380 Niece

At precisely 7 a.m., Emily and Bert stood in the hotel lobby, waiting.

The tour guide, holding a small red flag, noticed them and waved excitedly. “Miss Carter!”

Emily smiled warmly and waved back. “Good morning, Mr. Anderson.”

“Good morning! I can’t believe you’re here earlier than I am.” The guide had a large backpack slung over his shoulder and was juggling several maps and a notebook in his hands.

“Well, didn’t you say we needed to gather at seven?”

“Yes, but our group is mostly older folks, and they move a bit slower in the mornings. A lot of them are used to having a proper breakfast. Rome might be romantic, but good luck finding breakfast staples like soy milk and fried dough sticks. I had to get up early and walk two streets over to pick them up from a friend’s place. By the time they finish eating and getting ready, I expect we’ll be leaving around 7:30 at the earliest.”

Emily suddenly remembered the dumplings Jackson had bought for Bert the night before.