Calling From Somewhere Else - Anne Teeples

The early morning in Florence Italy was Chance’s favorite part of the day. She felt like she owned the deserted cobblestone streets, when all the stores and shops closed, it was her town. This morning verged right between a sweet awakening chill and a bone touching damp bitterness. Chance bundled her scarf around neck a little tighter and pulled her cap down further for her morning walk. Her international mobile was tucked in her pocket as she headed across one of the many River Arno bridges. She knew the only call that wanted and was expecting was from her lover, Tomic.

Their serendipitous encounter brought Chance and Tomic together a few months before as she was leaving the Unites States for her year abroad. The international musician split his time between his house in New York and Croatia. He was arriving today by train from some European town, a break from his current tour. Chance could feel her body warm to the thought of the week they would spend together.

Ring-Ring, her mobile was alive. Her body started to pulse as she reached in her pocket. Her heart and her pace quickened. Where would he be calling from? She ached to hear his smooth sensual voice, he was closer and still a mirage too far away. Her morning throbbed awake with a single sound of the mobile.