Live The Dream

Live the Dream

‘Darling I’m so excited I have always wanted to go to Venice to take in the sights, experience the culture and taste that amazing Italian food.’ Turning to Louis, Emma smiled, ‘Thank you for bringing me here today.’
Louis brushed the loose strands of Emma’s blonde hair from the side of her face, ‘You are welcome my love, I’m glad that I could.’
Emma shut her eyes listening to the sounds as she stood still in the middle of the hustle and bustle that surrounded her.
‘Look at this Emma.’ Louis pointed towards the gondolas, ‘Fancy a go?’
Emma opened her eyes and looked up, ‘I would love to.’

Louis held Emma’s hand whilst she lowered herself into the boat, their wedding rings catching the sunlight as they crossed each other. As the boat rocked, the gondolier held his oar tightly with both hands keeping them steady. Emma smiled at the man who loomed above her, sensing that her life for the next thirty minutes was in his hands. Louis sat close to Emma and placed a thick red blanket over their laps.
‘I’m really looking forward to seeing the side streets with those pretty colourful houses all lined up in a row.’
‘Me too, I’ve only seen them on those travel programmes.’
A passing boat overtook them. Emma smiled at the little boy passing them by and he waved back. ‘He looks braver than me’ Emma chuckled, ‘He doesn’t seem phased by being on a wobbly boat.’
‘Don’t worry, if you fall in I’ll jump in and save you.’
Emma gave Louis a nudge in the ribs, ‘Thanks.’

Thirty minutes later the boat pulled up alongside the cobbled path, Emma took Louis’ hand as he hauled her up and out. ‘Lunch?’
Opening the restaurant door Emma was greeted by the smell of pasta and tomato sauce.
‘Table for two?’
‘Please, would you mind if we had the table in the window.’ Blushing, Emma said, ‘I do enjoy people watching.’
The waitress smiled, ‘Not a problem at all, follow me.’
Taking their seats, the waitress smiled, ‘Here are your menus I will be back shortly to take your order.’
Emma licked her lips, ‘It’s got to be the penne for me.’
‘Sounds great, I think I will go for the ravioli, I don’t think I’ve ever tried it.’
As they sat waiting for their food they invented lives for the people walking past. Louis pointed out of the window, ‘I bet the lady with the walking stick is actually an undercover detective, any minute now she will drop her stick and run.’
Emma laughed, ‘I think the man over there isn’t really reading the paper, he is trying to hide his face as he sleeps.’
The waitress returned with two plates of food, the steam lingering in the air. ‘Enjoy.’
As they tucked into their food the outside world blurred into the background as though they were the only two that mattered. Emma looked up at Louis. She watched him tucking into his food, he was so handsome, his dark hair, green eyes and chiselled jaw line, she loved him more than she did when she married him ten years ago.
‘This is delicious, I’m glad we found this gem of a restaurant.’
‘I know, life gets busy and taking time out to enjoy ourselves is difficult. That’s until…’ Emma’s voice trailed off.
‘I know honey.’ Louis covered Emma’s hand with his. ‘Don’t think about it now, let’s enjoy the moment.’

Having finished a tiramisu between them Emma and Louis looked upon the Angelo Raffaele. ‘It’s beautiful, isn’t it?’
‘Yeah, it really is a magnificent church. We learnt so much about this when I was at school, at the time it seemed boring but now I can appreciate it for what it is.’
Louis kissed the top of Emma’s head and held her close, ‘ready for some more sightseeing.’
Emma turned her head into Louis chest, she didn’t want Louis to see the tears that were pricking her eyes. She nodded and allowed Louis to lead her.

As the light was beginning to fade, Emma turned to Louis. ‘You know what I would love to do while we are here.’
Louis shook his head.
‘I would love to go wine tasting, it’s one of those things I have always wanted to do but never have done as I thought it was a waste of money.’
Louis laughed, ‘Absolutely, let’s do it.’
Emma and Louis sat at the back of the group. There were five other couples all booked in to sample the fine Italian wines. Emma couldn’t help but giggle, she felt like the naughty child at the back of the class. ‘The wine steward is taking himself so seriously. It’s just a glass of wine.’ Emma tried to swirl her red wine around the glass, but instead of looking like a pro Emma had to lick the droplets of wine from the back of her hand.
‘You’re embarrassing me.’
‘You spoilsport.’
Their heads collapsed forward into their hands whilst laughing. Louis steadied himself on the wooden table in front of him to see people turning their heads towards them. ‘I think we better go, this isn’t really our cup of tea.’
‘Or glass of wine.’ Emma giggled.
‘Shall we go home now?’
Emma took one last look at the scenery surrounding her. ‘Yeah honey, I’m ready.’


I have had a wonderful day love, thank you so much.’
Emma pulled the duvet over her waist and tucked it under her arms.
‘I’ve enjoyed every minute of today’ Louis said as he leaned over handing Emma her tumbler glass of sparkling water.
‘It’s amazing what you can achieve with a little imagination, an annual pass to the art gallery, a boat trip along the Thames and a local Italian restaurant.’ Emma smiled.
‘It certainly is. I hope the places that we have visited today have been the next best thing to visiting Venice itself.’
‘It really has been, the doctor said to make the most of the time I have left and if I couldn’t fly to Italy then we certainly brought Italy to us.’
Louis leaned over and kissed his dear wife goodnight.