on future happiness just to take care of me.”
“It’s not going to work. Plus he doesn’t like me in that way. He hasn’t spoken once about meeting up again in the future.”
“He will,” her mom declared confidently.
“Mom, you think everyone likes me.”
“Okay, I openly admit I have a bias towards you. I don’t see how anyone could think you’re not wonderful. But in this instance, I think all the signs are there, you’re just choosing to ignore them.”
“What signs?”
“He spent all his time with you in Scotland. He did whatever you wanted to do. He is quite miraculously in Venice and Rome the very same week as you and is spending all of his time with you, doing whatever it is you want.”
“That doesn’t mean anything,” Amanda replied, not wanting to admit that her belief had just suffered a fatal blow. “I’m probably never going to see him again after this.”
“Mark my words. If he doesn’t come right out and ask to see you again, he will at the very least hint at it to see how you respond.”
“And what if I don’t respond?”
“Well, then one of two things will happen. He’ll walk away or he’ll try harder.”
Amanda grew quiet as she tried to absorb what her mother was saying. She was filled with doubts and uncertainties that made her feel uneasy and like it would just be better to walk away.
“Amanda, I want you to listen to me,” her mother said with a tone that made her take notice. “I will not always be here.”
“Mom!” Amanda tried to rebuke her.
“Don’t interrupt me. I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know.”
“I don’t want to think about that,” Amanda protested.
“Someday I will be gone,” she continued in spite of the tears that began welling in her daughter’s eyes. “When that day comes, I don’t want you to be alone. I want you to have someone who can hold you.”
“I don’t want to talk about this,” Amanda pleaded as she wiped tears from her eyes.
“I’m not saying that Viktor is the one. Maybe
