by Cee, DW
“I hope the chaperone is planning on taking us straight to our dorms. I don’t think I can take much more of this fatigue.” Sylvia was dead on her feet.
Marni didn’t look any better but sounded much happier. “Do you think we’ll get a tour of Rome, today? Will we eat pasta? Pizza? Gelato?”
“Let’s go, Marni Montgomery. The baggage claim area is calling us.” I pulled her along.
Since there were only three of us from our school, from the West Coast in fact, we bonded like family. If it were possible, I would have moved in with the two ladies as their third roommate.
“What are we up to this weekend?” I asked during breakfast on Friday.
“How about we take a day trip to Venice?” Marni spoke. “You promised me an unbelievable scenery on the city that floats.” I loved it when she had that flirtatious smile.
“I say we start in Florence right after classes today. It’s only a ninety-minute train ride. Let’s stay there until midday tomorrow, and then take the train to Venice. We can knock off both cities in one weekend,” Sylvia suggested.
“Sounds like a plan to me. I’ll check on the train schedule.” I told the ladies.
“We’ll look into rooms at hostels.” Marni promised.
I went to my morning class and called Mom while waiting for Marni and Sylvia to get out of their class.
“Hey Mom.”
“How’s my son doing in the Eternal City? Is it as magical as the last time I saw it?”
“Even more so, Mom.”
She laughed. “Are you telling me you’re having a better time in Rome with that girl friend of yours than you did with your mother?” Now, she tried to sound affronted.
“Yes, Mother. That’s exactly what I’m telling you. It’s a blast to be here with Marni.”
“When do we get to meet her? You won’t ever bring her home. At this rate, I’m thinking I may see her at the wedding rehearsal.”
It was my turn to laugh. “We’re not exactly there, yet, Mom. We’re still friends.”
“What do you mean? How could this girl not have fallen for my son from day one? Does she need glasses? Did you forget to turn on the Bergstrom charm?”
“You’re just a regular comedian today, Mom. How’s Carson treating you?”
“He’s as precious as always. In his quiet way, he adores me.”
“Good to hear, Mom. You found your dream man in Carson.”
“Your father is a dream man in his own right, too. He just couldn’t let go of the fame.” Mom sighed often when she spoke of my father. Though the two separated when I was young, their divorce only finalized two years ago when Mom chose to marry Carson. “You, too, have it in you to be a dream man.”
“I’m trying, Mom. Marni, Sylvia, and I are headed to Florence for a night, and then we’re off to Venice for another night.”
“Oh to be young and in love,” Mom sang. “It must be nice to travel through Europe.”
“This is our first adventure outside of Rome. We’ll see how this one goes.”
“Have a wonderful time and call your mother often with updates.”
“Will do.”
Figuring the girls were done with class, I walked over to their room with our printed tickets in hand and backpack on my shoulder.
“We’re ready!” Sylvia walked out with a gigantic suitcase.
“What the hell is that, Syl? Are you moving?”
“Aren’t we going away for the weekend?”
“Are you taking this entire floor with you? That’s an awful lot of clothes for two nights, three days—considering you’re wearing today’s outfit, already.”
“Shut up and lead the way,” Sylvia harped to Marni’s giggles.
The train ride flew by with the three of us talking about all the sights we wanted to see in Florence. As soon as we arrived, we dropped off our belongings and started at the Galleria dell’Accademia. The ladies stared at the statue of David while I roamed the rest of the museum.
“You both are still staring at David’s penis?”
“Yep,” they answered in a trance. “Isn’t he perfect?” Sylvia barely kept the drool in her mouth.
“I still can’t get over how Michelangelo took a block of marble and turned it into something so lifelike.”
“You’ve got the most anatomically perfect man in front of you and all you can wonder is how Michelangelo created this?”
“Let’s go, Ladies!” I was annoyed at the love this lifeless man was receiving.
“The Uffizi, next?”
“How about gelato next?” I knew Marni would go for that suggestion. “I was talking to my mom earlier and she told me about this gelato place around the corner from here. Let’s go check it out.”
“Sounds good,” she answered.
We lost Sylvia to the shops on Ponte Vecchio. Marni and I sat on a bench eating our gelatos.
“What do you think?” I casually pointed to our surroundings. “You haven’t said much.”
“It’s gorgeous here. I’m in awe of the splendors around me.”
“Is that all? You appear preoccupied.”
Marni didn’t share until her gelato cup was empty. “Ben emailed to say he’d be in Rome soon and he’d like for us to hang out.”
“Is your sister coming?”
“I don’t know. From the email, I couldn’t tell.”
“You want me to be there with you when they come? We can go out as a foursome.”
She looked surprised at my proposal. “You’d do that for me?”
“Yeah, I’d do that for you. I know it’s been hard for you since they got engaged. I’m here as your friend, or as someone who’d like to be more than your friend.”
She gave no effusive answer of love and commitment. She did, however, put her head on my shoulder and dig into my gelato cup.
I’d take that sign of affection, for now.
Chapter 5 Ben (Present)
Reunited ~Peaches & Herb
“Who the hell is bothering us?” I heard Mar mumbling outside my door as I got out of bed.
“Hold up.” I yelled. “Let me go with you.” I stumbled out of bed as I heard Marni walking with my daughter in her arms.
“At age thirty-two, I think I can open the door without your help.” I heard the smartass tone loud and clear. I didn’t care what she thought she could do. It was before seven and I didn’t want the two girls in my life greeting anyone at the door at this hour. “It’s too damn early for this.” Marni continued to grumble.
After our disastrous visit with Dan and Jean, Mar and I pretty much passed yesterday as strangers. She didn’t say much beyond the absolute necessity, and I kept to myself because I was still pissed with the half-truths. It was my baby girl who eventually brought us together. I found Mar and Ali on the piano, so I joined them and played a few tunes. When I took Ali out to the backyard to push her on the swing, Mar came out and sat on the swing next to her. Not that it was much of a surprise, but I was psyched that Ali latched onto Mar so readily and easily. It was as if Mar had always been in her life.
“Noah.” I heard Mar say.
Shit. Yesterday was bad news. Today was already worse.
Noah greeted his girlfriend with a desperate embrace. Mar swung Ali out of the way so she wouldn’t get hurt. I swooped in and grabbed my daughter.
“I’ll leave you two alone?” I posed a question, just to make sure Mar was all right with Noah’s presence. Mar nodded her head while Noah stayed glued to her. “We’ll be in the kitchen.” I whispered.
Seeing Noah at this hour, at any hour, didn’t please me. I couldn’t decipher this feeling that was drawing to a slow boil; I definitely didn’t like it. These warring emotions baffled me and it pissed me off that I wasn’t in control.
I was being a total asshole for staking a claim on a woman who was not my own, but I needed Mar. Ali needed her aunt. We were desperate for her presence and guidance.
“Come back home to me.” I heard Noah beg.
&nbs
p; Thank God, Mar didn’t relent. “We’ve been through this before. Ben and Ali are family and they need me.”
“I need you!” The loudness of those three words made Ali jump and look around for the culprit of that voice.
“Let’s not do this here. I thought you had your say before I left San Diego. Why rehash all this ugliness?”
“We’ve been together three years—longer if you count college. No matter how much I opposed the pregnancy, you went ahead and did what you wanted to do. I gave in to every one of your demands because I love you. Can’t you do this one thing for me?”
“Dadadada.” Ali threw her spoon on the floor and called me back to her.
I couldn’t pull my ears away from the conversation by the front door. Luckily, it was loud enough where I didn’t have to strain to eavesdrop.
“Hey.” Mar’s voice softened. “Come in and have breakfast with us. Meet Ali, share a cup of coffee with Ben, and then let’s take this conversation outside.”
Noah obligingly followed Mar into our space.
“Hi.” I walked over and placed my hand out as an apology and a gesture of goodwill.
Noah shook my hand and stared at my daughter.
“Ali, can you say hi?”
On cue, my obedient daughter waved hello and smiled. She was being her charming self and flirting with a man who did not want to flirt back.
“She looks so much like you.” Noah’s words sounded more like an accusation than an observation.
“You know I take after my dad’s side of the family where there are plenty of red-heads.”
“But your sister was blonde.”
“She took after her mom’s side, but she had tinges of red, too. My dad’s genes didn’t escape her.”
I had no clue why the color of Ali’s hair was so important to this guy. Why the hell was he focusing on hair color rather than my daughter who was continually waving at him? Idiot ignored Ali and accepted the coffee handed to him.
“What shall we have for breakfast, Ali?”
My one-year-old responded to her aunt by singing her usual tunes. “Dadadada. Babababa. Mamamama.”
“Would you translate that as pancakes with strawberries and bananas?”
I chuckled at Mar’s question. “That could also mean, ‘I don’t give a shit. Just feed me; I’m hungry!’”
Mar laughed at my interpretation. The moron to my left didn’t even break a grin.
“Is this what you do all day, Mar?” There was that accusatory tone, again. Asshole.
“Nope. I also change Ali’s diapers, bathe her, put her down for naps, and play with her.”
Take that, Jackass!
“What do you do now that you have a full-time nanny, cook, and housekeeper? You do know Marni works and will be attending school?”
I was seriously close to kicking Noah’s ass. But I decided to mess with his mind, instead. “I go out and make money.” It riled him up to think of the three of us as a family—though we were not, at least not in the traditional way. “Her job is unnecessary. I’ve told Mar I’d support her.”
Noah’s eyes told murderous stories. Mar had to step in to break up the soon-to-be ass kicking.
“Why don’t you grill the pancakes,” was Mar’s command as she handed me the spatula. “Cutie, I’ll see you in a little bit,” was her greeting to my daughter. “Let’s go out for a walk,” was her demand on Noah.
We all complied.
None of us was happy.
Ali was the only one to verbalize her unhappiness. She cried as soon as she realized Mar had left.
“She’ll be back, Baby Girl. Your auntie loves you and she won’t leave you for any reason—especially not for that jerk of an ex-boyfriend.” Mar wasn’t clear on her relationship status, but I hoped that by the time she was done with their talk, they’d be exes.
Since Mel’s death, there had been numerous breakfasts without Mar, but today was the loneliest one of them all. Though Ali ate, she continually looked around the room, waiting for someone to join us. No different from my daughter, I kept looking toward the door, listening.
It had only been two days since Mar’s appearance.
Those two days equaled to what felt like a two-year emotional tie.
How could she have absolute ownership of our daily routine, already?
Ali and I lingered at the breakfast table hoping for Mar’s speedy return. When that didn’t happen, I took Ali into my home studio and sat with her on the chair to bang on the piano while I processed why I felt so alone, again.
In the course of a couple of days, I hadn’t realized how much fuller our lives had become with my sister-in-law’s presence. When I thought of Melody, there was now a smile along with the usual heavy heart. I missed my wife, but I no longer felt despair.
Ali took her morning nap. Mar wasn’t there to put her down.
We stayed in for lunch hoping Auntie Marni would join us. It didn’t happen.
My baby girl’s afternoon nap, dinner, and bedtime routine happened with just the two of us.
Panic became my best friend, again.
I hated feeling vulnerable and weak.
Chapter 5 Marni (Past)
Reunited ~Peaches & Herb
“Who the hell is bothering us?” My roommate, Sylvia, complained.
“What time is it?” I croaked. “A little early for an unexpected and unwelcomed visitor.”
After Florence and Venice, we came back to our usual routine. Sylvia, Noah, and I continued to stay close and Noah and I found more reasons to become closer.
No doubt, I liked him. He was the wholesome boy next door with good looks, a good family, and a brain like no other. Though he was an engineering major, he understood and enjoyed art history just as much as I did.
I liked our status. We were more than friends, but I wasn’t pressured to be his girlfriend—though it was assumed by all. Emotionally, I was attached in a detached kind of way. Physically, I liked the constant touches, constant reminders that he was nearby—without the burden of reciprocating, or taking it to another level. Noah let me set the pace and I was grateful.
“Are you answering the door or am I?” The door was a few feet from us, but neither of us got up. Today was a Saturday and we had no desire to entertain at this hour—whatever this hour was.
“Marni.” We heard a man’s voice.
“It doesn’t sound like Noah,” was Sylvia’s first comment. “I guess it’s you, Roommate,” was her next. “Make sure to close the door when you greet your man.”
“I don’t have a man. You of all people should know.”
“Whatever. Just open the damn door so I can go back to sleep.”
“Just a moment.” Those three words gave me a couple of minutes to get dressed, tie up my hair, brush my teeth, and wash my face in our small sink. Grudgingly, I was ready to meet my guest. “Yes?” I opened the door to find a big surprise. “Ben!”
“So you are alive.” Ben spoke with disapproval and reached in for a hug. I had no choice but to return his embrace.
“Of course I’m alive. Were you expecting otherwise?”
“After I’m through with you, you might wish to be anything but alive.”
What the hell? “Excuse me?”
“Get dressed and let’s go out.”
This entire scenario was bizarre enough for me to accept Ben’s command and follow it.
“Who was that?” Sylvia asked when I walked back in.
“Ben.”
“Ben? As in Ben, I’m-an-asshole-for-marrying-your-sister, Ben?”
Sylvia could always make me laugh. “Yes.” I sighed. “That’s the one.”
“What the fuck is he doing here? Did he dump your sister? Ooh, I know.” She jackknifed out of bed to tell me, “Maybe he’s here to grovel and beg you to marry him, instead. If you need me to leave the room for a few hours so you guys can have crazy, stupid sex, I’m willing to go.”
“Thanks for the offer, but I don’t think Ben’s broken u
p with my sister, and in all honesty, that’s not what I’d want for either of them.”
“You’re too damn nice, Marni. If he isn’t here to make up with you, I still say, you seduce him.”
“What?” I laughed.
“Mar.” Sylvia went on, “Look at you. You have beautifully thick, red hair, your skin is gorgeous, you have mysterious green eyes and a body that makes a man want to bed you. You look like Lauren Holly or Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman without all the curls, and skanky clothes.”
“Thank you, I think?”
Sylvia wasn’t done with her life lesson for the day. “Give him the ride of his life…no, go down on him, first, then ride him…no, maybe that’s too aggressive. Maybe you should seduce him all day long, and then deny him. That’s it. He’ll go crazy and crawl right on top of you the moment he gets you to a flat surface.”
“OK…! That’s enough visuals for a lifetime, Syl. He’s going to be my brother-in-law. I don’t need to think about giving him a blowjob when we’ll be sitting across one another at the Thanksgiving table.”
“Just think how much more exciting holidays will be if you both jump each other today. That can stay your little secret if he chooses to marry your sister.”
I couldn’t stop laughing. “I don’t know how long I will be. Stay out of trouble,” I warned.
“Just text the word ‘jump’ and I’ll know you want me out of here.”
I left the room as soon as I could. My roommate was too much.
“What’s so funny?” Ben asked when I reached him at the foyer of the building.
“You don’t want to know.” I answered, shaking my head at Sylvia’s crazy suggestions. “What brings you to Rome?”
Ben was unhappy with me. I clearly knew why, though I pretended not to understand.
“Did you or did you not receive my emails?”
“Um…” I stalled.
“Yeah. Those emails. I sent them, twice, thinking they didn’t reach you the first time. Why are you avoiding me? If you read the message, you’d know I’d be here today.”