After the first dance everyone joined in the dancing and Betty tingled with pleasure when Gio bowed to her, took her hand and led her out with a small flourish of his own. She rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes as he wrapped his arms around her. Just the right height, she thought, as she breathed into his neck in a way she knew he would like. Slipping her hand under his jacket, she pulled up his shirt enough to slide her hand underneath. She stroked his bare skin and squeezed him close. "Mmm … that … is … good" Gio breathed into her ear while nibbling her ear lob and then alternating between licking and sucking on it. Betty made a sound so quiet that Gio barely heard it. It was something between a cry and a moan.
As they were parting for bed that night Betty felt even more strongly than before that she did not want to go to her bed alone. She turned to Gio and said "Gio, I know what to say, you are wonderful and I love you – that's it, right?" Gio gave her a hug and a short kiss, smiled and replied "You're definitely getting warmer. Keep working on it B. Good night." "But Gio, I don't want to wait any longer" Betty said impatiently while trying to pull him closer. "Don't talk to me about waiting Betty, you'll survive. You are a great girl and you are very special to me. This can't be rushed. Go write in your journal and sleep well."
Elizabeth awoke in a panic. Her heart was pounding as she sat upright while listening intently. It was the third time this night that she'd awoken. Climbing out of the bed she paced to the window and back. Looking angelic in a long white night gown she wondered "Where are you Federico? Where? Why do you not come for me?" It had been several days since she'd heard anything of him. Thinking back to the last time she saw him she shuddered, his impatient kisses and gentle touch still vivid in her mind. She gulped and bit her clenched hand to muffle her cries. The fact that he had not sent word caused her an agony that was getting harder to bear with each passing day. "Federico, my Frederico. Where ever you are please, please be safe." she prayed fervently as tears rolled down her cheeks.
The next day a smaller family reunion was held in the village. Betty chose another one of her new dresses to wear. While dabbing on the perfume Gio had given to her she looked in the mirror and admired the pretty dress, her new hair style and her bright white smile. Pulling herself up tall, straightening her shoulders and turning side to side she thought "I wish Hilda could see me. I am not only Daniel's kick-ass assistant and a promising young writer … I am smokin' hot."
Before the evening's event Gio and Betty visited Maria at her home. Arriving for lunch early they talked and visited while waiting for Maria's husband Tony to come home from work. Betty watched as Gio and Maria made a soup while discussing the recipe and adjusting seasonings. Leaving the soup on simmer they toured the small house and admired everything. Giancarlo happily tossed his ball and giggled as he trailed behind them. When Tony arrived he hugged and kissed Maria first then turned to greet Gio and Betty while continuing to hold Maria's waist. Maria leaned close to whisper in Tony's ear. Tony shook Gio's hand and talked to him in Italian for a short time and then left the room. Maria led Giancarlo over to Betty. Gio explained to Betty that they were to take Giancarlo into the garden and ask him to show them his favorite toys. Smiling, Maria left them to follow Tony. "What's up?" Betty asked Gio, taking Giancarlo's hand and leading him outside towards the garden. "Oh, can't you guess? Maria and Tony need some time together, alone, and there's no hurry for lunch." Gio threw Giancarlo's ball and continued "You know – it's just part of making every second count."
At the evening dinner the family was meeting Gio's cousin's bride-to-be Tina for the first time. Everyone toasted and congratulated the happy young couple. Later Gio went off with the groom, his brothers, and the rest of the male Rossi family members while Betty joined the female relatives as they got acquainted with Tina. Betty couldn't follow what they were saying but Gio's little sister Nella was there and she helped translate for her. During this intimate gathering of the women in the family, they began comparing their engagement rings and Betty was asked to point out which one she liked the most. Carefully looking at and considering each one in turn she decided on Gio's grandmother's simple yet elegant ring. Everyone praised her good taste and noticed her excellent judgment. Betty was equally impressed by the Rossi women. All of them seemed strong and confident. It was obvious that family was extremely important to them and she had also noticed that they were very loved and respected by their husbands. Watching them gave her a new idea for Gio's question.
As they began to prepare for bed that night she said "Gio, I have never loved anyone like I do you and I will never love anyone other than you – is that the answer?" Gio gave her a warm hug and a lingering kiss. Betty responded with an even longer kiss of her own. "Hey hey, who's frenching who now Suarez?" Gio smiled with delight and said "You're close Betty, very close." "Can't you give me a little hint?" Betty said trying to coax it from him. "No, Betty. You are smart – think hard. Go and write in your journal and I'll see you in the morning."
Before going to sleep Betty tried to recall all the times she had seen Gio since she met him and what had happened each time. She almost laughed out loud when she thought of the time he had quacked at her for making excuses for not writing. He had pushed and challenged her while doing thoughtful things like surprising her with a carriage ride and secretly making her a sandwich the way she liked it and leaving it on her desk wrapped in a ribbon.
And what had she done for him? She had gotten him fired. She had broken his shop window. She'd called him obnoxious and arrogant in a note. "I suppose I can be excused for the window and the note since I was strung out on drugged perfume" she thought "but he didn't know it and it didn't matter. He flatly refused to let me pay for the window." She had asked him to move Hilda's hair salon equipment for nothing in return. After he told her that Henry had punched him she practically accused him of deserving it. "Oh, dear" she sighed about that phone call.
She had called him a dog the day they met at the bar. She remembered now that he had seemed perfectly content sitting beside her and talking. It was her idea that he go get the girl's phone numbers. What had made her think that's what he wanted to do? Then she thought of the effort he made to cheer her up at the dance. And she vividly remembered his puzzled hurt look during the baseball game after he had encouraged her to play and helped her get ready for it. He had wanted their first date to be the most romantic one ever. The memory of his sad face that day was especially painful. "Even after all that happened around then he still decided to come with me and he has been the best companion I could have for my trip." As she turned each event over in her mind she came to realize that Gio had always been there for her even while she was preoccupied with Henry and her own problems. She also came to understand that she had not always been a very good friend to him. What does that say about me she asked herself. What does Gio's behavior say about him? She mulled over every thing she could remember as she drifted off to sleep. Oh Gio, my Gio, pickle napkin Gio.
The next morning she awoke to Gio's voice "Betty, time to get up. We have a long day today". Jumping up and running out of her room she collided with Gio. "Whoa!" he said capturing her in his arms and planting a light kiss on her lips like the one at the park. "What's that for?" she said. "Do I need a reason?" he replied. Before he could react Betty grasped his head with her hands, cupping her palms over his ears, with her thumb tips touching his temples. Quickly she pulled him towards her and noticed just as she was closing her eyes that Gio's expression had turned from surprise to blissful anticipation.
At mid-day they were taking a break from exploring an ancient Roman building. Gio was telling her story after story about the Roman Empire. "These are great stories Gio. How do you know so much about the ancient Romans?" Betty asked. "When I was younger I read everything I could find about them. I was fascinated and even a little obsessed for a time." Gio replied. "Ha, and I thought Tap That was your kind of book" scoffed Betty. Gio smirked at her and said "Hells yeah, I read Phil Roth and I am happy to admit I learned a lot from him." "Gio, don't even kid about that!" "Maybe I am using the nova on you right …" Gio stopped, and smiled broadly while jumping to dodge the water bottle she threw at him "but you should remember that I also read Philip Roth". Betty wondered how it was that she'd completely missed noticing that Gio shared her love of reading books. Thinking about it, she recalled that he had talked with her about a couple of her other favorite authors as well, Shakespeare and Hemingway.
Later that day Betty thought she knew what to say and was impatient waiting until they got back to the hotel to talk with Gio alone. "Gio, I know what to say, I love you and I will never love anyone else and if you asked me to marry you right now I would say yes – what do you think of that?" "Is it really true?" "Yes!" Gio gently stroked her hair, gave her a long hug and whispered into her ear "Betty you have given me a lot to think about. We'll talk about it again tomorrow. Good night." After sharing a goodnight kiss that she wished would never end Betty walked alone into her bedroom wondering what Gio was still waiting to hear from her. She poured her heart out into her journal.
Federico handed Elizabeth's luggage to the porter. They were standing together on the platform next to her train with the bustle of passengers sweeping by them. The clanging of trains, wisps of steam, and shouts floated in the air. Elizabeth looked up with tears glistening in her eyes and said "Federico I realize now that I love you. You are the one I love. Can you wait for me?" with a pleading tone. Federico grasped her shoulders to pull her close to him and whispered "Elizabeth, I have loved you since the first day I set eyes upon you. I have always been waiting. I will wait until my last breath … I can do nothing else. Please come back to me." The train whistle blew and Elizabeth turned to take the porter's hand and stepped into the train. In moments she was gone. Long after the platform had become deserted, except for Federico, he stood motionless looking at the point where he last saw the train while replaying the memory of Elizabeth's goodbye in his mind.
Drifting off to sleep she thought "I don't think about kittens and baby ducklings so much anymore" allowing her mind to wander off into now familiar territory. She decided to start at one of her favorite jumping off points "I wonder what Gio is wearing … right now".
Betty awoke late the next day and immediately started preparing for Gio's cousin's wedding. It was going to be another big family event. They would be going for lunch in town with some relatives and then would be heading out to the village from there. Both Betty and Gio were dressed in their best clothes. They laughed and giggled as Gio got out the lint roller and she beamed as he told her again how much he admired her in her lovely new dress. Soon they were at the café having lunch with the others. While they were lingering over coffee Gio stood up and said to Betty "Wait here while I step out for about 15 minutes, Nella can help translate for you while I'm gone". "Where are you going?" Betty asked. "I will tell you later, I'll be back before you know it" Gio said while he walked away. When Betty wondered what he was up to it occurred to her that they hadn't been apart for more than a few minutes since they left New York and that she missed him as soon as he was out of her sight.
When Gio returned to the café everyone got up and separated for the drive to the village. Gio's cousin Rico drove Gio, Betty and Nella. During the drive Gio asked Rico to stop at a view-point on the road. As everyone climbed out of the car Gio turned around and patted Nella on the head telling her "You stay here with Rico, Betty and I need to be alone for a few minutes". Gio took Betty's hand and led her along the path until they reached a spot sheltered from the road by shrubbery with the view of the whole valley beneath them. The sun shone over the valley dotted with cottages and vineyards. In the distance she could see a river and snow capped mountains. Betty's heart was overflowing with emotion as she stood in her best dress hand in hand beside her Gio, handsome in his best suit, gazing out at the perfect pastoral scene.
Slowly Gio took her other hand and pulled her around to face him. He looked a little nervous as he said in a low voice "Betty, may I ask you a question?" Betty answered "Yes" a bit too loud. She knew what she was hoping he would ask. He looked at her with a steady intense gaze. The expression on his face was the same one he'd had at the dance when she had turned her face away from him. This time she met and returned his gaze with ease.
Feeling as if she could fall into his eyes she waited for him to continue. "Betty, will you marry me?" She was overcome with joy and her answer "Yes, yes, yes…" seemed to come simultaneously from her head, her body, her heart, and her lips. She repeated the word until his kiss interrupted her. After a time Gio reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "I hope you like this ring, but it can be exchanged if you want to choose something else." and opened the box. Betty gasped when she saw that the ring was a duplicate of his grandmother's ring – "How did you know? It's exactly right. Gio, when did you …" another kiss stopped her train of thought.
When they arrived at the wedding, Gio led Betty through the crowd over to where his mother and Grandmother were standing. Holding Betty's left hand to hide her new ring he greeted them in Italian. "What are you saying to them Gio?" "Just a little greeting, that's all". His mother and grandmother nodded to Gio, exchanged glances with each other, and smiled at Betty.
During the toasts after the wedding, Gio rose to add his own. He spoke in Italian for a while and then switched to English to congratulate the newlyweds and wish them a long and happy life together. Everyone toasted and cheered. Then Gio turned to Betty, took her hand and pulled her up beside him. Wrapping his arm around her he gestured with his other arm for everyone to hush and announced "Today, Betty has agreed to become my wife". Everyone cheered and jumped up to gather around to hug and kiss them. The dance that night was exquisite and the warm evening air was intoxicating. Gio held Betty close while dancing and soon they became oblivious to all the noise and the dancers around them. "Hey, cut that out ... get a room already … you're gonna make me gag!" interrupted Nella with a slap to Gio's head as she danced by.
Back in their room Betty wanted to call Papi immediately to tell him she was engaged. "I think you better check the time zones before you do that" Gio said. Betty replied "Hilda will go crazy when she hears about it! And Justin will too. I'm sure he will insist on being our wedding planner." "Betty, it will still be news tomorrow, don't worry".
Then she ran her fingers over her ring and calmed down a little. It's really happening, she thought with amazement. She gently took both of Gio's hands in hers, turned to face him, and looked straight into his eyes, slowly leaning in close while whispering "Gio, I am the happiest woman on earth because of you". "God Betty, you don't know how long I have waited to hear you say that. You have made me the happiest man on earth." Gio replied meeting her lips and slowly wrapping her in a passionate embrace.
After a while Gio pulled back and said in his fake Mexican accent "Come get me Betty, I belong to you." He turned and took a few quick steps away from her. Startled, Betty giggled and ran after him. After missing him a few times when he dodged her she finally jumped on his back and wrestled him to the floor. Gio laughed as he rolled over to look up at her. Betty was flushed and breathing heavily as she knelt over him with her hands on either side of his head. Looking down into his face she demanded in a playful stern voice "How long are you going to make me wait? Come to bed with me … right now!" "Whatever you want" was all Gio had time to say before she threw herself onto him and enveloped him in her arms.
Betty woke with her face pressed into the carpet. Rolling over she felt something poke into her back. Reaching under her she pulled out Gio's belt. Propping herself up on her elbow she looked around the room in the pre-dawn light. Seeing Gio's pants lying in a crumpled heap on the floor nearby her she threw the belt in that direction. Mentally she added a visit to the dry-cleaners to the day's to-do list. Gio was lying on his back beside her with his head turned away snoring softly. Taking her time she looked him over working her way from head to toe and back up again. She put her hand on his forearm and said a soft "Hey". Getting no response she slid her hand up to his bicep, squeezed it, and said "Hey" a bit louder. Still nothing. She reached over and patted him on his chest saying "Hey" louder. Gio grunted but didn't move. Betty reached up and slapped him on the cheek with a loud "Gio". With the minimum of motion Gio rolled his head in her direction and opened his eyes. Looking at her with a playful smile he said sleepily "Does someone want to do it rough?" Betty slapped his chest lightly. "Maybe." She slapped him harder. "Maybe I'd like to try that." One more slap and Gio was fully awake. He rolled on his side to face her and raised his arm to bring his hand to her hip. Betty said "Wait" and caught his hand mid-air "… can we do it on the bed?"