Lilliana Jones and the Temple of Groom

by Rich Amooi

  Don’t go there.

  Marco was not on her list of potential future husbands. Yes, he was good-looking and yes, he was kind, but the man was going away for a long time. No way would she try a long-distance relationship. Marco was not an option. She would just enjoy her time with him and then keep an eye out for someone who was more suitable. Someone who didn’t travel for work, for starters.

  Marco led Lilly to an entrance different than the main entrance. There wasn’t a line but there was an armed security guard. They emptied their pockets, placed their personal items in a tray and walked through the metal detector. Once they passed through, they grabbed their things and were waved over by another employee.

  “I will take your tickets,” he said.

  Marco handed him the tickets, and the man asked them to follow him.

  Marco turned to Lilly and grinned. “Let the fun begin.”

  Lilly didn't know what they would see and why this would be any different than what she had planned for Thursday, but she had to admit she felt a little excitement. It was like she had backstage passes to a sold-out concert and would meet the band.

  They passed through a long hallway made of concrete—more like a tunnel—and came out on the other side into an open, covered area.

  “Welcome to the underground,” said the guide. “Please watch your step. As you can see, the Colosseum isn't perfect and much fell into disrepair from the severe damage sustained by lightning and earthquakes. But the most damage was caused by stone-robbers who took rocks and marble to use on other construction sites.” He led them farther and pointed. “Many of the rooms and holding pens you see here once housed bloodthirsty gladiators and captive carnivores.”

  Lilly leaned into Marco. “It sounds kind of disgusting when he puts it that way.”

  Marco chuckled. “I agree. Hey, is that Russell Crowe?”

  Lilly turned to look, then realized Marco was joking. She turned back toward him and held up her fist at the laughing man. “You want some of this?”

  Marco stopped laughing and held up his palms. “No, no. You already showed me on the plane how much damage that thing can do. Put it away. I’ll behave.”

  Lilly tried to keep a straight face. “You’d better.”

  They followed the tour guide around the corner until he pointed to some steps. “You're free to explore this area on your own. Please be careful."

  She stared down at her sandals. “This is why I wanted to know what we were going to do. Wearing sandals to climb these steps is not the brightest idea.”

  “You’ll be fine,” said Marco. “Just be careful.”

  Lilly walked up the steps with Marco trailing right behind her.

  On the fourth step she banged her toes into the concrete. She screamed and fell backward right into the arms of Marco.

  “I’ve got you,” he said. “You smell fantastic.”

  She ground her teeth. “Let me go.”

  “Of course.” He did as he was told. “You okay?”

  “I’m not sure. I’ll check the damage when we get to the top and there’s more light.”

  “Can you walk on it? I can carry you to the top. It’s not that far.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous.” She took another few steps and banged her foot in the same spot. She screamed and fell back into Marco’s arms for the second time.

  “Welcome back,” he said. “Make yourself comfortable.”

  “That’s it,” she said. “Carry me up the rest of the way. And when we get there, put me down so I can kill you.”

  “That’s premeditated murder.”

  “I told you I prefer to plan things. And why do you care? You’ll be dead.”

  “Good point.” He lifted her to get a better grip and carried Lilly a few more steps to the next level. He set her down and inspected her foot. It was a little red, but the skin didn’t appear to be broken. He pointed to her foot. “No blood. That’s a good sign.”

  “You are aware that you can break bones without breaking the skin?”

  “Yeah, but—”

  “I told you I don’t do well with improvising and this proves it.”

  “No. This just proves you’re clumsy and need to pay attention where you’re walking.”

  “Excuse me?”

  Lilly gave him a look, and he took a step back. Who did this guy think he was? It didn’t matter he was right and she could have paid better attention to every step.

  Marco pointed over toward the platform. “Look. That’s safe there, and it has one of the best views. Let’s just go over there and check it out. If you want to leave after that, no problem.”

  Lilly nodded. She was only a few feet away from the platform, so why not take a peek? Saying nothing else, she walked side by side with Marco to the edge. She looked out at the massive stone amphitheater, taking it in. It was as big as many of the sports and concert stadiums in the United States but made with tile, limestone, and concrete. It was difficult to comprehend how the Romans could build such a spectacular structure so long ago without all the modern day tools and machinery.

  Marco turned to Lilly. “Amazing, isn’t it?”

  “Yes. I wonder what it was like to live in Rome two thousand years ago.”

  Marco frowned. “No Starbucks. No Netflix. No wonder they all wanted to kill each other.”

  Lilly burst in laughter. “You’re crazy.”

  “And you’re smiling. I need a picture of that.” He pulled out his smart phone for a selfie of the two of them. “Perfect. Now we’re going up to the third ring.”

  “What’s that?”

  “The third level where you will see one of the best views of ancient Rome.”

  Once up top, they admired the sweeping views of the Colosseum interior and the panoramic shot of the surrounding cityscape. Marco pulled out his phone for another selfie of the two of them. He checked the photo and showed Lilly. “See? Life isn’t so bad.”

  “I never said it was bad. I said it was better when planned well.”

  “I will prove you wrong.”

  “Good luck.”

  They toured the Colosseum for another thirty minutes, entering a few more restricted areas thanks to Marco’s connection. Lilly was fascinated with the Colosseum, but had to admit she was more intrigued by Marco. Who was this guy and why was he growing on her?

  “On to the next stop on the tour.” Marco grabbed her hand and led her to the exit and she pulled him to a stop.

  “That’s it?” she asked. “We’re inside the most visited tourist attraction in all of Italy, one of the most popular in Europe, and you want to leave already?”

  He shrugged. “You saw something fascinating and historical. You even imagined what it must have been like to live in the era when this was in full use. Moving on! So, please follow me out and I’ll take you around the corner for some wine tasting.”

  “It’s not even lunchtime yet.”

  “Perfect. When we’re done sampling the wine we’ll look for a place to eat.”

  Lilly smirked. “I should have known you’d try to push the wine on me again.”

  “You’ve heard of the health benefits of wine?”

  “I’m kidding. But I thought all the best wineries in Italy were in Tuscany.”

  “There are many wonderful wineries in Tuscany, but there are also some hidden gems right here in Lazio. We’re not going to a winery though. I’m taking you to a wine room called Vino Roma. We’ll sample the best of Italy in a wine cellar that’s over a thousand years old.” He held out his hand. “Trust me. You’ll love it.”

  She stared at his hand. This was the problem. She was trusting him.

  Chapter Eight

  Marco was glad the wine tasting at Vino Roma went off with no issues. They had spent a couple of hours sampling wines from different regions in Italy, and chatted with the sommelier and a cute couple from Richmond, Virginia. They strolled down one of the busy streets of Rome and walking under the Arch of Constantine.

  He glanced ove
r at Lilly and grinned. “You look a little more relaxed.”

  Lilly smiled. “A lot more.”

  “You hungry?”

  “Starving.” Lilly pulled out her phone and scrolled. “Let’s see our options.”

  Marco stopped. “What are you doing?”

  “Searching for restaurants in the area. Then I can check out the reviews and—”

  “Give me the phone.”

  “I’m not going to give you my phone.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  “No, I’m not.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  An older Italian man approached and shook his head.

  Lilly waited for the man to pass before whispering, “No, Marco.”

  “You promised to give me a full day and do it my way, before concluding whether you enjoyed seeing Rome this way. Did you enjoy the wine tasting?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Outside of the toe stubbing, did you enjoy the Colosseum?”

  “Yes, but—”

  “Then. Put. It. Away.”

  Lilly gave him a look and a moan before stuffing the phone back in her purse. “Fine. We only have about an hour and a half. Then I need to get back for a business meeting.”

  “Not a problem.” Marco pointed to the quiet cobblestone street on the right. “This way.”

  They walked side by side, admiring the old buildings made of stone and the quaint shops and cafes.

  Lilly stopped in front of a temple and stared at the front door. “Hang on a second.”

  Marco laughed. “It’s been a while since your last confession?”

  “Not funny. Wait here, okay?”

  Marco studied her for a moment, wondering what she was up to. “No problem.”

  Lilly disappeared inside the temple and two minutes later came back out, frowning. “Okay, let’s go.”

  Odd.

  She obviously didn’t want to talk about whatever was on her mind, so Marco didn’t bring it up.

  A few minutes later, Marco peeked inside the window of a restaurant, smiled, and gestured for Lilly to follow him. “Time to eat.”

  She peeked through the window as well and then glanced over to Marco. “How do we know if it’s any good?”

  “We don’t. But there are people in there and nobody seems to be dying or dead, so that’s a good sign.”

  Lilly reached for her phone again. “Let me just—”

  Marco shook his finger at Lilly. “No, no. Come on.”

  He stepped inside and was greeted by an Italian woman who appeared to be in her fifties. She wore a beautiful white and red apron with images of pots and pans and utensils. The woman pointed to the table for two by the window.

  “Grazie,” said Marco, taking a seat.

  Lilly stood in the doorway with her arms folded, tapping her foot on the floor.

  He waved at the stubborn woman who finally sat. “That wasn’t so difficult, was it?”

  She picked up the napkin and inspected it. “Actually, it was.”

  “You’ll feel better after you eat.”

  They glanced around the restaurant and admired how the dark wooden floors contrasted with the elegant cream-colored tablecloths. It was a medium-sized place, around twenty tables. The people seemed to enjoy their food. One side of the restaurant had large mirrors on the wall, making the dining area appear larger.

  “Nice place,” said Marco, looking around.

  “Not bad,” said the stubborn woman across from him.

  The server returned, smiled, and placed bread and Chianti on the table.

  Marco spoke with her in Italian about the food and turned to Lilly. “Do you like chicken, beef, seafood, or veggie?”

  Lilly stared at him for a second. “Why?”

  “It’s a simple question. Do you like one of those or all of those?”

  She hesitated for a moment and then answered. “Chicken.”

  Marco smiled at the woman. “Due pollo.”

  “Perfetto,” said the woman, heading back to the kitchen.

  Lilly watched the woman walk away and then turned to Marco. “What was that all about?”

  He knew this would not go over well with Lilly but he had to tell her. She'd better not make a scene.

  “Nothing, really,” he answered. “It’s just . . . they don’t have menus here. Bread?” Marco broke off a piece of bread and chewed. “Hmm. This is good. You should try it.”

  Lilly’s eyes wandered around the restaurant. “Wait, wait, wait. What do you mean they don’t have menus? It’s a restaurant. Restaurants have menus. ”

  Marco let out a nervous laugh. “Menus are not an option. Pick either chicken, beef, seafood, or veggie. Then the chef will prepare his special of the day from that food group. I like that. It takes the difficulty of choosing something out of the equation.”

  “I like the difficulty of choosing something.”

  “This is not that type of restaurant. This place is Michelin-starred. No doubt they've got great food.”

  “This was a mistake. I should have stuck to the plan. I have things I want to see. Things I have to do.” Lilly shook her head and popped a piece of bread in her mouth.

  Marco smirked. “Things to do? You mean like . . . find a husband?”

  Lilly choked and the piece of bread flew out of her mouth, smacking Marco in the chest.

  Lilly wiped her mouth and studied Marco. How did he know she was there to find a husband? It didn’t make sense. The man knew no one she knew. They had never talked about it. She wasn’t dumb enough to write it on her itinerary he saw during the layover in DC. Wait a minute . . .

  The plane.

  Sleep talking.

  Crap.

  “Marco,” she said.

  “Yes, Lilly Pilly?”

  He could try to be cute but it wouldn't work with her. “Tell me everything you heard me say on the plane while I was sleeping.”

  He finished chewing another piece of bread and nodded. “Okay. Some of it made little sense but that shouldn’t be a surprise because even when you’re awake you sometimes don’t make sense.”

  Lilly gave him a look that meant she was serious.

  “Right. I know you like cappuccinos with two sugars.”

  “Go on . . .”

  “You said something about a bear and an expensive car.”

  “Uh-huh . . .”

  “Then something about a temple and finding your future husband in Italy.” He took a sip of his Chianti. “You think spring weddings are lovely. I think they’re lovely, too.” He winked and took another sip. “Oh. And you asked me to marry you.”

  The temperature of Lilly’s face went from medium to hot. She took a big swig of her Chianti. Then she took another sip.

  “Don’t be embarrassed,” said Marco. “Lots of people are looking for partners. Soulmates. I think it’s kind of odd you thought you'd find him in Italy, though.” He grinned. “Unless you’ve got a thing for Italians—hey, nothing wrong with that. We are a superior breed if I do say so myself.”

  She stared at him, still unable to form words, let alone sentences.

  “I can help you find him,” he continued. “Your future husband.”

  Lilly snorted. “Right.” She took another sip of the Chianti and dismissed his ridiculous idea.

  The woman returned with the two meals. “Due pollo. Buon appetito.”

  “Grazie,” Marco said to the woman.

  Could the man sound any sexier speaking Italian?

  No wonder women fell for Italian men all the time.

  Marco pulled his plate closer. “Why not let me help?”

  “Not going to happen.”

  “Okay, think about it and let’s eat.”

  “No.”

  “No to eating or no to helping?”

  “No to you helping.”

  “It would be a pleasure to help you.”

  Lilly sighed. “Are we still talking about this?”

  “Except for your crazy paranoia and obsession wi
th planning, you’re a total catch. I can tell you’re sweet and caring. You’re beautiful, there’s no doubt there. Heck, if my life wasn’t so messed up, I would be—” He shook his head. “Anyway, let’s eat.”

  Heck, if my life wasn’t so messed up, I would be . . .

  Would be what? Why didn’t he finish the sentence? Was he going to say he would be interested in Lilly if his life wasn’t so messed up?

  “Oh, wow,” he said, after taking the first bite. “This is to die for. Please. Eat.”

  “I need it. I’m feeling a little tipsy.”

  Lilly looked down at her plate. It was a pasta dish with chicken, red bell peppers, and mushrooms. It looked and smelled amazing.

  She took the first bite; God, it was good. She took another bite, this time chewing slower to savor the flavor. The portion wasn’t big, so she needed to take her time with this meal or it would disappear too quickly. Another bite and she moaned.

  She looked up and Marco had a satisfied smile on his face.

  “Why are you smiling like that?” she asked, taking another bite.

  “You look like you’re enjoying the meal—that’s all. I like to see that.”

  She finished chewing and nodded. “Okay, you were right. The food here is fantastic.” She held out her glass of Chianti to toast. “To good meals and good times.”

  He clinked her glass. “Salud.” He took a sip of his Chianti and grinned. “We can also toast to your future husband.”

  She set down her fork. “Are we back to that again?”

  Marco laughed. “You shouldn’t feel ashamed to talk about it. It’s life. People want love and they should have it. You should have it.”

  “What about you?”

  He shrugged.

  “That’s right,” said Lilly. “Your life’s so messed up.”

  “It is.”

  “Why is it messed up? You don’t lack confidence, so what’s missing?”

  He took another sip of his Chianti.

  This was where she was sure he would shut down, like most men did. Most didn’t want to talk about their issues or feelings. Sometimes you had to choke it out of them, but she wouldn't force the conversation. Marco was a good-looking man who appeared to be intelligent, so it was a surprise he wasn’t married or at least seeing somebody.