CHAPTER ONE

      ITALY HAD TO BE the most beautiful place in the world.

      Daniella Tate glanced around in awe at the cobblestone streets and blue skies of Florence. She’d taken a train here, but now had to board a bus for the village of Monte Calanetti.

      After purchasing her ticket, she strolled to a wooden bench. But as she sat, she noticed a woman a few rows over, with white-blond hair and a slim build. The woman stared out into space; the faraway look in her eyes triggered Daniella’s empathy. Having grown up a foster child, she knew what it felt like to be alone, sometimes scared, usually confused. And she saw all three of those emotions in the woman’s pretty blue eyes.

      An announcement for boarding the next bus came over the public address system. An older woman sitting beside the blonde rose and slid her fingers around the bag sitting at her feet. The pretty blonde rose, too.

      “Excuse me. That’s my bag.”

      The older woman spoke in angry, rapid-fire Italian and the blonde, speaking American English, said, “I’m sorry. I don’t understand a word of what you’re saying.”

      But the older woman clutched the bag to her and very clearly told the American that it was her carry-on.

      Daniella bounced from her seat and scurried over. She faced the American. “I speak Italian, perhaps I can help?” Then she turned to the older woman. In flawless Italian, she asked if she was sure the black bag was hers, because there was a similar bag on the floor on the other side.

      The older woman flushed with embarrassment. She apologetically gave the bag to the American, grabbed her carry-on and scampered off to catch her bus.

      The pretty blonde sighed with relief and turned her blue eyes to Daniella. “Thank you.”

      “No problem. When you responded in English it wasn’t a great leap to assume you didn’t speak the language.”

      The woman’s eyes clouded. “I don’t.”

      “Do you have a friend coming to meet you?”

      “No.”

      Dani winced. “Then I hope you have a good English-to-Italian dictionary.”

      The American pointed to a small listening device. “I’ve downloaded the ‘best’ language system.” She smiled slightly. “It promises I’ll be fluent in five weeks.”

      Dani laughed. “It could be a long five weeks.” She smiled and offered her hand. “I’m Daniella, by the way.”

      The pretty American hesitated, but finally shook Daniella’s hand and said, “Louisa.”

      “It’s my first trip to Italy. I’ve been teaching English in Rome, but my foster mother was from Tuscany. I’m going to use this final month of my trip to find her home.”

      Louisa tilted her head. “Your foster mother?”

      Dani winced. “Sorry. I’m oversharing.”

      Louisa smiled.

      “It’s just that I’m so excited to be here. I’ve always wanted to visit Italy.” She didn’t mention that her longtime boyfriend had proposed