Chapter 6
The Roof and the Promise
The morning after the myrtle pasta, Giovanni and the narrator climb to the roof of Signora Elena's house. Under a loose tile, they find a small leather pouch containing a key and a final letter from Marco. The letter reveals that the full recipe for Manzo alla Sarda was meant to be shared at the feast of Sant'Efisio, and that the key opens a chest in the village church. Giovanni decides to go to the church that afternoon, carrying the hope of uncovering the last piece of his grandmother's legacy.
The morning light came in through the shutters, pale and golden, carrying the scent of jasmine and damp earth. I woke to the sound of birds—a chorus of them, high and bright, as if they were celebrating something. For a moment I forgot where I was. Then I heard Giovanni moving in the kitchen, the soft clink of a cup, the hiss of the kettle.
I dressed quickly and found him standing at the window, a mug of tea in his hands, staring out at the garden. The myrtle bush was still there, its leaves dark and glossy in the morning sun. He turned when he heard me, and his face was calm, but there was a restlessness in his eyes.
"I couldn't sleep," he said. "I kept thinking about the roof."
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