Runaway Love

by Nicole W. Lee

  She spotted Lorenzo seated at a table at the edge of the rink. He had his back to her engaged in intense conversation with a couple on the next table.

  Genie's heart stepped up the pace and a lump began to form in her throat. The moment of stating her intention to leave was fast approaching. Here she was, dressed to create a feast for Lorenzo's eyes, eager to see his pleasure and yet, she was planning to go to him and begin the countdown to her announcement.

  It took her almost five minutes to pluck up her courage to move. She took a deep breath, muttered, “In for a penny..,” and marched towards Lorenzo. She managed to reach his table before he realized and just as the couple stood up ready to leave. While they said their farewells, Genie stood behind Lorenzo's and waited.

  The couple smiled broadly at Genie with a familiarity that is usually reserved for old friends. It was painfully obvious that they were aware of who she was. The San Rafaele grapevine was alive and kicking with extreme vigour.

  Gene created and returned her best 'old friends' smile.

  Lorenzo turned to see who they were smiling at. First, he gave Genie a cursory glance and then looked down at down at Domino. Immediately, and in some degree of surprise jerked up his head to examine Genie's face.

  “Genie,” he said slowly rising to his feet, wide-eyed with surprise, “you look...sorprendente.”

  “That'd better be a compliment.”

  “It is. In English it means amazing.”

  “Amazing's about right - thanks to the incredible skills of my new friends Fabiana and Violetta.”

  He moved around the table to pull back a chair for her, and then hesitated. “Genie, I'd like you to meet...” But the couple had already made themselves scarce.

  “I think they think we want to be alone,” Genie said.

  “I wanted them to meet you.”

  “They already knew all about me. It appears San Rafaele is a-buzz with stories about “La Signorina di Signor Lorenzo.”

  Lorenzo nodded sagely. “That's the way of small towns.” He retrieved Genie of her packages and pretended to weigh them. “Did you buy up everything?”

  “Not quite,” Genie said, stamping her feet before sitting on the proffered chair. “Just a few things, that's all.”

  “This is what you call a few? Uno, due...” His voice level dived below the ambient noise as he continued his count. “...Nove. Nine boxes.”

  “One box has the clothes I wore before.”

  “Va bene. So you have eight boxes.”

  “I didn't want to overdo it.”

  He laughed. “You must be worn out after such a shopping expedition. Let me get you a drink to restore your energy.”

  “I'm all for that, grazie.”

  Lorenzo waived to a waiter. At first, Genie thought he had ignored Lorenzo, but he soon appeared at their table with three steaming glasses of gluwein and a small bowl.

  “Three?” Genie queried. “Who's coming?”

  “No one. It's for Domino.”

  He poured one gluwein into the bowl and lowered it to the ground. It had barely touched the floor, before Domino slurped it into oblivion.

  “Any more, and I think Domino will become a candidate for Alcoholics Anonymous,” Genie said.

  She sipped at the hot spicy liquid. “Ah,” she said. “This certainly hits the spot.” The gluwein spread out inside her body as it made its way down to her stomach. She patted her feet on the ground to encourage the heat to move down more rapidly and warm them too. Her new boots and wool socks were barely holding their own.

  After the gluwein had done its stuff and, after Genie had regaled Lorenzo with tales of Fabiana and Violetta, he suggested moving onto to a restaurant he knew about for lunch. “They do a pasta like you've never tasted before,” he said.

  “Couldn't we stay here, Lorenzo?” Genie said. “It's so pleasant. Don't they serve food here?”

  “Well, yes. But it's very basic. You know, fast food.”

  “Fast is good.” She reached out and laid her hand on the back of his. “And, to be frank, I think we've eaten pasta in every way known to man and woman over the past few weeks.”

  Lorenzo rolled his head back in laughter.

  “Don't be offended but I'd really like something basic - and fast.”

  “I’m not offended.” He signalled the waiter. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy.”

  Genie liked that.

  Moreover, she could see how happy Lorenzo was.

  She worked hard at keeping a reciprocal smile in place. But, never far from her thoughts was her intention to announce her imminent departure. It was bound to take the mood down several notches. It was their first time out and here she was, planning to ruin the day.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Lorenzo ordered steak, mixed vegetables and fries and a separate dish for Domino but, without fries.

  As they waited for the meals to arrive, Genie fell into sharing Lorenzo's ebullient mood. He commented several times about how good she looked, how her outfit suited her so well and encouraged her to show him what she had bought.

  It was turning out to be a wonderful day.

  Everything was so right.

  Everything.

  Except...

  Knowing that she was about to spoil everything, took the edge off the 'wonder' of the day.

  She didn't want to spoil...everything.

  Her resolve under fire, she rifled through her options.

  Perhaps it would be better to tell him later - when they returned home.

  Or, what about tomorrow morning? Might be better then. That seemed like it might work.

  On the other hand, she could just sneak out early in the morning before he woke up. She could leave a note.

  “Coward,” said her little devil.

  Genie decided not to decide right now. She'd wait until the time is right.

  That’s it. Wait until the time is right.

  They ate at a leisurely pace, eschewing dessert, and opting to round off the meal with a large Irish coffee.

  After allowing time for the meal to settle, Lorenzo made an announcement. “I think we need a bit of exercise.”

  “Exercise? And the walk this morning - what would you call that?”

  “I'd call that a warm-up,” he said, standing up and taking charge of her packages. “Come.”

  “Come where?”

  “I have a surprise,” he said with a grin. “You will need to know the size of your feet.”

  “My feet? What..?”

  “You will see.” He picked up his gloves and held out his hand. “Come.”

  Genie retrieved hers, took his hand and rose to her feet. The heat from his touch flowed up her arm and danced her insides in time with the music. Genie thought this worked even better than the gluwein.

  Lorenzo's surprise was a visit to a stand where he handed over her packages and camera bag for safe keeping. He then hired two pairs of ice skates.

  “Lorenzo,” Genie said, stepping back. “I haven't been on those things since I was a kid.”

  “In that case, you can be a child once again. It is good to be a child sometimes.”

  “At that age, I didn't think about what could go wrong. Now, I'm acutely aware.”

  “You'll be fine,” he said. “It's like riding a bike. You never forget.”

  “Yeah, well, after my last experience on skates, I couldn't ride a bike for weeks.”

  He laughed one of his genuine, infectious laughs, infecting Genie in the process. He raised his right hand and said, “I swear to protect any part of you that involves bike-riding while you skate.”

  “Huh,” Genie said.

  “And at any other time you need such protection.”

  His offer created a wild array of risqué images in Genie's mind. She looked away quickly in case he could read in her eyes what was going on in her head. “It'll be sufficient if you keep me upright,” she said. “I'll take care of my bike-riding parts.”

  She allowed the fa
ntasies to run for a while - and with them arose a new, heart-stopping realization. Despite everything - despite her fears - she felt closer to him than she had to any other man. He had a place in her heart that would stay forever - even though, soon, he may no longer be in her life.

  No. That wasn't quite true.

  Even if she never saw him again, she knew that Lorenzo Calderone would always be in her life.

  She experienced an overwhelming urge to reach out, embrace him. Lorenzo, her mind said, I could fall in love with you quite easily - if I'm not careful.

  That silent confession at once frightened her and enshrouded her with a dark cloud of sadness. If only it could be. To be in love with a man whom she could not have is the ultimate in emotional pain.

  Memories.

  That's all she could take home with her. Memories of an Italian farmer-recluse with a talent for painting wonderful pictures with whom she had to stop herself falling in love.

  Life is cruel.

  Stepping onto the ice with extreme caution made her shift her thoughts away from what could be to what is. She focused all her concentration on her feet.

  Skating close to the fence, she aided her focus by reciting her schoolteacher's instructions, mantra-like, under her breath. “Lean forward. Take small steps. If you think you're going to fall, lean forward and plant your hands on your knees.”

  Genie did a lot of 'knee planting' for the first ten minutes until her confidence took hold. In fact, the speed with which she was able to resurrect her long-absent ice-skating skills was a source of wonder for her. Lorenzo had been right. It was like riding a bike.

  Lorenzo kept pace with her all the time she tested out her 'skating legs', stopping when she stopped, and making his hands ready to catch her if she started to fall. Now and again he praised her progress - not so much that it made her feel like a fool. But sufficient to motivate her.

  Then, when she felt she had gained enough skill to stay upright consistently, she reached out and gently grasped his hand.

  They skated around the extreme edge of the rink side by side for a while and then steadily moved ever closer to the centre. Gradually, Genie's concentration lifted from her feet and leg movements, to the music. Without conscious design, she began moving to the rhythm. It wasn't a dance as such. She just felt the music driving her to skate to the beat of 'Volare'.

  Lorenzo moved in close, faced her and held up his hands as if he was about to break into a ballroom dance. Genie relaxed and gave in to his lead. Together, they 'danced' their way smoothly in and around the other skaters, lost in their own mutual touch, with the music flowing through their feet.

  His skating skill poured out from him and somehow lifted hers. She could feel him giving strength and prowess to her feet, legs - her entire body. At that moment, he made her feel...more. It was as if they were one - a single entity.

  Complete.

  There was no hesitation this time.

  Their lips drew together as though they were magnetized, crushing against each other with fervour that released long-standing pent-up feelings. Genie matched his passion with hers, so strong it isolated them from the rest of the world. As they slowly turned on the spot, the other skaters evaporated; the music and the excited voices disappeared under the roaring in her ears and the drumbeat in her heart.

  She increased the tension in her arms and crushed him to her with all her strength. She wanted to hold on to him forever - to hold on to this moment. Never let it go.

  Never let him go.

  Never go.

  Ask me to stay, Lorenzo.

  No, don't. If you do, I might...

  Her heart re-connected with the beat of the music as it began to weave its way back into the real world.

  Their lips parted. Genie nestled her head against Lorenzo's chest, nuzzling in her body as close to his as she could. If they had been home, Genie knew exactly where that kiss would have taken them.

  As if harbouring the same thought, Lorenzo pulled her in tight and took up the rhythm of the music, leading and gliding them in perfect harmony.

  Genie melded with his movements, allowing Lorenzo to lead her wherever he wanted to go.

  I could get used to this, she mused.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The magical moments on the ice - the intimacy of the day - melted the instant they drove Genie's Mercedes away from Federico's garage. They had been distracted by Federico's colourful tour of the work he had undertaken to transform her car into showroom 'newness'. But, the moment she turned on the engine and put the car in motion, Genie experienced a subtle change in temperature. She felt it. She sensed Lorenzo felt it too.

  The Mercedes signalled Genie's final step to freedom. Now, she had the means to leave whenever she wanted to.

  Until now, she had a comfortable excuse. Without a car, the avalanche might just as well be still blocking the pass.

  Not anymore.

  They drove in silence as Genie struggled with 'whens'.

  When should she tell Lorenzo?

  When should she drive away?

  When will she make up her mind?

  When her plan to tell Lorenzo she intended to leave the following day popped up, her heart protested. It wrenched so fiercely, it jerked her body.

  “Oh!”

  “Something wrong?” Lorenzo asked.

  “Genie shook her head. “No. I'm all right.” She didn't know how to explain what happened, so she didn't try. With the heavy silence broken, however, Genie made an attempt to shift their respective moods. “This was a lovely day, Lorenzo. Thank you.”

  Lorenzo smiled and played his part in the mood shift. “I'm glad we could find the time to go,” he said. “It was very refreshing. What is the expression? Just what the Doctor ordered. Is that right?”

  “It's right - and you're right,” Genie said.

  The conversation died and the black mood enveloped them once again.

  As they drove through the gates of Lorenzo's farm, Genie decided that it would be the height of discourtesy to leave immediately after such a lovely day. Okay, so she had her car back. Yes, she could drive away whenever she wanted to. But, it didn't have to be right away. After all, as Lorenzo said, she had choice now.

  Choice. That's it. She could choose when.

  It didn't have to be the next day.

  No. Of course not. In a day or two, perhaps, when things have settled back to normal. Then would be the best time.

  She felt better already.

  “I'll reward you for making this day so special,” she said to Lorenzo, “by cooking tonight's dinner.”

  “After so much exercise, I believe I could eat a whole pig.”

  “Pork it is, then.”

  In the days that followed, things returned to normal. Nevertheless, the kiss, the ice dance, and the presence of Genie's Mercedes hovered, unspoken, in the background. There were times...hesitations. The occasional lingered gaze. Heart-racing, breath-stopping moments. Should-they, shouldn't-they moments.

  Nevertheless, reality always intervened. Both knew that Genie would be leaving soon. Why take things to a high level only to be left with deep wounds. On each occasion, both stepped back from the brink and those opportune moments fizzled out.

  From time to time, she allowed thoughts about leaving amble through her mind - testing them, observing how they felt. The involuntary long shuddering sighs told her. Leaving did not feel good. The image of her waving goodbye to Lorenzo and Domino almost brought her to tears.

  “Silly,” she berated herself. “I can't stay here forever.”

  Could she?

  Mucking out the cow shed, hunting for eggs, milking the goat - forever?

  She tried to dismiss the 'forever' concept with a shake of her head. It stubbornly refused to erase itself.

  “Come on, Hamilton. A farmer's life is not for you, and you know it. I'll go when it seems right for Lorenzo and me.”

  As each day revealed itself, Genie fell into the habit of creating some mem
ories of her snowed-in experience. In between her designated chores, she made a photographic record of the farm, the house and the various beings - human and animal that inhabited it. Many of the photos included Lorenzo - both posed and candid, and somehow, Domino managed to get into most of them. He turned out to quite a camera hound.

  Now and then, no doubt tired of being the model, Lorenzo insisted on taking photographs of her and Domino. She didn't resist too much. After all these images are going to be all she'll be left with when she returned home.

  About mid-morning of the third day, Il Commissario, “call me Bernardo,” Testa arrived. He wasted no time in seeking and receiving attention from the camera's beady eye. Exuding his rank, he posed with an imperious air. He stood at attention, uniform immaculate, cap beneath his arm, and jaw thrust forward not unlike a certain Italian dictator of yesteryear. However, occasionally, Genie managed to grab a few candid shots of a more relaxed Bernardo.

  Later, she learned two things about San Rafaele's illustrious Commissario di Polizia. First, he was an inveterate flirt. Posing for Genie gave him the opportunity to bask in her attention. On- and off-camera, he flirted good-naturedly - full of Italian male hubris - and with outrageous humour. Even Lorenzo laughed at his antics.

  Although Genie fielded his attention with grace and touch of humour where appropriate, she would have liked Lorenzo to show at least a smidgeon of jealousy.

  However, later, Genie learned the second thing about Bernardo - confirming Lorenzo's earlier comments that he was a dyed-in-the-wool matchmaker.

  While Lorenzo was out of sight, hunting for a bottle of - as Bernardo put it - “Il vino eccelenti del Signor Lorenzo,” he sat down close to Genie and patted the back of her hand. “Everyone in San Rafaele talks about you,” he announced.

  “What about?” Genie said sharply, alarm bells ringing. Could they have found out about her?

  He made a serious nod. “They say how wonderful it is that you have made Signor Lorenzo live again.”