In a new country, it helps to remember the things that were good once, the things we want to recreate now.

I finally meet a guy who’s interesting and who seems to have a half-interest in me and it is TOTALLY the wrong time and place.

Loyalty is not loyalty unless one clings to it in the face of adversity. No?

Rodolfo lifted Alessandra’s hand to his lips and kissed it. ‘I have loved you, Alessandra. Do not forget that. Thank you... thank you for loving me.’ She wept, curling her head in toward his good shoulder. ‘Do not leave me, Rodolfo. Do not leave us. Chiara... and the baby...

Without sorrow, ’tis difficult to know the full threshold of joy.

I’d been brief with her, not wanting her to stress over me and Lia. I mean, she knew I’d narrowly escaped death in freeing Lia from Castel o Paratore, but she didn’t know all of the details. That, like, I’d almost been killed a dozen times. You just didn’t tell your mom that kind of thing – not if you were trying to keep her from rushing you off to some safe tower.

I smiled. He had come for me. Saved me. How many times would this man save my life?

My kingdom for a flush toilet.

And then we were gone, cascading back to the future.

Together, come what may.