The Forty Column Castle

Nineteen


The wedding took place in July.

Aunt Elizabeth declared that since this was the first time she was getting married she wanted a properly planned affair so all her friends could attend. It took that long to arrange all the guests’ trips to Sicily.

The three English widows came, as well as Salvatore’s children and their families, who took to my aunt with wide open Sicilian arms. According to the relatives, their mother had been quite severe. Aunt Elizabeth was quite the opposite, always with a twinkle in her eye and a funny story to tell. She fit right in to the warm, happy side of Sicily.

Salvatore, I could tell, was enchanted. His home in Sicily was cut out of a hillside dotted with Cypress and pines, overlooking the sea near Taormina, a popular resort, complete with Greek and Roman ruins, sandy beaches, and a phenomenal view of steaming Mt. Etna. The family was from a village in the hills surrounded by countryside alive with citrus groves, vineyards and walnut trees. The village church was no bigger than a small chapel, and the entire village turned out for the party which was held outdoors under the olive trees in Sal’s personal olive grove. They honeymooned in a Tuscan castle, where I’m sure they got into some hanky-pank.

The thieves were awaiting trial. Word was that the prison sentence would be a long one. Inspector Polydeuces rounded up the rest of the terrorist cell which fell apart without the front thieves, who provided the cash for the operation. Inspector Polydeuces came to the wedding, too.

Lena came after she got over being furious for my not contacting her for five whole days. She got over it fast when she realized my aunt and I were both fine. The mutual fund survived. We added an office manager and were looking for another financial partner to add to the fund management, as new opportunities were opening up all the time in Europe and the Mediterranean, Africa, Asia, Latin America.

As for Zachariah Lamont -- we walked back to the car after Inspector Polydeuces hauled the four thieves away from the Forty Column Castle.

“What now, Princess?” Zach said.

We walked arm and arm over the stony path along the shore as the moon set. The sky began to lighten in the east over my beloved island of Cyprus. I walked under his clean arm as the side with the catsup and honey was pretty disgusting.

“I’m hungry, how about breakfast?”

“Excellent idea. But I was referring to your longer term plans after we have breakfast.”

“That’s real long term.” I laughed, feeling tired but a good tired that permeated every cell in my body. “I intend to get some sleep.”

“Yes?”

“Real sleep as in eyes closed, alone in my room at Yannis’s house.”

“Princess, you make me sad. I was hoping I could entice you into a nice breakfast at the Coral Bay Resort and then a wonderful relaxing bath in a big Jacuzzi and then a nice, cool lay on the clean sheets of a king size bed. What do you say?”

“You’re wounded. I don’t think you should overextend yourself.”

“This is nothing.” He brushed over the holes the bullets made in the front of his shirt. “Just a few bruises. My face is healing up. Look, hardly any black and blue.”

I examined his eye and cheek. “I’ll take you up on the invitation. But I’m calling my aunt, Yannis and Lena as soon as we get to the hotel to let them know we’re all right and that life can proceed on.”

“It’s a deal.”

Later, as we lay together entwined on top of that king size bed in the coolness of the room, another fiery sunset splashing over the skies of Coral Bay, Zach said, “What I am really asking is what will you do now that all this is over?”

I sighed the wonderful contentment of a well-sated woman. “I’m going to stay on a few more days in Cyprus and recover my strength. How about you?”

“Me, too. I have some R & R coming. I take a few weeks off after an assignment. But what about after that?”

“I’ll go back to Boston. But I might be back. I’m thinking of opening an office on Cyprus. How about you?”

“I’m going shopping for an island.”

THE END