Chapter 12
Shawna said goodbye to Mateo, watching him walk down the hallway, so grateful for his thoughts on the Colosseum. His Uncle had apparently served as a tour guide before they closed off most of the relic. And he had given her some excellent ideas of where to start her research. She was going to have to be innovative, creative, and thorough if she was going to please Dr. Adams. She snorted, and she needed to impress him after being so contrary about leaving to come home early.
What had come over her? The injustice of him trying to control her personal life had just felt off. And Cassie kept giving him eyes and flipping her hair in Shawna’s direction, and Shawna had lost patience with the whole dynamic.
And now she had work to do. She skipped to her desk and opened up her laptop. Her balcony was open, and the breeze felt cool, a welcome relief to the heat from earlier.
As soon as she looked outside, her thoughts went rushing back to Dex. She liked that name. She could never call him that in person, but it fit him. She’d imagined all sorts of scenarios when they were at last on a first-name basis. If they ever got there. Who knew how he felt. Why would he be interested in a student at all? She knew every female in his classes thought he was hot. So what was different about her?
She shrugged. She had no reason to think he thought anything at all about her. She got to work and tried to pretend he wasn’t next door. Not an easy task at first, but as soon as she became lost in her research, everything else quieted.
It was many hours later, after looking over student submissions and finishing her own personal assignments, that she finally crawled into bed. Dr. Adams had left her an email asking for her to come early tomorrow. She tried not to be annoyed that he’d sent it late tonight. His request felt like a reaction to her refusal to make it an early night.
She pulled up the covers and thought of Verona and Siena, of Civita di Bagnoregio. All places she’d dreamed of visiting her whole life. And when she did that, sleep came easily, and her dreams were pleasant.
She awoke before she was ready and hurried to their classroom, with little makeup or fanfare about her hair.
She’d emailed her thoughts and the students’ homework to Mr. Adams in the early hours of the morning before she’d called it a night. She was anxious to hear what he thought.
When she stepped into the room, he was frowning and typing on his laptop, so she moved to her usual desk as quietly as possible, opened up her computer, and checked for any last-minute student emails.
At last he stood. “I read your thoughts on the Colosseum.” His voice sounded neutral. Almost flat.
Shawna nodded. “I was fascinated to learn some of that.”
“Did Mateo tell you?”
“What?”
“What you wrote. It’s common knowledge here, almost the folktale of the locals in Rome. How much original research was required? How much of what you wrote is even backed up by true research at all?”
She was stunned by his tone.” Are you unhappy with my findings?”
“Yes.”
“Well, Mateo mentioned something in passing that got me thinking, and after hours of research, I discovered the details I sent to you. My theories and my findings are unique. I was quite proud of them.”
“Unique unless you’re Italian.”
Was he correct? Had she just merely written out a common wives’ tale? Her exhaustion started to hit, the early morning walk not enough to fully wake her. “I’ll take a look and do better.”
“I hope so. And we’re going to be touring more this afternoon. Starting now, the workload is going to increase throughout the semester. I hope you’ll be able to manage.”
“Of course.”
He nodded. And then he handed her a stack of papers. “Here is some data I’d like for you to organize and present in a quick-read table for me by tomorrow. It’s my latest research and part of my new book.”
Usually, she’d be pleased with such an assignment. It gave her a chance to read his research and understand his findings, but today, his frown and his still-flat tone deflated any energy that might have made it fun. “No problem. Thank you.”
He turned, sat at his desk at the front of the room, and returned to typing on his computer.
Her swallows and blinks were not enough to stem the start of tears in her eyes. She leafed through the paperwork he’d given her, forcing her mind to focus and begging her emotions queue up behind everything else that had to happen today.
The students arrived, and she distracted herself with them, her mood picking up. The lecture was more difficult to separate from the man giving it, but she tried to pretend she didn’t know him. His words were fascinating.
And finally it came time for them to hop on the busses. They were travelling to Siena and would stop on the way to visit an ancient city. It rested atop what looked like a tall outcropping of rock, but which was in fact the last of the land that remained around the city. The only access to it was a bridge.
When they were walking across a deep ravine, the charming walls of a city up ahead, she was able to drop the lingering concern about Dr. Adams’s dissatisfaction and take in the moment.
Tiff joined her. “I bet Mateo would be fun at a place like this…” Her wiggling eyebrows made Shawna laugh.
“I bet he would.” She linked her arm in Tiff’s. “But I’m just happy to be here with you. Have you ever seen anything like this?”
“Never.”
They stepped off the wide, paved bridge and into another time. Cobblestone sidewalks and roads too narrow for vehicles, weaved haphazardly between the structures. Dr. Adams had told them it was founded in the seventh century. In awe of such ancient history, Shawna determined to explore every corner.
Flowers hung in trailing bunches out of windows. Everything was newly painted. Long after the others tired of the place, Shawna walked to the very edge, on the opposite side of the city, and peered down over a thousand feet below. The home above her to her left jutted out somewhat. She imagined sleeping in an upper room and peering out the one window at the top of the house. Would she feel suspended in air? A jolt ran through her bones. She didn’t love heights. Usually she did okay, but the thought of that home practically begging to fall off a cliff was too much for her imagination. She stepped back and bumped into someone.
All her dread returned when she turned and saw Dr. Adams standing in front of her. No one else was around. Tiff had gone off to the gift shop, and Shawna seemed the only one determined to see this side of the city. Shawna and Dr. Adams.
“Where’s Brandon?” he asked. “The architecture here spans several hundred years.”
“I don’t know. But this place is remarkable. It might be my favorite.”
“Really? Better than even the picturesque Naples?”
“This hums with story.” She ran her hand on the side of the building to her right. “What would you say?”
He laughed. And the sound was a balm.
They made their way back through the city in silence, but it felt comfortable. At last he cleared his throat. “Perhaps I was too harsh this morning. I reread your findings, and I agree that while you began with the well-known legends of the area, you did uncover the truth of them. If you want to clean it up a little bit, I will submit it for publication.”
Her breath caught. Publication? “Excellent. I’ll do that tonight.”
He nodded. “Thank you. You’ll have some significant work from me as well after today’s trip, plus the students’ reactions.”
“It should be fine. Thank you. I really appreciate this opportunity. I know I’ve said it a hundred times, but this means the world to me.”
There, she felt like a student, and he seemed more like a professor. All was right in the world. She searched his profile while he studied the roofline of a row of buildings piled on top of one another. She told herself she was happy they were back on comfortable footing, but a part of her missed the inner thrill of hope at his attention.
All the students were
waiting in the square in the center of the city. He beckoned them closer. “We are standing on ancient ground. Does anyone know how many people still live here in this city?”
No one knew. Shawna had looked it up, but she didn’t say anything.
“Seven in the winter and around one hundred in the summer. But I wanted to draw your attention to something below us in the rocks. We won’t be travelling down there, but below us is the Cappella Della Madonna Del Carcere.
“Anciently, it was an Etruscan tomb. You may find this interesting. The Etruscans built rooms for their dead. It was believed that a certain amount of activity existed for the departed, generally near the mortal remains. Later the tomb was used by shepherds. It carries a cross now and is called the Della Madonna Del Carcere.”
He gave them an assignment. “The Romans and the Etruscans had similar thoughts about their dead. Write me a response comparing and contrasting the two. And then show me how the arrival of the Greeks changed their thoughts somewhat.”
Was it Shawna’s imagination or did Dr. Adams seem more subdued? She couldn’t tell. But when he told them to send their work to her, she still felt her usual thrill when her name left his lips.
This summer was going to make havoc with her emotions. She wondered if she would end the semester with her heart in one piece. As she listened to Dr. Adams talk with such animation about examples of different architecture and the ancient people who lived here, the excitement in his eyes drew her to him more than ever. She knew that no matter what happened, she would feel it was worth it to get to know such a man.
Chapter 13
Dex’s dad talked without waiting for a response. His tone was animated, urgent, as he told Dex he’d set client meetings for as soon as they arrived back in Naples. Dex tried to keep his tone pleasant. “We’ll barely be back then. Give me a second to unpack.”
“You’ve got a group there, use them. Let’s entertain some of our Italy people, and if you get in touch with Kalgenic, maybe we can bring them in too. Do you know how great that would be if Kalgenic were on board?” His tone was dreamy as he talked about gaining another client in Europe, and Dex wanted to hang up before his dad got too carried away. He was not in Italy to wine and dine clients. This particular part of his father’s business was largely why he’d stepped away. But he agreed to the meetings his father had set up; he just told him to reschedule them for later in the week.
He stared out the window of their bus. Tuscany. Was there any countryside more beautiful? Rolling hills, different shades of green all around. He had enjoyed their travels through Tuscany, through Florence. Today they would tour Siena, and then tomorrow they would arrive back in Naples, possibly late. What the students didn’t know, not even Shawna, was that he had arranged for them to be here on the day of the famous Palio di Siena races. The tickets were very difficult to obtain, but, thanks to his encouragement, the school bought some every year they had a semester in Italy.
Margie came to sit beside him, her warm face a welcome relief after hanging up with his father.
“We need to tell the students to be safe during these races.”
“Yes. I’ll give them some tips when we reveal the surprise.”
“I’ve been reading about it. It’s crazy—and packed. I didn’t realize how rare it is to have a ticket to this.”
He smiled, proud of his school and his influence. “They’re gonna be just fine. They’re never gonna forget this, and we’ll have to tell them to keep it a secret for the other years who come.”
“I hope they’re fine.”
“They won’t be at any greater risk than any of the other thousands that come. We couldn’t afford the upper hotel rooms that overlook the piazza, besides, part of the experience is actually being in the piazza…I feel a poem coming on.”
“Very funny. I trust you, Dex. I’m just getting typical administrator stress about this.”
He reached an arm across her back and squeezed her in a partial hug. “And we’ll be back to Naples tomorrow. I’m looking forward to the coast. Dad’s making me throw business parties. You and Mark are more than welcome to join. There will be one about every evening this week. Then maybe we can take the boat out on the weekend?”
Her eyes lit up. “We’d love it. Are these like glitzy business associates? Or jeans and t-shirt friends?” She eyed him and then nodded. “Glitzy friends.”
“Yep. I’ll enjoy having some friends there from my university life to keep me humble.”
“You’ll be the best dressed, most charming person present. And I’m just happy you prefer us university folk.”
“Every time.” He felt her eyes on him. She had an agenda, a purpose in sitting by him. “What is it, Margie?”
“How are things with Shawna?”
“Things?” His heart pounded as he searched her face.
She watched him. “That’s what I thought.”
“What did you think?”
“She’s a great woman, Dex. She’s of age.”
He choked. “What are you suggesting?”
“Nothing. I just noticed a particular energy in our professor for this semester abroad whenever his TA was around. And lately, I’ve noticed some droopy shoulders. And not just his.”
He resisted turning around to see if Shawna’s shoulders were drooping. Then he lifted one corner of his mouth. “It’s complicated.”
“True, but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve seen you both. She’s not easily intimidated, even though she works so hard to please you. I’ve never seen such a good TA. As your boss, I’m telling you, you’ve got my careful permission.” She held up her hand. “Nothing untoward, no closed doors, none of that. But, Dex, get to know the woman. It’s okay if you notice she’s beautiful. How could you not? Spend time with her.” She sat up straighter. “Take her to lunch.”
“What?”
“Today. Before we are supposed to be filling in the square. Take her to lunch.”
His heart picked up at the thought. How lovely, lunch at a street-side café in Siena. Lunch with Shawna.
Low laughing interrupted his pleasant thoughts. “Just as I suspected. You’re a good man, Dex. You deserve to explore this, to be happy.”
He opened his mouth, and she cut him off. “She’s nothing like Shayla.”
“How did you know I was even thinking about her?”
“I know you. I’ve known you a long time. And it’s time that woman didn’t have such a stranglehold on your memories.”
He thought about what Margie said for about ten more seconds, then he stood.
Immediately, almost every eye on the bus was on him. He hadn’t anticipated such attention, but Shawna had yet to look his way. So he held up his appointment calendar and motioned for Shawna to come forward. They students passed the word, and soon Shawna was sitting beside him.
“That’s better.” He grinned, full of energy.
She laughed. “Did you need me?”
“No. Well, yes. I just thought we could talk.”
The wariness in her expression made him regret their earlier interactions, his tension. “Okay.”
“Tell me what you thought of Florence.”
He sat back and listened to her chatter on about all the things he loved about Florence, his smile growing larger the longer she talked. “And the leather? The gold?”
“I’m sure there are great places to buy leather and gold in Florence, but where we went felt like a tourist trap.”
“It was. And there are better places. One day I’ll take you there…” He stopped. Was that too much? He’d felt so free at Margie’s suggestion, that he hadn’t been considering where Shawna was with her own expectations.
Her face colored slightly and she smiled. “I’d like that.”
He exhaled. Okay. Good. “So, I was wondering if you’d want to go to lunch today?”
She looked around as though someone might hear.
“No, it’s okay. I would like to get to know you as more than my TA, more than
my student. Lunch sounds nice. Friendly.”
She nodded, slowly, and he wanted to kick himself at the flash of disappointment in her expression, but she said, “I’d like that.”
“Great. I know a place, right before the races.”
Her eyes widened. “Are we going to the races?”
He leaned closer, and she followed suit so their heads were together. He whispered, “Yes.”
She gripped his arm. “Are you serious?”
He loved the feel of her hand, her small fingers, pressing into him. “I’m totally serious.” He laughed.
She released his arm. “Sorry. That’s incredible. Do you know how many people in the world will never ever get to see these races?”
He immediately missed the feeling of her hand on his arm. But he loved to watch the energetic expressions cross her face. He admired so many things about Shawna, especially her excitement for life and her gratitude for it.
“You can’t tell anyone yet. But we’re gonna be right there, in the middle of all those people, mid center, while the horses race around us.”
A worried pinch centered itself between her eyes and he remembered her need for first class on the airplane. He asked, “Do you have a face mask?”
She nodded, slowly, then she sighed. “Really, I’m cleared by the doctor to do anything. He claims my immunities are building just fine. But I worry.”
“May I ask what happened?”
She turned so she faced him fully and leaned her cheek against the back of her chair. “I was in my freshman year and started to feel tired, so tired. I can’t even describe the exhaustion. I brushed it off as the result of doing too much, until one day I collapsed. They sent me to the ER, and when the white blood counts were off-the-charts high, they called in an oncologist. I had leukemia.”
“Oh, wow. And now?”
“So far, I’m clear. At every visit I celebrate another clean sweep of my body.”
His heart clenched. What a terrible burden for her to have to bear. “Do you ever stop worrying?”
“Oh sure. I stopped even while I had the cancer. It was pretty advanced. They weren’t sure they’d be able to cure me.” She swallowed. “I remember one really dark day when I was consumed by the fear of death. It didn’t seem treatments were working. And there’s nothing like doing everything you can medically and only getting worse. I’ve never felt so helpless. In that moment, I knew I had some choices to make.”
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