The Breakup

by Brenda Grate

  “I’m glad you could join us for dinner tonight, Aja.” Marco’s smile looked genuine and he didn’t seem the least bit uncomfortable. That makes exactly one of us.

  “Yes, it was nice of Nona to invite me.”

  “Nonsense, girl. We’re happy to have someone other than the two of us for once,” Nona said.

  Marco turned to his mother. “So you’re sick of me are you, Nona?”

  She flapped her hand at him and he grabbed it, pressing it to his lips. “Silly boy.”

  They were so sweet. It was a side of Marco she didn’t expect, that he would be such a good son.

  They were sitting outside on the terrace - under a pergola covered in grape vines - looking over one of the vineyards. The sun was going down and the table lit with candles. They were eating late, as was the Italian custom, something she was still having a little trouble with. She kept sneaking snacks in the afternoon, so she wouldn’t embarrass herself with a rumbling stomach.

  It was peaceful there, away from town, just the three of them quietly talking. The darkness seemed to hush their voices, swallowing them up into the warm evening.

  “…long are you staying?”

  Aja realized Nona had asked her a question while she’d been daydreaming. “Sorry?”

  “I said how long are you going to stay in Siena?”

  “Oh. I’m not sure yet. I would like to stay for a couple of months at least, but it depends on several things at home.” Aja turned the conversation away from herself immediately. “When is the wine harvest, Marco?”

  Their conversation turned to wine and the upcoming events and festivals. Aja had no idea there was so much involved with making wine. She sat and listened to Marco and Nona talk about their favorite subject, fascinated with all the details. It was an amazing process with so many little things to take care of and so much that could go wrong. She was horrified when they told her about some of the diseases that could wipe out an entire rootstock.

  “We were almost wiped out by fire when I was a little girl,” Nona said. “My father had to bring in vines from another vineyard to replenish our stock. We owned the vineyard; it was being managed by a cousin, so the rootstock was the same. It was a miracle, my father always said, that there was that one vineyard left. Otherwise it would have been the end of our label.”

  “That would have been horrible. What would they have done?”

  “I imagine they would have gotten vines from somewhere else and started over,” Marco broke in. “It wouldn’t have been the end of the label, just the end of that particular wine.”

  Nona took a sip of her wine. “For my father, it was one and the same.”

  Aja saw Marco struggling to hold back what he wanted to say. She wished he would just speak to his mother, but she didn’t want to interfere. She agreed with Nona that he had to find courage on his own.

  Nona pushed back her chair and began to clear the table. Aja jumped up, protesting that she’d done enough, at the same time Marco did and they all laughed.

  “Okay, you two can do the dishes. I’m going to take my tired bones to bed.” Nona kissed them both on the cheeks and made her way into the house.

  “Nona must have had you when she was older,” Aja said.

  “Yes. She was almost past the child-bearing years and had given up all hope of having a baby. Surprise!” Marco threw his arms wide.

  “That must have been some surprise. No wonder she dotes on you.”

  A frown crossed his face, but he didn’t comment.

  They did the dishes in a comfortable silence, both of them lost in their thoughts. Aja thought about her parents and if they felt the same way about her. She knew her father adored her, but her mother didn’t bother with her much, taking for granted that Aja would be taken care of by someone in the house. Usually she’d had a nanny or the housekeeper to look after her, but sometimes she felt invisible. Like if she disappeared one day, no one would notice.

  “All done.” Marco snapped the dish towel and hung it over the rack. “Thanks for your help. It was nice having you over.”

  “Thanks for having me. I enjoyed it. Nona is a wonderful cook.”

  “Yes. She is.”

  They stood and looked at each other for a moment; the ease of moments before disappeared. She cleared her throat. “Well, I better get to bed.”

  “I’ll walk you back.”

  “No, it’s okay. I’ll be fine.”

  Marco didn’t reply. He took her arm and led her to the door in his take-charge way. She tried not to get irritated, but she hated it when people didn’t listen to her. Aja wasn’t going to spoil the evening, though, so she just pressed her lips together and walked quicker.

  The air had cooled off considerably since they’d had dinner. She hugged her arms around herself, shrugging off Marco’s hand.

  “Cold?” he asked.

  “A little.”

  Marco put his arm around her, causing goose pimples to rise all over her arms. They weren’t from the cold.

  “I’m fine, Marco.” Aja moved away, trying to put a little distance between them.

  When they reached the door, she turned to say goodnight and he pulled her into his arms, thoroughly kissing her.

  It took a couple of seconds for Aja to get her senses together. She pulled away and shoved him back. “What are you doing?”

  “Kissing you.” He said it nonchalantly, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  “You didn’t ask me.” She crossed her arms and glared at him.

  “You didn’t seem to mind last night, Aja.”

  “Last night was, well…” she sputtered not knowing what to say.

  “Oh, is it Pietro? You’d rather be with him?”

  “No! I’m not with anyone.”

  “He didn’t seem to think so.”

  She felt horrified. Somehow he’d gotten the idea she was a loose woman and he was going to get his little piece of ass. Aja was furious that she’d softened toward him. “I’m not that kind of woman. Pietro took without asking, too, and I don’t appreciate that.”

  “What if I ask? Can I have a kiss then?”

  Her answer was to slam the door in his face. She stomped up the stairs muttering curses and blaming herself for being such an idiot. Men were nothing but trouble. She knew this and still she’d gotten involved with two of them within days of coming to Italy.

  “Aja!”

  She whirled around. Marco was calling up to her window. She slammed the shutter, cursing when she heard his laughter down below. “Asshole.” She said it loud enough for him to hear and he laughed again.

  “Goodnight, Aja. Sleep well. Voglio essere a letto con te.”

  Aja had no idea what that meant - but from the snickering outside her door - it had to be something sexual. She threw herself onto the bed and folded the pillow around her head. She would get him back for making her feel like a fool. She was determined to find a way. She didn’t survive three older brothers without a few tricks up her sleeve. Just you wait, Marco, just you wait.

  Chapter 20

  Aja woke with a scream, looking wildly around for Stephen. When she saw the familiar room, she realized it was a dream. She lay back down and tried to catch her breath. There wasn’t any sound in the house so it didn’t seem that anyone had woken up.

  The dream had been vivid - Stephen was attacking her again and she was helpless to fend him off. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, and this time there wasn’t a knife nearby. It occurred to her why Marco’s advances had made her so angry the night before. It’d reminded her of Stephen; a man who took without asking. There was no respect involved. She had thought Marco was starting to respect her, but it appeared to be just a sham. Aja decided to remain steadfast in staying away from Marco; from any man. That had been her intention in coming to Italy, but for some stupid reason she hadn’t factored randy Italian men into the equation. She’d figured they would be easy to stay away from. How weak am I?

  The dream reminded Aja
of meeting Stephen just after she graduated from university. He was from a small town in British Columbia, a few hours from Vancouver. She remembered how charming he was, the life of the party, and how he seemed to think she was the most attractive, funny girl he’d ever met. He would laugh and say she killed him. It never occurred to her that it was at her expense. Maybe having three older brothers hadn’t taught me as much as I’d thought. But The Brothers, for all their crazy ways, had never been disrespectful.

  Olly knew - and vehemently disliked - Stephen and had protested when they’d started dating. Aja couldn’t understand it. Stephen seemed a lot like her brothers. She figured it was just jealousy or typical big-brother protectiveness. Olly said Stephen was a womanizer, and Aja said it took one to know one. He’d agreed and took the wind right out of her sails.

  Sure enough, they hadn’t been dating more than six months when Stephen cheated. Aja confronted him and he lost it. He even slapped her. The incident with the knife happened and the vendetta was born.

  Light peeked around the edges of her curtains. Aja looked at the clock beside her bed. It was time to get up, the babies were waiting.

  Aja felt tired, hot, and cranky. The day had gone reasonably well, but she was glad it was Friday and she had two days off. She was going to spend the weekend seriously rethinking the idea of working for a living. She wanted to make it on her own, but changing diapers was not her idea of a classy job. She decided she needed to go to town and get some adult conversation and company. She would start with Julianna’s restaurant for dinner. Her pay check was small, but she was quickly losing any reservations about spending the trust fund.

  Julianna was ready when Aja arrived at the restaurant. “Aja! You here. Come we have fun stuffs plan.”

  Pietro stood behind his sister, a huge grin plastered over his face. “I thought it was just going to be us.” She wasn’t in the mood to fend off his advances.

  “No. Pietro come and Bill, too.”

  “Bill?” That sounded like a thoroughly American name.

  “Yes. I meet… um… la scorsa settimana… no know how say.”

  “Last week,” Pietro broke in, proving again he knew more English than he let on.

  “Men. Can’t trust them,” Aja grumbled.

  “Aja, what wrong?” Pietro asked.

  “Nothing. I’m fine. Where are we going for dinner?” Aja asked Julianna, ignoring Pietro.

  “You see. Very special.”

  “It can’t be as nice as your place, Julianna.”

  She grinned at Aja. “No, but almost as nice. I not hafa cook.”

  They walked together to the restaurant, Julianna linking her arm with her brother and forcing Aja to walk on his other side. Pietro pulled her arm through his and she jerked it away. He just raised an eyebrow at her, smiled, and kept walking. He and Julianna bantered back and forth in a mixture of English and Italian, which she didn’t bother to try following.

  Aja didn’t usually suffer from grumpiness, but the lack of sleep, thanks to the dream, had combined with the howling babies. Plus, she couldn’t seem to shake an uneasiness that had been with her since she woke up. It felt like Stephen was there, around every corner. Every time she looked up it was with the expectation of seeing him glaring at her. It wasn’t a nice feeling. Her encounter with him had shaken her more than she’d realized.

  They arrived at the restaurant. Aja had to catch her breath. The building was obviously one of the older buildings, though it was well maintained. Candles lit up every corner and gave it a cozy, romantic air. Soft Italian opera music played in the background and waiters brought out platters of aromatic food. Each table had its own alcove, giving them a sense of privacy and intimacy. Julianna rushed over to a table with a happy exclamation; she’d apparently found Bill.

  “Does she know him at all?” Aja asked Pietro.

  “She just meet, but I make sure he safe.” Pietro puffed out his chest and she laughed. He was such a comical character. She could never tell if his posturing was serious or an attempt to keep her laughing, but - whatever it was - it worked.

  “Good. You smile. I like it when you smile, Aja.” Pietro dropped his voice when he said her name and it sounded like a caress. She pulled away from him and walked to the table. It was a good reminder not to let her guard down around him. He could be a very seductive man.

  Aja reached the table and Julianna gestured towards her date with a smile. When she saw him, Aja jumped back, tripped over a waiter, and fell into a tangle of legs, arms and pasta.

  Stephen leaned down, took her hand, and pulled her to her feet. “Now, Aja, whatever is the matter with you. Aren’t you happy to see me?”

  “Who this?” Pietro asked.

  “Let go of me,” Aja yanked her arm out of Stephen’s grip.

  Pietro moved closer, angling himself between them.

  Aja turned to Pietro and pointed at Stephen. “He’s trying to hurt me. That’s why I’m in Italy. He tried to have me killed.”

  In a flash, Pietro rushed Stephen.

  She screamed just as Pietro’s fist connected with Stephen’s aristocratic snout. Aja pulled Pietro away from Stephen as the manager showed up. He proceeded to throw them all out of the restaurant.

  Julianna kept asking if Aja was okay while she picked pasta out of her hair. Aja couldn’t take her eyes off Stephen. What the hell is he doing here? How did he find me? Pietro wouldn’t take his eyes off Stephen either. Aja could tell Pietro was ready to attack him again.

  “What are you doing here, Stephen?” Aja’s heart thumped in her chest, nearly choking her.

  “I came to see you, love.”

  “Don’t call me that,” she hissed at him.

  “Why not, you’re my girlfriend, aren’t you?”

  “No! I’m not and you know it.”

  Pietro looked back and forth between them, confusion on his face.

  “Who this, Aja? Your boyfriend?”

  Oh yeah, so now he knows what a boyfriend is. “No. He’s not my boyfriend, Pietro. He’s my enemy.”

  Pietro’s face cleared in relief. Then his eyes narrowed. “I beat him up for you?”

  My hero. “No. Please, Pietro. It’s fine, let’s just go.”

  “So, already moving on to another victim, huh Aja? Better watch your cock, partner, she’s dangerous around them. Nearly chewed mine off.” He let out a loud, angry laugh and a shiver went down her spine.

  “What do you want, Stephen? What are you doing here?”

  “I came to serve you with papers. I’m suing you for cutting off my cock, my love.”

  Pietro’s eyes flew wide in shock. “You cut off his…” His hands moved instinctively to protect himself.

  “Oh for God’s sake! I didn’t cut it off. He was trying to rape me and I stabbed him. It was an accident!”

  Pietro turned to Stephen. “You raped her!”

  Julianna gasped.

  Stephen shrugged. “You can’t rape the willing, buddy.”

  Aja grabbed Pietro’s arm as he made to lunge at Stephen. “Don’t. Come on, let’s go. Please.”

  Pietro gave Stephen a final shove and turned away from him with reluctance. He put his arm around Aja and began walking in the direction of the ristorante with Julianna following.

  “I’m not going away, Aja. You’ll have to come home sometime,” Stephen shouted from behind them.

  Aja ignored him and kept walking, grateful for Pietro’s arm around her. Julianna walked beside them now, confusion on her face. She kept looking back towards Stephen and then at Aja again.

  “Aja. That not Bill? His name Stephen?” Julianna asked.

  “Yes, that’s Stephen and he’s my ex-boyfriend. He’s the reason I came to Italy. Where did you meet him, Juli?”

  “He came in ristorante… um… last… uh,” she looked at Pietro, her face desperate. She rattled off a stream of Italian. When she finished, Pietro interpreted.

  “Julianna say he come in restaurant last week. He uh, what you say, hit on
her?”

  Aja nodded.

  “Yes, he hit on her,” Pietro made a face like he’d bit into a bug. “And they talk. She like him. Say he charming. Then he come back today. She talk a little about new friend, Aja.”

  Aja gasped. “That’s why he wanted to come out with us tonight, isn’t it?”

  Julianna nodded her head. “I sorry, Aja. So sorry.”