Summer Wine

by Barbara Winkes

  “We will. Okay. See you later.”

  Callie went back to her scene, still pleasantly surprised about Dina’s insights. Both girls seemed to be doing okay with the new living arrangements--Dina eventually got her own room upstairs. For Maggie, it had been most important to learn that Andy was indeed a liar and her dire predictions wouldn’t come true.

  “Wow, I’m late, sorry.” Rebecca breezed in a few minutes later. “I’ll start lunch right away, and then we can start packing. You managed to stay awake?”

  “Barely.” Callie chuckled, saving her document. “Where have you been?” She looked up at Rebecca, intending to tell her about the lunch she’d prepared earlier, but the sight made her speechless for the next few seconds.

  “Oh my God, you hate it,” Rebecca said miserably, of course referring to her brand new pixie cut.

  “No. No way. Wow.” Callie wished she could come up with something a lot more eloquent to describe that the surprise was indeed a good one. Judging from her monosyllabic sentences, no one would believe at this moment what did for a living.

  “Wow.”

  “You said that already.” Rebecca didn’t sound any happier, so Callie decided to go straight for the naked truth. Oh well. She had a wedding night scene to write later tonight.

  “You have no idea how hot that looks. That’s why I’m having trouble forming words.”

  “Oh. In that case, I’m glad. I really wasn’t thinking.” Rebecca pulled a chair and sat down at the table. “I stopped at Roz’s, Betty was there…they didn’t hate it, so I thought it couldn’t be too bad.”

  Truth be told, Callie hadn’t thought Rebecca wanted to part with her long locks anytime soon, but the result was nothing short of stunning.

  “I can’t show you right now how much I like it, because there’s the risk we’d get caught by one of the girls again. How about later? I have to send these ladies off to their honeymoon, then I’m all yours. Oh, and the packing in between. Dina’s at it already. She’s overseeing the weight limit for the carry-on luggage.” All of a sudden, she’d found a lot of words, a necessary distraction, because it would be a while before they’d be by themselves again.

  Chapter Seven

  The day had started with the train ride to Marin County, from where the first plane took them to JFK, where they had a four-hour layover. The bigger part of the journey still lay ahead. Rebecca still couldn’t resist any reflecting surface, which wasn’t a matter of vanity but the fact that she was still a little startled to catch a glimpse at the new her.

  Callie had sent the fruits of her work to Asha and, to her dismay, told her that she wouldn’t be available for the next two weeks or so—at all. At the moment, she looked lost in thought, probably, Rebecca surmised, in anticipation or dread of the nine-hour flight. Boarding wouldn’t start for another hour or so. Maggie was well on her way to falling asleep. Dina had gone over to the seats across the aisle to plug in her laptop. Unlike Callie, she wasn’t ready to go a couple of weeks without constant internet access. It would be better once they were in Italy. While Callie had been engaged in some intense writing sessions, Rebecca had leafed through the guide they’d bought, amazed at the idea that in a matter of hours, they would walk in those places. It had to look silly, but she couldn’t keep the smile off her face, finding it hard to contain the excitement enough to stay seated.

  “This is amazing. I’m so grateful we have the chance to do this, and bring the girls, let them experience another culture…” Rebecca shook her head to herself. Even her voice had gone up a notch. She couldn’t help the emotion, being this happy with Callie by her side, and knowing her children weren’t only safe and sound, but excited about this adventure as well. “It’s a privilege.”

  “Yeah,” Callie muttered. “I’ll check my privilege once we made it there safely.”

  Rebecca took her hand and held it in hers. This wasn’t Autumn Leaves. No one even cast them a glance, interested, judgmental or otherwise. “Of course we will. You’ve flown a lot more than I have. You’re really still scared?”

  Callie sighed. “Scared is a big word. I can tolerate the time between Marin County and New York. Nine hours is a whole different story—which is kind of embarrassing. Not even Maggie is freaking out about this.”

  “There’ll be movies, and we’ll sleep most of the time anyway.”

  “Sleep? Are you kidding me?”

  Rebecca laughed, laying her arm around Callie. “It will be okay. You’ll see. Every one of those hours brings us closer to Chianti, remember that.”

  “Closer to Tomaso and his family too.”

  “Yeah. I try not to think about that for now. He seems like a responsible boy, and the parents…well, we’ll see. At least this time we’ll take Dina back home and next year…we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.” Rebecca looked over to where Dina was sitting with the laptop on her knees, chatting with a boy sitting next to her. Obviously, Tomaso wasn’t online at the moment. She studied her daughter’s body language for a moment, ruefully aware that she was unable to keep out the bias. There was something relieving about the boyfriend being an ocean away, no matter how responsible he appeared to be.

  By the time boarding started, Maggie was asleep on her feet. She wasn’t going to do much reading during the flight, walking tiredly between Callie and Rebecca.

  “Can you hold my hand too?” Callie whispered. “You know what, I think I changed my mind. I have to finish a book…spending my vacation on the porch seems like such a better idea all of a sudden.”

  “You can sit together and hold hands,” Dina suggested. She snickered. “Well, you were going to do that anyway. Callie, if you want to write later, you can have my laptop. I can’t go online anyway.”

  “Yeah, thanks.” Callie gave a terse smile to the flight attendant greeting them. Rebecca let Dina and Maggie go after her, and then followed them. Their seats were in a row of four. “I’d like the aisle if you don’t mind,” Dina said quickly.

  “You can sit next to Mom,” Maggie added, blinking. “I’m not scared.”

  “I’m not even embarrassed to take you up on your offer. All right.” Callie took a deep breath. “Let’s do this.”

  “Hey, there you are. Cool.”

  Coincidence had it that the boy Dina had talked to earlier, was sitting right across the aisle with his mother.

  Dina gave him a bright smile. “Awesome. This is Sergio and his Mom. They’re going home to Rome. My little sister, my mom and Callie. I told Sergio that we’re going to visit friends,” she finished after everyone had exchanged smiles and greetings. Rebecca exchanged a surprised look with Callie.

  “Friends?” she whispered. Callie’s expression told her that she had no idea why Dina would leave out the fact that they were going to see her boyfriend’s family. However, Rebecca didn’t see the need to correct Dina in front of people they’d probably never see again after this flight. The mother returned to her book and each of them made sure belts were fastened and luggage stowed under the seats.

  Dina and Sergio had begun a conversation that was half English, half her trying out her Italian, for which he complimented her. They laughed. Maggie was all tucked into her seat. Next to Rebecca on the other aisle seat, Callie sat very upright. Rebecca felt for her, even when she could hardly tone down her own excitement. This trip had started out to be something Dina had wanted in the first place, to see her long distance boyfriend, but it was shaping up to be good for everyone’s soul—for Maggie to get a break from the lies and bullies. For Callie and Rebecca, the first summer vacation as a couple, a journey that was taking them farther than each of them had ever imagined.

  “You like this way too much.” Callie, of course, could tell what she was thinking.

  “I like that we’re doing this together.” As a couple. As a family. She reached out to take Callie’s hand and held it tightly. “I’m sure there’s something relaxing you can think of…”

  The plane accelerated and finally took off--
the best part, in Rebecca’s opinion, and a wonderful metaphor as to what happened to her life in just one year. Callie was less appreciative of whatever metaphor the current situation could present, her grip tightening to almost painful.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, but didn’t let go until the plane had reached altitude. Dina and Sergio were still engaged in their conversation. Maggie yawned. They were on their way to the other side of the world, if only temporarily Rebecca wondered for a moment if David regretted his decision and hoped he didn’t. For a long time they had thought that their life in Autumn Leaves was everything that was out there. It turned out that there was so much more for both of them, just not together.

  * * * *

  From the looks of it, Dina was not in need of the laptop, so Callie powered it up after dinner was served. Not even two hours had passed. She had never understood how some people were practically rocked to sleep on a plane, disregarding the noise. She was grateful for every interruption by the service. A glass of wine had relaxed her some, at least. The flight had been smooth so far and would be for the most part, if the captain and the weather forecast were to be believed. She was, beyond all measures, excited to be going to Europe with Rebecca, but she’d allow herself to feel that as soon as she had solid ground under her feet.

  Inserting the USB key, she glanced over the scene she had last written, Vanessa and Sabine in their honeymoon suite, hoping the continuation would distract her for a while. The scenes detailing their wedding night activities certainly distracted Rebecca whose attention had wavered from the movie she was watching.

  “We’ve never done this,” she said. “Can we?”

  “You’re killing me here.” This wasn’t much of an exaggeration, Callie decided as the blood rushed to her face. Writing about fictional people was one thing. Imagining her and Rebecca in the same situation…

  Rebecca smiled to herself. “I’m just trying to be helpful. You’re feeling better?”

  “Yes. To both questions.”

  She enjoyed the slightly flustered look on Rebecca’s face before she returned to her file, working for a while longer and afterwards making sure that it was not saved on the computer she handed back to Dina. One by one, the passengers slept or at least tried to. After Rebecca had finished her movie, leaning as close as the security belt let her, Callie went over the selection of music programs in the hope that one of them might put her to sleep.

  * * * *

  In the early morning when cheery flight attendants served them coffee and a breakfast snack, she was only half awake, and Callie could tell that Rebecca felt pretty much the same. The caffeine did next to nothing for the adults, though Maggie who had slept almost through the entire flight was more conscious. Dina was running on sheer excitement, and finally she didn’t mind spending a few days in Rome before they’d see Tomaso and his family.

  Rome.

  In spite of her tiredness, Callie smiled to herself as she sipped her coffee. After months of wondering, then planning and eventually getting on their way, they were finally here. At times, life in Autumn Leaves had felt like the world was closing in, especially after Halloween when she’d been in constant fear—that Rebecca might change her mind, that the other shoe about to drop was only the first of many, and there’d be no way out.

  The contrary was happening. They had built a home together in a place that had once belonged to her aunt Valerie, and now she was walking in Valerie’s steps, in the city she had loved. Rome wasn’t all that had attracted Valerie about Italy, but the circumstances hadn’t been lucky when the silent majority hadn’t yet supported gay rights, and Valerie’s girlfriend had bent under pressure. Callie was curious, but also hesitant given the way Valerie and Toni had parted. Toni lived somewhere around here, and her mother might have more information. Callie wasn’t sure if this was the right moment, or if it would ever come. This journey was for her and Rebecca and their family in the first place.

  Callie lived a life that her aunt, though able to travel around the world, could have only dreamed of, and she’d never for a minute take it for granted. If her vision was blurring just a bit, it was probably sheer exhaustion.

  “See, that wasn’t so bad,” Rebecca whispered next to her. “You can relax.” It wasn’t until then that Callie realized the plane had touched the ground. At times, she wasn’t too clear about her own concept of faith and spirituality, but Callie thought that at this moment, “Thank God” was not an exaggeration.

  On the train to the city, Dina’s attention was fixed on her cell phone once more.

  “Are you sure all those texts are part of your package?” Rebecca asked.

  Dina paused only briefly to look up, her expression slightly guilty before her fingers flew over the tiny keyboard once more. “Dad bought me a new plan,” she mumbled.

  “Oh. All right then.” Rebecca clearly wasn’t in the mood to argue, minutes later asleep next to Callie who felt sorry that she’d have to wake her in another fifteen minutes.

  “I think you’re the one who slept best,” she said to Maggie. “What would you like to see first?” They had planned to have a museum day the next day, discover the city on foot today. Before Maggie had a chance to answer, Dina said, “Can we go to the Spanish Steps tonight? I’m sure it’s a great view from up there.”

  “Why not?” They’d have enough time to see the main sites, and it was even better now that Dina was okay with being in the city. How could anybody not be? Callie cast a quick glance outside to the scenery flying by, the intense blue sky. “I’m sure we can find a place to eat around there.”

  “I want to see the Trevi Fountain,” Maggie said. “Do you think your aunt put a coin inside every time she came?”

  Well, it had been one woman in particular rather than an old superstition that kept Valerie coming back.

  “Maybe. We can do that too.” Stories about customs and superstition were something Maggie could get excited over. Callie wondered if they should get in line for Santa Maria in Cosmedin. The Boccia della Verita, a giant marble carving in the form of a man’s face, supposedly bit off your hand if you stuck it into its mouth while telling a lie. Maggie might be a little scared, then again, she was old enough to understand the story for what it was. Truth be told, Callie was a bit freaked out by the idea, but the guide said it was something to do with children after all. That guide though didn’t know about children who had already been under a lot of pressure to try and figure out lies told to them by adults. She’d talk about it to Rebecca…but not at this moment.

  “Hey,” she said, shaking her gently. “I’d love to let you sleep, but it’s our stop after this one.”

  * * * *

  The sun was blazing when they stepped outside the metro station for the short walk to their hotel. Rebecca didn’t mind. She was certain that after a shower and more coffee--espresso, maybe--they’d be good to go. The busy city, the various languages they heard when passing people by, all of that only had her more excited. Tomorrow, they were going to see the Vatican. In this church of all churches, no one would kick them out. Maybe, that was an experience she needed to go home and face Father Reynolds’ ridiculous sanctions. For now, she’d enjoy walking side by side with her loved ones in a place that was practically a giant outdoor museum.

  She was beyond grateful to see Maggie had found her smile again. Dina—Rebecca shook her head. She was pulling her suitcase after her with one hand, the cell phone in the other, and had been more than once in danger of walking into a lamppost. Callie looked tired, but happy, and incredibly young with the hat she’d donned.

  Sure, they’d wanted to meet Tomaso’s family in person before Dina made her plans real and went into a one-year exchange program. However, these days in Rome were sheer indulgence, and Rebecca believed that all of them deserved this, to be together as a family, no matter what anyone’s opinion on the subject was.

  Dina had gone into the shower last. She’d left her cell phone on the bed.

  Callie had booked a room w
ith two doubles in order to save a bit on this part of the trip, two rooms in Siena near where Tomaso’s family lived. Rebecca glanced over at the device briefly, deciding she wasn’t tempted to invade her daughter’s privacy. As long as Dina and Tomaso weren’t in the same room, at least. She was sure his parents would favor open doors all the way as well. Next was making sure that everyone had enough sunscreen on them, and change into clothes that were more appropriate for summer days in the Eternal City.

  Only one summer ago, Rebecca wouldn’t have dared to dream about this—and if everyone who had thrown insults at them in the past year, had any ground to stand on, they wouldn’t be here.

  * * * *

  Excitement and adrenaline carried a person only so far, Callie thought. They had walked around the Colosseum and up to the Forum Romanum. Walking among these remnants of a time long gone, fascination warred with disbelief, of what people were ready to do in the name of power, or for their own personal gratification. Nevertheless, the scenery was impressive, even with the lack of sleep catching up, a little overwhelming. The last time Callie had seen palm trees had been during her time in California—shaking her head to herself, she remembered when Betty had started the rumor that Callie was an actress who had fled Hollywood.

  Ice cream, pizza, and back to the hotel for a short nap before Maggie and Dina got their say.

  In the evening, they sat outside at a restaurant at the bottom of the Spanish Steps, jet-lagged and happy, enjoying the sights in a different light. They had made it all the way up, then down at a much slower pace on the slightly slanted marble steps. Tonight, there was pasta on the menu--and finally, for Callie and Rebecca, the glass of red wine on a summer night in Rome they had longed for.

  Across from her, Rebecca, looking incredibly sexy in the red sundress, with her new hairstyle, invoked all kinds of thoughts in Callie she’d have to hold for the next few days since they were sharing the hotel room with the girls.