Chapter 26

At about five in the morning, I was woken up yet again to do a breathing treatment. It was much easier to breathe now, and the doctor confirmed that there was no infection or swelling.

They told me that later I would do one last treatment, and then they would send me home, which I was relieved to hear.

I didn't feel like sleeping anymore, but Gianluca told me that I had to. He looked really tired, and I wondered if he had slept at all, or if he had stayed up to watch over me all night.

So I rested against Gianluca, but was too restless for sleep. So he took To Kill A Mockingbird from the chair next to the bed, deciding to read to me. I snuggled up to him, laying my hand on his chest, and tucking my head under his chin.

As he read, I looked up at him, watching his lips move as he spoke, admiring his handsome features, and listening to his handsome Italian accent.

I somehow managed to fall asleep again, and when I woke, Gianluca was dozing, his head leaning on mine. I stayed completely still to let him rest.

Eventually a nurse came in, and Gianluca opened his eyes and smiled at me. I gave him a good morning kiss, and then willingly slid on the mask to receive the final treatment.

My mother came in during the treatment, and after I finished I changed into the clothes she had brought, and we drove home.

I was so glad to be back in Gianluca's home, and he definitely was too.

"Naomi," my mother said. "I'm sorry, but today you cannot go out at all. Stay here and rest all day, and tomorrow you can go out again. I'll bring you your medicines when it's time, okay?"

I nodded, but still longed to go out.

"Gianluca? Will you stay with Naomi and watch her, make sure she doesn't leave?"

He nodded, and then took my hand and we went upstairs.

He looked tired, and moved more slowly than normal.

He went to his room to change, and I went to the guest bedroom and sat on the bed to wait for him. He came in, wearing a T-shirt and jeans, carrying his laptop.

"I want you to rest and watch a movie, okay?"

"Okay, Gianluca, if you say so."

"What do you want to watch?"

"I want to watch the Il Volo PBS concert."

He looked surprised.

"Really?"

"Yes!"

He set up the laptop on the edge of the bed and went off to find the C.D.

He slid it in the laptop and got me a blanket, sitting on the edge of the bed.

I lay down on top of the covers, with the blanket over my legs to please him, though he was really the tired one.

As I watched the concert, he leaned against the headboard and began to doze, and he eventually adjusted himself without opening his eyes to lie next to me.

I smiled and moved close to him, wondering if he was awake. I laid my head against his side. He moved his arm to rest on my shoulder, and I looked up at him. He didn't open his eyes, and I quietly let him sleep, drifting in and out of it myself.

The concert ended, and we lay side by side in the quiet.

My mom brought me some medicine, and told me that the three adults were going out for lunch and a hike, and she asked if I wanted anything.

I said no, and when she left I went downstairs to get a bowl of cereal.

I heard Gianluca get up and rush around a bit.

He ran down the stairs and into the kitchen, and skidded to a stop when he saw me putting my bowl in the sink, and sighed, running a hand through his hair.

I went over to hug him, and he covered my face in kisses.

"I promise I won't leave today, okay, Gianluca?"

He nodded.

"Will you watch another movie with me?"

I agreed, and let him pick a boy-movie to watch, deciding to bear the violence to make him happy.

I kissed him, and he left to get the DVD.

We sat side by side on the couch, and he fell asleep again and eventually shifted to lie on his back. I smiled and gazed at his peaceful expression, and reached from the remote to shut off the movie.

I quietly got up and went to sit on the porch, wanting to be outside.

The sunshine was warm and pleasant on my skin, and the birds sang in the trees.

After a while, I saw Piero and Ignazio driving back from the marketplace in one of the rental cars. When they saw me sitting on the porch, they waved, and then started to come over.

Ignazio was carrying a loaf of fresh bread, which he sweetly placed in my arms after he and Piero hugged me.

"I thought you might like a snack," he said, and I thanked him and pulled off a piece, smelling it and then taking a bite.

"Mmmm, thanks Ignazio," I said, handing them the loaf, from which they each tore a piece.

"So, Naomi, how are you feeling?" Piero asked.

"I'm okay, guys. Honestly, I am. I actually want to go out and explore right now, but I'm not allowed to."

I leaned my head dreamily on my hand, gazing at the mountains in the distance, and Ignazio laughed. "So you can breathe alright, Naomi?"

"Yes, I can breathe," I said. "My lungs are sore, though, if that makes sense."

"Yeah, sure, I get it," Piero said.

"I know it wasn't really smart for me to run into the burning building yesterday, but…there was a little girl in there, and no one else would go in, so…"

They nodded.

"Naomi, you saved that little girl's life," Ignazio said, suddenly getting serious, "Do you realize that you're a hero?"

I blushed and looked away from them.

"I just…I felt like I had to. I upset Gianluca though, huh?"

"You scared all of us," Piero said, "We were with the photographers, and your mother called us. We took a cab immediately to the hospital and we ran in to see you."

Ignazio touched my arm, and I turned to him.

"But yes, Gianluca was terrified, and angry too, I think, not at you, but angry that you got hurt. And… he was crying."

"He cried for me?"

Ignazio nodded, and I blushed, and then looked up at both of them.

"I'm sorry I scared you guys."

They shook their heads.

"Ah, Naomi, it's okay!" Piero said.

"And…" Ignazio said, smirking, "You gave us a good excuse to leave the photo shoot early."

Piero laughed and shoved him.

"So where's Gianluca?" Ignazio asked me. "I'm surprised he's not with you. I thought he'd be your shadow today!"

"I don't think he slept at all last night," I said, "He was too busy watching over me, I guess, so he fell asleep when we were watching a movie just now. I think he's uneasy, though, fearful that I'll leave. But I won't go exploring today, because my mother wants me to stay and have a day to recover, a day of rest."

"Gosh Naomi, haven't you seen every part of Abruzzo by now, getting up at first light every day?" Ignazio asked, smirking.

"How do you know I get up so early?" I asked, surprised.

"I'm a light sleeper. I hear you run by my window."

I smiled.

"Sorry if I wake you, I just love exploring! But no, Abruzzo just has so much to offer! Oh, I'm going to hate going back home."

"Yeah…" Piero said, "We're going to miss this place."

"At any rate," I said, "I'm glad I finally went on a trip out of the U.S.!"

"Really?" Ignazio said, "You've never been out of the country?"

"Really," I said.

"We've been to-"

"Yes, I know, Ignazio, you guys have been everywhere!"

He laughed.

"Yep, everywhere. That's a pretty accurate description, I'd say!"

Suddenly, the screen door burst open behind us.

We all turned and saw Gianluca, wide-eyed, standing there, and he relaxed when he saw me and rubbed his face with his hands.

I stood and went up to him.

"Gianluca…"

He looked somberly at me, dropping his hands to touch me lightly around the waist, and I saw that it had scared him to wake and find me missing.

"Gianluca, I'm not going anywhere today, okay?"

He nodded, and hugged me tightly.

"Awwww!" Piero and Ignazio cooed, and Gianluca playfully narrowed his eyes at them and then took my hands.

"Naomi, I want you to come back inside and rest."

"Awww…Gianluca, I don't want to rest anymore!"

"Then I'll read your book to you. Please come in with me, Naomi!"

I nodded, deciding to indulge him. He had worried over me enough in the past few hours. Gianluca sent away Ignazio and Piero with a promise to work on some music the next day, and took me inside.

I cuddled up with him on the sofa and he began to read some more of To Kill A Mockingbird aloud to me, in his handsome Italian accent, with his arm around my back. As I listened, I leaned my head against him and savored warm pieces of bread from the fresh loaf Ignazio had brought.

I spent the day lounging around with Gianluca, and was only apart from him after dinner when I went upstairs to shower.

When I came out, I took my medicine and went to sit in a chair in the empty living room and finish the book, listening to my mom and talk in the kitchen.

Gianluca came downstairs after a while and sat across the room in another chair to pretend to watch T.V., but I don't think he ever took his eyes off of me. After a while, I got up to make some tea and take the final pills of the day, and then returned to my book.

Eventually the reading and the warm tea made me sleepy, and I leaned against the arm of the chair, turning the book sideways to keep reading. I finished the book, and then flipped back a few pages to re-read them.

My eyes felt heavy, and so did the book, and before I could finish re-reading the final pages, I closed my eyes and the book slipped from my grasp, landing with a thud on the floor. I left it there, pulling my knees to my chest and readjusting my head on the arm of the chair to get more comfortable. The air conditioner made a comforting whooshing sound, and I felt content, though my position in the chair was probably strange-looking.

I heard Gianluca get up from his chair and bring my empty tea glass to the sink, softly reassuring my questioning mother that I had indeed taken my medicine.

Then I felt his hand move under my back, and another move under my legs. He carefully picked me up and held me against him as he kissed my cheek.

I opened my eyes and smiled, and he carried me upstairs to the guestroom, placing me down on the mattress and pulling the covers over me.

Then he left without a word, and returned with the book, which he added to the stack on the desk. I sat up in the bed, and he came over and leaned down to hug me good-night, then kissed me. He moved to stand, but I reached out to take his arm, pulling him back to me. So he kissed me again, longer this time, and then pulled back. Again I took his arm, and he smiled and sat next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder to pull me close to him.

After a few minutes he kissed my cheek, and whispered, "Ti amo, Naomi. I love you so much."

"I love you too, Gianluca."

He stood and went to turn off the lamp, closing the door as he left, with one last smile at me.