Amongst the Lavender Fields Chapter Two ✨ Calming Sleep Story

[00:00:10] Hello Sleepwavers, Carissa here. And tonight we are going to sleep amidst the lavender fields of Tuscany.

[00:00:18] First, we'd love to say thanks for being a listener. We hope that after listening you are sleeping better at night and feeling better in your days too.

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[00:01:00] Badewanne, Podcast und Herbst? Das wird nur getoppt von Altours Reisen und günstig. Denn auch wenn dein Schaumbad zum Träumen von sonnigen Breitengraden einlädt, echte Südsonne bleibt unschlagbar.

[00:01:10] Und Altours hat einfach die besten Ziele für dich. Ägypten, Kanaren, Griechenland, Türkei, Karibik. Nicht träumen, Altours buchen. Alles drin, alles gut, alles für dich.

[00:01:23] Altours – alles aber günstig. Jetzt im Reisebüro oder auf altours.de.

[00:01:29] Hey, Sleep Wave listeners. If you've been listening to Sleep Wave since the very start, you may remember me. I'm Jessica Porter, and I'm here to invite you to join me over on my show, Sleep Magic.

[00:01:40] The sleep hypnosis show designed to help you sleep better and live better.

[00:01:45] Since starting up Sleep Magic in 2022, I've been delivering weekly episodes of solution-focused sleep hypnosis.

[00:01:53] Say that five times fast, which have now helped with over 10 million restless nights.

[00:01:59] Sleep Magic has proven to help you relax really deeply, maybe more deeply than you have in years.

[00:02:05] With a mix of hypnosis techniques, meditations, and classic bedtime stories, each week there's brand new episodes to help you unwind and fall asleep effortlessly.

[00:02:16] It's the perfect show to add into your routine.

[00:02:19] You can find Sleep Magic on all major podcast platforms.

[00:02:23] Just search Sleep Magic and hit follow so you can find it easily when you go to bed.

[00:02:28] Relaxation is truly closer than you think.

[00:02:33] I'll see you there.

[00:03:02] For one of our anniversaries, my husband Billy and I visited a few wineries in Central California,

[00:03:16] and while there also got to go to a lavender field.

[00:03:19] I remember standing in that beautiful field that smelled like heaven and looked like a dream.

[00:03:26] I can still feel how relaxed and in awe I felt then as I recall that gorgeous place.

[00:03:32] Good news, we are all visiting lavender fields tonight,

[00:03:37] though these ones are in sun-soaked Italy,

[00:03:39] and we'll be there to find out how Faye has settled into her new life

[00:03:43] at the guest house run by her new friend, Lorenzo.

[00:03:57] Faye lifted her face to the sun, smiled, and sighed.

[00:04:01] Every morning in Tuscany was as beautiful as the last.

[00:04:05] In the few weeks she had spent here, she felt like a fresh version of herself.

[00:04:12] Her skin was glowing with renewed vitality.

[00:04:16] Her body felt more energized, and faint freckles were beginning to dance across her nose.

[00:04:24] Her hair glistened in the sun, and she wore it back off her face every day

[00:04:31] instead of hiding behind it as she did at home in England.

[00:04:36] Faye had ditched her usual combination of jeans and sweatshirts for long, flowing dresses and sandals.

[00:04:47] She loved this new version of herself.

[00:04:50] She felt carefree, relaxed, and happy.

[00:04:55] The lavender fields of Tuscany had certainly taken her under their wing

[00:05:00] and nurtured her back to a version of herself that she was content with.

[00:05:09] Faye's time at the villa had been nothing short of exquisite.

[00:05:13] She woke every morning with nowhere to go and nothing to do.

[00:05:21] She had no work deadlines to meet, no obligations to friends or family,

[00:05:29] and she didn't need to maneuver the bustling concrete jungles back home.

[00:05:34] Instead, her pace of life was much more laid back.

[00:05:42] Each morning, she woke when her body decided to rise,

[00:05:47] not when an alarm clock dictated it.

[00:05:50] She opened her bedroom curtains to the views of the cascading purple lavender fields

[00:05:58] that stretched up ahead and surrounded the villa for miles and miles.

[00:06:07] It was no surprise that Faye slept so blissfully here.

[00:06:14] Every evening, the scent of lavender drifted on the breeze

[00:06:19] and filled her bedroom with the most deliciously soothing smell.

[00:06:28] Then, after taking in the morning sun

[00:06:31] and the luscious views of the lavender fields,

[00:06:35] Faye would make herself a black coffee

[00:06:39] and sit by the window.

[00:06:44] Sometimes, she would read,

[00:06:46] but often, she would just simply gaze out

[00:06:51] at her rural surroundings

[00:06:53] and count her blessings.

[00:06:57] Each day, Faye would take a bike ride

[00:07:01] into the nearby town

[00:07:02] where she would wander,

[00:07:05] shop,

[00:07:07] eat,

[00:07:07] and talk to the locals.

[00:07:12] She had already made a few friends,

[00:07:15] such as the barista at Vittoria,

[00:07:18] her favorite coffee shop,

[00:07:21] Francesco,

[00:07:22] the friendly owner of a fruit and vegetable store,

[00:07:26] and an artist

[00:07:28] who painted in the town square every day

[00:07:31] who liked to remain anonymous.

[00:07:35] Faye felt welcome

[00:07:37] in this little town

[00:07:39] in a way that she had never felt

[00:07:43] back home in England.

[00:07:46] The people here in Tuscany

[00:07:49] took the time

[00:07:51] to get to know each other.

[00:07:55] It was a slower pace of life,

[00:07:58] and, as a result,

[00:08:01] people had more time to stop

[00:08:04] and speak to strangers.

[00:08:06] Faye found the idea of returning home

[00:08:12] growing less and less appealing

[00:08:16] with each passing day.

[00:08:19] But she did have to face facts.

[00:08:24] Sooner or later,

[00:08:27] Faye would need to go home.

[00:08:32] Just the day before,

[00:08:34] her best friend,

[00:08:37] Jules,

[00:08:38] had called her to check in.

[00:08:42] Jules had enjoyed listening to the stories

[00:08:45] Faye had to tell,

[00:08:47] and said she could hear the joy in her voice.

[00:08:54] Faye had felt a pang of guilt

[00:08:56] for confessing that she wasn't sure

[00:08:59] when she was coming home.

[00:09:03] She was only just starting

[00:09:06] to feel settled in Tuscany.

[00:09:10] The change of scenery

[00:09:12] and lifestyle

[00:09:13] was already working wonders for Faye,

[00:09:18] and she didn't want to pull away

[00:09:20] from it just yet.

[00:09:25] There had been a long pause

[00:09:27] on the other end of the line,

[00:09:30] as Jules,

[00:09:31] with a jokey tone,

[00:09:33] asked,

[00:09:34] Are you ever coming home, Faye?

[00:09:38] Faye had laughed and said,

[00:09:41] Yes, she would, of course,

[00:09:44] be coming home, eventually.

[00:09:47] She just wasn't quite ready yet.

[00:09:53] This morning,

[00:09:54] Faye had decided to take a stroll

[00:09:56] through the lavender fields.

[00:10:01] It was the place

[00:10:02] where she could guarantee

[00:10:03] that she wouldn't bump into anyone else.

[00:10:07] when she wanted a pure dose of isolation

[00:10:11] and time alone with her thoughts.

[00:10:16] While Faye could stay in Tuscany

[00:10:19] as long as she wanted,

[00:10:22] she had never intended

[00:10:24] to leave Jules and everyone back home

[00:10:28] to fend for themselves without her.

[00:10:32] Faye and Jules ran a small business together

[00:10:36] with a few employees under their wing,

[00:10:40] and Faye still wanted to be a part of that.

[00:10:47] Jules had been understanding

[00:10:49] when Faye had first declared

[00:10:52] that she needed some time away

[00:10:54] and run off to Tuscany,

[00:10:57] and she had been handling things

[00:11:00] and she had been handling things

[00:11:01] expertly on her own.

[00:11:06] She made it clear

[00:11:07] that she would support Faye

[00:11:10] no matter what.

[00:11:13] Faye still felt a little torn.

[00:11:18] She needed to figure out

[00:11:20] what made her truly happy.

[00:11:25] Faye walked down the dusty path

[00:11:28] to the side of the lavender crops,

[00:11:32] enjoying the warm Tuscan sun on her skin

[00:11:37] and devouring the wonderful scent

[00:11:41] that flooded her nostrils.

[00:11:47] She glanced to her side

[00:11:50] and noticed a figure

[00:11:52] moving through the lavender fields

[00:11:55] toward her.

[00:11:57] It was a figure

[00:11:59] she knew all too well.

[00:12:05] Wavy black hair,

[00:12:08] broad shoulders,

[00:12:12] olive skin,

[00:12:14] and a big, beaming smile

[00:12:17] full of pearly white teeth.

[00:12:22] It was Lorenzo.

[00:12:25] Buongiorno, signorina.

[00:12:27] Lorenzo greeted her warmly

[00:12:30] as he drew closer.

[00:12:32] Faye chuckled

[00:12:34] and called back,

[00:12:35] Buongiorno, signore.

[00:12:38] The sight of Lorenzo

[00:12:40] and his cheery smile

[00:12:42] always filled Faye

[00:12:44] with a feeling of ease

[00:12:47] and joy.

[00:12:50] Over the past few weeks,

[00:12:53] Faye had grown close

[00:12:54] to Lorenzo.

[00:12:57] She spent almost

[00:12:59] every evening with him,

[00:13:01] talking and sipping wine

[00:13:04] on the terrace

[00:13:05] at the villa.

[00:13:08] Lorenzo would sometimes

[00:13:10] meet her for lunch in town

[00:13:12] or they would bump into each other

[00:13:16] and grab a gelato.

[00:13:21] Faye appreciated Lorenzo's company.

[00:13:25] He had helped introduce her

[00:13:28] to the area

[00:13:29] and allowed her the freedom

[00:13:32] to stay in the villa

[00:13:34] for as long as she wanted.

[00:13:39] Each week,

[00:13:40] Faye watched the other guests

[00:13:42] come and go,

[00:13:45] but Lorenzo remained,

[00:13:47] working on the land

[00:13:49] and running the villa.

[00:13:53] As Lorenzo drew closer,

[00:13:56] Faye noticed the sickle

[00:13:58] in his hand.

[00:14:22] Faye smiled happily

[00:14:25] and replied,

[00:14:27] the two of them

[00:14:35] returned to the villa

[00:14:36] and Lorenzo went through

[00:14:39] into the kitchen

[00:14:40] to make the coffee.

[00:14:43] Faye waited on the terrace.

[00:14:47] She wasn't allowed

[00:14:49] in the staff quarters.

[00:14:51] She was still a guest,

[00:14:53] no matter how well

[00:14:54] she had come to know Lorenzo.

[00:14:57] She waited patiently

[00:15:00] and rested against

[00:15:02] the stone wall

[00:15:03] that looked out

[00:15:05] on the fields ahead.

[00:15:09] She closed her eyes

[00:15:11] and took in a deep breath

[00:15:13] of the warm water.

[00:15:18] She breathed out

[00:15:20] and noticed that her body

[00:15:22] didn't hold as much tension

[00:15:24] as it used to.

[00:15:28] When Faye used to breathe in,

[00:15:31] she would feel

[00:15:32] her shoulders rise

[00:15:34] and her muscles

[00:15:36] all seize up

[00:15:38] with tension.

[00:15:40] Her breath would catch

[00:15:42] in her chest

[00:15:43] and she would feel

[00:15:46] as though there was

[00:15:47] a blockage within her,

[00:15:50] stopping the flow

[00:15:52] of the breath

[00:15:53] from truly filling

[00:15:55] her lungs.

[00:15:56] Now,

[00:15:58] as she took a breath,

[00:15:59] the air flowed

[00:16:02] gracefully

[00:16:03] through her body

[00:16:05] all the way down

[00:16:07] into her stomach,

[00:16:10] inflating her diaphragm

[00:16:12] like a balloon.

[00:16:16] She let the air go

[00:16:18] and her body felt

[00:16:19] so light

[00:16:20] that she could have

[00:16:22] floated up

[00:16:23] off the ground

[00:16:24] if it weren't

[00:16:25] against all the rules

[00:16:27] of gravity.

[00:16:28] Lorenzo returned

[00:16:30] from the kitchen

[00:16:31] with two cappuccinos

[00:16:33] in hand

[00:16:34] and stood

[00:16:36] by Faye's side.

[00:16:39] Faye gratefully

[00:16:40] took her cappuccino

[00:16:42] from him

[00:16:43] and looked back out

[00:16:45] at the fields.

[00:16:48] I don't think

[00:16:49] I'll ever get tired

[00:16:51] of this view,

[00:16:52] she confessed

[00:16:54] wistfully.

[00:16:57] Lorenzo lifted

[00:16:58] his eyebrows

[00:16:59] and took a sip

[00:17:01] of his hot drink

[00:17:02] as if holding

[00:17:04] back a comment.

[00:17:06] It didn't go

[00:17:08] unnoticed

[00:17:08] by Faye,

[00:17:10] but she decided

[00:17:11] not to ask.

[00:17:13] What have you

[00:17:14] got planned today?

[00:17:15] Lorenzo asked her,

[00:17:18] moving the conversation

[00:17:19] on.

[00:17:20] Faye smiled

[00:17:22] and shrugged

[00:17:23] her shoulders

[00:17:24] before replying,

[00:17:26] I have

[00:17:27] no plans.

[00:17:28] Isn't that

[00:17:29] wonderful?

[00:17:31] Lorenzo

[00:17:32] nodded

[00:17:33] in agreement

[00:17:34] and professed

[00:17:36] how he wished

[00:17:37] he could enjoy

[00:17:38] a day

[00:17:39] with no plans.

[00:17:41] However,

[00:17:42] the crops

[00:17:43] wouldn't harvest

[00:17:45] themselves

[00:17:45] and the villa

[00:17:47] wouldn't take

[00:17:48] care of itself

[00:17:50] either.

[00:17:52] Sometimes

[00:17:53] Faye forgot

[00:17:55] that Lorenzo

[00:17:56] wasn't

[00:17:57] vacationing

[00:17:58] like she was.

[00:18:01] He lived

[00:18:02] and worked

[00:18:03] here every

[00:18:04] day.

[00:18:06] She was

[00:18:07] merely a

[00:18:08] tourist

[00:18:08] passing

[00:18:09] through

[00:18:10] for a

[00:18:11] short time.

[00:18:12] The thought

[00:18:13] of it

[00:18:14] surprised her

[00:18:15] as it

[00:18:16] suddenly

[00:18:16] made her

[00:18:17] feel

[00:18:18] a little

[00:18:18] deflated.

[00:18:21] When Faye

[00:18:22] returned home,

[00:18:24] she wouldn't

[00:18:25] have these

[00:18:26] morning coffee

[00:18:27] breaks with

[00:18:28] Lorenzo

[00:18:28] or evenings

[00:18:30] on the

[00:18:31] terrace.

[00:18:33] She wouldn't

[00:18:34] laugh with

[00:18:35] the owner

[00:18:36] at the fruit

[00:18:36] and vegetable

[00:18:37] store

[00:18:38] or admire

[00:18:40] the work

[00:18:40] of the painter

[00:18:41] in town.

[00:18:44] All of

[00:18:45] their lovely

[00:18:46] lives would

[00:18:47] go on

[00:18:48] without her

[00:18:49] and she

[00:18:50] would return

[00:18:51] to England

[00:18:52] and continue

[00:18:54] with her

[00:18:55] old

[00:18:56] existence.

[00:18:57] These

[00:18:58] moments

[00:18:59] with Lorenzo

[00:19:00] were merely

[00:19:01] fleeting

[00:19:02] moments in

[00:19:03] time.

[00:19:05] Moments

[00:19:06] that she

[00:19:07] would look

[00:19:08] back on.

[00:19:12] I have

[00:19:13] an idea,

[00:19:14] Lorenzo

[00:19:15] announced

[00:19:15] excitedly.

[00:19:17] Why don't

[00:19:18] I give

[00:19:19] you a

[00:19:19] cooking

[00:19:20] lesson

[00:19:20] tonight?

[00:19:21] I'll

[00:19:22] teach you

[00:19:22] how to

[00:19:22] make

[00:19:23] a classic

[00:19:23] Italian

[00:19:24] dish.

[00:19:26] Faye

[00:19:26] smiled

[00:19:27] and cheekily

[00:19:28] retorted,

[00:19:29] I already

[00:19:30] know how

[00:19:31] to stick

[00:19:31] a pizza

[00:19:32] in the

[00:19:32] oven.

[00:19:33] Thank

[00:19:34] you very

[00:19:34] much.

[00:19:36] Lorenzo

[00:19:37] let out

[00:19:38] a hearty

[00:19:38] laugh

[00:19:39] and wagged

[00:19:40] his finger

[00:19:41] at her

[00:19:42] jokingly.

[00:19:43] Oh,

[00:19:44] you do

[00:19:45] make me

[00:19:45] laugh,

[00:19:46] he giggled

[00:19:47] in his

[00:19:48] soft

[00:19:48] Italian

[00:19:49] accent.

[00:19:50] I was

[00:19:51] thinking

[00:19:51] more along

[00:19:52] the lines

[00:19:52] of making

[00:19:53] a pasta

[00:19:54] dish.

[00:19:57] Faye

[00:19:57] took a

[00:19:57] sip

[00:19:58] of her

[00:19:58] velvety

[00:19:59] coffee

[00:20:00] and

[00:20:01] agreed.

[00:20:02] Learning

[00:20:03] how to

[00:20:03] make

[00:20:03] pasta

[00:20:04] from a

[00:20:05] handsome

[00:20:06] Italian

[00:20:06] man

[00:20:07] was

[00:20:08] hardly

[00:20:08] something

[00:20:09] she could

[00:20:10] say

[00:20:10] no

[00:20:11] to.

[00:20:14] She

[00:20:15] would

[00:20:15] have

[00:20:15] the

[00:20:15] opportunity

[00:20:16] to

[00:20:17] step

[00:20:17] foot

[00:20:17] in

[00:20:18] the

[00:20:18] secret

[00:20:18] staff

[00:20:19] quarters

[00:20:20] and

[00:20:21] finally

[00:20:21] see

[00:20:22] the

[00:20:22] inside

[00:20:23] of

[00:20:23] the

[00:20:23] kitchen

[00:20:24] Lorenzo

[00:20:25] was

[00:20:26] always

[00:20:26] disappearing

[00:20:27] into.

[00:20:28] Okay,

[00:20:30] it's

[00:20:30] a date,

[00:20:31] Lorenzo

[00:20:32] declared

[00:20:32] as he

[00:20:33] turned away

[00:20:34] to take

[00:20:35] in the

[00:20:35] landscape.

[00:20:37] Faye's

[00:20:38] heart

[00:20:38] fluttered

[00:20:39] and

[00:20:39] tumbled

[00:20:40] inside

[00:20:41] her

[00:20:41] chest.

[00:20:43] Was

[00:20:43] it a

[00:20:44] date?

[00:20:45] Had

[00:20:45] Lorenzo

[00:20:46] actually

[00:20:47] asked her

[00:20:48] on a

[00:20:48] date?

[00:20:49] Or

[00:20:50] was he

[00:20:51] joking?

[00:20:54] Faye

[00:20:55] spent the

[00:20:55] rest of

[00:20:56] the day

[00:20:56] in eager

[00:20:58] anticipation

[00:20:58] of that

[00:21:00] evening's

[00:21:01] date.

[00:21:02] She

[00:21:02] contemplated

[00:21:03] buying

[00:21:04] something

[00:21:04] new

[00:21:05] for the

[00:21:05] occasion.

[00:21:07] She

[00:21:08] had run

[00:21:08] out of

[00:21:09] fresh clothes

[00:21:10] a week

[00:21:10] ago

[00:21:11] and she

[00:21:12] fancied

[00:21:13] buying

[00:21:13] something

[00:21:14] nice

[00:21:14] for

[00:21:15] tonight.

[00:21:16] She

[00:21:17] cycled

[00:21:17] into

[00:21:18] town

[00:21:18] and

[00:21:19] wandered

[00:21:20] into

[00:21:20] a

[00:21:20] small

[00:21:21] boutique.

[00:21:23] All

[00:21:24] of the

[00:21:24] boutique's

[00:21:25] dresses

[00:21:25] were

[00:21:26] beautiful.

[00:21:28] There

[00:21:28] were

[00:21:29] rows

[00:21:30] full

[00:21:30] of

[00:21:31] long

[00:21:31] floor-length

[00:21:33] dresses

[00:21:33] in a

[00:21:34] range

[00:21:35] of

[00:21:35] pretty

[00:21:36] colors.

[00:21:39] Faye

[00:21:39] rifled

[00:21:40] through

[00:21:40] the

[00:21:40] hangers

[00:21:41] searching

[00:21:42] for

[00:21:42] something

[00:21:43] eye-catching

[00:21:44] that

[00:21:45] wasn't

[00:21:45] trying

[00:21:46] too

[00:21:46] hard.

[00:21:49] Her

[00:21:49] eyes

[00:21:50] eventually

[00:21:50] fell

[00:21:51] upon

[00:21:51] a

[00:21:52] dusty

[00:21:52] purple

[00:21:53] dress

[00:21:53] similar

[00:21:55] to

[00:21:55] the

[00:21:55] shade

[00:21:56] of

[00:21:56] the

[00:21:56] lavender

[00:21:57] fields.

[00:21:58] It

[00:21:59] had a

[00:22:00] sweeping

[00:22:00] neckline

[00:22:01] and a

[00:22:04] sweeping

[00:22:04] skirt.

[00:22:08] Faye

[00:22:08] tried

[00:22:08] it

[00:22:09] on

[00:22:09] and

[00:22:10] span

[00:22:10] in front

[00:22:11] of

[00:22:11] the

[00:22:11] dressing

[00:22:12] room

[00:22:12] mirror.

[00:22:14] The

[00:22:16] perfectly

[00:22:16] cinched

[00:22:17] her

[00:22:17] waist

[00:22:18] and

[00:22:19] hugged

[00:22:19] her

[00:22:19] curves

[00:22:20] modestly.

[00:22:22] It

[00:22:23] was

[00:22:23] very

[00:22:24] flattering

[00:22:24] and

[00:22:26] Faye

[00:22:26] couldn't

[00:22:27] stop

[00:22:27] staring

[00:22:28] at

[00:22:28] herself

[00:22:29] in

[00:22:29] the

[00:22:29] mirror.

[00:22:31] She

[00:22:31] loved

[00:22:32] it.

[00:22:35] As

[00:22:35] she

[00:22:35] approached

[00:22:36] the

[00:22:36] till

[00:22:36] to

[00:22:37] buy

[00:22:37] the

[00:22:37] dress,

[00:22:38] she

[00:22:39] second

[00:22:39] guessed

[00:22:40] herself.

[00:22:42] Did

[00:22:42] she

[00:22:42] look

[00:22:43] like

[00:22:43] she

[00:22:43] was

[00:22:44] trying

[00:22:44] too

[00:22:44] hard

[00:22:45] by

[00:22:45] buying

[00:22:46] a

[00:22:46] pretty

[00:22:47] dress

[00:22:47] for

[00:22:47] a

[00:22:48] cooking

[00:22:48] lesson?

[00:22:50] After

[00:22:50] all,

[00:22:51] they

[00:22:51] were

[00:22:51] only

[00:22:52] going

[00:22:52] to

[00:22:52] be

[00:22:53] cooking

[00:22:53] pasta

[00:22:54] at

[00:22:54] the

[00:22:54] villa,

[00:22:55] not

[00:22:56] going

[00:22:56] out

[00:22:56] to

[00:22:57] a

[00:22:57] restaurant

[00:22:57] for

[00:22:58] a

[00:22:58] meal.

[00:23:00] Faye

[00:23:00] was

[00:23:00] about

[00:23:01] to

[00:23:01] change

[00:23:01] her

[00:23:02] mind

[00:23:02] and

[00:23:02] place

[00:23:03] the

[00:23:03] dress

[00:23:03] back

[00:23:04] on

[00:23:04] the

[00:23:04] rails

[00:23:05] when

[00:23:06] the

[00:23:06] sweet

[00:23:06] shop

[00:23:07] assistant

[00:23:07] said

[00:23:08] to

[00:23:08] her,

[00:23:09] that

[00:23:10] dress

[00:23:10] looks

[00:23:11] beautiful

[00:23:11] on

[00:23:12] you.

[00:23:12] I

[00:23:13] saw

[00:23:13] you

[00:23:14] twirling

[00:23:14] around

[00:23:15] in

[00:23:15] it

[00:23:15] like

[00:23:15] a

[00:23:16] girl

[00:23:16] in

[00:23:16] love.

[00:23:17] It's

[00:23:18] like

[00:23:18] it

[00:23:18] was

[00:23:19] made

[00:23:19] for

[00:23:20] you.

[00:23:22] Faye

[00:23:22] paused

[00:23:23] and

[00:23:24] thought

[00:23:24] again.

[00:23:25] She

[00:23:26] did

[00:23:26] adore

[00:23:27] the

[00:23:27] dress.

[00:23:28] Why

[00:23:29] could

[00:23:29] she

[00:23:29] not

[00:23:30] buy

[00:23:30] herself

[00:23:30] a

[00:23:31] lovely

[00:23:31] dress

[00:23:32] just

[00:23:32] for

[00:23:33] the

[00:23:33] sake

[00:23:33] of

[00:23:33] it?

[00:23:34] She

[00:23:35] didn't

[00:23:35] have

[00:23:35] to

[00:23:36] buy

[00:23:36] it

[00:23:36] just

[00:23:37] to

[00:23:37] impress

[00:23:37] the

[00:23:37] man.

[00:23:38] She

[00:23:39] could

[00:23:39] buy

[00:23:40] it

[00:23:40] for

[00:23:40] herself

[00:23:41] to

[00:23:42] have

[00:23:44] a

[00:23:45] dress

[00:23:45] and

[00:23:46] wandered

[00:23:47] back

[00:23:47] out

[00:23:47] into

[00:23:48] the

[00:23:48] street

[00:23:49] with

[00:23:49] a

[00:23:50] spring

[00:23:50] in

[00:23:50] her

[00:23:51] step.

[00:23:53] She returned to the villa and relaxed in her room for the rest of the afternoon.

[00:24:01] She was meeting Lorenzo in the staff kitchen at 8 o'clock, so she had plenty of time to rest and get ready.

[00:24:14] As 8 o'clock drew near, Faye became nervous.

[00:24:20] She applied some lipstick and brushed her hair.

[00:24:25] She hadn't worn her hair down in weeks, but she decided that tonight would be a good occasion to let her locks flow freely.

[00:24:37] She gazed at the lavender purple dress hung up on the outside of the wardrobe door.

[00:24:47] She suddenly felt shy to wear it.

[00:24:52] What did she hope to achieve by wearing the dress?

[00:24:57] Should she just wear a pair of jeans and a nice top instead?

[00:25:02] A draft of wind blew in through the window, carrying on the breeze the scent of the divine, herbaceous lavender fields.

[00:25:18] She felt her worries melt away, and she smiled.

[00:25:27] Faye got changed into her new dress, slipped on her sandals, and left her room to head downstairs.

[00:25:35] Faye knocked on the kitchen door, and Lorenzo's voice came from the other side, beckoning her.

[00:25:49] She took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

[00:25:57] Lorenzo was standing at the central kitchen island, pouring out two glasses of red wine from a bottle.

[00:26:08] All of the ingredients were laid out on the worktop for their dish, and there were several pans waiting on the stove.

[00:26:19] He looked up at Faye and smiled in greeting.

[00:26:25] Then Lorenzo's eyes grew wide as he took the sight of her in.

[00:26:31] Faye could tell he was caught off guard.

[00:26:34] She did look pretty spectacular.

[00:26:38] Wow, you look amazing, he gushed, straightening himself up and attempting to tuck in his shirt.

[00:26:49] Faye could see that Lorenzo felt flustered, and was suddenly very aware of how casually he was dressed.

[00:26:58] But he needn't have worried.

[00:27:02] Lorenzo looked good in whatever he wore.

[00:27:08] Lorenzo's version of casual was an untucked black buttoned shirt and jeans,

[00:27:14] and he still looked devastatingly handsome.

[00:27:22] Faye walked over to the kitchen counter, and Lorenzo pushed a glass of wine toward her.

[00:27:29] He held up his glass in the air, and Faye lifted hers in response.

[00:27:37] To your first Italian cooking lesson, Lorenzo toasted, and they clinked their glasses together, gently, before taking a sip.

[00:27:49] So what are we making?

[00:27:52] Faye asked, gesturing to the ingredients laid out on the worktop.

[00:28:00] Lorenzo moved over to the ingredients and answered that they would be making fresh pappardelli pasta with porcini sauce from scratch.

[00:28:13] Faye confessed that she had never made her own pasta before.

[00:28:19] But Lorenzo assured her that it was easier than it sounded.

[00:28:27] He handed her an apron to cover up her dress, and they set to work making the pasta dough.

[00:28:37] Lorenzo taught Faye to combine the eggs and flour, and they rolled the dough out into sheets of pasta on the countertop.

[00:28:51] Lorenzo was right.

[00:28:54] It was easier than Faye had expected.

[00:28:59] The last part was cutting the pasta up into ribbons.

[00:29:04] How thick do I need to make the ribbons?

[00:29:09] Faye asked, hovering the knife over the sheets of pasta.

[00:29:15] Lorenzo stood behind her and placed his hand on top of hers, guiding the knife over the dough.

[00:29:24] They don't have to be much thicker than 10 to 15 millimeters, like this.

[00:29:30] He recommended, guiding her hand down to slice off a perfect strip of pappardelli.

[00:29:40] Faye could feel Lorenzo's breath against her hair, and her skin felt electrified by his touch.

[00:29:51] His gentle hands helped her slice up the strips of pasta,

[00:30:06] Faye felt breathless as he eventually moved away,

[00:30:13] and she took a sip of wine to recenter herself.

[00:30:17] Once the pasta was cooked and the sauce was made,

[00:30:24] the pair sat down together at stools on the other side of the kitchen counter to enjoy their meal.

[00:30:36] Faye took her first bite of the pasta dish,

[00:30:40] and her taste buds were flooded with delightful flavors.

[00:30:45] She groaned with appreciation and commented that it was the best pasta dish she had ever tasted.

[00:31:00] Lorenzo grinned and said that was because she hadn't experienced it being made authentically before.

[00:31:10] Everything tasted better in Italy.

[00:31:13] They ate their pappardelli dishes and topped up their glasses of wine.

[00:31:23] They chatted and laughed under the dim lights of the kitchen as night coated the land outside.

[00:31:32] They scraped their plates clean, leaving barely a spoonful of sauce on their plates.

[00:31:42] Then Lorenzo walked over to the kitchen fridge and pulled out two pre-made bowls of tiramisu.

[00:31:52] For dessert, he proclaimed, placing a little glass bowl of the dessert in front of her.

[00:32:01] Faye sighed gratefully and declared,

[00:32:06] Tiramisu is my favorite. Thank you.

[00:32:11] Faye noticed Lorenzo's eyes watching her as she dug into her dessert.

[00:32:18] He looked as though he had a burning question to ask,

[00:32:22] but he daren't bring himself to broach the subject.

[00:32:26] She had recognized a few of these looks over the past couple of days.

[00:32:35] What did he want to ask her?

[00:32:40] Faye decided to be brave and break the ice for him.

[00:32:45] What's on your mind? She asked.

[00:32:48] You keep looking like you're going to say something,

[00:32:52] and then you close up tight.

[00:32:56] Lorenzo tittered with nervous laughter and leaned back on his stool.

[00:33:03] He cradled his glass of wine like a comfort blanket

[00:33:07] and glanced down at the floor before asking her,

[00:33:12] Have you thought about when you're going back to England?

[00:33:16] Faye's stomach dropped.

[00:33:18] He wanted rid of her.

[00:33:20] She had overstayed her welcome.

[00:33:23] Oh, I'm so sorry, she began to reply, embarrassed.

[00:33:29] I'm sorry I've stayed longer than expected.

[00:33:33] I don't mean to impose.

[00:33:36] I've just been having such a wonderful time,

[00:33:41] and I haven't felt ready to return home yet.

[00:33:45] But if you want me gone,

[00:33:48] I'll get out of your hair as soon as I can.

[00:33:53] Lorenzo put out his hand and rested it on her forearm,

[00:33:58] softly halting Faye in her ramble.

[00:34:03] Oh no, on the contrary, he said gently.

[00:34:07] I don't want you to leave.

[00:34:10] I just wondered how long I might still have you for.

[00:34:15] Faye's heart stopped in her chest,

[00:34:18] and she locked eyes with Lorenzo.

[00:34:21] The air stood still,

[00:34:24] and silence swept over them both

[00:34:27] as they remained frozen in that moment.

[00:34:33] Faye placed her hand on top of his,

[00:34:36] resting on her arm,

[00:34:38] and squeezed his hand gratefully.

[00:34:44] Neither of them knew what to say,

[00:34:46] but they both understood what was unspoken between them.

[00:34:54] After a few moments,

[00:34:56] Lorenzo cleared his throat

[00:34:58] and pulled his hand away

[00:35:01] to pick up his spoon

[00:35:03] and take a bite of tiramisu.

[00:35:07] Faye tucked a strand of hair behind her ear,

[00:35:11] bashfully,

[00:35:12] and gazed around the kitchen.

[00:35:16] I'm not sure how much longer I'll be here,

[00:35:20] she answered his original question,

[00:35:23] somberly.

[00:35:24] I have to go back for work eventually,

[00:35:28] but I'm just not ready to face reality yet.

[00:35:32] Lorenzo studied her face

[00:35:34] for any signs or giveaways

[00:35:37] of the life she had come from.

[00:35:42] He didn't understand why Faye

[00:35:45] was so keen to escape her life

[00:35:48] back in England,

[00:35:49] but she wasn't ready

[00:35:51] to share that with him.

[00:35:53] Not yet.

[00:35:57] Lorenzo exhaled

[00:35:59] and polished off his tiramisu.

[00:36:03] Sometimes I wish I had a normal job,

[00:36:06] like the people in the town,

[00:36:08] he confessed.

[00:36:10] My life revolves around these fields.

[00:36:13] If it weren't for the villa,

[00:36:15] I'd barely ever speak to a soul.

[00:36:18] Why don't you take some time off?

[00:36:21] Faye suggested.

[00:36:23] Lorenzo spent every day working.

[00:36:27] Maybe he needed to take some time

[00:36:30] just for him once in a while.

[00:36:33] It's not that simple,

[00:36:35] he replied.

[00:36:36] The crops don't take vacations.

[00:36:39] They need tending to every day,

[00:36:42] all year round.

[00:36:44] Faye cocked her head

[00:36:46] in acknowledgement.

[00:36:47] He did have a good point.

[00:36:50] It must be hard

[00:36:52] working on a farm

[00:36:53] with very little help.

[00:36:56] Faye had an idea.

[00:36:59] What if I helped you?

[00:37:01] She offered.

[00:37:03] I could be an extra pair

[00:37:05] of hands around here

[00:37:06] and help make your workload

[00:37:08] a little easier.

[00:37:10] Then you'll have more time

[00:37:12] for yourself.

[00:37:15] Lorenzo's eyes lit up

[00:37:17] at the proposal.

[00:37:19] The thought of spending

[00:37:20] more time with Faye

[00:37:21] was clearly not a bad suggestion.

[00:37:25] But almost as soon

[00:37:27] as the excitement

[00:37:28] had grown within him,

[00:37:31] it withered away.

[00:37:33] He sighed.

[00:37:35] Thank you,

[00:37:36] but I can't afford

[00:37:37] to pay you for your help.

[00:37:40] Faye waved her hand at him

[00:37:42] and assured him

[00:37:43] that he didn't have

[00:37:45] to pay her anything.

[00:37:47] She was only happy

[00:37:49] to be of help

[00:37:50] if it meant

[00:37:51] he could have some time

[00:37:53] to himself

[00:37:53] every once in a while.

[00:37:58] Lorenzo thought carefully.

[00:38:01] Working on the land

[00:38:03] was hard.

[00:38:05] He didn't want Faye

[00:38:06] to work for nothing.

[00:38:09] What if I let you

[00:38:11] stay here for free?

[00:38:13] Lorenzo suggested

[00:38:14] with a surge of optimism.

[00:38:17] You help me on the land

[00:38:19] or in the villa

[00:38:20] and I'll let you stay here

[00:38:22] for as long as you need

[00:38:24] free of charge.

[00:38:26] Faye raised her glass

[00:38:28] in the air

[00:38:29] in acceptance.

[00:38:31] That sounds like

[00:38:33] a wonderful arrangement

[00:38:35] to me,

[00:38:36] she agreed.

[00:38:37] As long as you make me pasta

[00:38:40] at least once a week.

[00:38:43] Lorenzo lifted his glass

[00:38:45] with a grin

[00:38:46] and replied,

[00:38:47] It's a deal.

[00:38:49] They clinked their glasses

[00:38:51] together in agreement

[00:38:53] and smiled at one another.

[00:38:58] It was the perfect arrangement.

[00:39:01] Lorenzo would have

[00:39:02] an extra pair of hands

[00:39:04] on the farm

[00:39:05] and in the villa

[00:39:06] to stop him

[00:39:08] from spreading himself

[00:39:09] so thin.

[00:39:12] Meanwhile,

[00:39:14] Faye could stay

[00:39:15] in Tuscany

[00:39:16] for as long

[00:39:17] as she wanted

[00:39:18] without the worry

[00:39:20] of running out

[00:39:21] of money

[00:39:22] and having to return

[00:39:24] to work

[00:39:25] back in England

[00:39:26] before she was ready.

[00:39:29] On the surface,

[00:39:31] it was a practical

[00:39:32] arrangement

[00:39:33] that worked

[00:39:34] for the two of them

[00:39:36] as individuals.

[00:39:38] But underneath it all,

[00:39:41] it was the perfect

[00:39:42] opportunity

[00:39:44] for Faye

[00:39:45] and Lorenzo

[00:39:46] to spend more time

[00:39:48] with each other

[00:39:49] without the threat

[00:39:52] of time

[00:39:52] running out.