One Italian Summer

Upon her arrival back to Hotel Poseidon, Adam left Katy a message to meet him for lunch. She finds him at the hotel restaurant where breakfast is being served, and they eat together. Enjoying her breakfast, Katy reminds herself about how food was not appetizing when her mother was sick. She says that food “lost all sensation, all meaning” (92). Her mother also lost her appetite, and the two of them kept getting thinner. Katy did not have a desire for food because she did not desire anything that would sustain life as she was losing Carol.

Adam asks Katy about her plans for the day, and she tells him about meeting Carol for dinner. After declining Adam’s request to tag along to dinner, she asks him to show her around Positano for the day.

After finishing her breakfast, Katy showers before exploring Positano with Adam. He compliments her outfit after she takes inventory of his t-shirt, hat, and board shorts. Adam tells her they will “simply wander” around Positano because it is the best way to explore the city. They walk down Viale Pasitea to shops, restaurants, and grocery stands.

Eventually, they get to the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, which happens to be one of Adam’s favorite places. Katy thinks about how young she was when she met Eric. She admires Adam, wondering about how different her life could look. They continue to explore, and Katy sees an apron with lemons on it that reminds her of one Carol wore.

Instead of continuing to explore, Katy asks Adam to get a glass of wine with her. Adam toasts to making new friends, and Katy comments on how the Italian landscape never changes. She believes that Italy has “always just existed exactly as it does today” (100). They continue to learn more about each other and discuss what their lives look like.

Adam tells Katy that some people believe Poseidon created Positano, but he also explains that the city was founded as a modest fishing town. Katy asks him if he believes in magic. He questions how he could not.

As they are saying goodbye to each other in the hotel lobby, Adam kisses Katy on the cheek. He thanks her for a wonderful day before walking away. Marco interrupts Katy, who is fixated on where Adam’s lips were on her cheek. He tells her to enjoy her dinner.

Katy reflects on her day with Adam, and she feels both overwhelmed and overjoyed with interacting with a new man. She thinks: “I am struck with the overwhelming clarity of how good it feels to exist, to be wanted and…not known” (103). Katy enjoys having Adam see her as someone new and not someone who has seen her in various states like being sick or on her period.

On her way to dinner, she passes by Marco, who teases her about Adam.

The bus shows up to take Katy to La Tagliata, and, unknowingly to Katy, Carol is already aboard. Carol tells Katy that she must go dancing with her and Remo after dinner. Once they arrive at the restaurant, Katy and Carol talk about their lives and their work. Katy asks young Carol to tell her about California, but Carol seems more interested in talking about the potential of working at the Sirenuse. Katy uses this time to get advice from Carol, and she reveals that she is unsure of her work as a copywriter and about her marriage with Eric. Carol reminds Katy to slow down and keep evolving.

After dinner, Carol and Katy meet Remo at Bella Bar to dance and drink cocktails. Katy feels conflicted about her mom and Remo’s relationship. On the one hand, she wants Carol to enjoy her freedom before she gets married and has a baby. However, she also wants to keep Carol away from any man who is not her father. She thinks about how “this time in her life is fleeting, almost gone” (118).

Katy reflects on her time with Eric in college and in New York. She says that they were not big partiers and would partake in game nights rather than going clubbing. Katy enjoys her night of dancing and seeing this version of her mother.

She advises Carol to hook up with Remo, but Carol refuses. Carol suggests that Katy should do so, but Katy replies that he is not her type. When Carol asks her to expand on her type of man, Katy does not respond. Carol comments on Katy’s reddening cheeks, as Katy thinks about her developing attraction to Adam. Carol tells Katy that she can keep it to herself but that she is then allowed to have secrets of her own.

Katy gets back to Hotel Poseidon after midnight and sees an empty front desk. Drunkenly walking around the hotel, Katy discovers Adam on the terrace. He invites her to sit with him, and Katy tells him about seeing her mother. Katy stares at Adam, and he asks to kiss her. Consenting, Katy kisses Adam until she remembers Eric and pushes him away. Embarrassed about her actions, Katy attempts to backtrack and reminds Adam about her marriage.

Adam reassures Katy that everything is okay, but Katy worries that her behavior does not reflect who she believes she is. He tells her otherwise and to not be embarrassed. As they part ways, Adam says that Eric is “foolish” for not coming to Italy with her, despite Katy’s attempt at defending her husband.