Cyprian the Fair

by C. L. Cattano

  “Rafe!” Eden hissed as she looked around. “I thought you wanted to be careful.”

  “They don’t speak English—much, anyway.” She laughed at Eden’s shocked expression. “Plus, we aren’t in a cemetery now.”

  Eden looked thoughtfully across at Rafe again. She loved seeing the mischievous spark in her eyes again. “Well, you might be right,” she conceded. Her heart beat hard for Rafe at the reminder of the times they made love on that trip. “But I can guarantee, you weren’t thinking about real estate, either.”

  “Definitely not.” Rafe winked then sipped her wine.

  After finishing lunch, Rafe gave a long goodbye to the owner. Then she and Eden stepped outside to walk around Florence for a while taking in the sights. Rafe led Eden along directing her just like she used to do. Eden loved it when Rafe put her hand on her lower back, or took her arm to get her attention, or just stood close when they were looking at some piece of sculpture. It reminded her of when they were on vacation, and things were good between them. Sometimes, it even took her back to when Rafe was painting her portrait. Rafe would only touch her when necessary. Eden didn’t understand why at the time, but it drove her mad. Now she knew it was because it was making her want Rafe to touch her and be close.

  Soon they came to the famous Ponte Vecchio. The famous bridge lined with shops selling jewelry, art, and souvenirs. They walked along slowly enjoying the sights and shops with all the beautiful jewelry and art.

  “This is the shop where I bought your birthday present,” said Rafe as they looked in the jewelry store window.

  “My birthday present?” asked Eden not knowing what she was talking about. Her birthday was months ago, and she hadn’t received anything from her.

  “Yeah,” confirmed Rafe as she smiled. “Did you like it?”

  Eden didn’t know what to say. She wondered for a moment if Rafe was joking around, then she remembered the packages Gabri gave her. They were still in Bronte’s backpack unopened. “Uhm,” she stammered, “actually, I just got all the things you sent me from Gabri when I saw him the other day. I haven’t opened any of them.”

  Rafe stopped and a frowned. “What? You didn’t get the things I sent you?” She shook her head and wondered why Gabri wouldn’t send the things she asked him to send.

  Eden could see Rafe’s mood turning dark, and she didn’t want anything to put a damper on the day. “I think Gabri was worried if I got the gifts, I’d try to come to see you sooner. He was probably right. But I have them now. He wasn’t keeping them from me forever. Maybe I can open them when I’m with you. Then you can watch me see the gifts for the first time,” she offered as she rested her hand on Rafe’s arm. “I know I’d rather open them with you and have you close to thank in person.”

  “We’ll see,” she said turning away from the store window and walking down the bridge again. She thought Eden was probably right about why Gabri hadn’t sent the gifts, but he should have told her. She knew he didn’t do it to hurt her, but she had spent all this time thinking Eden received the things she wanted her to have. Now she wondered if she made a mistake sending her those gifts, and it was the reason Gabri kept them. Looking over, she saw Eden was still walking beside her. “I’m sorry you didn’t get your present on your birthday. But I don’t think getting my present would have made much of a difference in when you came. You might have been here a week or so sooner, maybe. He should have sent it.”

  “Don’t be angry with him,” said Eden. “He’s in love with you, remember? He probably just wanted you all to himself. I just feel sorry for Nora.”

  Rafe laughed, happy to be brought out of her worried thoughts. “Oh, really? You don’t feel sorry for yourself?”

  “No,” Eden said, dragging out the word then looked over at her seriously. “You’ve never told him you were in love with him, and I have it in writing you’re in love with me,” she reminded her patting her back pocket.

  “I wrote those words a long time ago,” she replied uneasily. “It may mean nothing now.”

  “There’s no date on the letter, and I just read it today, so I say it means something now,” declared Eden then smiled and walked to the next shop.

  Rafe laughed and followed her. “I remember you now,” she teased and bent close to her. “Bossy Eden,” she whispered and laughed softly.

  Eden’s eyes sparkled. “That’s right. You should do what I say.”

  “What do you want, Bossy Eden?” asked Rafe, enjoying the game. “Would you like jewels or sweets? Or maybe I can give you a surprise.”

  Eden could tell Rafe was enjoying herself, so she continued to play. “I apparently have jewels waiting for me,” she said, raising her eyebrow. “I’m not really hungry, so I think I would like the surprise.”

  “Okay,” said Rafe with a grin. “Come on,” she encouraged, taking Eden by the arm. She led her swiftly from the bridge and turned them left through the vendors until they came to an alley. She turned left again and led her down the narrow street. “Here we are,” said Rafe breathlessly leading Eden under the bridge.

  Eden looked around, and it was not an impressive place. It was dirty, there was a lot of trash, and it smelled a bit. “Why are we here?” she asked with uncertainty.

  “This is where it happened,” Rafe announced with a smile. She turned in place with her arms out offering Eden a view as if it were a gift. “The kiss with Maria you think was so romantic.” Looking around, Rafe noticed how different the place looked from when she was twelve. “I don’t think it looked like this back then. More tourists litter now, I guess.” She shrugged off her disappointment with the new reality of the place that held such an important memory.

  “No, it’s nice,” said Eden hesitantly, not wanting to bring down the mood. “I can see how a kid would want to make out down here.”

  Rafe smiled at Eden’s attempt to see something good about being under a bridge where it was trashy and smelly. “Well, it wasn’t exactly making out, and I don’t remember much other than my interaction with Maria and the kiss,” she confessed as she kicked a plastic bottle aside. “I guess it just shows how good the kiss was.” She pointed toward the end wall of the bridge. “I was backed up to the wall about there,” she said and walked over. “I don’t think I’d lean against it now. It kind of smells like pee,” she said scrunching her nose then chuckled. “Okay, I guess some things are better left to memory. Let’s get out of here.” Taking Eden by the arm, Rafe led her back up to the alley.

  “It’s hard going back to places from your childhood,” said Eden as they walked. “I’ll bet if I went back to the old church where I had my first kiss, it wouldn’t be the same either.”

  Rafe laughed at the absurdity of the thought. “I think the only thing changed about your old church would be some poison ivy maybe, or a lot of weeds. I don’t think thousands of people tramped through your churchyard, used it as a trash can, and peed all over the side of the church.” She turned them down another small street where they came upon an open plaza. “We can go look at the garden and the grotto if you want. They’ve been taken care of much better. I’ve been to them a lot.”

  “Are you disappointed,” Eden asked sympathetically. “I’m sorry if going back there wasn’t what you expected.” Rafe shrugged dismissively. “Thank you for taking me. I like seeing places important to you, even if they’ve changed. I like knowing things about you. Really, I just like being with you. I’ve missed this.”

  As Rafe was about to answer, a chorus of voices called her name. Turning, she saw a group of school-aged kids heading for her. “Rafaella, Rafaella!” called one. “Rafaella, siete venuti a dipingere?”[15] called another “Dove sono i vostri colori?”[16] one asked. “Hai portato carta per noi?”[17] asked another. “Ho il mio libro di disegno,”[18] called another. “Noi comprare gelato oggi?”[19] asked another boldly.

  Rafe laughed as they gathered around asking questions and telling her things. “Non sto dipingendo oggi,”[20] she told them and saw they were d
isappointed. “Sto mostrando un amico la nostra città. Si tratta di Eden.”[21]

  They all gawked at Eden judgingly, as children sometimes do. “Ciao, Eden,” they all said over each other pronouncing her name like Rafe did with the e’s sounding like hard a’s.

  One of the small boys turned to Rafe “Noi comprare gelato oggi?” he asked again.

  “Dovremmo chiede Eden. Lei nostro ospite,”[22] she told him then turned to Eden. “He wants to know if we’re buying gelato today. What do you think?”

  Eden took a long look at all the children who were waiting for her answer, then looked back at Rafe. “If we don’t, I’m the bad guy, right?” Rafe just smiled and raised her eyebrows. “I say si to gelato!” she said to the kids lifting her arms into the air. They understood ‘yes’ and ‘gelato’ and jumped up and down cheering.

  With the children, Rafe and Eden made their way toward the next bridge and to Gelateria Santa Trinità for gelato. “Am I to understand this is a regular occurrence?” Eden asked as they walked.

  “Usually we paint or draw first, but today, you’re our guest, so we have to be polite and have gelato,” Rafe informed her with a grin. “Now I wish we had Bronte here.”

  “She would love this,” Eden agreed. “Maybe we can do it again before we have to go home.”

  “Sure,” said Rafe but lost her smile at the thought of them going home.

  They made it to the gelato shop, and Rafe paid and gave each child a receipt they could take and get some ice cream. “What flavor do you want?” Rafe asked Eden.

  “Chocolate,” said Eden with a smile, thinking about how Bronte would probably ask for the same.

  “Do you trust me?” Rafe asked with an arched brow.

  “Sure,” she said, aware this was not the first time Rafe had asked. She knew there was more to the question than ice cream flavors.

  “Good, go find a table,” Rafe instructed. “I’ll get the gelato.”

  Eden found a table outside the little shop and watched all the people pass by as she waited for Rafe.

  “Here you go,” said Rafe with a smile. “This will keep you awake all night,” she promised with a mischievous grin. “It is mocha gelato, and this is a double shot of espresso. You just pour the espresso in with the gelato like this,” she said, pouring the coffee into the gelato cup. “It’s a heavenly energy buzz.” She scooped out a bite and ate it. “Oh, man, so good! Here, you try it.” She scooped out a bite for Eden. “Godete.[23]”

  “Oh, my god!” said Eden savoring the gelato. “This is great!” She proceeded to pour her espresso in with her gelato and scoop out bites of the treat. “Why have I never had this before?”

  Rafe laughed as she watched her eat. “I have no idea,” she said and ate more gelato.

  As they ate, the children all talked with Rafe and Eden. Eden did her best to use what little Italian she had learned. The children asked Rafe a lot of questions about Eden, but finally, they all left to go play.

  “They’re happy you came and decided to get gelato,” said Rafe. “They also think you’re very beautiful. One boy has offered himself for marriage when he’s older.”

  Eden laughed and blushed. “I hope you let him down easy.”

  “I did my best,” she assured her and grinned. “It’s too late to go to the grotto now. We should walk back to your hotel.” Rafe was relieved they wouldn’t go to the grotto today. It was a place hard for her to visit alone sometimes. She needed more time to be able to take Eden.

  “Okay,” agreed Eden, not sure why it was too late and disappointed the day with Rafe was ending.

  “Maybe I could stay for a while and spend time with Bronte,” Rafe suggested as they walked back to the hotel.

  “She would love it.” Eden smiled and put her hand tentatively on Rafe’s arm. “We both would love it.”

  41

  AS SHE WALKED into the hotel, Eden Kingsley felt hopeful and happy because Rafe was beside her. Their stroll back had been calm and sweet. It felt good just being beside Rafe, even if they were silent at times as they walked. It almost seemed at times like she had her Rafe back. Rafe seemed so happy and full of life, joking around like Eden remembered. Sometimes it was hard to comprehend the truth Rafe was still sick and dealing with problems from her childhood and the troubles from back home. But then strange and scary things happened, like the situation in the cemetery, or the way Rafe talked about being out of control.

  After climbing the stairs to her floor, with Rafe following, Eden unlocked the door to her room. They entered, finding Julia sitting on the couch with an e-reader.

  “How’d it go?” Julia asked as she set aside her e-reader. She looked up to see Eden with a huge smile on her face and Rafe standing next to her. “Well, hello,” she said as she stood in surprise.

  “Hi,” Eden greeted her happily and looked around the room. “Where’s Bronte?”

  “She’s in the bedroom sleeping. She just went down for her nap,” she said watching Rafe head into the bedroom without a word to her. Julia frowned at Eden. “What’s wrong? I don’t even deserve a greeting?” she asked hurt, but knew it was probably because of their conversation yesterday. “Is she still mad at me?” she asked, hoping Eden would think she was talking about the things that happened back home.

  “We’ve had a really good day,” said Eden quietly. “Just give her time.” She looked toward the bedroom. “I’m going to see what she’s doing.” Eden walked quietly into the bedroom and saw Rafe sitting in the chair next to the bed looking at Bronte as she slept. “Hey,” she said quietly.

  “Hi,” said Rafe not taking her eyes from Bronte. “I missed her,” she whispered. “She’s grown so much, and she’s such a talker now. I’m sorry I’ve not been there for her.”

  “You’ve been there the best you could,” said Eden and put her hand on her shoulder. “She loves the videos you sent and asks to see them all the time.”

  “It’s not the same,” said Rafe sadly. “I’m missing her grow up, too.” Looking down, Rafe fought to control the tears of sorrow welling in her eyes. She wiped them away before they could fall, and then she took a shuddering breath. “Thank you for letting me spend time with her. I was so happy she remembered me.”

  “I would never let her forget you,” said Eden as she ran her hand over Rafe’s back. “You’re her mother, and she loves you.” She wanted to wrap her arms around Rafe and comfort her but wasn’t sure if she should. “Julia’s still out there. Don’t you want to talk to her? She helped me get here, and she’s been worried about you.”

  “Really, you think she’s worried about me?” Rafe asked with a frown. “I don’t think she wants to talk to me.”

  “I think she’s worried,” said Eden trying not to show her amusement at the fact Julia had just asked if Rafe was still mad. They still acted like school children sometimes, but they had been friends for a long time. Eden knew they would work things out. “She was a bit hurt you didn’t even say hello to her.” Eden took Rafe’s hand. “Come on,” she encouraged her, “let’s go talk to her.”

  Rafe allowed herself to be pulled up from her chair and led out of the bedroom by Eden. She really didn’t want to deal with Julia. She did not like finding Julia rooted in the room like she had every right to be there. But if Julia was with Eden, then she did have the right.

  Rafe was still angry with Julia about their conversation yesterday. She didn’t like Julia saying she was in love with Eden and saying things like ‘it just happened’ between them. Rafe knew she may have to accept it, but she didn’t have to like it. She didn’t like it because it made her feel like she was losing Eden all over again, and it hurt.

  The other thing Rafe didn’t like was Eden professing her love today, knowing Eden was sleeping with Julia, or at least had been, Rafe wasn’t sure. Rafe particularly didn’t like the fact there was nothing she could do about it, and she had probably caused it to happen because she was sick. Most of all, Rafe did not like having no idea when she would be better an
d knowing she would have to live with the pain. She was uncertain if she could ever just accept Julia and Eden being together.

  They found Julia sitting in the armchair beside the couch like a turgid sentinel waiting for them expectantly.

  Eden sat on the couch and pulled Rafe down, so she sat next to her. “We took a ride on Rafe’s motorcycle,” said Eden happily, putting her hand on Rafe’s leg as if to hold her in place. She loved having her so close that she could touch her again. “It was a bit scary, but closing my eyes helped.” She smiled at Rafe then looked over at Julia. “I don’t think I could drive here. It seems like no one stays on their side of the line.”

  “Those lines are just suggestions,” said Rafe with a shrug, smiling for Eden when she laughed. “I’m sorry there wasn’t a car available. Gabri is using them all for his guests.”

  Julia bristled, holding in her thoughts that wanted to burst out about sending cars with huge Italian men to take children from their mothers. It was something Rafe’s father would probably have approved of doing. What didn’t surprise her was Eden letting Rafe get away with what she had done.

  “It’s okay,” Eden assured her as she rubbed Rafe’s leg. “I thought it was fun. I wouldn’t mind riding with you again sometime.”

  Rafe turned and saw Julia’s chafed look. “So,” said Rafe lifting her chin with an aggressive dark look to let her know she was still angry with her, “how have you been?” She stared menacingly.

  “Brilliant,” said Julia, shifting uncomfortably. She got the message. Rafe was still angry, but she obviously hadn’t told Eden about their meeting yesterday. “It looks like you’re doing well.”

  “Better than I was,” she said evenly, not letting the threat in her eyes make it into her voice.

  Julia held Rafe’s stare, determined not to be the first to break eye contact, but she finally looked away. Still, she wouldn’t apologize for her feelings nor would she allow Rafe to intimidate her. She knew the path of destruction Rafe was capable of leaving behind, and she would be there for Eden.