Life's Surprises

Granny here,

Just thinking how life is full of surprises, just when we think it's dull and mundane something appears from out of the blue. Life will always catch us off guard, it's always one step ahead of us and we may try but we'll never outsmart life.

Take friendships for instance, you know you always think that your friendship is something that anyone would want right? Not! Sometimes we are a better friend by bowing out of someone's life than staying in it, ever think about that. Sometimes we make people's lives better by bowing out of them.  It's always been my goal to be a blessing to others and not a hindrance but who puts their self in that category, no one, right? Well, we can belong in it whether we believe it or not.

Sometimes we can be a better friend by not being one, I know that sounds awful but it's true just the same. Just because we think we are what everyone needs in their life doesn't make it so. And don't ever think that you take up as great a space in other's lives as they do yours, you may be a lot needier than they and more willing to take others no matter what flaw they may have.

Most people love surprises, sometimes I do and sometimes I would rather be prepared but if we're prepared then it's not a surprise is it? Sudden deaths are bad surprises, births can be great surprises or at least the sex of the baby but today even that is hard to keep hidden. Life doesn't ask us permission to spring a surprise on us it just lowers the boom and that's it. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it isn't but none the less life has a way, doesn't it. Our job is acceptance and that can be a hard one to conquer.

I'm surprised that my mom has lived 96 years and still going, mind strong, attitude good, holding her own. I was surprised when my husband of 48 years dropped dead without warning, without goodbye, without my goodnight kiss. Death didn't ask my permission, it just moved without warning, leaving me behind to pick up the pieces.

 I'm surprised when something that was meant to be a short term venture turns into something that keeps you busy for a while, like online selling. I put a few things online for sale and to my surprise I am still selling things 4 months later, people love what I have to offer and as long as they buy I will sell. So that has been a very pleasant surprise.

Recently I learned that our pastor of 7 years will be leaving in August, boy, a surprise in one sense and not in another, the fact that that's the way our church government works, when they get orders to go, they go. I was disappointed to say the least but I think of the opportunity that the next church he goes to will have to love and be loved by this wonderful family. They are in for a blessing I can tell you that. And I also will have the opportunity to make some new acquaintances that will enhance my life and maybe I will theirs. There's always trade offs in every situation. Right?

Well, if you like surprises, life has them waiting for you, I won't say they will all be good but they can be stepping stones to move you along to your next destination. God works like that you know everything that happens in our lives can be helpful if we just learn how to use it. I'm still learning and I hope you are too.

Granny here, just saying!

Insanity Prevails

Granny here,

Well, I've heard it all, in a commerical this morning Chevy announcing their latest donation to highway saftey, in car wifi. Folks we have arrived, on the edge of insanity that is. Can you imagine, we can now eat, watch tv, listen to the radio, change clothes, put on make up, disciple the kids (maybe) read a book and if that wasn't enough now we can go online without a problem, all while pretending to drive our cars. Wait! There seems to be one thing missing, driving, watching the road, looking out for red lights, stop signs, pot holes, road construction, keeping our eye on the other driver, tell me while doing all the other things when will we find time to do what we are actually in the car to do in the first place, Drive!

This is insanity! How did Chevy ever get clearance to add such a dangerous feature to a moving vehicle. Don't we have enough problems on the highway now without adding new ones to it. While I'm on the subject of safety in our cars what about all the buttons and gadgets on our steering wheels, folks this is a moving object in our hands that has to be still for us to perform the function needed at any given moment, did the manufacturer forget that the steering wheel is a moving object that cannot remain in a still position when in use. I'm all for nothing on my steering wheel, everything should be in a panel on the dash within reach of the driver, it's a lot safer to reach forward than to have to run your buttons down on a moving target such as they steering wheel.

Get with it car manufacturers, give us safety features in our vehicles not things that make you look good with little thought to the dangers you're placing the driver in. And while I'm on the subject of car safety, children do not belong straped in the back seat away from their parent who is driving. I almost lost my son to a choking incident from that very situation. By the time I pulled off the road, jump out of the car and got to the back where he was he was pretty well strangling to death. Luckily I made it to him in time but how many children will have to die before the world understands that a child needs to be near their parent.

Well, that's my take on safety in our vehicles, hope this made sense to someone other than myself!

Granny here, just saying!

Out of the Past Cont'd

Granny here,

     Daisy had to find out everything the family knew and fill them in on what she had been able to discover on her own. The clues so far had her dad mentioning the story of an affair, his great, great grandfather having an affair during the war all the stories told in the family down through the years, it was all pointing to the same conclusion, that Daisy's great-great-great grandfather was the soldier in the story. The chain was the missing link to the ring that Daisy had found.
     Leslie's family was curious about the ring too since these stories were well known throughout the region of Calabria, they had been told over and over again by Aunt Maria and Uncle Joe. The soldiers loved to hear about it as they could relate through their own affairs with the Italian women while serving in the military in Italy and other foreign countries.
     The work week was moving fast for Daisy and that was fine with her, she loved the weekends when she could see her friends, have some relaxation and spend some time with Tory, who was becoming an important part of her life, more important than even she realized. Although she spoke with Tory several times during the week, it was not the same as having his arms around her and feeling his lips on hers, that was worth looking forward to on the weekends and she did look forward to it, more that she wanted to admit to herself.  She could only hope that he felt the same and she was sure that he did, at least that was the impression he gave her when they were together.
     Leslie called Daisy Friday afternoon to see if she had some free time that evening after work to meet at their favorite pizza place. She wanted to fill her in on their plans to go to America to make sure everything was complaint with daisy's schedule. They loved meeting for pizza and being best friends they had no trouble spending hours in conversation.
     Daisy actually got out of the office on time Friday evening and headed home to freshen up and change into something more appropriate for the pizza parlor, which happen to be her favorite denim cut offs and a tank top, of course Daisy looked good in anything she chose to wear. She arrived just as Leslie was pulling into the parking lot; they parked beside each other and talked while walking into the restaurant. They were excited about their trip to America but daisy didn't like the idea of leaving Tory. They spent the evening going over their plans, they would leave as soon as Daisy left work on Labor Day weekend, Leslie would take the responsibility of making all the flight arrangements. Daisy made the decision not to tell her family she was coming, she wanted to surprise them . She was really excited about seeing her parents again and she would also get to see her grandmothers, her grand fathers had passed away within six months of each other when she was twelve and that saddened her to think they would never know the rest of the story.
     Tory was not happy about spending the holiday without Daisy but understood her need for making the trip. After all she would only be gone a few days and the space between them would give them time to evaluate their  feelings for each other and give them a better idea how to face their future either together or apart. Tory was proud of himself for the way he had been able to constrain himself where Daisy was concerned, he respected her too much to lower her standards and in ways she had caused him to raise his a little higher.

      The flight to America was a pleasant one, Daisy and Leslie were seated together and therefore escaped the risk of being seated with a chatty Cathy or a boozed up guy who thought he was the answer to a woman's dreams. the food wasn't the greatest but it did its job until the girls could get to their mothers home cooking.
     Leslie had made plans to be picked up at the airport by her parents and they would give Daisy a ride home to surprise her parents, since neither Leslie nor her parents had met Daisy's family this would give them a chance to be introduced. They were waiting for the girls as they came down the ramp, they could see them standing behind the security fence waving to the passengers getting off the plane. Leslie's parents were so glad to see their little girl, she and her dad were very close and it had been a while since they had seen one another and her mother was just as happy to see that Leslie had made it home safely.
     After the reunion at the airport, they drove to the home of Daisy's parents who didn't have a clue she was coming. Daisy had Leslie and her parents go to the door and ring the door bell while she hid behind them, when her parents opened the door they wondered who these people were, they had never seen them before. "May I speak to Daisy, please?" Asked Leslie. "Daisy doesn't live here anymore, she moved to Italy, may I ask who you are?" Replied Daisy's mother with a puzzled look on her face. Just at that moment Leslie and her parents stepped aside and there stood Daisy laughing as hard as she could, but her mother was crying tears of joy and her dad began smiling, there were hugs, kisses and many tears, introductions were made, then Leslie and her parents left Daisy and her family to enjoy their reunion which lasted the rest of the evening.
     
     Leslie had a wonderful evening catching up on all the news from her parents and filling them in on the saga of the mystery ring which they found to be very fascinating. Her parents couldn't believe the that all the facts surrounding the ring proved that daisy's family was actually the rightful owner of the ring, that was just too strange, how could such a thing happen after all these years? Was it fate that Daisy's great-great-great grandfather was the soldier in the family story and now she had proven it to be true?
     Daisy and her family spent the evening just as Leslie and her parents, catching up on all the news. She had plenty to tell them about Italy, about her villa, about Tory, and of course about the ring she had found, its value and the story she was discovering to be attached to it. She still had a lot of pieces of the puzzle missing and hoped her dad would be able to help her find them either in his memory or at least her grandmothers.
     As Daisy broke the news to her parents that she had also discovered the chain and Lt. Neilson's dog tag, they were stunned. It was almost unbelievable but when Daisy took out the ring, the chain and the dog tag, there was no denying that it was true. "This story belongs in Ripley's Believe It or Not", said Daisy's mom as she looked at all the evidence.
     Grandmother Sophia was a lovely lady in her late sixties, fashionable and gracious and more than willing to talk about family secrets and rumors. Since Daisy's mother had already discussed the story with her, Daisy's grandmother had pulled out all the family albums, letters, etc. that had been passed down to her husband through the years, anticipating Daisy's visit.
Daisy so wished that her grandfather was alive to tell what he knew but for now they would have to rely on what information was contained in old photos, letters, papers and family members.
      They spent hours going over everything Sophia had in her archives which gave them some interesting information. Sophia had birth certificates from years gone by and her husbands mother had even more information in the old family Bible. They looked and looked until their yes hurt and daisy was about to give up when she saw the name, it was the name of her great-great-great grandfather, Robert Alexander Neilson. Daisy almost fell off her chair. "Look, mom, it's him, he is the soldier and he is the man."
     It seems that Robert Alexander Neilson did have a way with the ladies. Daisy's great grandmother, Elizabeth had more letters and dates in all the papers she had kept, she even had a few letters from Alex, telling the story that no one wanted to believe.
     The story as told by Alex, was, that he had rented the villa (the same one that Daisy now lived in) with a military buddy and lived there off base during his duty in Calabria. He had been assigned to escort duty for the Countess Victoria Francesca Castalina and the two of them had fell in love and had used the villa as a meeting place for the entire month she had been in Calabria. She had given him the ring as a token of her love before they parted but the chain she had placed it on had broken and he had lost it but had no idea where. He left Italy without ever finding it and only had his memories to console him for the remainder of his life. Although he came to America he had left his heart in Calabria.
     The family had always gotten a kick from hearing the story, they all had their doubts that the story was true, but now with all the evidence there was no denying that alexander had been telling the truth all along. Daisy was so fascinated listening to her grandmothers tell the story that she didn't want them to stop talking, she was ecstatic that she had now found the missing pieces to her puzzle and putting it altogether they now had a picture of what happened to their ancestor many years ago. Daisy was shocked that the mystery of the ring had come full circle and a member of her family was the center of it all.
    Later that evening Daisy and her family went to visit her great-great grandmother Anna who was over one hundred years old living in a nursing facility with her memories. She was a delightful lady, still feisty and full of life. She was in a wheelchair and had lost her sight some years ago but her spirits were good and she loved to talk and enjoyed her visitors. They spent about an hour listening to her recollection, what she had of the famous affair. She was excited to have this chance to reminisce about her life and what she remembered of Robert Alexander. By the end of the hour, Anna was exhausted and had to be put to bed, Daisy gave her a kiss and made her exit quietly realizing that this was probably the last time she would ever see her.
     With the mystery of the ring solved, Daisy had accomplished her goal for coming to America. Leslie and she would spend their last few days with their families for the holiday and fly back Monday morning, Daisy had to report back to work Tuesday and she needed time to touch base with tory, whom she missed miserably. It had been a god and productive visit and both of them were glad they had made the trip but were also glad to be going home.

From These Walls

Granny here,

Just wanted to write a little about the fun I've been having lately having a yard sale right from my living room couch thanks to the local yard sale page here in the city where I live. I'm sure that most cities have one going and it can prove to be profitable as well as giving the opportunity to meet new people.

I have been busy listing all the extra items that my mother and I have accumulated over the years, things we have made in our many hours of crafting and just stuff in general. So far we have generated extra money to the tune of around $700.00, not to bad for a few postings on the web site and a few trips to a local parking lot to make the exchange.

I've met some nice ladies in this process and I hope they feel the same. I have been able to supply a few things that they were looking for and they have been able to take them off my hands, kudos for everyone.

This is a great idea but there are drawbacks, there are those that post comments that are rude, people who have a personal conflict going on with another person on there, those that will promise to buy but never do and those that never show up while you're waiting in the designated meeting place. There are always those rude participators who try to kill it for the rest of us but you just have to take it in stride and keep on going.

For the most part everyone has proven to be on the up and up and have come through with their end of the bargain but there have been some disappointments. But for a pasttime that has it's benefits the downside is worth it and we can hope that it gets better as we go along. So for now I will keep posting and hope that customers keep coming and my mad money stash will take me on a vacation before summer is over.

Granny here, just saying!

Out of the Past Cont'd

Granny here,

     The morning flew by since there were so busy they had no time to watch the clock, they had agreed to gather information, then wait until they got home to discuss it. Daisy was blown away by all the information from the jeweler and what she had gathered today was just the icing on the cake. Leslie had learned a lot more than she had bargained for and couldn't wait to share her findings with Daisy, but they wouldn't have the whole story until they combined all their findings.
     They arrived back at the villa determined to solve the mystery, they didn't know yet what part the villa actually had played in the whole scheme of things. Daisy put on a fresh pot of coffee and they were going to need it, the task ahead of them was going to be daunting but they were ready for it. Daisy's information on the ring, style, value, and clarity and the report from the gemologist were the same as the information given to her by the jeweler, she also discovered the ring was from the eighteen hundreds probably between 1850 and1900. It had belonged to the royal Castalina family and the heirloom had been passed down for hundreds of years from one royal family to another. It had been given to Victoria Francesca Castalina on her twentieth birthday.
      "That's exactly what my information says, Daisy, interrupted Leslie, it seems that it once belonged to her mother, Princess Marissa Gabriella Giabaldi, who was married to Prince William Vinchenzo Castalina, and before that it belonged to her grandmother Queen Elizabeth Victoria Castalina. This ring has been around, wouldn't you say, I'd love to hear the stories it could tell."
     "This gets more interesting with each piece of the puzzle doesn't it; said Daisy as she looked through the info that Leslie had collected. It says here the ring was given to a soldier during the war, we have to find out who he was." "And just where do we start to find out that story, said Leslie, that's not going to be easy". "This story was told to me as a child, said Daisy, do you think there is a connection between the ring and my family, which would blow my mind. The soldiers name was Lt. Robert Alexander Neilson according to the story; he would have been my father's great, great grandfather."
     It was getting late and Leslie had to be going, she had to call her mom in America about shipping her things to Italy since she had decided to make it home. The girls felt that they had done a good days work and had found out about as much as they could from books, now Daisy needed to ask questions from family members and see if there really was a connection. Daisy would begin her investigation with her mom and dad of course but right now she wanted to see Tory, it had been a few days since they had seen each other and she was getting lonely and hoped he had too.
     Daisy spent Sunday afternoon with Tory, she had invited him over for spaghetti and meatballs which was one of his favorites and Daisy was a very good cook, if she did say so herself. The day was beautiful, not only was the weather cooperative but so were their emotions as usual. they had dinner and watched a movie, went for a walk in the garden and Daisy showed Tory just where she had found the ring. "Tory, do you think that it's possible that the chain is also buried here in the garden? If the ring was lost here maybe the chain was lost at the same time. Would you help me search for it, we can dig with my garden tools that are in the bottom of the kitchen sink." "Sure, I'll help you look but where do we start?" Said Tory as Daisy took him by the hand and led him to the exact spot where she had pulled up the ring hoping that if the chain was there they would be able to find it and have it as another clue to its rightful owner. Daisy ran into the kitchen to retrieve her tools and rushed back out to the garden where Tory was already digging with a stick hat he had found under a tree. He took the tools and began to dig where Daisy had found the ring and Daisy began to dig just a few feet away hoping all the while that they would discover the clue that they needed to tie the ring to Daisy's ancestry.

     After digging several holes the two were beginning to lose hope of finding anything at all, they had dug up rocks, marbles, metal chips and coins that were worthless. Daisy was feeling a bit let down when her shovel revealed a piece of chain that was different than anything that she had seen before, it was broken in two pieces, the first piece was easy to pull from the ground but the second piece seemed to be hung on something. She quickly called for Tory to help her dig deeper, her excitement kept building the farther down Tory dug. Then, it appeared the other half of the chain and attached to it was a military dog tag covered with so much dirt that the name was filled in and unreadable. Tory began cleaning with the tail of his shirt and there it was  Lt. Robert Alexander Neilson engraved in large letters.
     Daisy fell to the ground beside Tory as he cleaned the piece of metal and she couldn't believe her eyes, the chain and the dog tag proved it, the story of her ancestors from many years ago was true. All the stories the family had told all these years was true and now she had the proof. How is this possible after a hundred years or more that she had found the heirloom that indeed belonged to her family? This was mind boggling!
     Tory gave Daisy a big kiss as if to say congratulations, you have made your discovery. She stood to her feet and began laughing out loud, "Oh, Tory, isn't this wonderful, my family will be so pleased." "I'm sure they will be, but for now let's get ourselves cleaned up and all these holes filled back in so the garden will be beautiful again."
     After cleaning themselves up they knew that it was getting late and time for Tory to head home although as usual he didn't want to but knew that Daisy would want him to leave.  They enjoyed the view from the veranda with a glass of wine while feeling the comforts of the large chaise lounge. There were moments where restraining themselves became an art but both of them passed with flying colors. As Tory was leaving, it became obvious that their restraint was going to be more challenging as their relationship developed. Parting was becoming a problem for them and their kisses became more passionate as they thought of leaving each other, Daisy could tell that Tory wanted to stay and she couldn't deny that she wanted him too.
     Daisy had been asking quite a few questions of her family since spending the day at the library, her curiosity had been peaked and her memory refreshed after reading all that information. she was now more curious than ever, as an adult she now realized that the stories she had heard as a child were true and could have more meaning than she could have ever dreamed. Daisy now had more information to tell her parents, she had called her mother once and told her all that she had found out about the ring, her mother had almost forgotten the stories she had heard from the grandmothers in the family through the years.
     Daisy was trying to work out some strategy so she would be able to find out all she could about the ring but in the meantime she had placed it in a safe deposit box at the bank and bought insurance on it. She had no idea that the ring would have such an impact on her entire family and now that she had found the identifying dog tag she knew that she had to talk to her grandmother on her father's side, she remembers her dad saying something about one of his grandfathers having an affair during the war, now she knew they were one and the same. Daisy would have to make a trip to America to get all the answers she was looking for. Maybe she and Leslie could make a holiday of it since Leslie really needed to go to America and pull together all the loose ends of her life there.
    

Pandora's Box

Granny here,

Even though there are many years behind me I am still learning that life is like Pandora's box you never know what you will find. Life is full of surprises, some good, some not so good but all surprises none the less.

While trying to learn how to blog I still am a novice at it and learn something new all the time.  I was surprised to get a comment from a new reader the other day and was thrilled to make a new acquaintance. Making new friends is always good and sometimes surprising.

I am glad that she found me even if by accident and hope that she continues to enjoy my musings and viewpoint on life and whatever subject I dare to tread upon.

I plan to keep writing if only for myself but do hope that others will have the opportunity to travel this journey of word and page with me. So as time goes by and I learn even more I will continue to open Pandora's box and maybe life will become more exciting for all of us.

So until next time

Granny here, just saying!

Alert!

Granny here,

Just a quick alert, there will be no more postings of my book "Out of the Past" until there are some comments to assure me that someone out there is reading it. It's a lot of time and effort to post it if no one is taking the time to read it.

So if you are reading it I would appreciate a one liner to let me know my efforts are not in vain.

Granny here, just saying!

Out of the Past Cont'd

Granny here,

      Alex had vowed not to return to the villa again without Cesca and he kept his vow by returning to the barracks. As he undressed he noticed that he had lost his dog tag identification with the ring that Cesca had given him. He had no idea where he had lost it and with the pain his heart was already suffering he didn't have it in him to go looking for it, at that moment he was fighting for his life and it would take some doing to keep him from the depths of depression. Lt. Donavon was out of town on maneuvers so there was no chance of getting him to look for the chain if indeed he had lost it at the villa which he doubted. In his moment of deep despair Alex gave up the idea of ever retrieving his treasure and felt that since he had lost the real jewel he would not search for the material one.
     With his broken heart and his memories fresh Alex knew this time in his life would never come again and he had to face his future without her, he flung himself across the bed and fell into a deep sleep. It was over.

                                                    Chapter 10
                                                    Present Day

     As Daisy was lost in thoughts of the ring and its mystery the phone was ringing loudly, it was Tory. "Hey Doll, how about a date, haven't seen you in a week, how about a day at the beach, tomorrow?" "I'd love that, Tory, I'll fix a picnic basket, you get the wine and we'll make a day of it?"  Answered Daisy with excitement in her voice. "I'll pick you up around nine, will that be too early?" "No, that's great, see you then." As far as Daisy was concerned it was never too early to see tory and she was always ready to spend a day with him.
     Tory was there early, they had not seen each other in a week and their desire was at its peak. they met with a passionate kiss that left them wanting more, but they had made a vow that they would g slow and would try to keep it if possible. The vow to each other gave them reason to always keep themselves in public places and when in private to use self control, which they had been able to do thus far, but they both knew the more they saw each other, the harder it would be to restrain their emotions. they had been faithful to their vow up to this point in their relationship, although there had been moments of passionate love making that had brought them to the edge but never to the point of submission and they wanted to keep it that way. Their total submission was a gift they desired to give to their spouse on their wedding night whoever that person turned out to be.

     Daisy had the picnic basket filled to the brim with good food, all the things they loved, good breads, cheeses, fruits wine glasses and all the necessities. Her tote was filled with towels, bathing suits, lotions of all descriptions, sunglasses and anything else she thought she might need. They would also need a blanket, umbrella which she hoped Tory would remember to bring. daisy could hardly wait, this was one of her favorite things to do with tory other than spending the evening on her veranda in the moonlight and nothing could top that. Daisy was surrounded with contentment when she was with Tory, he brought her happiness like no one else and she loved him for it.
     The sun was already high in the sky and the beauty of the day had already brought out the beach lovers. The sand was hot beneath their feet and the beach was very crowded, it looked as if everyone had taken a holiday. Tory had remembered to bring the umbrella which he sat up in as private a spot as he could find which wasn't easy. Daisy spread out the blanket and sat down the picnic basket, took her tote and ran to the beach house to change into her bathing suit and Tory did the same.
     Tory chased Daisy into the water splashing as they went, she tried to get away from him but her efforts were futile, he had her right where he wanted her, although pretending to get away from him she was right where she wanted to be, in his arms. Their lips met, the water rushed over them as they sank embracing each other and still locked in their kiss, they came up for air laughing at each other as they caught their breath. This lover's game went on for quite sometime until they both were so exhausted they had to take time out on the blanket. Daisy set up the lunch while Tory continued to snooze, to alert him Daisy planted a big kiss on him and he pulled her down onto him, the weight of her made his desire come alive but Daisy brought it to an end by kicking sand on him, laughing as she stood up and presented the meal she had prepared. The beach was far more public for Daisy to show that kind of affection and Tory knew it but he couldn't help but try.
     After their lunch of cold chicken and all the other goodies Daisy had packed, their conversation turned to what lay ahead, but they tried to steer clear of any future commitments. They talked the afternoon away and the evening was turning into a thing of beauty as the sun began to set. Daisy and Tory had a day that most young people only dream of. It was getting late and time to call it a day, the drive home was quiet; the two of them were too exhausted to carry on a conversation. Tory dropped Daisy off just before midnight; their kiss at the door was long and wanting but tomorrow was going to be a tough day since they had stayed out so late, but they knew it had been worth it.

      It had been almost two months since Daisy had left the ring with the jeweler; she was going to go by after work and see if the report had come back. She couldn't wait any longer; she just had to know if they had any information to tell her, she thought that they had had plenty of time to hear something about the ring if they were ever going too. The traffic was terrible as Daisy tried to make her way to the jeweler, she arrived just as he was about to lock the door but he let her in. "I was just about to give you a call, Daisy, we received the report today." "What did you find out; I am so excited to hear the news." "Well, Daisy, you have quite a piece on your hands, the ring is set in platinum as I thought it was, the main stones are of the highest quality emeralds that can be found. I would estimate its value at somewhere between fifty and one hundred thousand dollars if not more." Daisy stood frozen, she was totally taken off guard, she was silent for a few moments, she couldn't say a word. Finally she caught her breath, "You've got to be kidding me? I can't believe it, I'm in the process of researching the stories I've heard to see if there is any truth to them. The story goes that this ring or one similar to it belonged to a countess back in the late eighteen hundreds or early nineteen hundreds and it was  given to a soldier that rented the same villa that I now live in."
     Mr. Pizzario had a puzzled look on his face, "I have heard those stories too but never thought much about it being true." "That sounds like a story I would like to know more about, said Daisy, are there books about it or maybe information at the library?" "It's not something that is talked about very much out of respect for the royal family that was involved, so the complete details may be hard to uncover but I'm sure they're out there somewhere, you'll have to work to find out the whole story, good luck." He replied. "Thank you so much, Mr. Pizzario, you have been a great deal of help, send me the bill and thanks again."

     Daisy was on cloud nine, she would have to insure her find, and she really should have it put in a safe deposit box. Should she share this information? And with whom should she share it? All these thought were going around in Daisy's head as she drove home. She had already told Leslie about the ring but nothing of its value, but maybe she could remain a confidant, maybe she would help her investigate all the details concerning the ring or would she want to, maybe she wasn't interested. Daisy had to call her and tell her the exciting news, she had to share it with someone she just couldn't keep it to herself. She would call her mom too, she could tell her mom anything and this was just too exciting to keep quiet.
     Daisy would have to call her mother in the morning, with six hour time difference she would be in bed already and a call at night always scared her mother to death. Daisy dialed Leslie's number as soon as she got home. "Hello, Daisy, " "Leslie, you're not going to believe it, I got the report back on the ring I found, it is so exciting that I want to tell you in person, can you spend the night Friday, we can sit up late then spend Saturday at the library investigating" "That would be great, we can have our own slumber party," joked Leslie. "Ok, I'll see you Friday evening around seven, bye." Daisy hung up the phone and took out her treasure, and it indeed was just that, a valuable treasure. Just think this may have once belonged to royalty, was it possible she was going to find out for sure? Everything she had found out so far was pointing to that conclusion. How could Daisy get any sleep with so many questions on her mind?
       Friday evening found Daisy making pizza for the "slumber" party she and Leslie were going to have, am I crazy or what, she thought, as she made the pizza, I live in Italy, does that make any sense? Well, I'm not making any sense right now either. Daisy heard the door bell ring just as she put the pizza in the oven. "Hi, Leslie, come in, I just put the pizza in, it should be ready in about twenty minutes, hope you're hungry!" "I'm famished, said Leslie, but I'm more excited to hear the news about the ring than anything. What did you find out?" "Let's have a glass of wine and I'll tell you all about it," Said Daisy as she retrieved two wine glasses from the fridge she had chilling.
     With glasses in hand Daisy began to fill Leslie in on all the details and value of the ring. Leslie, Like daisy was stunned. "What are you going to do now?" Asked Leslie. "I thought you and I could spend the day at the library tomorrow and do some research and see what we can uncover. the jeweler, Mr. Pizzario, said he had heard an old story that a countess had had an affair with an American soldier during the war and she had given him a ring similar to the one I found as a token of her love for him when they parted. The picture I found did look like it but would that be too weird if they were one and the same. That's why we need to do more research. This is almost unbelievable, I have heard that story from my mom and grandmother but thought of it as a fairy tale, never thinking there was any truth to it. there are lots of question, Leslie; we just have to find the answers, if we can. Leslie, could it be possible that if I found the ring in the garden and it was on the man's chain that the chain could be buried there too. wouldn't that be unbelievable, we have to start digging?" The bell on the oven rang signaling that the pizza was done and not a minute too soon, the girls were ready to eat and then to slumber.
     The girls were up early and wasted no time getting to the library, it was only open until noon so they had to make the most of the time they had. Daisy was handling the jewelry side of the story and Leslie would handle the family history , former owners etc. They had come prepared with iPads, cell phones to take pictures, laptops etc., they would collect their information and then swap it when they returned home. They were ready for the challenge but had no idea what surprises lay ahead of them.

Out of the Past Cont'd

Granny here,

How could he have let himself get into a predicament like this, of course you don't always know what your heart is going to do? This had certainly been poor judgment on his part, but he couldn't change it nor did he want to, the memories he had made with Cesca were worth the pain he would carry the rest of his life and he was sure she felt the same.
     Cesca was looking forward to the next few weeks, not for the scenery but for the time she would be spending with Alex, he had made her happier than she ever thought she could be, although the thought of leaving him brought tears to her eyes and pain to her heart. He was so wonderful, so different than any man she had been involved with before. She would leave him reluctantly, but with her heart full of lovely memories of the man who gave her a few weeks of bliss at a time in her life when she needed them most. No matter what happened in her future, he would always be there, in a special place in her heart that nothing could touch and no one could take away. She would spend as much time as possible with him, making as many memories as possible, they would have to last her a lifetime. She wanted to be alone with the only man that had ever made her feel loved and she knew her heart would never give him up.
   
      The next few weeks were filled with days of laughter, food and time together that only they shared in a world filled with war, pain and uncertainty. The time spent alone was like being in another world, another place that was theirs alone. A place that no one else could enter, the  villa became their escape from a world that only made them more aware that the day of their parting was swiftly approaching. They spent time on the mountains, in the valley, at the winery, on the beaches, in the villages; it was as if the world was all theirs to do with as they pleased.
     The day was gorgeous as Alex made his way to the hotel just as he did all the other days; he was humming a love song to himself as he thought of her and how much he loved her. He thought of all the time they had spent together thus far and what the days ahead would hold in store for them.
      Today, Alex was taking Cesca to the ruins of the ancient temples of Roman gods on the sun kissed hills of Catanzaro, some of them were still standing and some were being excavated by those looking for clues to a time gone by. It would be a lovely day spent with each other alone on the hills surrounding an area filled with history and intrigue. In a way that was how he saw Cesca, full of intrigue, full of life that may never be lived or at least not the way she wanted to live it. He wanted to surprise her so she had no clue where she was going; she was never disappointed, just being alone with Alex was enough for her.
     Their routine had become just that, a routine, Cesca could hardly wait to get to the place where Alex would stop and let her get into the front seat close to him where she could feel his presence, smell his cologne, and let him know how happy she was just to be near him. This day was no different, she jumped into the seat beside him, laughing as she did so, "This day is so lovely, Alex, where are we going?" "I have a surprise for you Cesca, just hold on tight and the day will take on a life all its own. I love you so." Said Alex as he kissed her on the lips. Without hesitation Cesca threw her arms around his neck and put more passion in her kiss than Alex was expecting, this was her playful way of teasing him knowing that he had driving to do and couldn't take advantage of her invitation. He laughed and returned the kiss as he pulled onto the highway.
     As he drove along the shore leading along the winding highway, their conversation centered on their love for each other and how happy they were spending these few days together. Cesca continued to play her love games, running her fingers through Alex's dark hair, kissing him on the ears and neck, squeezing him on the leg, he enjoyed all the little touches that she gave him even though it made his male instincts kick into high gear and he desired to have her but knew that would not happen because of the respect he had for her. Although he couldn't be sure that it wouldn't happen if she chose to make that decision herself.
     The day was so lovely and Cesca enjoyed her excavating adventures on the hills of Catanzaro. The food they enjoyed was grown locally in the area by the farmers and the fish was caught fresh daily by the local fishermen, which made them taste even more delicious. The wine was made from grapes grown in the beautiful vineyards there in Calabria and surrounding areas. Cesca couldn't have asked for a more exciting day and being with Alex made it extra special for her.
      Each day brought something new and exciting for Cesca, Alex took her to all the sights of the country side and all the sounds of the city but the most exciting for the both of them were the hours spent at the villa in each others arms. They had one more week together and it would all be over, their arms would be empty, their hearts would be hurting and memories would be all that would be left for him and Cesca. All they could do now was make every day a day to remember. They had discussed their plans for the following week and decided to spend each day at the villa alone with each other, with their dreams, with their memories. Alone to talk, to laugh, to reminisce of the days that had spent together, the happiness they had brought each other if only for a moment in time, to melt into one another in spirit and with a love that was theirs to take with them when they parted, a love that was theirs alone that would live in their hearts forever.

     Everyday when Alex picked up Cesca he thought she was more beautiful than the day before, she really wasn't of course, it was just his love for her that kept getting stronger and stronger with each passing day. The days spent at the villa became more and more important to them and it was getting more and more difficult for them to leave each other in the evening when Cesca's curfew was near. The villa had become a haven for them , a refuge where Cesca could be herself, a girl in love with a boy with no strings attached , with no expectations, sharing the love that they had for each other.
      The farther away from the hotel they got the happier Cesca became, with a day of skiing planned the drive to the heights of the mountain was breathtaking, and they enjoyed their conversation all the way. Cesca used the time to tell Alex of her love for him and how she was going to show him as much as possible in the time they had left. She loved laying her head on his shoulder and caressing him in the small ways she could as he drove without causing too much distraction. The ski slopes were in good condition and the skiing was excellent, Cesca was an expert skier while Alex expertise was lacking to say the least. Cesca couldn't help but laugh at him as he made his way down the mountain stumbling in all directions. He was willing to be the fall guy if it brought her laughter ringing out, echoing through the valley and over the mountain tops. There was no happier sound to Alex's ears than that of Cesca's laughter.

     The moonlight shown over them as their desire led them from one moment of ecstasy to another each one more intense than the last. As the evening came to an end Alex and Cesca could hardly face the separation they knew lay ahead of them, how they wanted to spend the night wrapped in each others arms but knew that was impossible. Cesca put her arms around Alex's neck and pulled his identification chain out of his shirt and kissed it as if to add her love to it , them she took off the beautiful ring she was wearing and placed it on the chain, it was the only part of her she had to give that he could have forever. "I want you to have this Alex as a reminder of my love. It will be a constant reminder of our time together and the love that we shared that no one can take from us, a love that we can hold within our hearts from this day forward."
     It was almost time to say goodbye and their hearts were breaking, how could they say goodbye, how could they turn away from each other and walk away?  Alex took Cesca in his arms and held her as long as he dared, he knew that he had to take her back and the thought left him with an ache in his heart that was so intense he could hardly bare the pain.
    He lifted her up to his lips and with the softness of new fallen snow he pressed his lips on hers, he tasted the salty tears that had fallen from her eyes and across her lips, this was just too painful he thought as he carried her to the door. The end was here, an end they always new was coming but wouldn't let it destroy the love they had found for one another.
     It was a gorgeous day, their last day to be together. As Alex made his way to the hotel, singing to himself as he thought of Cesca and his love for her. The thought of leaving her cast a shadow over his excitement, but he would ignore it for the remainder for their time together. He couldn't let anything jeopardize that , it had to be perfect and it would be if at all possible.
     The villa would be their haven for the day, theirs alone to spend their last hours together. There they would be free from staring eyes, the stress from having to look over their shoulder they would have a freedom that allowed them to enjoy each other, to express their feelings maybe for the last time. Alex would have these memories to comfort him for his remaining months in the military, and then he would take them home to America where he would cherish them for the rest of his life. Cesca would hide them in her heart as she returned to the stuffy life of her royal family where her life was synchronized down to her every move. These few weeks would be a time in her life she would remember as hers, a time that she made her own decisions, a time when she was her own person, a time when she was just a girl, a girl in love, in love with a soldier, in love with a time, just a woman in love.
     As they arrived at the villa, Alex opened the door, lifted Cesca from the car  and carried her over the threshold, his lips coming down on hers with
all the tenderness that was in him. The flame of desire engulfed the two of them; their kisses became more passionate as they crumbled to the floor. The fire was roaring in the fireplace and the aroma of fresh coffee filled the room but they hadn't noticed, Alex's buddy had made preparations for them as his contribution to their last day together.
     Their lovemaking lasted until the fire had dwindled down to ashes and Alex noticed it was time to add more logs, the villa, made of stone always had a chill inside so the fireplace came in handy in any season. Although fire was not needed to keep them warm it did add to the ambiance of the moment. Alex added a log and returned to his place beside Cesca on the soft, furry rug that had made the perfect place to spend their last hours together.
     After making love to the point of exhaustion, Alex took Cesca by the hand and lifted her from the floor kissing her as her lips came close to his, why miss an opportunity when it presented itself, he laughed to himself. She freshened herself and took a seat on the Victorian sofa facing the beautiful stone fireplace. Alex retrieved coffee for the two of them and some cookies his buddy had made the night before. they sat facing each other for maybe the last moments they would be together, their conversation went on for hours, and there would be nothing they wouldn't know about each other by the end of the day.
     Their escapade on the floor had left them famished so Alex led Cesca into the kitchen where food had already been prepared compliments again of his friend and roommate. It was spread out on the table, a feast fit for the countess and her count, there was an assortment of cheeses, breads, and fruits, a pot of soup was simmering on the stove and it filled the air with a delicious aroma and of course there was a choice of local Italian wines.
     After having their fill of good things to eat, Alex poured two glasses of wine and they made their way out to the veranda where the evening view was so breathtaking that tears filled Cesca's eyes. "It is so beautiful here, Alex." "Only because you are here, Cesca," commented Alex. as he kissed her on the cheek feeling the tear that had just fallen from her eye. As he looked into her eyes, through the tears, he could see a love that he knew was for him and him alone, their time together would soon come to an end but the love they had for each other would live forever.
     Alex took her by the hand and led her into the garden, as they strolled along together, Cesca poured out her heart,"Alex, our time together is coming to an end, I want you to know that I will never feel about anyone the way I feel about you. You are the beat of my heart, you are the light of my soul, I love you more than I could have imagined. I don't know how I will ever be able to go on without you but we both know a union between us is impossible. We knew that from the beginning but I was willing to make that sacrifice for the love that you gave me and hope you feel the same. I hope you never forget me, I hope I have won a place in your heart that will always by mine." Cesca pulled the chain with ring out of Alex's shirt once again, holding it in her hand she said, "Each time you look at this ring, remember it has all my love within it and it will never be given to another," and she placed it back inside his shirt, her hands moving over his chest and then to his face enclosing it in her hands, she looked into his eyes now filled with tears. As a tear made it's way down his cheek she kissed it away but tears from her own eyes were making it difficult, as they kissed there in the garden, their tears became one as if to say we two are now one.
      Alex reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box, he opened it and there was the most beautiful cameo that Cesca had ever seen, he placed it around her neck and as he did he laid her back on the large stone that was their favorite place in the garden and when their lips met time was forgotten. The passion of the moment was too much for them and they became lost in each other but neither of them cared, it was the ending of their love affair and this was all they would have to remember.
     The rest of the evening was spent silently on the lounge in each others arms, they felt that all had been said and now they just wanted their love to blend in these last moments together. Alex tried to give Cesca enough kisses to last the rest of her life, the thoughts of leaving him had brought her tears to a sob as the end of the day approached and they would have to go back to the hotel. She, back to her life as a royal, a life empty of the one true love she probably would ever know. He, to the life of an American soldier who fell in love with a countess, a woman thought to be above him by everyone but her, but for this day they were one, one with each other, one for each other, one for all time.
     Cesca's curfew was quickly approaching; Alex would have to take her back soon and the moments were becoming more and more intense. He just wanted to hold her, hold her tight until nothing or no one could ever come between them, but he knew that was impossible and so did she. As he turned out the lights and kissed her for the last time their hearts became one, they felt a bond they knew would never be broken by distance, by loves, by time. They were one, by chance, by choice, by circumstance, but most of all by love.
     Alex and Francesca knew that the love they had for one another would forever be part of them although they may never see one another again and chances were they probably never would. Yet, they had been willing to take this chance for a love they felt was the only one for them. It was a short moment of time in their lives that could never be forgotten and neither one of them intended to forget nor were they capable of forgetting such love that they had for each other. Francesca had never known such freedom, such bliss, she had always been confined t the desires and wishes of her family and what was expected of her as a member of the royal family. this time she had spent with Alex was so different from anything she had ever experienced, how could she not fall in love with him and he with her.
      This month had been a dream come true for the both of them, finding each other under the most dire of circumstances which could have proved detrimental to both of them yet they gambled it all and came out with memories to last a lifetime although it would be hard to let go of each other and walk away with only memories but they knew that from the start.
     The drive back to the hotel was somber, silent and foreboding.  Alex, fulfilling his last assignment in the line of duty, returned the Countess to her hotel, as he opened the door for her exit and he leaned into the car a tear fell from his cheek; he knew he would never forget her, as the month they had spent together flashed before him, all the good times and the moments when they realized this day would come he knew she would be in his heart forever and the time they had spent together would be with him for the rest of his life. Their eyes met as he bent over to assist her out of the car, as he took her by the hand words were not spoken, their hearts were silently saying all they wanted to say, words of love and tenderness, words of goodbye without their lips having to move, at that moment they were so in touch with their feelings that the love they had for each other was as a mist that engulfed their very being and as their eyes said goodbye Alex knew that he would never forget the time he had spent with her and she too was telling him silently that she could never forget the love that he had so willing given her, a love that was forbidden but a love worth the chance. How could she forget the sacrifice that he had made for her, without him she would have never know love could be felt so deeply nor would she ever again?
      As he held onto her hand never wanting to let go his heart was in so much pain that he could hardly breathe, how could he let her go, how could he give up the greatest love he had ever known or that he would ever want to know? She was the very soul of his life, she was the breath that he breathed, how could he go on without her?
     As Francesca looked into the depths of his soul she could see the pain of separation that he was feeling at that moment, the tears began to fall from her eyes as Alex lifted her from the car, as the aroma of his cologne filled her senses she knew that it was over. She felt the same pain within her own heart but knew this was the end , duty calls and she must return to Countess Victoria Francesca Castalina. She must put on the cloak of duty and return to her life of responsibility not with anticipation but with dread and fear but knowing that the broken heart she would carry for the rest of her life was a small price to pay for the love she had gained in return. With his white gloved hand Alex wiped her tears as their eyes met for the last time silently saying I will always love you.
      Alex lifted Francesca from the car and as she made her way into the hotel he watched her every step as she walked out of his life forever, leaving him with memories and a broken heart.
     Cesca opened the door to her room and fell against it as it closed behind her, she was exhausted from the pain within her heart, she fell upon the bed sobbing uncontrollably at the thought of never seeing Alex again. She reached into her dress to retrieve the locket that would bring him closer to but to her dismay she had lost it during the evening, she was devastated, there was no way it would be possible to retrieve it even if she knew where she had lost it. It was gone forever just as Alex was now gone forever leaving her only memories to keep her alive. Her sobs became almost an agonizing groan as she lay on the bed until she finally fell asleep still dressed in her clothes.

Francesca and Alexander Cont'd

Granny here,

                                      Francesca & Alexander

     As he awoke the next morning, Cesca was his first thought, although it was six in the morning it was never to early to think of her. He made his way to the shower, than to the mess hall wishing that his day would be filled with her presence again but he had no appointment with her that day. Just as he was finishing his breakfast, his superior officer came over to him, "Alex, an order has come in from the young Countess, requesting you as her escort for the day, whatever she wants to do, accommodate her with the reverence she deserves, do the army proud, don't let us down." Alex, saluted the officer and said, "Yes, Sir!" with a grin in his heart but not on his face, Alex was about to bust with joy, he was going to spend the day with her again. Was he kidding himself, would she be the same excited, happy young lady that he had spent the day with yesterday? Had she just been caught up in the moment or had it really meant something to her? Alex had a lot of questions, would he find his answers?
      Alex returned to the villa to change into his royal uniform, he was to pick Cesca up at ten a.m. He met her at her door which was expected of him by protocol guidelines. Alex liked what he saw as the door opened and Cesca made her appearance. She was striking in an ankle length print dress that fit her form with no room to spare; the bodice was fitted with see through lace that displayed one of her best features, her breasts. The cleavage was just enough to cause heads to turn and Alex's heart to flutter. "Good morning Alex," she said with that smile that started Alex's day off just right. "Good morning Countess, what is the plan for the day?"
     "I would like to go sightseeing today, this is such lovely country and I would like to see as much as I can in the short time I will be here, is that possible?" "We can sight see together, I haven't had time to see very much of the area, Uncle Sam keeps me quite busy." Alex wasn't allowed to touch the countess in public so his escorting was kept to a minimum, his desire to touch her was almost overwhelming, he caught himself several times reaching out to take her hand but refrained just in time. He opened the door for her to enter the car and took the opportunity of whispering sweet nothings in her ear as she slid in; she gave him a grin of approval and lightly squeezed his hand which came as a surprise that she had actually allowed them to touch each other.
        "Where would you like to go first, your Royal Highness, asked Alex, in his teasing manner which brought her laughter ringing through the car, it was music to Alex's ears, he loved her laughter. "It doesn't matter; being alone with you is all that matters, that's all I really want." Her comment took Alex off guard but in a surprising way, his heart started to beat so hard he was sure she could hear it in the back seat. "I feel the same way, Cesca, you know we are in jeopardy of being caught and that could mean real trouble for both of us." "I'm willing to take that chance if you are, I get very little out of life that I want, and I want you, Alex, you make me happy, you make me laugh, I enjoy myself when I'm with you, am I worth the gamble?" "You don't know how much you are worth to me, Cesca, you have brought a joy to my life I didn't know existed, I'm willing to pay the price if that's what it takes to spend my time with you."
     Alex had heard from the other soldiers of a remote section of the city that was set among the Greek ruins so prevalent in the area. He thought that would be the perfect place to be alone with Cesca, but really any place would be the perfect place as far as he was concerned. He drove for miles describing the sights as best he could, he wasn't that well versed in the history of the region but told Cesca what he knew. She was fascinated with it all, especially with him, she leaned up closer to him and laid her head on the seat right behind his head which distracted him very much. Her perfume filled the car with the aroma of a flower garden; teasing him she breathed on his neck, whispered in his ear and tickled his ear lobe. This was having a distinct affect on Alex and he could barely keep his mind on his driving but Cesca found it very amusing.

     He was just about to his limit with her teasing when he came upon the perfect spot where they could be together. He pulled over, thrust open the door and pulled Cesca into his arms, his kiss said "I'm so glad you're in my arms and in my life." She was as responsive as he hoped she would be, the kisses kept coming and the passion heated to the point that Alex wanted to lay Cesca back in the seat but had a change of heart out of respect for this woman with whom he found himself falling in love.
      "This is a great place for a stroll, Cesca, let's take advantage of the day and get the most for our gamble," laughed Alex as he took her by the hand. As he felt her hand in his he noticed she was wearing a beautiful diamond ring but refrained from asking any questions for fear it was a token from someone in her past and he didn't want to hear abut that. "You have a crazy sense of humor, Alex, that's what I love about you; I've never known anyone quite like you. All the men in my life have been stuffed shirts, so full of themselves there wasn't room for anyone else. My life has been planned for me from the clothes that I wear to the men I am seen with, I have very little to say about any of it and that can be very disheartening but there is little I can do about it. This time with you is like heaven to me, please say that the remaining days will be ours alone." "I would love to spend the rest of my life with you, Cesca, if it were possible, but we both know that it isn't, we must make the most of the time we have left," explained Alex as he turned Cesca toward him to look into her eyes which sparked a fire in both of them and their lips met once again with the same passion as before.
     They walked and talked as the day faded away from them, they were so involved with each other that they had forgotten to eat and it was getting late. Along the shoreline they had passed a small quaint café and decided to go back there and have some wine and a bite to eat. They decided on penne pasta with marinara sauce, and some famous Italian bread that was made right there on the premises. The day was quickly turning into evening and Alex had a deadline for returning Cesca to the hotel, she would be leaving soon and taking her back was getting more and more difficult each time for him and for her. She had expressed her feelings about leaving him on more than one occasion but knew the time was closer than either one of them wanted to admit. the fact that they would soon part brought a degree of sadness to their time together, they were more determined to make the most of the time they had left, making memories to last them a lifetime because memories would be all they would have of this moment in time.

     The Countess had made it clear to her family and the army superiors that Alex would be her own personal guard and guide for her remaining days in Calabria. She had not enjoyed her outings with Lt. Donovan; he was just not her type, too quiet, too reserved and not a very good conversationalist. Lt. Donovan had it figured out himself and approached Alex about the subject. "You're falling in love with her aren't you, Alex? You knew to be on your guard when you took this assignment. How could you set yourself up like this?" "Oh, I know you're right, I am a fool, I never dreamed that it could happen so quickly, but I do love her very much and it's too late now, she will be leaving soon, I'll get over it I just hope that she does, I would never want to hurt her in any way."
     Alex wanted to spend as much private time with Cesca as possible and the only place that was possible would be at the villa where Alex lived off base with one of the other guys from his company, so he did what any American soldier would do , he made a deal with his house mate, he would be gone as much as possible when Alex was with Cesca and they would have the villa to themselves, with no worries of being interrupted.
     Alex actually dreaded the next few weeks knowing that he would have to give her up when it was over but he couldn't ruin her only chance of having a taste of a life that she could only dream of. How could he let her go? Was it his decision to make? She had told him that her life was planned for her so she had little to say about it so how could he take this away from her?

Out of the Past Cont'd

Granny here,

                                    "Francesca and Alexander"
                        "Sometime During the Eighteen Hundreds"

     The war was unsettling to say the least for the countries involved and all of their people. American soldiers had been deployed to the regions surrounding Calabria and were doing what they could to keep peace in the area. The Italian people were grateful but somewhat apprehensive of the American soldiers but had no other choice but to accept help wherever they could find it.
     The soldiers had been given orders to what lengths they were allowed to go with the Italian women and would be disciplined if they went outside the boundaries set for them. Being American males they were brave men but they were also lonely men, they often took chances and had affairs with the young ladies of Calabria and the surrounding villages. Many of them paid the price when caught and spent many hours confined to the brig, but were willing to do so in order to enjoy a few hours of sexual satisfaction with the girl of their choice. Many of them fell in love with hopes of marrying after the war was over. The superiors knew the dangers of this behavior which would include many unwanted pregnancies and babies born out of wedlock were so great that great strides were made to avoid such occurrences.
     The soldiers were assigned to different details such as keeping peace after hours in the city streets, in the mountainous areas where the enemy would often hide. They were also assigned as escorts to various dignitaries throughout the region when the occasion called for it. This included the echelon of the military, the Italian government and members of royal families whenever they visited the area.
     The American Post was set up on the outskirts of Calabria at the foot of the mountains where the men would have a good view of the surrounding areas including access to the mountains. They were beautiful with their snowcaps along the peaks and dark green forestry as they descended to the valley below that led to white sandy beaches. The soldiers had access to various sports depending on the season of the year whenever they had a few days leave to enjoy themselves, but with loneliness the number one problem among the men , women was their chosen sport. Some of the men were not having flings they were falling in love therefore complicating their situation even more, getting married during wartime was not easy by any means but in a foreign country it was virtually impossible.
     Many of the men found themselves in love and having no solutions to the problem they had created for themselves. Man of them chose to live off base with their "wife" and sometimes children, this practice was frowned upon by the U.S. Military but little could be done about it except locking the men up and that only added to the situation and they needed every man to be available for duty when they were needed.
      Rumors were spreading among the men that some members of a royal family would be visiting the area for a month and that escorts would be needed to guard them during their stay. Many of the men were hoping for the assignment, they all had different reasons, some just for the prestige that the assignment would carry with it, others for the chance to meet royalty and make some memories to last them a lifetime and go home with some great stories to tell their families. This was something that would only happen once in their lifetime. One of these soldiers was Lt. Robert  Alexander Neilson, a tall, dark and handsome young man in his early twenties.
     The day for finding out who had be given the assignment was filled with excitement and apprehension for the men, most of them wanted this assignment so when the listing was posted all of them were there to read it. The selection consisted of six men all with experience in guard duty somewhere in the past. The list read Pvt. Donald Louis Watson Pvt. Maury Lee Olsen, Lt. James Smith Donovan, Pvt. Bradley Wayne Littleton and Lt. Robert Alexander Neilson. The sis men were thrilled with the news but still had days of preparation for the event, they had a lot to learn about royalty.
     After the final choices were made for the royal guard duty, the men had to study for days learning all the rules of protocol that was involved with such an assignment. It was very important that the men knew what was allowed and what was not in a situation such as this. Security would be of the utmost importance and how the soldiers conducted themselves in the presence of royalty could bring unwanted publicity to the American military if not handled correctly.
     The soldiers chosen as the "Royalty Guard" were given a list of all the royal family members that would be under their care. It would be King Garibaldi and Queen Alisianna, and their niece The Countess Victoria Francesca Castalina, a beautiful young lady about twenty years old. The men were given photographs of the family so they would be familiar with them and the men liked what they saw in the young countess, they also knew that the hands off policy would definitely be applied in this circumstance and that the penalty would be severe if not adhered to.
      The big day finally arrived, the Royal Guard was trained and ready for duty and was well prepared for the task at hand but as far as the Countess was concerned the men did not look at this as work but pure pleasure. Special uniforms had been commissioned for the men and they were the pride of their company. There was also a degree of jealousy among the men not chosen for they understood it was just the luck of the draw and wished the men chosen well in their assignment. This assignment would last for a month and included various events that the royal family would be participating in. Two of the men would be assigned to the King, two of them to the Queen and two of them to the Countess.
     They received their assignment by random drawing with Lts. Neilson
and Donovan being assigned to Countess Francesca which made them feel fortunate indeed, but they also knew they would have to conduct themselves as gentlemen at all times or pay the consequences if caught. This may not have been too much of a concern for Lt. Donavon, who was a shy, quiet man who was considered a wall flower by all the other men and he usually would rather spend his time alone than with the other guys. On the other hand Lt. Neilson was very popular, outgoing type of guy who was always the life of the party and thought taking chances was the spice of life. All the men teased the two about how lucky they were and wondered which one would wind up with the countess. Little did the two men know what lay in store for them, especially Lt. Robert Alexander Neilson.
      The two lieutenants were introduced to the royal family at a formal gathering that included the entire company and was it a royal affair? The men were dressed in their royal best and the countess' beauty took their breath away. When the countess was introduced to Lt. Neilson it was a little different that meeting Lt. Donovan, she seemed to linger just a little longer, look in his eyes a little longer and have a smile that seemed to say more than "I'm glad to meet you."
     It wasn't long before the Countess was learning the personalities of her two escorts and they were as different as daylight and dark with Lt. Neilson being the daylight. He made her laugh, made her feel good in a time when it was hard to find anything to feel good about, where Lt. Donovan was quiet and adhered strictly to military protocol and added nothing to her time out with him.
     Lt. Neilson's schedule for the day was to pick up Countess Francesca and take her to the beach for a day of swimming and relaxation. Not a bad assignment by any man's standards and Lt. Alex as he was called would make the most of it, one could be sure of that. As she came out of the royal suite, Alex's breath was taken away for a moment; she was beyond gorgeous, tall and slender, with long legs, a dark tan on what flesh he could see, her eyes looked like brown jewels and her hair was the color of coffee. He knew this day was going to be more than special if he had anything to do with it.
     He escorted her to the special vehicle that had been assigned to the Countess for these occasions and opened the back door for her, as she stood near him she couldn't help but breathe in the aroma of his cologne which made her feel light headed but in a good way. She smiled at him as she slid into the back seat, her long legs peeking from under her royal skirt. He grinned back at her as if he had not noticed them and leaned inside the car to make sure everything was secure, giving her an extra close look at this physique and another whiff of his cologne, it never hurt to take extra measures to get things to go the way you wanted them to and Lt. Alex knew all the tricks and he wasn't afraid to use them.
      Countess Francesca opened the conversation which was the only way the men were allowed to talk to the royal family; they had to indicate that they wanted conversation by initiating it. Any conversation had to be initiated by them otherwise it would be considered an intrusion on the part of the soldier and that was unacceptable. "How long have you been in the army, soldier?" Asked the young countess. "About two years, answered Alex, I like it very much, especially my present assignment." "Do you plan to make a career in the armed forces, there's lots of opportunity you know." "I'll have to give that some thought, Countess, do you think that would be a wise decision?" Asked Alex, bringing the conversation down to a more personal level. "I can think of worse vocations, can't you? The military has a great deal to offer and more men like you need to take advantage of it, don't you think?" "Yes, I guess you're right there, but I'm not sure it's the best decision for all of us but a lot of the men do choose to stay. I'll have to give it some more thought before my time is up." "By the way, please call me Cesca, all my friends do." "Thank you Countess, I mean Cesca, for adding me to the category of friend, do you grant that liberty to all your escorts? Ask Alex. You may call me Alex if you like, I would count it a privilege to call you my friend, and it's not every day that a soldier gets to add royalty to his list of friends."  As the conversation continued Alex took the opportunity to look back through the rearview mirror and observe Cesca's expression and trying to figure out what she was really thinking and where she may be going with this conversation. Please discard the royalty, for the month we are together, I am just a girl seeking a good time and I hope you will be part of that, I will put the royalty back on when I return to my life, right now I want this to be a new life, new memories, and most of all a good time." Alex was taken by surprise but it was a good one and he would do all in his power to bring the countess' desires about. The conversation helped pass the time and they were at the beach before either one of them realized it, it was a special section that had been designated exclusively for the royal family for security reasons so Alex had her all to himself.
     The sun was hot on the sand as Alex opened the door for Cesca, as she slid her long legs out on the sandy beach Alex offered his hand for assistance, she was about to stand up and when the sand shifted beneath her she landed in Alex's arms, which he didn't mind, but needless to say it was an embarrassment for both of them. As Alex caught her, their eyes met and both of them felt something electric go between them, this could not be, this should not be but there was no doubt for either of them, they were definitely attracted to each other more ways than one.
     Alex, remembering his orders and the rules of protocol, quickly let her go and preceded to set up the area where she would be comfortable, spreading the blanket, setting up the beach umbrella and the royal picnic lunch. He carried her satchel and placed it under the umbrella, out of the corner of his eye he could see her untying the wrap she was wearing as a cover up. Her bathing suit, a navy blue sailor style, the latest fashion of the day, fit her like she had been melted and poured in it. Alex almost lost his composure, he was a young man after all, who had been away from female companionship for a while and she certainly fit the bill that would fill in all the lonely moments he had had up until now.
     Cesca brought Alex back to reality, "You did bring swim trunks, didn't you , Alex? Why would a hunk like you go to the beach without getting in the water?" She asked. "If that is your wish, Cesca, I am prepared, but only at your invitation," Answered Alex, delighted that she had invited him to join her in her swim. His heart was beating faster as his thoughts went farther than he had anticipated, how lucky could a fellow be, this is what you write home about he thought as he dove into the water. Coming up, Alex, found himself face to face with Cesca, he didn't dare do what he felt like at that moment, he was very attracted to her and he knew that pose some serious problems for both of them.
     Cesca initiated the play that ensued as Alex came up out of the water, what choice did he have but to go along with her, he had no authority to say no to royalty, not that he wanted to . She began splashing him and chasing him, trying to dunk him beneath the water, she was laughing like it was something she didn't get to do that often and Alex enjoyed the sound of her laughter as it rippled over the waves. He knew this kind of behavior would not be acceptable if found out, either by the royal family or by his superiors, so it would be their secret and he felt there would be many more to come.
     Alex found it so surprising that he and the countess had such an attraction to each other so soon. Was it because he was a lonely soldier and she, a manipulated young woman with no control over her own destiny? Could one fall in love this quickly or was he leading himself into a situation that would only bring heartache for both of them. Was it fair to Cesca to let this go on with the reality of knowing it could go nowhere, that it could never become their life or would it be unfair to rob her of the only happiness she may ever know, Alex would leave that decision up to Cesca, wherever she would lead him, he would go, he knew already that he could love her that much.
     The morning swim had given both of them a ravenous appetite and they made a run for the picnic basket that had been prepared by the hotel kitchen. It contained delicious fruits, cheeses, breads, and a bottle of wine. Alex spread the food out on the blanket, Cesca made her way through the hot sand to offer he assistance, Alex was about to stop her when she took him by the hand, "Remember I'm just a girl having a good time with a good looking gentleman," she said in a low sultry voice that made Alex believe there was more to Cesca than he realized. "Whatever is your pleasure, your royal highness." "Please, Alex, don't ruin this moment for me, I love being just a plain girl, on a lonely beach with a handsome soldier having the time of my life." Alex, at that moment saw a side of Cesca that was lonely, foreboding, he saw a young woman hungry for life, who knew that she only had these moments in time to make the memories that she would carry with her the rest of her life and how could he deny her that.
     Cesca poured the wine and handed Alex a glass, as their hands touched he could feel the warmth of her flesh against his, "May I pose a toast, Cesca? May this moment last forever, if not in real time, in our memories, to you Cesca, a plain girl, with a handsome soldier, on a lonely beach." Alex took her in his arms, their lips met wit such tenderness and passion, a tear made it's way down her cheek, they crumbled down to the blanket weaken by the intensity of the moment, the picnic was forgotten as they lay wrapped in each others arms the remainder of the afternoon. Alex kissed her over and over again as they watched the afternoon sun go down, "We must be going, Cesca, it's getting late, we don't want to bring to much attention to our behavior, we don't need a lot of questions." "Oh, Alex, do we have to, I haven't had this much fun in my life, but I know you're right , can we do it again?" "You know I will be alternating outings with Lt. Donovan, so I won't always have the pleasure of being your escort." He hated to take her back but had his orders and didn't dare do anything that would bring suspicion upon their behavior.
      Alex returned to the villa that night with a song and a secret in his heart. Sleep did not come easy, his thoughts were only of Cesca and when he would see her again. He knew that she would only be in his care for so many days during her visit and he was already resenting the fact that she had to be shared with Lt. Donovan. Why had he let himself become involved so quickly, what would he do when she left him, how could he face losing her when he had just found her? He knew all he could do was enjoy what time ha had with her and as he drifted off to sleep she was still on his mind.

Granny here, just saying!

Out of the Past Chapter 10

Granny here,

                                              Chapter 10

      As Daisy tried to drift off to sleep her head was spinning, she had so much on her mind. Would she find out more about the ring? Was the decision concerning Tory the right one? Would her parents retire to Italy? Would Leslie decide to stay? So many questions going around in her head, it would be a miracle if she slept at all.
     daisy was so intrigued with the ring she had found that she decided o spend all day Saturday investigating it, her first stop would be the jewelry stores to have them take a look at the ring. Surely they would know something about its value.
      The first place was so small they didn't have any knowledge at all about it; the second store passed it off as costume jewelry from the twenties. Daisy thought this guy is a joke; he doesn't have any idea what he is talking about. Daisy had heard of a jeweler who only dealt in antique jewelry so she decided to give him a try, it was quite a drive but she thought it would be worth it, so she got a cup of coffee and off she went to Reggio di Calabria.
     Mr. Pizzario, the jeweler at Antiques Reggio, was a jovial man, short in stature and sharp in his knowledge of antique jewelry. In his Italian English he began his inquiry, "Where did you get this piece of jewelry young lady?" "I found it buried in the garden of the villa that I leased."  Replied Daisy with an air of excitement. Mr. Pizzario put on his magnifying eye to have a closer look, "First, the mounting is platinum, that is obvious, the main stone is a diamond, but it will take further study to determine it clarity, style, age and the era that it comes from. Are you willing to leave it in my possession so that I may have more time to study it?" He asked as he placed the ring in a box that he retrieved from the drawer. "The ring will be insured by the company that will be doing the examination and you will receive a receipt and be kept up to date on the findings. Will this meet with your approval?" Daisy thought for a moment and decided if she was going to find out any information this was probably her best option. "I think I can do that, how long do you think the search will take?" "That, I have no idea, but I would say at least a month, maybe two, I will call you form time to time and keep you up to date." Daisy signed the permission form and took her receipt and left, wondering if she had done the right thing.
     Daisy decided to give Leslie a call on her way back to town. "I' so glad you called Daisy, I was going to call you with the news." "What news, Leslie?" Came Daisy's inquisitive reply. "My job in America has come to an end, I have decided to stay in Calabria, and I received word last week of their decision." "Oh, Leslie, I'm so glad, not that you've lost your job but that you are staying in Calabria, can we get together for dinner tonight?" "I'd love that, let's meet at the Café Cuinsino at six, ok?" "Tell Tory, hi and I will call him later, bye." Daisy got home with plenty of time to relax before meeting Leslie that evening. She poured herself a glass of wine and made her way to the veranda, her favorite place , to chill out for a while. She had no idea how exhausted she really was and before she could drink her wine she fell asleep and of course what else would Daisy do, but dream.
     It was almost five o' clock when Daisy woke up, she jumped up, seeing how late it was she would have to rush to make it in time to meet Leslie at the café. She freshened up and out the door she went. Leslie had just been seated when Daisy arrived, the two hugged a friendly hello and sat down. "Oh, Leslie, I am so glad you are staying in Italy, you are my best friend, I really did want you to stay." "You aren't any happier than I am, Daisy, my job was so boring. I had contemplated quitting before I heard that things had a chance of changing in the near future. My parents plan on retiring here in a few years so I will be glad that I stayed." The girls ordered their food and discussed their futures and life in general.
     "Leslie, you remember that ring I found, I took it to an antique jewelry specialist and they are going to examine it, they said it could take a month or two. I wonder what they will find out. I've been to the library once but I'll go again when I get their report. I know there is a mystery about that ring and I won't rest until I find out what it is."Yes, Daisy, I do remember it, it sounded lovely when you described it to me, do you think it's real? It will be fun to learn the history behind it. It would be great if it had some mysterious story of love and intrigue to go with it, wouldn't it? What will you do with the ring Daisy?" "If the jeweler decides that it is real, I will have to have it insured and place it in a safe deposit box at the bank. He is experienced enough to know and with the research they are doing they should find out for sure if it's real. After I hear form the experts, all I can do is trust them and their opinion, I will then decide what to do with it, who knows maybe I will find the real owner or at least the family to which it belongs." "You are a dreamer Daisy, to think you will be able to find them after all these years, but maybe you can with enough research, we'll wait and see, it should be very interesting." Daisy and Leslie had a lovely time making plans, since they were going to have more time to spend together their conversation covered everything from A to Z. They spent the entire evening going over the day and what they planned to accomplish in the future. It was late when Daisy returned home, she didn't waste any time getting to bed because she had a busy day ahead of her.
     So far Daisy's new life in Italy was becoming far more exciting than she had ever anticipated, she had made new friends, she had fallen in love, she was living in the home of her dreams and she had found a mysterious ring with this intriguing mystery surrounding it which she hoped to solve with a happy ending. Daisy thought moving to Italy was the right decision and she knew there was so much more awaiting her as she moved forward into her Italian future.
     Daisy didn't have a clue what her life in Calabria was going to be like when she decided to go there all she knew was that she wanted to go more than anything she had ever wanted in her life and now she was here living her dream. She thought she had found the man of her dreams in Tory, she had made good friends and had an excellent job and lived in a dreamy villa with years of history and secrets to discover.
     Her new life was taking shape and she felt that she had made the right decision in coming to Italy and now with the discovery of the ring she had new avenues to investigate and new territory to search.

     The weeks were flying by and daisy had not heard from the jeweler, she was getting anxious about what the report would reveal. She gone to the library again and found a picture that looked similar and the story that was told about it revealed that it was said to have belonged to Countess Victoria Francesca Castalina, a countess that was rumored to have had an affair with an American soldier during the war in the eighteen hundreds. Of course this conduct was frowned upon by the royal family and so the story has always been told only as rumor and never believed to have been true.
       The story goes that during the war, the countess was visiting Calabria and was given a American soldier escort during her visit. They became very close and eventually lovers, their affair lasted the entire month she was in Calabria. Although she tried to keep it a secret from her family they suspected that something was going on but chose to keep it quiet because it would bring shame upon the royal family.
     Daisy began to remember the story her father and other members of the family would tell at family gatherings of one of the grandfathers bragging that in the eighteen hundreds he had an affair with a member of the royal family but no one ever believed him. She couldn't remember all the details or the names but surely there was no connection between the stories and the ring that would be too cool, she would have to call her dad, he should have more information.

Out of the Past Chapter 9

Granny here,

                                                   Chapter 9

     Sunday morning found Daisy still in bed; she had slept in since getting home so late the night before. Her encounter with Tory had left her dazed and confused about their relationship, she had to decide, either she was going to purse it or bring it to an end altogether, she couldn't go on like this. She did care deeply for him but was she ready to settle down if that is what he wanted. She had not dated anyone else since coming to Calabria, could she be sure Tory was the one? How would she know? She didn't like the position that she had allowed herself to be in and no she was faced with decisions she didn't want to make at this time in her life.
     Daisy reached for the telephone and dialed her mom, she would know what Daisy should do, and she could always count on her mother to give her the right advice. "Hello," Daisy breathed a sigh of relief, just the sound of her mother's voice brought peace to Daisy's troubled spirit. "Hi, mom, how are you?" Asked Daisy, trying to sound as normal as possible, but her mother was too smart for that old trick. "You sound troubled, Daisy, what's bothering you? Are you homesick?" "No, mother, it's Tory, I don't know what to do where he's concerned, I care for him very much but am afraid that it is getting too serious this early in our relationship. When I'm with him, he has such an affect on my emotions that I don't think straight and before I know what's happened I am in the grips of his charms and my emotions." "Sounds like the love bug has taken a big bite out of you girl, what do you want at this time in your life, Daisy? Is it just sexual attraction or are there deep rooted feelings there for him?" " That's the problem, mom, I have both, the attraction between us is so strong it's hard to keep my thoughts in order when I'm with him. His is strongly attracted to me and that is a volatile situation when we're together, help mom!" "Well, what I'm seeing here is, if you are not ready to give your all to Tory and settle down, I'd say you will have to bring it to and end at least for a period of time to sort out your feelings and find out where you really stand. It may take some time to sort this relationship out, but you also will be taking the chance that Tory will find someone else in the meantime." Daisy was silent for a moment, thinking over what her mom had said, "Thanks, mom, I will spend some time thinking this over, I know one thing, I can't go on like this, I've got to get on with my life one way or the other, thanks again, tell dad I love him, bye," and she hung up the phone, pulled the cover over her head and began to sob. Daisy cried until her eyes closed in much needed slumber with hopes that she would see things in a brighter light in the morning.
     Daisy had cried so much the night before that she was almost sick when she finally talked herself into getting out of bed, it was ten a.m. She turned on the coffee pot and jumped in the shower, maybe that would make her feel better. She threw on her favorite robe, poured herself a hot cup of the fresh coffee and headed for the veranda; she looked out on the view that lay before her, thought going around in her head. Why had she allowed this to happen? Did Tory feel the same? Should she bring it to an end? Should she allow it to go on? One thing she new for sure, she had to confront Tory! She would call him and get this settled and then she could go on with her life, could it be that easy? She was about to find out as she dialed his number.
     "Hello, this is Maria, hi Daisy, nice to hear from you. How are you this morning?" "I'm fine; may I speak to Tory, please?" "Sorry, Dais, Tory has gone to Cantanzaro for the weekend, he won't be back until later today, and shall I have him call you?" "I would appreciate that, if you don't mind giving him the message. Thanks, have a great day, bye," and Daisy hung up the phone pleased that she had made the call at least it was a beginning.
     It was eight that evening when the phone rang, it was Tory, "heard you called, what's up?" "Tory, I need to talk to you; do you think you could come over for a while?" Asked Daisy feeling nervous about the evening but realizing that this discussion was needed and there was no easy way to get it over with but going into it head on. "Sure, I'll be over as soon as possible, maybe within the hour, will that be ok?" "That will be fine, thanks, I'll see you when you get here, bye."
      Daisy paced the floor as she waited for Tory to arrive; going over in her head was thoughts of what she was going to say when he did get there. Would he agree? Would he be willing to work on the relationship over a long period of time? Was he ready to settle down? So may questions, did Tory have the answers?
      Daisy heard the knock on the door, as she opened it Tory had her in his arms before she knew what happened. "Tory, stop that, that is exactly what I want to talk to you about. Come in  and sit down we need to talk about this very thing, where are we going with this relationship?" "Daisy, I care a great deal for you, is this what you want?" Asked Tory still trying to embrace her. "One part of me does but the sensible part of me says wait and take it slow but you don't seem to want to slow down, how am I suppose to handle this?" Daisy was backing away to try and catch her breath, she made her way into the living room and sat down. Tory followed and tried to sit beside her but she wanted to face him as they talked so she moved across the room. "I'm not going to do anything, Daisy, that is unless you want me too, I've fell for you Daisy, and I've fell hard, don't make me go away, please, I'll play it your way, you can set the pace, how's that?" Pleaded Tory as he tried to make his way closer to her.
     She stood up to face him and she felt as if her heart was going to burst, her palms were perspiring, and she felt faint. Tory took her hands in his , he raised them to his mouth and kissed them gently, "Daisy, you have stolen a part of me I didn't know I would give away, do you understand what that means?" Said Tory as he tried to convince Daisy of his feelings. He unfolded her hands and placed them around his neck bringing her face closer to his and when their eyes met Daisy lost all sense of rationality, she felt his lips touch hers in the tenderest kiss she had ever had, she melted into his caress and they found themselves crumbling to the floor swallowed up by a moment that was beyond anything they had felt before, going far enough so that they understood each other but not going too far. Daisy had made her commitment there on the floor of the villa that now was her home. Had she done the right thing? Only time would tell if Daisy had made her decision and it certainly looked as if she had.
      The two of them lay on the floor wrapped in each others arms, feeling the beat of their hearts, as the clock ticked away the hours. When they awoke it was two a.m. Daisy was embarrassed that she had fallen asleep in Tory's arms, but loved every minute of it. "Tory, you have to leave, it's the wee hours of the morning what will people think?" Tory grabbed her and kissed her again as she was pushing him out the door, she laughed at him as she tried not to kiss him back but she failed miserably. "Good night and good riddance, you heart breaker," she said as she locked the door behind him. Daisy jumped into bed and pulled the cover up to her chin, she turned out the light and smiled to herself, I have given my heart away she thought, and she drifted off to sleep, committed but happy.
     The next morning found Daisy still smiling to herself, I think I'm in love she thought, is this what love feels like? Does Tory consider himself in love too? What if it was just a fling to him? "Daisy, you worry too much, : she said to herself as she got dressed for work. It's a new week, a new life, a new love, what more could a girl ask for? Daisy was ready to meet the day, her hart singing, her life on the move and finally feeling that she had her life and her feelings were in order.
      As Daisy sat at her dressing table doing her makeup, she caught a glimpse of the ring still wrapped in the tissue lying on the dresser. "I had forgotten about you," she said as she picked up the ring to take another look. I need to find out more about this ring and that means a trip to the library, she thought, I know it has a story and I'm going to find out what it is.

     The ring looked to be white gold or maybe even platinum, it had a large center stone, and a cluster of smaller stones around it. It looked to be Daisy's size so she tried it on and to her surprise, it fit her perfectly.
     Daisy left work excited about the idea of finding out more information about her mystery ring. She headed straight for the library which was just around the corner form work so she left her car in the parking lot and took the opportunity to walk and get some exercise too. She asked the librarian to direct her to books on old jewelry and there were plenty to choose from. Daisy chose a book on antique rings which was quite old, she searched page after page and there were some pictures that had a resemblance to the ring but nothing identical.
      She had been looking for almost an hour and she was about to give up when she came across a picture of a ring that was identical to the one she had found,. She started to read about it and the more she read the more she wanted to read. The ring had belonged to royalty and had been either stolen or lost sometime during the war. The story was intriguing but it was getting late and the library as about to close so Daisy would have to put this off until another day, she had to get home; she had things to do, like call Tory.
     By the time Daisy arrived home it was getting late, she quickly dialed Tory's number, she just had to hear his voice before she could call it a day. Their conversation lasted an hour and then she was ready to have a bite to eat and get ready for her day tomorrow, what would a new day hold in store for her? Something great and something unexpected just what she was looking for.