Read Online Summer in Sorrento by Melissa Hill - Free Book Online

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                  She exited the house and headed directly to the roadside produce stand to check some stock in order to not only let Camilla know what they needed, but also begin canning some olives and picking some lemons herself. She was thankful that the traffic to the stand the day before had been light, there was no way she could have kept up with everything if a different scenario had been presented. 
                  As she finished making her notes, she exited the small booth and stood in the road in front of it, inspecting its appearance.
                  “ I really think I need to ask Giorgio to put another coat of paint on it ,” she commented to herself before turning her attention to the azalea bushes that surrounded the small structure.  “ And those are getting overgrown too.  My work is never done ,” she sighed.
    Deciding at once that there was no time like the present, she headed to the garden shed before returning with a pair of pruning shears and a basket.  If one thing was for certain, very little went to waste around this house.  What flowers she cut off the bushes would end up decorating the interior in fragrant bouquets.
                  “ Nice flowers ,” said a voice from behind her.  “ What are they ? ”
                  Startled, Maia turned around quickly to find Hal watching her work.
                  “ Oh, Hal, i t’ s you.  Sorry, I did n’ t hear you approach . ”   She noticed that she was holding up her shears defensively as if ready to defend herself.  Realising it was only Lor i’ s husband, she lowered them. 
                  “ I did n’ t mean to scare you ,” he smiled kindly.  “ My apologies.  I was just out wandering around and I did n’ t realise anyone else was up yet . ”
                  “ Ah, an early riser then ,” Maia smiled.  “ And these are azaleas to answer your question . ”   She turned back to her work.  “ Do you mind running back to the shed tha t’ s just over there and getting me another basket?  Ther e’ s one just inside the door . ”
                  Hal agreed and did as he was asked.  When he returned a moment later with the empty basket, he helpfully moved the full basket of azaleas out of Mai a’ s way.
                  “ Are these going somewhere ?” he inquired.
                  “ Yes, in the house.  I’ ll make some bouquets.  No sense wasting these.  The y’ re too pretty . ”
                  A beat of silence passed between the pair before Maia spoke again.  “ So Lori is still sleeping then ? ”
                  “ Yes sh e’ s um, a bit tired ,” Hal stuttered.  Maia had the immediate flashback of overhearing the couple arguing the day before.
                  “ So do you both have plans today ?” she inquired, hoping Ha l’ s answer would be yes, for Lor i’ s sake alone.  The woman seemed at the end of her rope.
                  But Hal shrugged in a non-committal manner.  “ I do n’ t know.  Truthfully, she has plans, there are things that she wants to do and what not, but I really do n’ t know why I’ m here ,” he sighed, putting his hands in his pockets.  “ I would n’ t say that my wife and I are really getting along right now . ”
                  Maia tilted her head and put her pruning shears down for a moment, her attention turned fully to Hal.
                  “ Lori and I talked a bit yesterday afternoon, while you were napping I believe, and I gathered that ,” she admitted.  “ I told her that all marriages go through rough patches.  I really think i t’ s just about figuring out how to work through some of those times . ”
                  Hal crossed his arms and leaned against the side of the lemon stand.  “ Yeah, I know ,” he said