Chapter 10
Daniel was pacing the floor again, as Gio surfed the channels on the television in his hotel room. "We need to do something! Why hasn't that stupid guy and Betty gotten back yet? Why would she just run off with some stranger like that?
That's not like her. She never did anything like that in New York! He might not be an axe murderer, but...he could still molest her or something. Maybe he kidnapped her?"
Gio gave Daniel a look, "Yeah, you're right. I'm sure a random Italian dishwasher somehow knew you were rich and that you had followed her here, so he decided out of the blue to become a criminal and kidnap Betty, oh, but he forgot to ask you for the ransom! You really are nuts, you know that? You accused me of kidnapping her, too!"
Daniel sighed, sitting down on the couch to which Gio put up his hand, "Robe! Dude! STOP flashing me!"
Daniel fixed his robe, and grabbed the remote from Gio, "Give me that! You've been hogging it all day!"
Gio tried to grab it back, but Daniel wouldn't let go, so they began wrestling over it, "That's because this is MY room, so it's MY damn remote! Deal with it, rich boy! You don't get to claim everything all the time. That includes Betty! Just because you want something or someONE, doesn't mean you always get it...or them!"
"Ah, wise advice from such a small young man."
"Young...huh? Small? Who are you?"
A tall, young Italian woman stood holding Daniel's suit and Gio's pants and shirt in one hand, smiling as she held up two wallets in the other, "Sorry, but the door was open. To answer your question, I am the woman who has all your money, and clothing, therefore your freedom to leave this room, I imagine."
Gio and Daniel both stopped wrestling for the remote. Gio pushed Daniel onto the floor, throwing the remote at him, "Here, take it. Thanks, sweetheart! You got these from that Sofia lady? I wanted to thank her personally. But you…look a lot like her! Are you two related?"
She shrugged, "Si, Sofia is mia madre. She runs the cleaning business around the corner. She told me to hurry and come here to give this clothing to the two American men who try to fight rather badly, rolling around in the fountain over a beautiful American signorina who has now run off with Aldo before he seduces her and steals her from you both!
I noticed that both of you forgot to remove your wallets from your clothing. I assumed you would need those? And you….signore Daniel Meade?"
"Yeah?" Daniel stood up, walking to the lovely young woman.
She handed him both his wallet and passport, "You also had your passport in your pants! Luckily, they did not get ruined in la fountain! Or else, you would have a difficult time leaving Italia!"
Daniel blew out a breath of relief, as he took all his possessions from her, "Thanks so much, Sofia's daughter! This was really nice of you. Sorry, what's your name?"
Gio narrowed his eyes, and shoved Daniel aside, "Not so fast, Romeo! I saw her first!"
Daniel rolled his eyes, "Excuse me? You saw HER first? What about Betty? Look, this isn't a competition, Gio. Sorry, Miss. You'll have to forgive him. He's bored. We've been cooped up together all day and we don't really get along very well. It's been hard on him."
She laughed and Gio made a face, "Don't try your stupid charming bullsh….um routine on her! Go, get your clothes on before you flash her, too!" He turned to the woman and bowed, taking her hand, "Ciao, bella! Grazie mille! Come ti chiami, bella signorina? Mi chiami Giovanni Rossi." he kissed her hand.
Daniel watched, making a face like he was going to be sick, "Wow! Laying it on a little thick with all the Italian stuff, aren't you, Gio? Don't let him fool you, Miss. He's as American as it comes!
He owns a sandwich shop in New York and he came here to find his special stinky cheese. Oh, and because his great grandmother was Italian. Plus, he kidnapped my girlfriend and brought her here,so I had to chase them down."
Gio shook his head, "You moron! I did NOT kidnap Betty for the thousandth time! And Betty is not YOUR girlfriend! As far as that 'stinky cheese' as you call it, scamor..."
"Scamorza? Ooh...che è deliziosa!"
"You like cheese?" Gio's eyes widened.
"Of course! Who doesn't?"
"Yeah, well I came here…"
She laughed, "You came here to seduce the young American signorina you all seem so fond of, but now you are how you say, "hitting on" me, no? Yes, I think I understand perfectly, as he called you, Romeo?
I'm pleased to meet you, Mister Giovanni Rossi, sandwich shop owner from America who comes to Italy with one woman, fights another man for her favor, but then gets 'distracted' quite easily by another?" she wagged her finger at him "Shame on you!"
Daniel quickly got dressed in the bathroom, then slipped out quietly while they were still talking, deciding he didn't want to waste his time, watching Gio flirt with Sofia's daughter.
He had to find Betty and that Aldo before she made another huge mistake and got herself into a bad situation. That seemed to be all Daniel was doing lately. He smiled, thinking to himself, the tables had actually turned for once.
Normally, Betty was always running around, trying to save HIM from his poor choices. But he had seen Betty go from Egg Salad to Gio to this Aldo character, none of whom were any good for her as far as he could see.
Although, granted, his opinion was biased, since he wanted Betty himself. It was at least nice that he had finally allowed himself to own up to his feelings for her. He loved Betty Suarez. That much he was sure of more than anything.
The rest was...simply an obstacle for him to overcome. And he would. Somehow. He wasn't sure how exactly. But he knew they belonged together. It made sense. He and Betty had the most amazing friendship.
They were like...peanut butter and jelly. Like grilled cheese, like bacon, lettuce and tomato, hold the mayo….man! He really HAD been hanging around stupid Gio too much lately. He was starting to think like him!
Where would Aldo take Betty? He went to the concierge who he knew had been slightly annoyed with his pathetic attempts to speak Italian. He went through his wallet and saw that he did have some cash. Good! Hopefully, bribery didn't lose anything in translation!
After ingratiating himself to the man by "thanking" him for the excellent hotel service and for NOT pressing any charges against him and Gio for their little display of manhood earlier out in the courtyard, Daniel reluctantly walked away, discouraged.
He sat outside, drinking a coffee, trying to figure out his next move when he heard a voice, "I see my daughter, Aurélia, found you and your friend and gave you back your things. You really should be more careful with your wallets and passport, signore! She caught them before they were lost. You might have had to actually learn Italian!"
"Sofia! Thank you so much for returning them to us. Listen, I'm glad I saw you. Can you give me any idea of who might know that Aldo that Betty went with and where he may have taken her?"
"I don't believe she is in any danger, signore, truly. Aldo works here and he has for some time. He's a well-liked local. He may be a bit of a flirt, but no more than you or your friend, Gio.
If you ask the chef, he could tell you where Aldo lives, perhaps. He should have his employment records. I will come with you and translate, if you like."
Daniel nodded, "Yes! That's a great idea, thank you!"
Betty was wondering if she had made a huge mistake for a few moments as she stared at Aldo, "Are you serious? Aldo….you're very nice, but...I don't even know you! I'm sorry if me agreeing to spend the day with you gave you the impression I um…"
"Would be willing to spend the night with me? Ah...no? Very well, would you be willing to pose for me? I do a little painting. I do not always wish to remain working as a dishwasher! I came to Firenze from Cuneo to study art!"
She raised her eyebrows, "You paint? Wow...that's wonderful! Do you have any drawings or…"
He gave her a half smile, "If it does not sound like I am still trying to sleep with you, I have some of my paintings at my apartment."
" That IS sort of a lame pick up line men use in America."
He laughed, "It is also a rather "lame how do you say it, pick up line here. It just happens to be the truth, I promise! I DO have my work at home."
Betty gave him a look, then pulled out the whistle her papi had given her as well as the pepper spray Hilda gave her, "As long as we understand each other. I'm only there to see your art. NOT...anything else."
He laughed, holding up his hand, "Capisco! I understand! No...laughing shop? Is that how you say it?"
She thought for a moment, "You mean funny business?"
Daniel wasn't taking no for an answer anymore. He convinced the head chef to give him and Sofia Aldo's address and phone number. Sofia offered to give him a ride, "Come, I will take you there. Try to call him and tell him to stop seducing your true love!"
As Sofia hurriedly shoved Daniel into her car, Gio and Arielia came running up, "Wait! Where are you going? Trying to ditch me? Arielia says she knows where Aldo lives. We can…oh, hey, Sofia. What are you doing with this idiot?"
"Mama! You are too old for Signore Daniel!"
"Don't be completely ridiculous, cara! I am merely taking him to...wait, just one moment, young lady. How do YOU know where Aldo lives? Have you been to his apartment?"
Arielia blushed, "I...um…" she shrugged, "Perhaps. Only a few times. He's very handsome and charming...and...he painted me. He is an excellent artist."
Gio and Daniel exchanged glances, "Artist?"
Gio jumped in the front seat, practically knocking Daniel down, "I call shotgun! Come on! We need to hurry before this "handsome and charming" Picasso has Betty posing naked in his place."
"He really is very talented…"
"Yeah, yeah, of course, he's a regular Leonardo, I'm sure...look you're a smart girl...and you got caught up in his web, so maybe Betty did, too."
"What makes you get the front seat?"
"Stop! No fighting, you two. Sit down, or you will both have to take a taxi!"
Once Daniel and Gio ended up in the back seat together, Daniel asked, "So...what's up with you and Ariella, huh? Does this mean you're backing off with Betty? You don't need two girls, you know."
"Who made you the boss? You may be Betty's boss, but you're not mine, Meade. Back off! I didn't do anything with Ariella. What are you doing with her mom? I mean, I know you're an old man, but…oh, yeah, I forgot. You like older women, don't you?
You were hitting on that Sandra Winthorpe woman. I mean, no judging, here. If you like them older, that's fine. Leave the younger girls for us young guys. You are kind of old for Betty, anyway. What are you, like forty?"
"I'm only thirty-four, asshole! I won't be thirty-five for four more months."
"Exactly! Ten years older than Betty! You know I helped her celebrate her twenty-fourth birthday a few months ago. So...back off, grandpa!"
"Grandpa? Are you serious? I've had girlfriends younger than…"
Gio smirked, "Yeah, right. So I heard. Betty told me all about Petra."
Daniel rolled his eyes, "Shut up! Betty really has a big mouth sometimes."
By the time the four made it to Aldo's apartment, Sofia and her daughter were barely speaking to each other and neither were Daniel and Gio.
Betty was just getting on the back of Aldo's scooter when she saw the car in the corner of her eye, "Wait, Aldo...can you slow down, please? That looked like…"
But he shook his head, and yelled, "I can't hear! Just wait until we get back to the pensione! I don't want your boyfriend to think I have kidnapped you!"
"What?" she couldn't hear him, but he just smiled and shrugged, yelling, "Hold tight!"
Sofia pulled up, and everyone piled out. Daniel and Gio were practically in the front seat, "Wow! Does everybody drive like that here?"
"What's wrong with the way I drive?"
"Nothing! It's...um...fast! That's all."
Sofia knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Gio and Daniel peeked around the small cottage, trying to see inside, until Arielia lifted a potted plant around the side of the building and held up a spare key, gaining a suspicious look from her mother.
They entered and looked around. Gio let out a low whistle, "Wow! As much as I hate to admit it, this guy really is good! There are a lot of...um...naked ladies, though. Which one of these are you, Ariella?" He started looking around.
After she started to drift off, watching Italian television in her room, Betty startled herself awake, running to the bathroom, when she suddenly remembered she had started running the water hours ago. "Oh NO!"
She panicked that she might have flooded her room, but found the tub luckily had an overflow to prevent such an event, but the water had grown cold, so she drained a good bit of it, and ran more hot water to fill it up again, this time, while she stayed on the side of the tub, feeling the water with her hand.
Just as she started to get in, she heard a knock on her door. "Daniel! Hey. What have you been doing today? I still can't believe you followed me and Gio here!" she acted indignant because he followed her.
The truth was, she was a bit disappointed that he hadn't chased her and Aldo down. But apparently, he was too busy fighting with Gio.
She had followed Aldo's advice and gone to speak to Gio earlier, to "pull off the Band-aid", and tell him she didn't think things were meant to be with them, only to find another young Italian beauty there, in his room, watching television and talking about the silly cheese he was there to get with her. He had seemed almost relieved when Betty broke things off with him.
Still, as competitive as those two were, she wouldn't have put it past them to still fight, even if they didn't have her to fight over anymore.
"Betty, listen, can I come in? I have something I need to say and I really want you to just shut up for once and listen, okay?"
"Shut up...very romantic, Daniel!"
"Romantic? Are you kidding me? How romantic is it for you to...to...you know, YOU are the one who started everything, young lady, you do realize that, right? First, you just had to TELL me you DIDN'T have a crush on me and run out and kiss stupid EGG SALAD, AFTER you sat on my lap, whispering in my damn ear, getting me all...excited like that!
Then, you come over to my hotel room and lay one on me but good, but then you chickened out and ran away, again. And finally, you TELL me you care about me, but before I can talk some sense into you, I find out you ran away with that idiot, Gio! He's a total horndog, you know.
He told me all about some crazy book he read by a lunatic who thinks it's a good idea to insult women in order to get their attention! And he hit on Sofia's daughter all day!"
"Sofia? She has a daughter? Oh my God, Daniel, is she yours? How old is she?"
"No! NO! God No! Not THAT Sofia! Another one. A...nice lady named Sofia who has a daughter Aurelia, who's maybe your age….Do you think I'm...old?"
"Old? No! Wait, old for what exactly?"
He shrugged, looking somehow utterly charming and vulnerable in his sweater and jeans, "Never mind. So...did you have fun with that Italian waiter, ALDO?"
She looked down, clearly embarrassed, "A little, I guess. I needed to clear my head."
"And you really thought it was a good idea to run off on a scooter with some hot artist/waiter who paints a bunch of naked girls? Did you….pose for him?"
"What? NO! And how do YOU know all that? Did you hire a private investigator or something?"
"No, I didn't have to. I have some local connections."
"Sofia and her daughter?"
"Uh-huh. Oh, and the local police and the chef, his boss. And that...charming concierge downstairs that hates me just because I don't speak Italian!"
Betty laughed, "I see. I'm sure it had nothing to do with the uproar you and Gio caused, wrestling around in the courtyard and fountain! Why would you do such a crazy thing"
"Why? Why do you think? Because I'm in love with you, Betty!"
He was done waiting around, done playing games. He had followed her here to tell her the truth. So he was laying all his cards on the table.
He took both her hands, looking into her eyes, "I'm sorry. I know I acted like a moron before and it seems like I'm following you but I keep getting here too late."
"You're not too late, Daniel...it's just that…"
He put his finger to her lips, "Please don't tell me it's not me you have a crush on again, that it's really Gio. I know he's probably more your type. He's a self-made man, he's his own boss, not a man who only has a job because his father put him in that position and who has never had to actually look for a job or prove himself…"
She pulled down his hand, "Is that what you really think? Or is that something Gio convinced you of? You can do so much, Daniel! You always sell yourself short. You…"
He shook his head, "Stop. I don't need a pep talk. I didn't follow you all the way to Italy just to have you tell me how great I am! In fact…."
"In fact, why DID you follow me here, Daniel?"
"Why? I...um...because I...is it also too late to tell you...you look beautiful? Italy agrees with you." he stepped closer to her, but her eyes widened, as she rushed away, towards the bathroom.
"Betty? Where are you going? What's….oh! What happened?" He laughed, seeing water all over the floor, and the tub overflowed.
She was trying to desperately pull out the plug as she turned off the water and she slipped, getting soaking wet in the process. Daniel shook his head, and came to her rescue, getting the plug out and helping her up, "Are you alright? Here, let me help you. It looks like you...uh...got a little wet." He handed her a towel and led her back into the bedroom.
"I guess I forgot about running the bath water. You sort of...distracted me. You tend to do that a lot lately."
He smirked, "You say that like it's a bad thing. You know, Betty. Sometimes change can be...for the better. We are always going to be friends. But...we can also be...you know, something else, too. The reason I've been following you around is...well, I came here tonight to tell you...that...I...that
I..."
"Yes?" she bit her lip, almost afraid to take a breath, afraid of what he was going to say.
He blew out a breath and grabbed her by her arms, "I hope it's not too late to tell you how beautiful you are and that...I love you."