An interview by Sylvia Shults
I pull up to the small white villa in the Campanian countryside, coast to a gentle stop, and shift the Ducati LaVerda into neutral. The purr of the engine stops when I turn the key off, and I sit for a moment, enjoying the quiet of this tiny piece of Italy. I swing off the bike and pull my helmet off. The Italian sun smacks me in the face with a sensual kiss that smells of lemon and fresh basil.
I walk up to the front door and ring the bell. A chime sounds from deep within the house. Before I’ve admired the moss roses on either side of the front walk for more than a few minutes, the door is flung open.
“You’re here!” Angela squeals, and pulls me in for a hug. I smile at her easy affection. My heroines are much like me – quick with a grin, and friendly. She shows me a chair in the front hallway where I can put my motorcycle gear. Then I follow her into an airy, sunlit dining room. Pillows make a welcoming nest on the built-in seats underneath the bay windows, but Angela directs me to the bar stools set up next to the breakfast nook. She bustles into the kitchen, tossing a question over the counter at me.
“Can I get you something? We’ve got tea, coffee, milk – of course the Italians like their milk warm, bleagh. That’s something I haven’t gotten used to yet. You can’t get a nice cold glass of milk at a restaurant. Makes me feel like some kind of deviant, I have to drink my milk cold in the privacy of my own home!”
“It’s a beautiful home, Angela.” She beams at the compliment. This is definitely a change from the apartment in Ercolano where I left her. As if she’s reading my mind, she replies, “Yeah. Valerius – I mean Gabriel – is so much happier here than in the city. This is more like what he was used to back in – well, in his first life, I guess.”
I’m not confused at all by her words. It was my idea to put Valerius Tullus Valens’ soul into Gabriel Massimo’s body when Gabriel was hit by a car.
Angela has been rummaging in the fridge. She turns around, holding up a bottle. “How about some sparkling lemonade? I’ll get us a couple of glasses.”
The cold lemonade is just what I need after my ride. I sip it as I think about the questions I would ask my character.
“Angela, what got you interested in Roman history?”
“Oh, I’ve always been interested in history – not the boring dates-and-battles-and-treaties part, but the human part. People are people, no matter what year it is. That’s what fascinates me most. The idea that the ancient Romans were people just like us, with the same hopes and dreams, the same needs, the same desires…” Her voice trails off and pink colors her cheeks. She takes a quick sip of lemonade.
“Actually,” she says, setting her glass down, “I didn’t start off as a history major. My freshman year in college, I was a biology major, if you can believe that. Can you imagine me as a doctor or something? Ha. Anyways, that lasted right up until I hit my first chemistry class.” She shudders with the memory. “I was struggling and panicking to make Cs in my science classes. Not fun. Then I realized that I was making As in Latin without hardly even trying. That’s when I switched majors. Even though my Latin class was at 8 in the morning – yeesh!”
“I don’t blame you a bit. I’d have done the exact same thing,” I grinned. “So what’s it like, being an American living in Italy? How has life as an expat been treating you?”
“Oh, I love it here! Taking Latin in college was a great foundation for learning Italian later on. I’m almost as fluent now as Val– Gabriel is. And Valerius and I helped each other so much during the first few months we were together. I mean, it was almost like we were both foreigners. I was this goofy American chick, and he was a Roman from the first century. He helped me settle into life in a foreign country, and I helped him adjust to life 2000 years in his future.”
“Ah, yes. That was one of my favorite parts of your story, I have to confess.” From the corner of my eye, I see Gabriel sneaking into the kitchen. He puts a finger to his lips, and I focus on Angela. Stalling for time, I say, “So what’s Gabriel doing now?”
Angela claps her hands in delight, oblivious to Gabriel stealthily creeping up behind her. “He is brilliant. He’s still an archaeologist, of course, but now – eep!” She squeals as Gabriel grabs her from behind and pulls her in close for a nuzzling hug.
“Now they’ve got someone excavating the Villa of the Papyri who really lived there,” Gabriel/Valerius says. “You’re right, darling, I’m brilliant. My supervisors just have no idea why.”
I smile at one of my favorite characters, the Roman surgeon who now inhabits a hunky Italian body. “Okay, Angela, I have to ask – what was it like being with two men at the same time? Especially when one of them was a ghost?”
Gabriel grins and buries his nose in Angela’s hair, breathing in deeply and making her giggle, even though she’s blushing again.
“I’m a little shy, okay? I would never have thought I’d be in a threesome. Ever. But I really like sex. Good sex makes me feel – primal. Earthy. Sensual. Desired.” (“Oh yeah,” Gabriel murmurs into her hair. “You are definitely desired, my love.”) “And having Gabriel and Valerius at the same time – oh my god.” I can see a shiver pass through her. “I felt – well. I felt a little bit naughty! But mostly I felt like I was losing control, and loving every minute of it, because I was perfectly safe with both of them. Even though I couldn’t see Valerius, I could feel him. And I could feel that he wanted me. I felt loved, and adored – and god, I felt sexy!”
“I’m glad,” I say, and I mean it. Writing is a way to explore our deepest desires and our wildest passions. What I may never experience, my characters can.
Valerius reaches out and takes my hand. “Thank you for giving me a second chance at life.” He grins. “After what happened to Gabriel, I’m particularly careful about crossing the street. I want to have a long, happy life with the woman I love. I’m not going to make the same mistake twice!” He winks.
“I wish you the best,” I say, smiling at his joke. I finish my lemonade, and head back to the front hallway to gear up. Before I reach for my helmet, Angela gives me a hug.
“I want to thank you too,” she whispers into my ear. “He’s perfect – so wonderful, and smart, and kind. And he’s Roman!” She pulls back, her eyes twinkling. I smile at her.
“I just knew you’d be happy with him.”
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‘Timeless Embrace’ is available here
