by Kailin Gow
“I know that and that’s why you’d be much happier finding one of those women to accept what you’re offering. I’m not the right one for you, Chase. I know it and you may not know it now but I think you will soon enough.”
“So, after all this time and all the work I’ve put into this, you’re calling it quits?”
“I’m sorry but if it is all or nothing, yes, I am calling it quits.”
Chase punched his fist on the wall and it knocked over a vase in the corner.
“Maybe I should go stay at a hotel tonight. I’m not unpacked yet, anyway.”
“Don’t bother. I won’t touch you or be here,” Chase said.
He stormed out of the door and left me standing there, staring around and knowing that I’d just changed the course of my life forever. I had no idea if Salvatore was my forever after but I knew Chase wasn’t. That was what was important.
Not able to sleep, I spent that night looking for affordable apartments that I could move in to as quickly as possible. There had to be something. I’d wait and call my family in the morning. There was no need to make everyone have a sleepless night.
Morning came too quickly and my thoughts did more than enough to occupy me until the combination of jet lag and mental fatigue took over and I drifted off to sleep. I woke up with a half hour to go before getting to classes and hustled to get ready, putting on a baseball hat, some jeans, a t-shirt, and a hoodie. The call would have to wait.
I got home from school and made the telephone call to my mother, who was shocked and just kept saying, “Oh, child, what have you done?” I promised her I wouldn’t tell Dad yet because she thought it would be best to tell him in person.
Then Chase came to the apartment and I told him I was moving out. His attitude had adjusted again and he simply said, “You can if you want to, although I don’t want you to, myself. Just remember—I am going to keep fighting for you and do what it takes. We’re meant to be together and you are meant to be Mrs. Chase Nichols.”
I want to be me, that’s the problem, I thought.
Before I knew it, I had my own apartment, was busting my butt off to get as stellar of grades as possible for class, and completing an application to be Professor Leanza’s assistant on his next dig. I hoped it worked and when he mentioned that he was gathering a team for a Pompeii dig I became obsessed with learning as much as I could about the area. It started with playing the popular song Pompeii by Bastille and reading everything I could in my spare time, plus looking at amazing pictures of the area. Of course, this also helped to keep my mind off of Salvatore.
The two of us had become the stereotype of ‘secret lovers,’ even setting up our own separate email to ensure our privacy and that our secret was a secret. True to my thoughts back in Italy, Chase hadn’t mentioned Salvatore to anyone. His giant ego and pride were working to my advantage in this case. Plus, if we did get back together, he couldn’t risk having any dirt on a scandalous wife out there.
Then, one day it finally happened. Professor Leanza told me that I’d been selected to go to Pompeii and we’d be doing the dig over the Christmas break period, giving me nearly three weeks in Pompeii to do something that I was passionate about doing since I’d first realized it was a possibility.
Oddly enough, Pompeii was about two and a half hours away from Rome from what I estimated and the thought of seeing Salvatore wasn’t as great as the draw to be a part of the dig. Did it mean that Chase had been right, that everyone had been? It was a highly sexual attraction that had made Salvatore and me the most compatible. It was something else that time would tell but if the experience with Chase had taught me anything it was that I had to make a stand for myself or people would tell me what they thought was best for me. As Katy Perry said in Roar, “I stood for nothing so I fell for everything.” I could not allow that to happen to me.
Chapter 12
The archaeological team had decided to stay at a reasonable hotel that was located on the outskirts of modern Pompeii. It was quite practical and I was glad to see that they didn’t waste valuable dollars on expensive hotels. Using as much resources as possible to ensure the dig had every chance of being successful seemed most logical to me.
I couldn’t help but reflect on how Chase never would have stayed at the hotel we were staying at. It was nice and suitable by all means but very ordinary, making it the same as a slum to him. We were so different that way. Salvatore, on the other hand, would not have complained at all but savored the most of the moment—savored the thought of being by me.
Not longing for Salvatore and being within a few hours of him was so new to me, but I did miss him a lot and longed to see him—just not for a bit. Impressing Professor Leanza was my main priority on this dig. I was part of a team that consisted of the professor and his assistant, Marissa, along with three Italians—two men and one women. Together, we were going to be working to uncover the story of lives past in Pompeii. These lives were forever imprinted into the landscape as they lay in between layers of crusted lava and ash from the devastating volcano that erupted from Mount Vesuvius way back in 79 A.D.
What will the world remember me for if someone stumbles upon my life in two thousand years? That thought had been weighing on my mind and it helped me put into perspective the things I’d been dwelling on. With this dig, I’d have a chance to discover something amazing about myself, as well as a civilization long gone.
The first night in Pompeii was meant for catching up and sleep and trying to get over the jet lag that we were all suffering from. That was fine by me and I was eager to go in and do some more research to make sure I was ready for the dig and didn’t look and sound like the newbie that I was.
Ding. My email message went off and I looked down and smiled. It was Salvatore.
Dear Tay,
I’m so glad you arrived safely and are preparing to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. You have so much going on and it’s so exciting. I’m busy, too. Final exams are this week and after that, I’ll be all done with secondary school and ready to go to university. Crazy week ahead. What I long for most is to see you, though. I cannot wait for that day to arrive and hope it is not too long.
Yours,
Salvatore
I smiled, loving the way Salvatore wrote his messages. I could just imagine his smooth, sexy accent saying those words to me, comforting me like a lullaby one minute and then arousing me to the point of distraction the next. He was so understanding, knowing that the dig was important to me and not wanting to be the cause of any distractions. I really was lucky to have his love.
I smiled the entire time I typed my message back.
Salvatore,
You know just what to say! I can’t wait for us to see each other, each having accomplished something great. I know you’ll master your finals for school and I can only hope to be as focused on what I’m doing as you are—not to mention as smart.
When we finally do get to see each other, it’ll be a moment that we both have earned and deserve.
Until later,
XOXO Tay
Then a large yawn escaped my lips and I couldn’t avoid the fact that I was exhausted and if I wanted to be any good to anyone I needed some sleep.
I settled into my bed and closed my eyes. The only thing that woke me up was my alarm going off at 5 a.m. It was time to go to my first dig site ever and I was thrilled, feeling an instant adrenaline rush.
We all met down for a quick breakfast in the hotel lobby and then were off in a white van to take us to the parking lot by the docks that went to the island. There was a small vessel that was next to the tourist boats that was meant for us.
On the way, Professor Leanza talked about what had been happening thus far. I’d heard it before but eagerly listened, less I forgot a single detail.
“Through Valencia, Alberto, and Farley’s preliminary work,” Leanza said, pointing to the three Italians, “we have a general idea where to dig and that’ll be very helpful. It follows the correct patt
erns and grids of the old city so we fully expect that by the end of the first week, we’ll have stumbled onto something substantial and that’s when the real fun begins!” The professor clapped his hands together and showed all the enthusiasm of a child embarking on a great adventure. It was contagious.
The professor continued. “Tay, I want you to go with Valencia and she’ll show you how to use the tools properly and indicators of what to look for…that sort of thing.”
Other instructions were given and the only one who knew exactly what they were supposed to do was Marissa, Professor Leanza’s assistant. She was the one who kept everything organized and made it look like the professor was organized even when his mind was a million thoughts away. She was amazing and I thought that it was quite possible that being an assistant was the most difficult job in the world…in that case, anyway.
“So, what’s first?” I asked.
“Do you know what this is?” Valencia asked, handing me a box shaped device with many gadgets on it.
“A remote of some sort.”
“No, a ground penetrating radar system. It’s expensive, very expensive.”
I gulped. She’d tossed it to me so casually. Then there was the little issue about the word radar. I didn’t want to sound like a worrier on my first day. “Do we wear special gloves or something?” I asked.
“No, no worries about that type of thing,” she replied.
That was a good thing!
We proceeded to walk around a specifically mapped out area, using the radar system and marking out it’s patterns every few feet. It was amazing how often they changed, if even only subtly.
Before I knew it, lunch had passed and dinner had passed.
Then, an entire week later, we’d targeted the area where we were going to dig.
“How long will the dig take?” I asked, eager to get to work on it. “I’m glad to stay later tonight and do what I can.”
Professor Leanza looked at me and smiled. “You’ve definitely shown how committed you are to this project even through the less than fun things, such as this past week. You don’t need to do any of the heavy digging. We have a crew that will come in and break through the layers of lava rock when we are offsite and during the day, we can begin to see what clues we can find in the rock itself until they reach the level we want.
“Which is about eight feet below the current level,” I commented.
“Yes, you really have studied up all you could, haven’t you?”
I wasn’t trying to suck up but I was fascinated with every detail. “I try. It’s so interesting and fascinating. I want to move the project ahead, not make it move more slowly because I do not know everything I can.”
“Impressive, but this is a beautiful country, Tay, take some time to enjoy the sites that exist in the present, not just be consumed with the past.”
I laughed. “I haven’t noticed you doing any of those things?”
“Yes, but I’ve been married to a woman before. That didn’t go so well. My relationship with the past, well, that is always smooth and considerably easier to understand.”
I smiled. Professor Leanza was undoubtedly married to his work.
“Miss First,” someone said from behind me.
I turned around and saw a messenger standing there. “This came for you.”
“Thank you,” I said, smiling. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a few coins and handed them over.
I looked down and smiled.
Surprise! I am waiting at the hotel to take you to dinner. I didn’t want to go out to the island in case it was too disruptive. I might not have been able to keep my hands off of you. Wink, wink.
Salvatore
“Is everything alright?” the professor asked.
“Yes, a…friend…said they are waiting at the lobby to take me to dinner. I’m not certain that’s a good idea, though. There’s too much happening here.”
“Nonsense, from the look of it I see this is more than a friend. You deserve a break and to enjoy a wonderful evening. Go, go…I demand it.”
“Well, I can’t very well say no to the boss, can I?”
“I like your attitude. I’ll see you in the morning at breakfast.”
“Sounds good,” I said.
“What sounds good?”
I jumped up and was almost hesitant to turn around but I did. Salvatore was standing there looking at me with a huge smile on his face.
“I thought I was meeting you back at the hotel,” I blurted out.
“After careful consideration I changed my mind. I know how you are when you get involved in something.”
“And this must be the writer of that note that made you smile so brightly,” the professor said.
“Professor Leanza, this is my… friend…Salvatore. Salvatore, the professor.”
The two shook hands and talked a few minutes. Then the professor took leave, adding, “Feel free to show him around, Tay. I trust you and know you won’t do anything you shouldn’t.”
“Okay,” I said, feeling humbled by the trust being extended after such a short period of time.
I turned back to Salvatore. “It’s so good to see you.”
“You look beautiful,” Salvatore said. He put his thumb up to my cheek and rubbed softly. “A bit of dirt.”
“I must be a mess.”
“A beautiful one,” he said softly.
I took Salvatore around the site, introducing him to everyone and telling him a bit about what we hoped to find and he asked many questions and shared some insights with me that people understood who’d lived near so many dig sites and had been raised with access to information via stories passed down through the generations and different perspectives in their history courses. In the States, we learned US history but in Europe, there was much more history than two hundred plus years’ worth.
“Are you ready to eat?” Salvatore asked.
“I am, in fact,” I said. With all the fresh air and hard work my appetite had been fairly ferocious and since I often forgot to eat, it tended to catch up to me the second I slowed down. At minimal, a loud growl from my stomach was a reminder.
“Good because you look like you’re losing weight. Everything is okay, right?”
“Yes,” I said, wrapping my arms around Salvatore’s waist. “Everything is wonderful.”
I sat on a rock, smiling as Salvatore set up a romantic picnic dinner for us, including candles, which happened to keep blowing out because of the breeze coming off the sea.
“That was not well thought out,” Salvatore said with a slight chuckle.
“But wonderful, nonetheless,” I said. “This is all wonderful, Salvatore, but how am I going to get back to the hotel tonight?”
“I’ve arranged it; don’t worry.”
“Okay, I won’t worry,” I said. I did worry a bit but it turns out it didn’t matter.
Salvatore and I were so content and our surroundings were so comforting to me that I’d never felt better in his arms than I did that night, as we laid there watching everything and eventually seeing the setting sun turn into bright, twinkling stars.
We drifted off and to my horror, we woke up as the sun was rising. I’d laid on a rock all night, sound asleep and was stiff as a board. I looked over at Salvatore and he was smiling at me.
“Why didn’t you wake me?” I asked, feeling a bit panicked.
“You were sleeping soundly and I did try to wake you once but you wouldn’t budge. So…”
“So you kept me here all night?”
“Yes,” he said very unapologetically.
“I don’t have time to get back to the hotel and change before work starts,” I said.
What would people think of me?
“You look amazing and you’ll be fine for a day. You can’t have that big of a variety of clothes for your dig,” Salvatore said.
He was so matter-of-fact and I looked at him and saw the mischief in his eyes. “I’ll get even with you for this, you just wait.”
“I can’t wait,” he said.
Then in the distance, the boat with my co-workers was approaching and it was time to get over my embarrassment of being on the site all night. Nobody could accuse me of not being committed…to the dig and to Salvatore, too.
Chapter 13
I gave Salvatore one last kiss goodbye. It felt so good and I felt rejuvenated by our connection.
“I will be back as soon as school is done to spend more time with you here,” he said to me.
I smiled, touched that he’d go through all that trouble. “You have lots of things that you need to do, Salvatore. Don’t worry about me and rushing over here. I understand.”