1.1 Love Is Patient, Kind and Above All True
2 Chapter Fourteen
Elizabeth stared at the blur of colours. She sat on the strategically placed bench across from the wall of art. Elizabeth had been studying the colours, the strokes and techniques. No matter how many times she looked at each painting, it never escaped her that she was standing in front of a masterpiece. But at that moment, her thoughts drifted to other things.
The past couple of weeks had flown by in a blur. Elizabeth had toured the little towns and villages surrounding Rome and had finally managed to explore Rome itself the other day. She couldn't fathom all that she'd seen and done. Jaime had been the guide and translator through it all. After staying with Luke a couple more days, they had left on their own, exploring the remote corners of the city.
It's all been so wonderful. I can't believe Jaime lived here all those years.
Over the week Elizabeth had heard all about Jaime's adventures here in Italy. She knew that her family still had houses across Italy and that Jaime had always loved it here. And although she had lived here for two years, she never really explored the country until she had met a friend. Elizabeth had heard a lot about the guy named Jason in their travels.
How ironic, Elizabeth had thought. She had laughed at the fact that Jaime's guide to Italy in its vastness had been by a friend named Jason.
Shouldn't it have been her? She shook her head, what was she thinking?
Elizabeth had marvelled at all the little market places that Jaime took her to. They were like the places Jason had told her about. Elizabeth had hoped they would pass by a place where they blew glass, but the places they had passed didn't have what she was looking for, that perfect red vase. After the travels in Rome, they took a tour of the Vatican, hoping to catch a glance at the Pope. No such luck, they had laughed to each other.
Travelling across the country, they finally made it to the Sistine Chapel. She had never been in a church so beautiful. Elizabeth could not even fathom what it took to be such a creative genius to create such a work of art. Jaime seemed to be quiet and reserved in the awe-inspiring building. She explained to Elizabeth that she had been there before, but it never quite hit her they way it did now. Jaime had told her that it was truly breathtaking what God can do through one person. Elizabeth agreed. She dreamed of having such an amazing gift to give to the world, that people would actually travel the world over to see it.
After leaving that place, Elizabeth had wanted to take in a couple more art museums while in the city. Jaime seemed to hesitate at the idea. Elizabeth laughed at her and excused her from the opportunity to be more cultured and ponderous. She had dragged Jaime around to enough art museums. Jaime explained to her that she had friends here in the city and that she wanted to get together with them. The two had worked out a plan that left both happy. Elizabeth would tour the closest art museum and maybe sketch a little, and Jaime would have a couple of hours to visit her friends. They would eventually meet for supper at CuGias, a restaurant that was a few blocks down from the museum.
Elizabeth looked at her watch. The museum would close soon and she should heading to the restaurant. Elizabeth packed up her sketchbook and pencils and placed them in her backpack. She took one last look at her favorite painting. It was a swirl of colours, logically placed, but seemingly illogical.
She walked out and down the stairs leading to the museum. Slowly walking down the cobblestone street, Elizabeth took in the view. The sun was setting and the horizon was filled with lovely shades of crimson and hues of orange.
Elizabeth was lost in thought as strolled down the street, but in the distance she heard a commotion. It was an open courtyard that stretched into the distance and a crowd had gathered. She had learned a few phrases from Jaime along the way, common things like, 'How much?' or 'Do you have a washroom?' Elizabeth loved the sound of the Italian language. But she couldn't make out what the voices were murmuring about, but she heard a woman's voice shouting and then silence.
Elizabeth made her way towards the front of the crowd who had tightened their stances all craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the commotion. She inched her way forward and she suddenly heard a voice in the middle of the crowd call to her, "Elizabeth!"
It was Jaime. Elizabeth could see her head bob up and down in the middle of the crowd. She made her way towards Jaime and she explained to Elizabeth that a woman had been attacked and the crowd had gathered around, some came to observe and some to try to help.
"I was just going to meet you for supper and this happened!" Jaime exclaimed.
"So why did the woman stop screaming?" Elizabeth asked as she and Jaime continued to make their way up front.
"Oh! I think someone jumped onto the attacker, at least that's what I can tell from the 'oohs' and 'awwwws' of the disappointed crowd." Jaime replied.
"That's horrible! I can't believe they're just standing here watching a woman get attacked." Elizabeth was furious.
"Yeah, sometimes we see and hear the worst in people. It's not like it's a common occurrence in Italy." Jaime tried to explain, but the crowd had finally began to disperse as the rescuer restrained the attacker as the police finally stepped in to restore order.
Elizabeth stared at the blonde man in a leather jacket with his back towards them release the attacker into the custody of the police. An older woman reached up on her tiptoes and kissed the man on the cheek, all the while speaking at a rapid pace. She watched Jaime continue to make her way up to the scene of the crime and a light of recognition flashed in her eyes. Elizabeth watched Jaime sprint towards the man and yell, "Jason!"
The man turned his head in acknowledgement of his name. As he turned around, his chiselled face came into view and his startling blue eyes searched the crowd for the voice. Elizabeth gasped at the man she was staring at. Could it be? She stopped following Jaime and her feet froze. Jason?
***
Jaime felt her arms wrap around the old friend she thought she'd never see again. "Jason!" she exclaimed. She felt Jason's body tense for the impact of her flinging herself into his arms. The arms remained tense for a moment and then she felt his arms fold around her and warmly embrace her.
"Jaime?" he asked, stunned.
She let go and took a step back to look at him. He still looked as good as ever!
"Yes! It's me Jason!" Jaime laughed.
"When did you get back to Italy?" he asked.
"Oh, I just got back at the beginning of the month! How about you? When did you get back? I heard you went back to the States." She grinned and hugged him again. "I missed you so much!"
Jason smiled and sighed, "Yeah!"
Jaime began to babble about how she had planned to head back to Italy after Scotland, but ended up in a town called Port Charles. She stopped when his face changed to one of recognition at the name.
"Port Charles? Why were there?"
Then Jaime finally recalled in the recesses of her mind that in the past Jason had mentioned Port Charles. "I don't know!" she pondered, "I guess it was an impulse. I felt led there. If you get what I mean?"
Jason nodded and Jaime laughed. Of course he did.
Jaime talked excitedly about her adventures in Port Charles and her new job. "It's going to be great. I feel like I can set roots there. And you know how hard that is for me."
Jason seemed intrigued at the names she had mentioned and she was about to go on when she watched his eyes glance behind her and then suddenly settle there.
"Jason?" she chimed, "What are you looking…" She stopped as she glanced behind her. Elizabeth! She had completely forgotten about her in her excitement over seeing Jason again.
"I'm sooooooooooo sorry!" Jaime cried as she rushed over to Elizabeth. "I didn't mean to forget you here." She grabbed Elizabeth's stiff cold hand and dragged her over to Jason. Jaime noticed a slight hesitation at the move, but she chalked it up to being afraid to meet the man she raved so often about.
"Don't worry! He's great! You'll love him." She whispered in her ear.
"Jason, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, Jason." She introduced the two. Both of them seemed to stare at each other and if she didn't know any better, they both seemed stunned to see each other. "Um, hello?" Jaime waved her hand in front of Elizabeth's face.
Elizabeth seemed to awaken, like from that of a dream. "Oh!" she smiled.
Jason also looked uncomfortable. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Elizabeth." He nodded his head towards her.
"Jason," Elizabeth responded breathily.
"Um, guys, hate to interrupt this stunning conversation, but uh, do you know each other?" Jaime asked. It occurred to Jaime that they probably did if Jason worked for Sonny, since he did live in Port Charles.
Then it dawned on her Jason was the friend that helped her through Lucky's death. Elizabeth hadn't mentioned his name, but Jaime could tell that the friend had become very close to her.
Jaime looked at Jason and Elizabeth again and thought it odd that they reacted towards each other in this way. She tried to recall all that Elizabeth had mentioned about her friend. Jaime had listened as Elizabeth explained that they became very close and that he helped her become independent. She had also said he had left and Lucky had then came back. Elizabeth went on about how he returned and rescued her from the problem that was "Lucky", and relieved all that pressure that she felt when Lucky had been brainwashed, unbeknownst to her. Jaime knew that he had left again, Elizabeth and Lucky got together and then he came back for awhile causing some friction between Lucky and Elizabeth because she had lied about seeing her friend again. And then she left it at that.
She pondered for a moment. Did she leave some stuff out? She knew that she, herself, wasn't immune to Jason's strength and intensity. Let alone his baby blue eyes.
Did Jason and Elizabeth have more than a friendship? Was Elizabeth the reason why he didn't fall for her?
2 Chapter Fourteen
Elizabeth stared at the blur of colours. She sat on the strategically placed bench across from the wall of art. Elizabeth had been studying the colours, the strokes and techniques. No matter how many times she looked at each painting, it never escaped her that she was standing in front of a masterpiece. But at that moment, her thoughts drifted to other things.
The past couple of weeks had flown by in a blur. Elizabeth had toured the little towns and villages surrounding Rome and had finally managed to explore Rome itself the other day. She couldn't fathom all that she'd seen and done. Jaime had been the guide and translator through it all. After staying with Luke a couple more days, they had left on their own, exploring the remote corners of the city.
It's all been so wonderful. I can't believe Jaime lived here all those years.
Over the week Elizabeth had heard all about Jaime's adventures here in Italy. She knew that her family still had houses across Italy and that Jaime had always loved it here. And although she had lived here for two years, she never really explored the country until she had met a friend. Elizabeth had heard a lot about the guy named Jason in their travels.
How ironic, Elizabeth had thought. She had laughed at the fact that Jaime's guide to Italy in its vastness had been by a friend named Jason.
Shouldn't it have been her? She shook her head, what was she thinking?
Elizabeth had marvelled at all the little market places that Jaime took her to. They were like the places Jason had told her about. Elizabeth had hoped they would pass by a place where they blew glass, but the places they had passed didn't have what she was looking for, that perfect red vase. After the travels in Rome, they took a tour of the Vatican, hoping to catch a glance at the Pope. No such luck, they had laughed to each other.
Travelling across the country, they finally made it to the Sistine Chapel. She had never been in a church so beautiful. Elizabeth could not even fathom what it took to be such a creative genius to create such a work of art. Jaime seemed to be quiet and reserved in the awe-inspiring building. She explained to Elizabeth that she had been there before, but it never quite hit her they way it did now. Jaime had told her that it was truly breathtaking what God can do through one person. Elizabeth agreed. She dreamed of having such an amazing gift to give to the world, that people would actually travel the world over to see it.
After leaving that place, Elizabeth had wanted to take in a couple more art museums while in the city. Jaime seemed to hesitate at the idea. Elizabeth laughed at her and excused her from the opportunity to be more cultured and ponderous. She had dragged Jaime around to enough art museums. Jaime explained to her that she had friends here in the city and that she wanted to get together with them. The two had worked out a plan that left both happy. Elizabeth would tour the closest art museum and maybe sketch a little, and Jaime would have a couple of hours to visit her friends. They would eventually meet for supper at CuGias, a restaurant that was a few blocks down from the museum.
Elizabeth looked at her watch. The museum would close soon and she should heading to the restaurant. Elizabeth packed up her sketchbook and pencils and placed them in her backpack. She took one last look at her favorite painting. It was a swirl of colours, logically placed, but seemingly illogical.
She walked out and down the stairs leading to the museum. Slowly walking down the cobblestone street, Elizabeth took in the view. The sun was setting and the horizon was filled with lovely shades of crimson and hues of orange.
Elizabeth was lost in thought as strolled down the street, but in the distance she heard a commotion. It was an open courtyard that stretched into the distance and a crowd had gathered. She had learned a few phrases from Jaime along the way, common things like, 'How much?' or 'Do you have a washroom?' Elizabeth loved the sound of the Italian language. But she couldn't make out what the voices were murmuring about, but she heard a woman's voice shouting and then silence.
Elizabeth made her way towards the front of the crowd who had tightened their stances all craning their necks to catch a glimpse of the commotion. She inched her way forward and she suddenly heard a voice in the middle of the crowd call to her, "Elizabeth!"
It was Jaime. Elizabeth could see her head bob up and down in the middle of the crowd. She made her way towards Jaime and she explained to Elizabeth that a woman had been attacked and the crowd had gathered around, some came to observe and some to try to help.
"I was just going to meet you for supper and this happened!" Jaime exclaimed.
"So why did the woman stop screaming?" Elizabeth asked as she and Jaime continued to make their way up front.
"Oh! I think someone jumped onto the attacker, at least that's what I can tell from the 'oohs' and 'awwwws' of the disappointed crowd." Jaime replied.
"That's horrible! I can't believe they're just standing here watching a woman get attacked." Elizabeth was furious.
"Yeah, sometimes we see and hear the worst in people. It's not like it's a common occurrence in Italy." Jaime tried to explain, but the crowd had finally began to disperse as the rescuer restrained the attacker as the police finally stepped in to restore order.
Elizabeth stared at the blonde man in a leather jacket with his back towards them release the attacker into the custody of the police. An older woman reached up on her tiptoes and kissed the man on the cheek, all the while speaking at a rapid pace. She watched Jaime continue to make her way up to the scene of the crime and a light of recognition flashed in her eyes. Elizabeth watched Jaime sprint towards the man and yell, "Jason!"
The man turned his head in acknowledgement of his name. As he turned around, his chiselled face came into view and his startling blue eyes searched the crowd for the voice. Elizabeth gasped at the man she was staring at. Could it be? She stopped following Jaime and her feet froze. Jason?
***
Jaime felt her arms wrap around the old friend she thought she'd never see again. "Jason!" she exclaimed. She felt Jason's body tense for the impact of her flinging herself into his arms. The arms remained tense for a moment and then she felt his arms fold around her and warmly embrace her.
"Jaime?" he asked, stunned.
She let go and took a step back to look at him. He still looked as good as ever!
"Yes! It's me Jason!" Jaime laughed.
"When did you get back to Italy?" he asked.
"Oh, I just got back at the beginning of the month! How about you? When did you get back? I heard you went back to the States." She grinned and hugged him again. "I missed you so much!"
Jason smiled and sighed, "Yeah!"
Jaime began to babble about how she had planned to head back to Italy after Scotland, but ended up in a town called Port Charles. She stopped when his face changed to one of recognition at the name.
"Port Charles? Why were there?"
Then Jaime finally recalled in the recesses of her mind that in the past Jason had mentioned Port Charles. "I don't know!" she pondered, "I guess it was an impulse. I felt led there. If you get what I mean?"
Jason nodded and Jaime laughed. Of course he did.
Jaime talked excitedly about her adventures in Port Charles and her new job. "It's going to be great. I feel like I can set roots there. And you know how hard that is for me."
Jason seemed intrigued at the names she had mentioned and she was about to go on when she watched his eyes glance behind her and then suddenly settle there.
"Jason?" she chimed, "What are you looking…" She stopped as she glanced behind her. Elizabeth! She had completely forgotten about her in her excitement over seeing Jason again.
"I'm sooooooooooo sorry!" Jaime cried as she rushed over to Elizabeth. "I didn't mean to forget you here." She grabbed Elizabeth's stiff cold hand and dragged her over to Jason. Jaime noticed a slight hesitation at the move, but she chalked it up to being afraid to meet the man she raved so often about.
"Don't worry! He's great! You'll love him." She whispered in her ear.
"Jason, Elizabeth. Elizabeth, Jason." She introduced the two. Both of them seemed to stare at each other and if she didn't know any better, they both seemed stunned to see each other. "Um, hello?" Jaime waved her hand in front of Elizabeth's face.
Elizabeth seemed to awaken, like from that of a dream. "Oh!" she smiled.
Jason also looked uncomfortable. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Elizabeth." He nodded his head towards her.
"Jason," Elizabeth responded breathily.
"Um, guys, hate to interrupt this stunning conversation, but uh, do you know each other?" Jaime asked. It occurred to Jaime that they probably did if Jason worked for Sonny, since he did live in Port Charles.
Then it dawned on her Jason was the friend that helped her through Lucky's death. Elizabeth hadn't mentioned his name, but Jaime could tell that the friend had become very close to her.
Jaime looked at Jason and Elizabeth again and thought it odd that they reacted towards each other in this way. She tried to recall all that Elizabeth had mentioned about her friend. Jaime had listened as Elizabeth explained that they became very close and that he helped her become independent. She had also said he had left and Lucky had then came back. Elizabeth went on about how he returned and rescued her from the problem that was "Lucky", and relieved all that pressure that she felt when Lucky had been brainwashed, unbeknownst to her. Jaime knew that he had left again, Elizabeth and Lucky got together and then he came back for awhile causing some friction between Lucky and Elizabeth because she had lied about seeing her friend again. And then she left it at that.
She pondered for a moment. Did she leave some stuff out? She knew that she, herself, wasn't immune to Jason's strength and intensity. Let alone his baby blue eyes.
Did Jason and Elizabeth have more than a friendship? Was Elizabeth the reason why he didn't fall for her?