by C. M. Carpi
“I’m starving” — I changed the subject.
“So am I.”
“Let’s eat at Harry’s. Coming to Venice and not going to Harry’s is like going to Rome and not seeing the Pope.
“I didn’t see the pope.” — She shrugged in false disappointment.
“Then you have to go to Harry’s.”
The bar was crowded as usual, but the wait was always worthy. While we ate the famous Carpaccio and drank Bellini, we talked about her flight to Netherlands.
“Why do you have to pay the bill?”
“Because I said so” — I answered while raising and throwing the money on the table.
“I’m not ok with that” — She got up and opened her bag to get the money.
“Elena, don’t…”
“Unless this dinner was a date” — She raised an eyebrow and put her money beside mine. — “I’d like to share the bill.”
I opened my mouth to say… say what? It was de second time she left me speechless.
“I’ll pay the bill” — I said while getting her money. I tried to return it, but she crossed her arms in front of her chest. — “Please, I was raised like this, I can’t avoid…”
“Are you used to paying the bill?”
“Yes.”
“Always?” — I nodded.
“Okay.” — She got the money from my hand and into the bag again. — “So it really was a date.”
I opened my mouth but I couldn’t say anything. Again. And that was enough for Elena to laugh.
“Let’s go, Elena” — I put my hand around her waist and lead her out of the bar.
* * *
We spent the entire day visiting islands around Venice and doing it with Elena was, at least, funny. It was impossible to be serious around her. She was really jumbled!
When we returned to Venice the day was almost over.
“What you want to do now?”
“I don’t know. Maybe…” — She stopped talking and raised both eyebrows with a shy smile in her lips, then, she looked ahead. My eyes followed hers and I realized what she was saying. No. Definitely no.
“Gondola?Really?” — She nodded, eyes shining in excitement.
“Come on, Daniel! We are in Venice!” — I denied in a gesture, but she wouldn’t be intimidated. — “What else people do in Venice?” — I didn’t answer, that’s why she held my hand and looked deep into my eyes. — “Please?”
I couldn’t believe she would convince me so easily.
You’ve been better, Daniel.
“All right” — I opened my arms and surrendered to her wide smile, feeling butterflies in my stomach. It was the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.
We went in the gondola and moved to the Grand Canal. She was absolutely charming. She had her hair down in big waves that went to her back, swinging with the smooth breeze. Her skin had a pearled glow thanks to the full moon and stars. She was, definitely, the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
“I want to leave tomorrow, is that ok?” — She asked in front of her bedroom door.
“Where do you want to go?”
“Lago di Garda.”
“You are the boss!”
She nodded and tiptoed to kiss my cheek while I put her hand aside. When she stepped back I was taken for a sudden and strange sensation running through all my body again.
Why am I so controlled?
She wouldn’t travel with me if she didn’t want this as much as I do. I wanted it bad. That’s why I invited her, isn’t it?
I made the space between us shorter and held her face with both hands. I noticed her breath was faster as her mouth opened slowly. I brought my mouth closer to her, feeling her warm breath touching my skin. Feeling her body answering to mine. Now this trip was interesting. I closed my eyes and, when I was about to touch her lips with mine, she inspired deeply and went back.
“Good night, Daniel” — She opened the door and went fast into the bedroom.
“What happened? Didn’t she…?”
I thought about knocking, but I gave up. I went to my bedroom alone and spent the whole night up, looking at the ceiling. This time I didn’t have nightmares. She was the only thing I had in my mind.
Elena
I woke up with soft knocks on the door. I rolled to get my cell phone and saw it was a quarter past seven. I dragged my body to the door, cursing whoever woke me up that early, but when I saw Daniel before me, I forgot where I was. He had already showered and it was possible to see some stripes of his wet hair under his Panama hat. He was so handsome that sometimes I thought he wasn’t real, and more, he wore hats!
“I think I overslept, sorry.” — I said opening the door. He got inside and sat on the edge of the bed.
“I didn’t mean to wake you up, but if we want to enjoy the day we’d better leave now.”
“I’ll be ready in a minute” — I grabbed my necessaire and clothes inside the bag before I entered the bathroom.
“I’ll wait for you downstairs” — He screamed after some minutes and I heard the door slam.
He was waiting at one of the tables outside the hotel that had a beautiful view of the Grand Canal.
“I ordered a Nutella Croissant for you” — He pointed to the little croissants in my plate. — “But you really need do try their cream one.”
After we left we took the train to Verona and rented a car. We started the course following across Gardesana Ocidental, a road full of curves and long dark tunnels contrasting with an outstanding view. The background was the deep blue waters from the lake and a lot of green.
We spent the entire morning and the beginning of the afternoon visiting all the towns full of enchantments. We stopped where we wanted, no rules, no timing. Just the way I like it.
“What song is this?” — I asked while we got into the car heading anywhere. He looked at me over the sunglasses frame and a half-smile emerged from his lips.
“Light my fire” — I looked at him with a curious face. — “The Doors”
“Don’t know them” — I said almost embarrassed.
“You don’t listen to The Doors?”
I denied looking down at my hands.
“You should. This…” — He pointed to the radio. — “Is a classic” — He turned the volume up and kept his eyes on the road. — “My father always listened to The Doors when we were children. I learned from him” — He smiled again. When he smiled like that I needed to look away, because his mouth was breathtaking. Why didn’t I kiss him yesterday? Jess will go crazy when I tell her.
The view throughout the course was amazing. At this point the Lago di Garda had already conquered me.
“You haven’t seen the best part” — He said before we got into a panoramic road to the top of the mountain in Tresnico. As soon as we stopped the car I understood what he meant. It was impossible to compare any other to the view we had up there. I was speechless when we sat down on a bench to see the sunset.
“Incredible” — I said while we head back to the car.
“Your pictures must be amazing.”
“Not really.”
“Elena” — He called me seriously, touching my shoulders and making me stop. — “You are incredibly talented” — I opened my mouth to reply but he didn’t let me. — “You only have to believe it” — And he walked to the car while leaving me behind.
We went back to the car with an exact destination: Gardone Riviera.
“Who’s singing now?” — I asked while the car got invaded by the sound of Knocking on heaven’s door. I didn’t know this version, it seemed a lot older.
“Bob Dylan”
“Learned from your father as well?”
“Indeed”
“I was ra
ised listening to Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone. My father would listen to them all the time. He also used to listen to Tom Jobim. Have you ever heard about him?” — He said with eyes focused on the road.
“Garota de Ipanema, isn’t it?
“One of the most famous.”
“I believe my mother listened to it sometimes, but she also likes real music” — He didn’t look at me when I said that, but a playful smile invaded her face.
“My father liked Bob Dylan or the doors” — Changing the subject, I asked. — “Have you met all these places when you lived in Verona?”
“Some of them yes. But after I finished my administration course I worked in Milan for a year and traveled the surroundings. There’s always something new to see here.”
“Did you live in Milan too?”
“Yes”
“And where did you study?”
“I studied administration at Harvard and Law at Columbia University.”
“Two graduations?”
“Surprised, hum?”
“A little” — He wouldn’t stop smiling, I had to look away again. — “My parents also went to Columbia, I wish I had gone there but I had a lack of courage filling out the form.”
“Why?”
“Not sure” — I shrugged. At that time I told myself it was due to the distance and I didn’t want to leave my grandma and Adam, but the truth is that I was a coward. I’ve always been afraid of changes. — “I think I got scared. I went to Duke instead.”
“Good choice”
“Yes, it was”
“Why do you insist in staing at five star hotels?” — I asked while he parked the car in front of the hotel. We were staring at its magnificent yellow walls and its giant and perfectly kept garden.
“Just because they are the best ones.”
“You know it isn’t true” — I said getting out of the car and stopping by the trunk.
“All right” — He rolled his eyes. — “I prefer to stay in these hotels” — He answered while grabbing the luggage.
“It’s a waste of money and you know that, don’t you?” — I tried to pick up my bag from his hands but a bellboy came out from nowhere and took the luggage inside.
My room was elegantly decorated with furniture from the past century and mirrors with golden frames. The restroom was so big that it would be possible to have another bed there. It was waste, whereas, the view was amazing.
After a long bath I felt renewed I chose a short cotton white princess sleeves dress with a square cleavage, and green sandals. My hair was excellent today so I decided to let it down. While I put on some mascara Daniel knocked on my door.
A smile came to his lips and his eyes looked at me immediately, from feet to head, making me blush.
“Shall we go?” — He asked without looking away. I agreed and held his arm.
The restaurant was in the hotel terrace. As soon as we got in, the maître led us to an outdoor table with an incredible view from the lake and the most beautiful night sky.
“I asked for this table a little earlier.”
“Why didn’t I realize?” — I blinked at him and he answered with a smile.
The maître came back with the wine carte and after some chattering with Daniel he left, coming back after with a bottle in his hands. Daniel tasted the wine before the maître filled our glasses.
“Don’t tell me you are a sommelier?” — I asked while we made a toast.
“I studied while in Milan” — Of course he did it.
“It was a good choice, this wine is delicious” — I said after drinking some wine.
“Brunello di Montalcino, one of the bests.”
A waiter brought the menu and I started to analyze it with no hurry, but the truth is that I had no idea of what to order. Daniel looked like he had already decided.
“Want me to choose for you?” — He asked putting his menu on the table. I looked at him a little embarrassed and he called the waiter. I supported my chin with my hand and contemplated him while he ordered in Italian without checking the options.
The dinner was typically Italian. As appetizer we had Carpaccio with aromatic herbs. The entrance was really exotic and delicious, risotto with mint and chocolate, I wouldn’t choose that, but definitely, it was the star of the night.
The next was veal medallion flamed with truffles and vegetables. The dessert was the maître’s suggestion. For me, a hot chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream, and for him, Tiramisu.
“How about exchanging it?” — I said after eating half of the cake.
“Exchanging?” — I nodded and he changed our desserts.
After dinner we went down to the pool and lay on the deck chairs. We talked with no hurry looking at the starry sky.
It was late after 2 a.m. when we went back inside.
There was no talking in the bedroom door as the other nights. He just smiled and got inside his room.
You’re messing things up, Elena.
* * *
After having the best breakfast of all this trip so far, we left the hotel and passed through Limone del Garda. It was a little and charming town built between the mountains and a lake.
Moving forward, we followed through eastern Gardesana to Malcesini, another town on the border of Lago Di Garda. The track list was based on Beatles and now we were listening to Don’t let me down. When Daniel wasn’t talking about the place we were, he’d sing quietly. He was really handsome today, wearing his Panama hat. I couldn’t avoid focusing on his hat every time I looked at him.
“You have to meet this place” — He said holding my hand while we left the car. We went in the cable car to Monte Baldo, 1.760 meters atop from the sea.
“Daniel” — I startled and the words seemed to disappear from my mouth. Compared to all the places we´ve visited so far, this was undoubtedly the best view I’ve ever had. The enormous lake and the infinite blue sky seemed to connect, surrounded by green.
“I know” — He answered smiling.
Back to the road we followed to Lazise with enough time to see the colorful sunset by the border. A lot of people stopped to watch it while the dogs laid down at their owner’s feet. An impressive silence followed until the sun disappeared behind the horizon and the sky was completely filled by stars. It was a magic moment.
Daniel
We left Lazise right after nightfall and followed to Sirmione. The course lasted about 30 minutes and she sang 30 Seconds to Mars all the time.
“My turn” — She said taking my pen drive off and plugging hers. Her feet were crossed over the car panel and she was shaking it in the rhythm of the music.
“Do you like this band?” — I asked.
“A lot. What about you?” — She frowned and stopped singing.
“Yes, from nowadays bands, it’s one of the best ones, but I still prefer the classics.”
“Those old stuff?” — I looked at her and she was laughing.
“You are not allowed to repeat this. Never, ever again, heard?” — I pointed my finger to her face and pretended to be offended. That made her laugh even harder. When City of angels started playing, she began to sing a little higher and focused on the background.
I thought she’d like to spend the night here and that’s why I made the reservation last night. The problem was that all the hotels were crowded and most of them had only one room available.
“Elena” — I turned down the volume and stopped the car in front of the hotel. — “I booked here.”
“All right” — She looked at the hotel as if she were evaluating it.
“There was only one room available.”
“Only one?” — She was seriously looking at me. I could swear she was mad.
“I searched
all the hotels, but it’s high season and the city is full of tourists.”
“That’s because you only look for five star hotels.”
“No” — I said raising my pointing finger. — “I prefer five star hotels, that’s true, but this time I searched all of them” — We had already stepped out of the car and she was standing before me with hands in her waist.”
“You wouldn’t lie to me, would you, Daniel?” — She looked at me with half-closed eyes.
No, why would she mistrust me? I confess I thought about it when I scheduled the hotel in Venice, but not today. Moreover, I can’t remember the last time I cared about it. Although she refused my kiss that night I haven’t lost hope. I only needed to take things slowly.
“Ok, let’s get inside” — She said while walking before me, but she turned again, smiling, and grabbed her bag from my hand. While we entered the hotel she whispered without looking at me. — “I really hope it has two beds.”
I opened my mouth to answer, but suddenly I realized I wasn’t so sure.
The hotel was near Scaligero Castle. It wasn’t a five star, but most of the rooms had balconies with an incredible lake view. That made everything worthy. There were two single beds and that didn’t help me at all.
It was possible to see the lake illuminated by the full moon and small lamps along the wooden deck behind the hotel. Many guests laid on the deck chairs enjoying the warm summer night.
She was taking a shower now and I couldn’t help thinking of it, the hot water rolling down her body. Why was she so special? I kept telling myself that I just wanted sex, but the feeling she caused when she looked at me was so different from everything I had known so far… she was different.
“I’m ready” — She got out the bathroom and stepped beside me on the balcony, enjoying the view.
She was beautiful, wearing a long white skirt and a dark blue shirt without sleeves. It was lightly transparent. She had her hair on a side braid and wore big earrings with red and blue gems. Her perfume made me close my eyes for a second, intoxicated.
