by Fay Henson
Joe returned to our table with our drinks and sat back down.
‘Joe,’ I said, ‘what do your parents think about you coming to Siena to check me out?’
‘They’re not my parents,’ he said just before taking a big bite of his pizza. I wasn’t expecting him to come out with that.
‘Oh, I’m sorry.’
‘Sorry for what?’ he half grinned.
‘Er, sorry you’re not with your true parents,’ I was stuttering over my words.
‘Don’t worry, it’s OK,’ he replied, ‘they’re my adopted parents.’
‘Oh, I see, but you’re tall just like they are, you look like you’re from the same family.’
‘In reality that’s right,’ he said, ‘Mum is in fact my auntie, she’s my real Mum’s older sister.’
I didn’t know what to assume, and I was wondering if his parents were dead then, killed somehow. I probably had a lost expression as I wasn’t sure what to say next when luckily Joe rescued me from a verbal disaster.
‘Don’t worry, it’s a long story,’ he said, ‘maybe one day I’ll bore you about my family and what my parents are doing in Australia.’
‘Oh, wow Australia.’
So they were alive and kicking, but as I was wondering if it was a bit of a sore subject for him, I tried to search for something else to speak about. We continued eating for a couple of minutes when I piped up with another question.
‘Mind if I ask how old you are,’ I said, ‘I mean, I like to guess peoples ages.’
He finished eating his mouthful of tuna pizza before he could answer.
‘Sure, but whether I’ll divulge the information is dependable,’ he replied with a grin, and he went back to cutting another triangle of his pizza.
‘Right then, I’d say you’re around twenty, twenty-one, am I close?’ Think I was feeling a bit better and cheeky.
‘Clever,’ he said, ‘twenty-two next May.’
‘Hum, let me see,’ I said, ‘that means you’re either Taurus or Gemini.’
‘Ah, so you’re into horoscopes and all that then, I’m a bull,’ he said with a laugh.
‘And I’m a crab, I replied, ‘pleased to have met you.’ In fact, very pleased to have met you. Now that could be quite interesting. Joe caught me staring into space.
‘Go on then, what can you tell me?’ He had a twinkle in his eye.
‘I think bulls and crabs are supposed to get along OK together.’
Did he really do that? I mean did he really raise his eyes in a way to imply that star signs were just a load of hooey? I’d love to look inside his head to know what he was thinking, actually better still, what he thought about me, you know, the girl who ran away from her parents on holiday, got branded a thief, cut and dyed her hair then got a tattoo which went all wrong and ended up in hospital. I’d been quite a dummy. And to add to that, I’ve made him imagine that I was weak enough to be controlled by star signs.
‘OK, I admit to knowing the star signs, just the dates and stuff like that,’ I said, ‘but I don’t read the horoscopes. Anyway, I wouldn’t want to know whether tomorrow or next week, next year even, that something horrible could happen to me.’
‘You mean it’s better to take each day as it comes,’ he said.
I wished I knew if he was referring to life in general or the time I was currently spending with him. Hum tricky.
‘Yup,’ I replied confidently. And he didn’t know in what way I was referring to either.
Every now and again the music coming from the pizzeria’s radio was over-powered by distant cheering from the second day of the horse race trials. Joe held up his glass of beer.
‘Here’s to Siena.’
‘Yeah, here’s and cheers to Siena,’ I added as we clinked our glasses together. We then both continued to eat our pizzas, where occasionally I’d glance at him when he was looking down, to catch a glimpse of his short wisps of blond hair moving ever to slightly with the rhythm of the wobbling fan above our heads.
‘Grazie mille for the pizza and beer,’ Joe said whilst we strolled along the street.
‘Prego,’ I said. I’d been waiting to have the opportunity to be able to say you’re welcome to someone since I’d found the translation in my dictionary. I think we’d both thought it funny since I didn’t have a clue about the language or pronunciation.
Joe was walking with his right hand in his trouser pocket, so I took the chance that he wouldn’t mind if I slipped my left arm through his. Nothing was needed to be said when he squeezed our arms together in confirmation that it was fine to do just that.
Maybe he knew I was tired and hanging a bit from the infection I was fighting, but one thing was certain, I was happy and I felt happy with everything. I loved the shop windows all lit up in the evening with the beautiful and sometimes expensive things inside. And again tonight, Siena was full of aromas, the leather, the perfumes, coffee and the restaurants.
‘Quick, hide!’ I grabbed Joe’s arm and pulled him into a side street. I was sure that Lula was up ahead of us.
‘What’s the matter, who’ve you seen?’
‘Lula who tells people I’m a thief, remember?’
Joe moved to the end of the building and carefully peered round the street corner, I peeped round from behind him. It was her all right.
‘Shall we follow her?’ I whispered.
‘Why do you want to do that?’
‘Just curious to know what she does I suppose.’
‘Don’t they say that curiosity killed the cat?’
‘I’m a crab.’
‘Funny.’
So keeping a safe distance we followed Lula, and every now and then we were having to hide ourselves among the tourists if she happened to stop. In fact, one time we had to wait for ages whilst she stopped to speak to someone on her phone. Then there was another time she was speaking to someone on her phone, I noticed that she was really agitated. Her voice was raised and at the same time she was moving her hands in a furious manner whilst she strode along. She seemed so intent that I didn’t think she’d have noticed me if I’d stood there right in front of her. The phone conversation finished and we continued a bit further.
‘Did you see that?’ I said, ‘did you see she almost knocked that man off his bike?’
‘Yup, I don’t think she bothered looking.’
‘She’s crazy.’
‘Do you want to continue?’ Joe asked me.
‘I think it’ll be OK as long as there’s other people around and she doesn’t see us. What say you?’
‘Fair shout.’
Lula was hollering at someone on the phone again and when she’d finished she put her phone inside the back pocket of her jeans. Then she strutted along at a rate making it quite difficult for us to keep up.
I think we’d gone quite a way when we’d reached a two-way road on the outside of the old town and opposite a public garden area. Her phone rang and she took it out once again where it seemed like she was listening to someone on the other end. Well, she definitely couldn’t have been concentrating on what she was doing; both Joe and me gasped as we watched her step out into the road and crossed to the other side. Luckily for her, the driver saw her just in time and swerved to miss her. You just can’t j-walk in Italy.
Lula slowed her pace down and then she stopped near one of the stone benches. It seemed like she was looking for someone. Joe immediately pulled me to the side near some rose bushes making me feel giggly like I was an excited child trying to hide from a teacher to skive a lesson.
We could see an older couple walking along the pavement bedside the road; they’d walked past her, so it wasn’t them she was waiting for. Then we saw a guy wearing jeans and T-shirt under a dark leather jacket approaching her. She noticed him and looking straight at him, waited until they were face to face. With the help of the
street light he looked unshaven and quite anxious. Who was he? I wondered.
‘Oh my god, look at that.’
‘Shush, she’ll hear you,’ Joe said.
I couldn’t believe what I was watching; the guy was holding out his hand and Lula was handing a massive bundle of what looked like euro notes to him. They were speaking and I know that Joe was straining to listen which wasn’t easy because just a short distance away was a large fountain gushing out water noisily into a big round basin. Lula and the guy hugged then parted.
We watched in silence as Lula walked away in the direction we’d followed her from, and the guy went across the road and entered into what looked like an alleyway.
13
Regrets
After we’d walked quite a way following Lula, I was really dead on my feet. It’d been such a long and tiring day and even my ankle was starting to get on my nerves; Joe was pretty much bushed too.
‘Let’s get a taxi,’ Joe said and just as I was about to answer him,
‘Cor, look at that,’ he was pointing to the sky, ‘a shooting star.’
‘Great, I missed it,’ I said disappointedly, ‘aren’t you supposed to make a wish?’
‘Think you’re right,’ he said.
‘Done.’
‘You know, I’d really like to see one too, Mum said she saw some recently.
We both stared at the dark and clear night sky and I’d say within just five minutes, we’d seen three or four zoom past overhead. I made my wish.
‘My place or yours, gorgeous?’ Joe asked me. Well I didn’t feel particularly gorgeous but the question was kind of funny. Anyway, that was a point, I thought, I hadn’t known where his place was exactly.
‘Do you mind if we stay at my place?’ I asked, ‘it’s just that I’ve got my antibiotics and other stuff there too.’
‘Course not,’ he said, ‘what’s the street name again?’
‘Er...’ I was totally useless for the umpteenth time.
‘It’s OK, we can use google maps to find it.’
‘Good idea,’ I said.
After we’d let ourselves into my room and when Joe was looking at his phone, I found my toothbrush and went to the bathroom. I had to admit I was feeling nervous as at the back of my mind I was wondering if Joe was hoping we’d have sex. After all, this would be the second time he’d been in my bed; the first time being was when we got back from the hospital late in the afternoon when I needed to sleep before we went out.
When I returned to my room, Joe went to the bathroom and during that short time, I’d slipped quickly into the little bed. This time though, without any underwear. But I have to say, that was only because I didn’t want to appear prudish and risk putting Joe completely off me.
Joe’s face had a look of happy surprise when he came back as he saw my bra and pants that I’d taken off and left in an untidy heap during my rush. After he’d turned the light out, I watched him undress and I could tell from his silhouette that he’d taken everything off before slipping in next to me.
Almost immediately and without any hesitation, Joe began kissing me. We kissed for quite some time. It was like our lips were little magnets pulled together and not able to let go. It was incredible. And even though I felt comfortable with Joe, I still found it hard stopping myself feeling uneasy about having sex for the first time, and it wasn’t just that; I hadn’t known him for very long. I wasn’t ready and how was I going to get round it? I could feel Joe’s erection and I had to say something.
‘Joe, um, I’m so sorry, I don’t think I’m ready just yet.’ I was sorry.
‘Oh, don’t worry, it’s OK,’ he said, ‘only when you’re sure.’ He gave me a gentle kiss. I hoped he meant it and that I hadn’t spoilt everything for him.
‘I’m really happy you understand, Joe,’ I said, ‘thank you.’ And feeling relieved and appreciative for his patience, I gave him a great big hug. He hugged me back without saying anything but sensing his disappointment; his quietness, I wondered if I was being really mean and uncaring. There I was all comfy in his arms and he knew he had to wait until I said yes. I was sure he had no idea I was a virgin.
I was spending my time with someone who’d come to find me, to see if I was OK, someone who looked after me when I wasn’t feeling well and I’d just gone and probably made him feel unwanted. And he could’ve been really huffy with me and gone back to his place, but he didn’t. He wasn’t like those others.
‘Joe?’ I moved my mouth up towards his ear to whisper, ‘would you like me to… you know... use my hand to…?’
‘No, it’s OK, Caylin, honestly, but thanks for the offer,’ he said softly, ‘I want to wait until you feel comfortable, I’m not going to rush you.’
He fell asleep before I did.
I don’t think it would be mean to take a photo, would it? I thought to myself when I woke up. It wasn’t to be mean or embarrassing, I just wanted to send it to the girls back home to show them just how nice he looked with his messed-up hair and the whale-tail pendent he still had fastened around his neck. Was it a gift from someone back home? I wondered. I couldn’t help feeling a tinge of jealousy. I gently reached for my phone and took a sneaky pic of Joe asleep. The phone flashed when it took the photo but fortunately it didn’t wake Joe up.
I wanted to try to go back to sleep for a bit longer but I couldn’t so it was probably a good a time as any to catch up on my messages, I knew there were five waiting to be read.
Hello Caylin, Dad here, the young man Joe offered to go to Siena to check you were OK. Your mum was in a right state worrying about you and I couldn’t convince her that you’re independent enough to manage and that you’re sensible (I hope) enough to know what’s right and what’s not. Naturally he contacted us to let us know he’d seen you. He seems a decent lad. If he hadn’t had gone to look for you, I would’ve, but I guess you wouldn’t have liked that. Looking forward to seeing you soon preferably before we’re due to go to the airport! By the way, I’ve appreciated your concern over my problem with the cheese, which can be forgotten now thanks Caylin.
Cor, I didn’t think I could imagine how things would have turned out if Dad had come to Siena to look for me. For a start, he would’ve had trouble recognising me and might have reported me as a missing person, then police would have been involved. Or, perhaps being an ex army Major he knew of clever ways in which to search out a person. What a thought. Then, when he’d discovered me, he would have probably frog-marched me back to the hotel and locked me up in anger because of what I’d done to myself.
Anyhow I still had to face Mum and Dad but at least I’ve got Joe who would vouch for what happened and why I went incognito. Yes that’d be good.
Hi Dad, thanks for your message. Yes Joe seems a good person. Anyway, enjoy the rest of your time in the hotel, it’s chaotic here in Siena now with the big horse race happening tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you too, Caylin xxx
Butterflies.
Hello Caylin, it’s great to hear things are good for you there. You know I’ve been worried, but I’m more relaxed now I know that the young lad Joe has seen you. I’m not wishing my holiday away, but I’m looking forward to seeing you soon though. Don’t worry about Dad and the cheese, he saw the funny side afterwards and all’s forgiven. Oh yes, remember those two girls travelling together? Amazing luck for them yesterday...they bought a ten euro scratch card between them and immediately won a thousand euros! Somehow they managed to persuade the hotel manager to let them throw a pool party last night to celebrate. I can’t swear on it, but I think they’d also invited a couple of Italian lads from somewhere! Those girls are so funny, wild but funny! It was a shame you weren’t here, you would’ve liked it too. Speak again soon, Love Mum xxx
It was a good job they didn’t know that I was lying in bed with Joe at that very moment of writing to them, and who was still asleep; I knew that
because every now and then he twitched, making me jump. I wondered what he was dreaming about. I’d better reply to Mum.
Hi Mum, thanks for your message, yes things are OK here and don’t worry I’m looking forward to seeing you too J. I remember those girls, I bet they livened the place up a bit, loved to have been a fly on the wall. I’ve nothing particularly exciting to report back to you, except there’s a lot of TV cameras here setting up for the big race tomorrow. Maybe you’ll find it on your hotel TV and maybe you’ll see me J Lots of love, Caylin xxx
I didn’t think so though, and moreover, I hoped they wouldn’t. Right then, Zoe and Em. I opened Zoe’s first, and she’d sent two.
What...is...that? Actually, you don’t need to tell me, I know what it is, it’s a tattoo gone horrendously wrong. I’ve seen photos like that on FB, Cay. What was it meant to be? Zoeeeee xx
Zoe seemed angry. I’d better open her other message, here goes.
Cay, I’m sorry I was/am shocked to see that photo L. How are you? Have you been to the doctors yet? You have to, you have to get something like antibiotics or something. I hope it hasn’t got any worse. Don’t want you to get ill. Let me know as soon as poss how you are, Zoeeeee xx. PS The pic you’ve sent of those guys is now my phone’s lock screen!
I was dreading opening Em’s.
Have you gone way off your trolley Cay? Tattoo, right? It looks terrible, but why did you do it? I’ve looked it up now I’m back on the internet again and I’ve read that you should always go to a place where it’s popular and so busy that you have to make an appointment in which case, I don’t think you would’ve had time as you’re only there a while, so I’m guessing it wasn’t like that L. Seems like you’ve got an infection. I’m sorry if I’m putting a huge downer on things, but what about your parents, your Dad, oh Cay I feel for you. I hope you’ve seen a doctor and you’re feeling better. Thanks for the pic, nice guys J. Look after yourself better Cay, hope to hear from you soon, Em x
Just as I expected; that was our Em all right.
Hi Guys, first, I’m sorry I have to reply to you both together and not separately as you both deserve. You are both real good friends and I’m so glad I know you, I’m dead lucky that you care so much about me J. You know it’s vice versa too. Second it’s a long, long story (I’ll fill you in properly when I’m back) but I’m getting better with drugs J, the antibiotic type L. Remember that guy on our trip I sent you a photo of way back? He’s here in Siena with me JJ and we saw that psycho girl last night handing over loads of dosh to a guy and probably it’s the dosh she blamed me for stealing L. Anyway the plot’s getting interesting, I want to find out more about her. Third, take a look at the next pic I took a few mins ago, don’t worry, it’s nothing like the one of my wrist. AND I have to tell you, that it’s all completely innocent. He’s been a terrific guardian angel J, took me to hospital and he hasn’t even pressurised me for you know what. All in good time I say. Gotta go ‘cause I need to take some drugs J. Love you both, Cay xx