75. The Proposal

Two months later

Tuscany, Italy

“You keep following the river downstream, signorina. It’s the easy part. Easy part, I tell you! You will reach your hotel in about one hour. Tutto bene?” “Va bene, signore. Grazie!”

Cassandra responded to the young Italian man before he bent down, disentangling the rope from the inflatable raft. It began floating away on the water and Selena squealed, trembling with excitement, holding her oar as the guide had instructed them, “Here we go, Cass! Oh it’s gonna be so good!”

She hastily grabbed her Nikon camera, turning around to snap a picture of the doctor before focusing right ahead. She held her breath, observing the greenery that bordered the banks of the river, providing an ethereal atmosphere.

She had always wanted to do some rafting. The air felt so fresh. The wind blew against her face as the sun shone right above her head. The water was so soothingly gentle. She broadly smiled, mockingly saying as she gazed at the doctor ov