The Quest

Purcell knew never to look back, but this time something made him look back. She was standing near the bench, watching him.

He took a few more paces, then turned and looked at her again, and she was still looking at him.

He walked back to where she was standing, and she came to meet him.

They stopped a few feet from one another and he saw she had tears in her eyes.

He asked her, “Where’s Henry?”

“I told him not to come.”

He nodded.

She reminded him, “You said you’d take me back.”

He’d thought it was a moot question, but apparently it was not.

She smiled. “Are you taken?”

“No.”

“You are now.”

He didn’t know what to say, so he asked, “Would you like to take a walk?”

She put her arm through his and they walked through the Vatican park.

She reminded him, “You said we’d return to the Capitoline Hill.”

“Right.” He asked her, “Are your things in my room at the Forum?”

“I’m not that presumptuous.” She let him know, “They’re in the lobby.” She also let him know, “We have been chosen for each other. Believe it.”

“I believe it.”