Chapter 1
Five years ago
The hiking trails in the Cinque Terre national park in Northern Italy ramble steep and rocky through the dramatic coastal hills, visiting the five towns after which the park is named. The buildings grip the sides of the hills and cliffs in a stubborn display of colour and architectural daring, overlooking small sheltered harbours. Adam and Naomi have come early in the season, but it it is already hot and crowded on the narrow paths. They are at the end of a tour of Northern Italy, and starting to feel jaded and homesick. Instead of a second day walking they decide to drive through the dry brown olive groves to visit the marble quarries at Porto Venere before heading back to Portofino and then Genoa for their last stop in Italy.
They break the dusty afternoon at a small town in the hills away from the main road and park in the town square. It is quiet and shaded, with a church on one side and a few small cafes on the other. In the middle is a stone fountain with a trickle of water from the head of an old marble statue staining the pool below, and a couple of parked cars. The coffee is good, but the pastries sad and tasteless. In the corner of the square a small shop sells a selection of artisan jewellery and marble ornaments made by the proprietor. It is dim inside, but surprisingly modern, the sales space leading through to the workshop at the back. Inside the shop the lighting gives subtle texture and colour to the items displayed on glass shelves. Naomi picks up a flat circular cheese dish.
“We could sell these in the shop.”
Adam looks at it. “We could take a couple back as display, but it isn’t what we are trying to do. Let’s not complicate things.” Adam moves his eyes slowly over the side wall. Jewellery, small statues, ashtrays and tiles in different shades of black and dark grey are arranged carefully, all carved from the local stone, with the gold and silver veins running through it that made the area famous.
“This is the one,” he says, picking up a necklace. On a thin silver chain is a disc of black marble about four centimetres long carved into the shape of an egg. Thin veins of soft silver grey running through the marble, enhanced by the shine of the smooth surface, give the egg a glow; and when he picks it up it settles comfortably into the palm of his hand. The colours and shapes in it move as if living as he turns his hand and holds the piece up to the light.
Naomi looks across, and tries to take it from him; but he closes his fist around it. He turns to her, smiling as he does to the young woman behind the counter.
“It’s not a diamond, but we should do this properly.” He drops awkwardly to one knee, stumbling slightly as he does, and putting down his other hand for support. He looks up and opens his fist. “Naomi, will you marry me?”
She smiles, and takes the necklace from him, weighing it up in her hand. “You’d better help me with it,” and she unfastens and holds out the ends of the chain. Adam stands and secures it around her neck, and she turns back to him.
“Yes, of course.”
The woman behind the counter gasps and claps her hands together. Adam smiles to her. “I’d better pay for it then.” He pays for the necklace and takes Naomi’s hand, looking at her with the necklace, standing out against a yellow silk scarf that she is wearing loosely about her neck. “Could you take a picture for us?” he asks the woman.