Tears slid off my cheeks and dripped onto my neck. I jumped to my feet and rubbed my eyes. I just had to get out of the room, even though my legs had returned to the depression-induced lead-like state they were in before I had embarked on the journey. I forced myself to get dressed and decided to walk over to the piazza to grab a coffee. Maybe caffeine would help.
Because it was a Sunday morning, the piazza was fairly dead. I forced a returned smile at an older couple who sat nestled on a bench with a shared newspaper splayed across their laps. Church bells rang in the distance, and a pair of nuns speed-walked down the cobblestone street, arms linked together. As I watched them turn a corner I suddenly felt like a missing link with no one to hold onto. There were a few other people passing through, and as I looked for a good place to wallow, a familiar face caught my eye.
I did a double take and confirmed I was right. It was Mark’s friend, Chaz. As I looked at him stretched out on a chair, with his backpack as a footrest, an alarm went off in my head. If Chaz was here, then Simon must be, too.
I hurried over in his direction, causing my just-purchased cappuccino to splash on my arm. I probably burned off a patch of arm hair, but I didn’t care. I was too happy to feel pain.
“Chaz? Do you remember me?” I said when I was a few feet away. My hand shook as he turned to look up at me. I grasped the cup more firmly with both hands to hold it steady.
Chaz’s face broke into a grin. “Remember you?” He jumped to his feet. “How could I forget the hottest cougar I’ve ever met in my life?”
In London he had offended me, but today, I was too excited to be put off by his backhanded compliment. “I thought you were in Rome? With Simon, no?” I wondered if my tone sounded as light as I had intended.
“We were.” Chaz casually pulled up a chair for me to join him. “Where by the way, I spent the entire night listening to Simon go on and on and on about you. I told him, ‘dude you should’ve tapped that...’”
My heartbeat quickened and I sat on my hands to keep them steady. “He mentioned me?”
“That would be an understatement. You do realize you were the reason he left Florence, right?”
“Um...”
“He couldn’t stand the thought of seeing you and your boyfriend another day.”
“But he came back with you, right?” Please God, please, please, please....
“No,” Chaz frowned. “He’s flying home tomorrow.”
I closed my eyes in despair and swallowed the lump that had risen in my throat. Unfortunately, my tear ducts didn’t get the message. Before I knew it, tears rolled down my cheeks. I looked at Chaz apologetically.
“I’m sorry.” I sniffed. “You must think I’m crazy. It’s just that... I blew it. Big time.”
I buried my face in my hands. “I know I just met the guy, and it sounds silly, but I felt more for him than I felt for my ex. We broke up by the way.” I looked back at Chaz and paused to wipe my running nose with my sleeve. “Of course, this all becomes clear to me when it’s too late.” I sniffled and my nose made an unattractive sound. “Still think I’m hot?” I said weakly through my tears, trying to cover up my embarrassment.
Chaz handed me the napkin that had been wrapped around his coffee cup. Showing more maturity than I would have given him credit for, he seemed to know better than to respond to my question.
I continued to babble. “Thank you.” I sniffed, taking the tissue. “I was so afraid to put myself out there that I tried to focus on the negatives, which weren’t really so negative after all. I kept telling myself Simon was too young, too unsettled... Like it really matters that he’s a camp counselor? It all seems so silly now, and—”
Chaz held one hand in the air and the other to his throat as he struggled to swallow the sip of coffee he had just taken.
“Are you okay?” I leaned toward him.
Chaz nodded and drew in a breath. “Holy shit balls, I totally thought I was gonna spit that all over you. Simon’s not a camp counselor!” He laughed so hard his shoulders shook.
I looked at him quizzically. “Yes he is. He told me he works at a camp.” I used the tissue to wipe my eyes.
“He owns the damn camp. He started like three of them for underprivileged kids from inner cities. I think he’s opening two more in New York, actually.”
“What?” I gasped, unable to believe what I heard.
How had I misunderstood something like that? My mind raced as I thought back to all the conversations Simon and I had had about his job. There weren’t many now that I thought of it. Suddenly I was angry. I had certainly referred to his job as ‘camp counselor’ enough times. He could have corrected me. Had he been laughing at me all that time?
“Why didn’t he tell me this?”
Chaz shrugged. “Who knows? The man’s a mystery.”
Suddenly, Simon wasn’t who I thought he was, and I felt stupid for not seeing him more clearly. Here I had been beating myself up for not being truthful with him or with myself, thinking he was a model of honesty and openness. But, it turns out, he’d kept the truth from me, too.
“If you ask me, the man’s a liar,” I accused.
“No,” Chaz said with a finger in the air. “I don’t think so. Simon isn’t like that. Think about it, Lucy. Did he lie? Or did you just assume?”
I thought back again to my conversations with Simon. Oh God. Chaz was right. Simon had never said he was a counselor. I had been so preoccupied with myself, I had jumped to conclusions about his job. About him, really. I looked down at my feet as confusion swept over me again.
“Yeah, I guess, but—”
“But nothing. You know what they say about people who assume,” Chaz said in a know-it-all tone.
“They make an ass out of you and me,” I mocked, looking up again. “That’s exactly what I feel like. A big, fat ass.” I crossed my arms and sighed.
“Let’s not get carried away now.” Chaz winked before peeking around my chair to get a glimpse of my butt. So much for Mr. Mature.
I shot him a look in return and sat up straighter. “I just can’t believe he allowed me to think that. You’d think he’d be proud enough to say it.”
“I’d say, and I would probably use it as a pickup line myself. But not everyone needs to walk around touting their goodness.” He removed a pastry from his bag and held it out to me. “Bite?”
I detected the faint smell of sugar and cinnamon and paused to swallow. “No thanks,” I sniffed before heaving another long sigh. “I guess you’re right.”
I watched him take a bite and had to admit that those were pretty insightful comments coming from a perv named Chaz. Everyone was just full of surprises. I stared absentmindedly across the piazza.
“I can’t believe this,” I murmured after a few minutes had passed. “Who is this guy? It’s like I don’t even know him.”
“Please, that’s nothing.” Chaz looked both ways and leaned towards me. “I’m assuming he probably didn’t tell you how he made his fortune either, huh?”
My mouth dropped open. I stared at Chaz. I was completely dumbfounded. Simon had a fortune? A fortune he had earned himself?
“Of course he didn’t,” Chaz said hitting his own head. “Two minutes ago you thought he was a camp counselor.”
“So?” I drew in a breath, as I waited for Chaz to elaborate. “Let me guess. He saved a child from a burning building and got a handsome reward?”
“No, but that’s a good one,” Chaz said with a laugh. “Nothing quite so noble. More along the lines of intelligent.” I leaned my elbows on the table, eager to hear more. “He invented some sort of gadget, so business travelers can work wirelessly in flight. That’s all I know. The only reason I even know that is because he has major pull with one of the airlines.”
I massaged my temples and looked down at the table. “Unbelievable,” I muttered. “I can’t believe he kept all of that a secret. Why?” I was feeling completely offended. “You think you know someone...” I trailed off and
shook my head.
I jumped up and looked down at Chaz, who had been staring at me curiously. “I’m sorry, but inventing something was definitely worth a mention. That’s part of who he is, for shit’s sake. He told me his summer job takes up so much time that he likes to take the rest of the year off.”
“And?” Chaz shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly.
I shook my head at Chaz’s ignorance. “Maybe that would’ve been a good time to tell me about his little invention? How it afforded him the opportunity to live like a laid-back wanderer?”
Chaz scratched his head. “Yeah, you got a point.”
“Thank you.” I smiled sarcastically. “Listen, I have to go. I don’t mean to be rude.”
Chaz scratched his head and leaned back in his chair. “Where are you going? Are you okay? I feel bad leaving you like this.”
“You’re not leaving me. I’m leaving you.” I attempted a smile. “I’ll be fine. I’m booked on a four o’clock flight this afternoon, so I better go pack and all that fun stuff. Plus, I’m going to spend the morning with Tess. One last fling before I leave.”
I realized I was babbling, but my mind was racing with everything I’d just heard. I wanted to get away and think it through, on my own.
“Nice seeing you again, Chaz.” I cut off my babbling with a short wave before starting to walk away.
“You too, Lucy.” Chaz kicked his feet onto the chair I’d been sitting on and took another bite of his pastry.
I turned around one last time as the scent of his breakfast wafted toward me. My stomach grumbled. “Where did you get that?”
Chaz pointed his finger towards a small pastry shop tucked away in the corner of the piazza. “Get the Torta di Ricotta,” he said, once he finished chewing.
“Thanks.”
“Lucy?” Chaz waved his phone in the air. “I have Simon’s email address if you want to get in touch. Or you could find him on Twitter if that’s your thing.”
“Nah, I have nothing to say.” I turned around and went in search of my last indulgent Italian breakfast.
I was too down and out to tweet. I needed to eat. My mind wandered as I kicked a small rock down the cobblestone street.
If only I could kick my thoughts of Simon to the curb. I wished we’d never met. No, that wasn’t true. I knew now that I wasn’t dead inside and I was capable of enjoying another man’s company. Simon showed me those things.
If we hadn’t met, maybe I wouldn’t have realized the type of man I could have. Hell, maybe I’d still think Cooper was Mr. Right. Boy, had I been wrong. So maybe I was in a better place than where I’d started from.
I’d spent the past three months mourning the loss of Cooper. I’d completely glamorized who he was and how he’d made me feel and embellished the relationship we’d shared. At least my eyes had been opened, and I had a true sense of resolution on that front. I kicked the rock hard and watched it disappear across the courtyard. Closure.
* * * *
After I devoured my Torta di Ricotta, along with the one I had bought for Tess, I headed back to the pensione. I was in the midst of a packing debacle when I heard a knock at the door.
“Aunt Lu? It’s me.”
“It’s open,” I called out.
Tess walked into the room and eyed my overstuffed backpack on the bed.
“Hi,” I said, cringing.
“You didn’t change your mind?” Tess wrinkled her nose and plopped down on my bed. The white halter dress she wore brought out her tan, and she looked fresh and clean with wet hair that hung loose down her bare back.
I bit my thumbnail and shook my head. “I’m sorry.”
“I totally understand, Aunt Lu. Really.” She placed a hand on her chest and looked at me gravely. “I can’t thank you enough for coming with me in the first place. Thanks to you, I met Mark.” Her eyes shone as she beamed at me.
“I’m so happy for you, Tessie. And let’s not forget your new career.” I forced a smile, hoping to mask the sadness I felt inside. “Is he going to go with you to Venice?”
She nodded eagerly, and I blinked rapidly to keep the tears from falling.
“Well, promise me you will wear that beautiful dress,” I sniffed. “You look gorgeous.”
I paused to wipe my eyes with a knuckle. “I only have enough room in my backpack to take home what I came with. I think Burberry, Chanel, and Prada should see more of Europe.” I thrust a neatly folded pile of clothes into Tess’s arms. The tags were still on most of the gifts Cooper had given me.
Tess clicked her tongue and had a wistful look on her face. “Aunt Lu, thank you, but I don’t want you to leave.” She pouted as she placed the pile onto a wooden chair. “I’m excited to be with Mark, but if I had a choice, I would still rather you come with us.”
A slow grin spread across my face. Tess’s genuine sweetness never failed to warm my heart. “You know what, honey? I’m ready to go home. We started this trip by saying how we were sick of doing what we were ‘supposed’ to do,” I said. “The old me would’ve gotten back together with Cooper because that was the next logical step. But the new me has learned from past mistakes and is paving a brand new road,” I said with pride.
“Um, I believe a wise woman once called it ‘the parkway to possibilities’,” Tess smiled.
I chuckled. “That day in the Amsterdam diner feels like a year ago, doesn’t it? Since then I’d found closure with Cooper, and it’s now time to close this chapter too and start fresh in New York.”
“Aunt Lu, you’re going to get off to a great start back home. I just know it.” She threw her arms around me and gave me a quick hug. “In the meantime, I’d like to send you off with a flourish. I read about a great spa down the street. Their signature massage is made with Tuscan grapes and herbs.”
I raised my shoulders to my ears and drew in a deep breath. “Ahhh....” I said, exhaling. “Now you’re talking.” I stuffed my pajamas into my backpack and grabbed my purse. “I will deal with this later.” I held the door open for Tess and looked back at the pile of clothes that were strewn on my bed. “Ciao for now, baby.”
* * * *
Later that afternoon, I boarded the plane at Peretola and squeezed my way into the seat assigned to me. It was a middle seat, and I was sandwiched between an obese man who began snoring as soon as we took off and a teenage boy whose headset did little to muffle the sounds from his iPod. I was counting the hours until we touched down in New York when a flight attendant came over and placed a hand on my arm.
“Excuse me, ma’am?”
“Yes?” I frowned.
“I’m sorry to bother you,” she said in a hushed tone. “There are some empty seats up in first. You might be more comfortable—”
“Oh wow. Yes, thank you.” Maybe Tess was right. I was getting off to a great start already with a free upgrade. I grabbed my carry-on bag, climbed over the sleeping man, and followed the flight attendant all the way to the first row.
She leaned down and picked up a box of chocolates sitting on one of the seats. “We’ve been saving these for you,” she smiled mysteriously. “They’ll go great with our complimentary champagne.” She pointed to a glass already poured and sitting on the armrest.
“Gosh... Thank you,” I said, narrowing my eyes.
I wondered what I had done to deserve such rock star treatment. I certainly wasn’t about to question it. She took my carry-on, and I slid down into the wide seat, closing my eyes in peace. Because I’d slept like crap the past two nights, I must’ve fallen asleep within seconds. I dreamed I was picking grapes on a farm.
Then I heard a man’s voice. “Excuse me, miss?”
In my dream it was one of the other grape pickers, but even though I acknowledged him, the voice wouldn’t go away.
“Miss?” I heard again. It took me a few seconds to wake up and make the shift back to reality.
“Would you like to trade seats with me? You’ll have a much better view this evening when the plane lands in New York
.”
My eyes flew open, and I turned to the direction of the voice. Seated next to me was none other than Simon. I dug my nails into my palms, and the pain I’d inflicted upon myself confirmed the fact that I wasn’t dreaming. My mouth hung open as I gaped at him.
“Umm, Lucy? You okay?” Simon’s voice broke the awkward silence and brought me back to reality.
“Wh...what are you... How did you...” I stammered.
“I have some pull around here.” He smiled modestly.
“Ah, so this is the airline.” God, what a response. My heart hammered in my chest. I didn’t know what to say. I couldn’t believe Simon was sitting next to me. I literally had to bite the inside of my cheeks to keep from smiling.
“Uh, Chaz filled me in on all of your accomplishments.”
“No doubt, all the boring details.” He looked uncomfortable as he shifted in his seat. “Chaz isn’t one to hold back.”
“Thank God someone isn’t,” I said with a hint of sarcasm, starting to recover from my shock. “Just so you know, the details were far from boring. You happen to be the first inventor I’ve ever met who happens to run camps.”
I cocked my head to the side and gave him a look. The anger I’d felt earlier when I’d learned Simon hadn’t told me the whole truth about himself had started to seep back, mixing with a feeling of having been ignorant to have assumed so much and not asked more questions.
“There’s more to the story.” Simon grinned, placing his hand on my arm. A current of warmth spread through my body. “First of all, I’m not an inventor. I worked on a thesis back in business school,” he said, with a wave of his hand, “and happened to come up with something that took off. It’s a snooze, but it made me enough money so I can help out causes I believe in. Hence, the camp.”
“Wow, that’s amazing, Simon. Truly.” I said. “But, why didn’t you tell me any of this?” My cheeks reddened as I spoke. “Why did you let me think you were a counselor? I kind of feel like a fool.” I looked down at my lap as I confessed this.
“I’m sorry. It’s just that I prefer to fly anonymously. No pun intended,” he said sheepishly.
Tales From a Broad Page 29