The car ride was very awkward. I tried to not glance at Arthur, to stop the butterflies when our hands accidentally touched when we reached to turn up the radio, and to just not think about him. All we did was sit and listen to Monica softly singing along to the radio. But, we were about to drive past a sign when Monica told Arthur to turn in there, "It's our favorite wine, and we need to have a goodbye toast." She patted my shoulder and I turned and smiled at her.
Arthur turned down the dirt road, Monica and I staring at the rows and rows of grape vines that were growing here. But, as we approached this one specific row, a row with a teenage boy picking the grapes off, Monica shouted for Arthur to stop. She had the door open before Arthur had stopped completely and had gotten out before we could stop her. She walked into the grass and stared at the boy, and we got out, going to either side of her, "Gran, what is it?"
"It's Feliciano." She said as she looked at Arthur, pointing to him. Arthur and I shared a look and he grabbed her hand, "Ok, Gran, let's get you in the shade, alright?" While he led her back a little bit, I went forward, asking the teenager if he knew a Feliciano Vargas. "I am Feliciano Vargas." He answered, and when I didn't say anything else, Arthur came up beside me, putting his hand on the small of my back. "Amelia, I think this might be..." He didn't finish, we just looked at each other, excitement and hope in our eyes.
"Do you know a Feliciano Vargas?" Arthur asked him, but I patted his arm telling him I already asked him that, and I held on to his arm, too excited to let go. The boy answered that he was Feliciano Vargas again, "You are?! Oh my! Amelia, he's the grandson!" He turned to look at me, smiling, and I almost squealed out of excitement. But, another man walked up asking if he could help us. "Si, yes. We are looking for a Feliciano Vargas." The two looked at us like we were crazy when he answered that he was Feliciano Vargas, because I hit Arthur's arm and squealed a little bit, feeling over-excited.
"Do you also have a father named Feliciano Vargas?" I asked after I calmed down a bit. The older man nodded, "Yes, he went out riding, he should be back in a little bit. What can I do for you?" I smiled and turned to Monica, keeping a hold on Arthur's arm. I turned back and the two Felicianos were staring at us, "Oh, I'm sorry, we've been terribly rude, I'm Arthur Kirkland, this is Amelia, and we've been on quite the adventure for your father." I turned and smiled at Monica, motioning for her to come over, but she just shook her head. "You see, my grandmother, Monica, knows him."
"Arthur, Amelia. Let's go." Arthur turned quickly and looked at her before walking over there, leaving me alone with Feliciano and Feliciano. "Excuse us, just for a moment." I joined Arthur and Monica, just in enough time to hear Arthur tell her that it was actually her Feliciano, and he would be back at any moment from riding, "We should go, then, before he gets back." I grabbed Monica's hand in a silent plea for us to stay and Arthur continued talking, "Gran, we've come all this way. C'mon!"
"No, I've been ridiculous. I knew him I was fifteen years old, a girl. And that girl is gone." I watched Monica's face as we heard the hooves of Feliciano's horse approach. The youngest Feliciano ran up and told his grandfather what was happening. Our Feliciano slipped off the horse, letting his grandson lead it away as he walked towards us, his eyes automatically going to Monica. They walked forward to meet each other, Arthur and I watched from behind as the had their reunion. Arthur slipped his arm around my shoulders and I wrapped my arms around his waist as we watched Monica and Feliciano hug, and everything felt good and right.
We were all sitting around the Vargas family table, eating lunch and chatting with each other when Feliciano picked up a spoon and gently tapped it on the side of his glass. "If you will allow me, I really don't know how to express myself. Well, I went for a ride this morning as an old man, but I came back as a teenager again." There was a chorus of aww's that echoed through the women at the table and Monica looked at me and giggled. "I'm so very happy that you all meet Monica, and her grandson Arthur, and their lovely friend Amelia."
I looked up to him and smiled as he patted my shoulder, "My dear Monica, you have told me you lost your Jack, and you know I have lost my Rosa. But destiny wanted us to meet again. Grazie Destino." Arthur and I clinked our glasses together as we all toasted, and we all went back to our food. "I'm sorry I was so late." Monica said to Feliciano, who put his hand over hers, lifting it up and kissing it, "When you are talking about love, it is never too late."
I was standing near the patio, waiting for Arthur to finish his walk over to me while I watched the kids play soccer. When he got nearer to me, I turned and walked the rest of the way to the patio, sitting in one of the chairs. We looked over to Monica and Feliciano who were walking towards the grapes, holding hands and looking very much in love. "Well bad luck, eh? All hope lost and he rides in last minute on a white horse. No one will believe it." I smiled and turned around in my seat, facing forward while he came to sit in front of me on the little table, sitting so that our knees were overlapping like the night in the bar.
"Promise me. Promise me you'll finish the story." I nodded and smiled, holding out my pinky for him to promise me. After we promised and let go, we stared like normal, until Arthur shook his head and looked down, "I guess this is it, and I'm sorry it is." I looked down too, realizing that it really was it, I was leaving soon. "Yeah, me too." He grabbed my hand for a moment and we looked at each other, he dropped my hand and looked away, "Listen, Amelia, I-I never should have kissed you. I was way out of line." I smiled, feeling tears start to fill my eyes.
'No, its perfectly fine you kissed me, I loved it.' Is what I wanted to say, but I couldn't find the words, and Arthur just continued talking, "I mean, you're engaged." I smiled at him, before looking down and wiping a stray tear so he wouldn't see it. I looked back up and just looked into each other's eyes and it felt wrong to leave, but I knew it was time. "It's time to go. Goodbye Arthur." I leaned forward, grabbing both sides of his face, kissing his cheek and the edge of his lips. "I'll miss you." That was the last thing I said to him before I jogged away towards Monica and Feliciano.
"Hi, but it's time for me to go." I said as I approached the two lovebirds, "I must get back to Lovino." Monica opened her mouth and let a big 'Oh!' escape her, "Well if you give us a few minutes, Arthur and I will give you a drive." I shook my head, looking away from her, "No, I, uh, Monica, I can't take you away from this place." I smiled at them once more and Feliciano left to go get his son to drive me. I turned to look back at Arthur, but stopped myself, not wanting him to see the tears that were escaping my eyes freely, and not wanting to see how he was. "Monica, I'm so happy for you."
"Is something wrong?" She asked me, wiping away my tears, "No, no, no. It's just - you know." She smiled at me and nodded, brushing my hair away, "And you're leaving?" I nodded and grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze. "An angel brought you to me." Monica smiled and kissed my forehead, pulling me into the best hug I'd ever received. They packed my stuff in the truck and I got in, saying my last goodbyes and earning the invitation to come back whenever I wanted. I waved as the car sped down the dirt road, seeing Arthur walk up to his grandmother in the rear view mirror. 'Goodbye Arthur.'
~Arthur's P.O.V.~
I walked to my grandmother and watched as the only girl I'd ever really love left to go back to her love. I watched with sad eyes, even when the car was almost out of view. My grandmother walked over to me, "Arthur. I hope you can understand why I'm telling you this, but you're a complete idiot." I looked over to her shocked and hurt that she just said that. "Well, don't sugarcoat it, Gran." She grabbed my face and gave me a small kiss on the forehead, "I won't, darling. But, you just went on this crazy adventure to find someone your grandmother lost fifty years ago. How many Amelia's do you think there are in the world?" I looked over at her before looking down.
"Don't wait fifty years like I did, love. Go." She shoved me in the direction of my car, and I took off running, ready to go get the woman I loved back. I sped through the streets, excitement and eagerness running trough my veins, and I got to Amelia's original hotel in record time. But, after I parked and got out, I saw Amelia standing on her balcony, looking at a picture and she looked sad. I cupped my hands around my mouth, ready to shout to get her attention, when Lovino walked out and Amelia turned quickly, leaving the picture behind her back as Lovino leaned down and pressed a passionate kiss to her lips.
That was the first time I had ever truly felt my heart break. I watched for another moment as he pulled away from her and went back inside to get something, then I turned away, getting back in my car and driving away, dragging my broken heart behind me.
~Amelia's P.O.V.~
I was standing out on the balcony, looking at one of the pictures Arthur and I had gotten developed from our day out, my favorite. Arthur was sitting on a bench under the shade of some trees, I had my arms around his shoulders, holding the camera out in front of us as I kissed his cheek. We looked really happy, and that made me sad. I heard Lovino come outside and I hid the picture behind my back as he kissed me, but I didn't have the energy to kiss him back.
He walked back in, saying that we needed to toast to our last night in Italy, and I looked off the balcony, seeing a car that looked a lot like Arthur's drive down the road and turn away. If only I could tell him how much I miss him right now. I looked at the picture one last time before walking back in, putting the picture with all the rest.
Ahh! It's sad! I want to thank you for reviewing and everything again! I love you! Kisses for you!
