I asked Mom if my brother had our former teacher’s
number. She said yes & that he gave her the number so she could give it to
me. I grabbed a pen & wrote the number down on the inside of a smutty
paperback book I picked up at the airport in San Jose. We talked for a bit
longer about my trip. I know that she knows that Joe & I are sleeping
together but she isn’t saying anything – neither do I. I thank her for calling
& tell her I love her.
When we hung up, I told Joe that I had a private phone
call to make. I grabbed the book (since it had the number written down in it),
my phone, a bottle of water and my sunglasses. As I was getting ready to call,
I started wondering what I say to a former teacher – with whom I had a little “fling”
with during the summer of 2011 – who just lost his brother. Do I tell him that
it’s “Principessa” (Italian for Princess) or do I give him my actual name? I
wasn’t sure how I was going to identify myself….I figured, like most things, I’d
wing it. I call.
“Hello, this is Vince” he said.
“Vinnie…it’s Marguerite” I say.
He starts to cry. I sigh. There’s not much I can do
thousands of miles away in another country for a man who’s mourning his older
brother. I’m half tempted to hang up. I don’t deal with crying very well….not
even when I cry.
Vinnie asks me where I am & how come I didn’t make it
to the viewing and funeral. I explained that I was thousands of miles away,
little access to the internet & computer (not like I’d be attached to my
laptop 24/7 while here in Limon) & that I just found out about an hour ago.
Vinnie asks me again where I am. I sigh….again.
“Vinnie, I’m in Limon…..Costa Rica” I reply.
“Are you there with someone? I was going to take you
there last Christmas but you weren’t able to go. I can take you someplace else
this Christmas” Vin says.
“I’m here with…..an old friend”, I say loosely, “I’ll be
home in a few days. I’m sorry to hear about Bobby. He was one funny man. How
are the kids and Lisa?”
He tells me that they’re doing ok, missing Bobby &
that they want to see Tante Marguerite soon. I loved Angelina, Joseph &
Bobby Jr like they were my real niece & nephews. I don’t think it’d be a
great idea to see them so soon after losing their father….I don’t want them to
hurt them anymore than they’re already hurt; I was planning on telling them
when I come home that I’m not going to marry Vinnie. Vinnie’s more of a sherry
after dinner & ballroom dancing while I’m more of a Jack & Coke &
party until 3 am.
“Marguerite, call me the day you leave Limon. I’ll come
pick you and your friend up at the airport; no matter what time of day it is, I’ll
be there. I need you in my arms again…come stay with me for a few days when you
get home,” Vinnie says. “I miss you.”
“Um, we already
have someone coming to pick us up since we’re using a private jet to fly home.
I’m not sure if it’s a good idea if I stay with you for a few days. You’re a
little vulnerable right now. I’ll call you to let you know when to expect me at
your condo…..I’ll visit for a few hours. Tesoro, mi manchi anche tu (Babe, I
miss you too). I have to go. I’ll talk to you soon, ok, Papi?”
I look at my watch, it’s midnight. I was away from Joe
for 3 hours. I run back to where we set down our belongings. I slow down when I
get close & see a small tent set up for me to change into something warm
and dry. I notice Joe in front of the bonfire with a Heineken; my favorite beer.
He sees me & walks over.
“I was worried about you. I asked the policia to look for you. They came back
saying that you were on the phone for a long time. Mamacita, is everything ok?
Why are you crying?” Joe said.
“I’m sorry to worry you. My brother tried to get a hold
of me but couldn’t so Mom called me. My friend’s brother died last week….I had
to call to see if he was ok. I have to leave first thing in the morning. You
stay here & enjoy the rest of the vacation. I’ll fly coach & catch a
cab”.
Joe nods his head understanding I was talking about
Vinnie. Joe & I had already talked about the relationship that Vinnie &
I had last summer. We sat at the bonfire for a little while, drinking Heineken
and eating hot dogs we cooked by using the fire. When I fell asleep on the
blanket moments after eating, Joe arranges the fire to be put out by the
friends that came with us & our area to be cleaned up. I wake up slightly
when I feel someone pick me up to carry me back to the hotel a few hundred feet
away.
I’m still semi awake when we return to the hotel. I hear
Joe speak in hushed tones. He’s talking with airport to see when the first
flight back is to the US. I hear him make two other calls but can’t make out
what he’s saying or who he’s talking to.
“Mags wake up, please. I found a flight for you. It’s in
an hour. Go take a shower while I pack for us. I’m coming home with you.”
I mumble a response & stumble to the bathroom to take
a shower. The hot water feels so good….I take a long shower because I had so
much sand stuck to me & in my hair. I finally get out & find warm clothes
to change into. Joe asks if I’m ready, knowing full well that I didn’t want to
leave. We get to the airport with seconds to spare to get on the flight. As
soon as I sat down in my seat, I fell asleep. I was undisturbed by the severe
turbulence & bad weather on the flight home.
When we landed & went through customs, I’m shocked to
see who’s there. I was not surprised my parents were there but I was shocked
that Vinnie was there too. I guess the two phone calls that Joe had made were
to my parents and to Vinnie while I was in the shower. I hug my parents first
then go hug Vinnie.
“Mags, we brought you more clothes. We’ll take the ones
you brought home. Go with Vince. He needs you right now, ok, honey?” Mom says.
“Thanks, Mom. I’ll call you when we get to his condo” I
reply, curious why she was so kosher with me spending time with one guy (my
age) then spending time with another guy (almost 20 years my senior). Being too
tired to think, I didn’t ask.
“Thank you for the trip to Limon, Joe. I’m sorry I had to
end it so soon” I say.
Joe hugs me and whispers that he understands.
“Keep in contact, amor” Joe says, “I’m always here for
you”.
I nod my thanks & turn to Vince, taking his hand.
“Let’s go home, il mio amore. I slept on the plane. I’ll
drive us” I tell Vinnie.
“Marguerite, I know this is terrible timing but I need to
do this now….I know that this isn’t how you wanted it to happen but I can’t
wait any longer” Vin says pulling a small Tiffany’s box out of his pocket. “Principessa,
I love you more than I can put into words. I knew the moment I saw you last
summer. When you told me that you were unable to go to Limon, I exchanged the
tickets for tickets to fly in to Rome, Italy…We’ll stay in Italy for as long as
you want. Please say yes”.
Vinnie is now on one knee & the box from Tiffany’s
open. I see the MOST exquisite platinum ring that I’d ever seen, the one I
desired for years, the ring that NOT a single soul knew that I wanted.
“Get up off the floor, old man! I’ve waited for such a
long time for you to ask me. Oh, Vincenzo, I knew I loved you since I was your
student. Yes, Vinnie, I’ll marry you!”
My fiancé (I’m ENGAGED!) took the magnificent ring out of
the box & put it on my ring finger. We were both crying. He kisses me….I’m
in the arms of the man I’ve loved for so long, no longer caring about the age difference,
not caring that he’s ten years younger than my parents. I hug my parents &
Joe one last time before I headed home with Vinnie.
Before Vinnie & I leave the parking lot of the
airport, he’s fast asleep, gently snoring…at 9 am. By the time we arrive to
his, I mean OUR condo; it’s almost time for lunch. I gently shake his arm to
wake him up. He opens his eyes slowly, muttering that he can’t believe I said “yes”.
He looks at me & I see lust and desire in his eyes. We get out of the SUV,
leaving my luggage in the SUV and head inside.
“Vinnie”, I say, “are you hungry? I’ll make you some
lunch. What do you want?”
“My beautiful flower, I’m hungry for you. I want you.”
As we go to our room, we leave articles of our clothing
on the floor, leaving a trail behind us. We spend the rest of the afternoon in
bed….sleeping & making love. My fiancé’s sexual appetite matches mine.
We finally leave the bedroom around dusk & order
pizza for dinner. As we eat, we start talking & planning the wedding. We
couldn’t figure it all out tonight but we do know that we want to get married
in the next two months in a small ceremony & honeymoon in Italy for 3 or so
months. I learned several things in our discussion tonight. In Bobby’s will,
Bobby left most of his money to his wife, I’m sorry, widow and children……and
left Vinnie & I fifteen MILLION dollars, Vinnie retired from teaching &
that we could move to Italy if we wanted and eventually become Italian
citizens.
****I’ve learned my lesson during this very short time of
having a blog. The person that you least suspect will most likely be the one
that you marry. I never had any intentions of falling in love with Vinnie &
he never had any intentions of falling in love with me. I’ve spent the past
eleven years, wasting time on guys who I knew weren’t the right one/s for me. A
chance encounter ten years after graduating high school leads me to my one true
luscious man. I don’t need any other man than Vinnie & he doesn’t need any
other female than me.
Good night, everyone. My fiancé is calling me to bed. It
looks like I’m going to be coming home early instead of staying out until 3 am.
I’m not complaining one bit.
Please let me know if you want updates on the engagement, wedding plans & the Italian citizenship.
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