Tuesday Tales: From a Picture

Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales and another scene from Beneath the Ashes. Picture prompt scenes are limited to 300 words. Here’s my picture. Enjoy.

“I appreciate that, thank you. I do feel badly about being dumped on you like this. No one wants a guest who overstays her welcome.”

He shook his head. “You could never do that, and please. from now on, this is your home, too.”

She unfastened her seatbelt, opened the car door, and grabbed her purse off the floor.

“Leave the backpack.” He reached for her hand and led her out of the garage onto the terrace.

“It’s incredible,” she whispered, staring ahead at the Bay of Naples.

“I love my work in Herculaneum and Pompeii, but the minute I saw this place, I knew it was the house I wanted. It was a ruin, having sat empty longer than it was ever occupied, and barely escaping the damage from two wars and countless earthquakes, but I belonged here.”

“The … the statues.” She seemed pale, but that could be the light. “Where did you find them?”

“They were here when I bought the house. The original Casa della Sirena is built over the ruins of a villa built before Vesuvius erupted. I had a look at the old plans, but I don’t think the place was ever completed. The statues were here when the casa was built in the early twentieth century. Sadly, the owner had no children, so it sat here alone and unwanted after his death.”

“But it’s so beautiful.”

Not as beautiful as you, he wanted to say. Instead, he led her toward the house.

“There’ll be a full moon tonight. I love sitting out here with a glass of brandy after dinner, watching it rise. There’s nothing quite like it.” He crossed the terrace and opened the door. “Rosa,” he called into the chouse. “Our guest has arrived.”

That’s it. Stay safe, and don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.