Chapter Fifty Two
Elizabeth lay in bed pondering how she might bring up the subject of the kidnapping with Jaime. She had never felt so happy. Last night when Jason suggested she talk with Jaime, Elizabeth felt like it was a compliment. But last night she had felt left out when Jason and Jaime went off to spar.
Propping herself up against the wall, Elizabeth sat with her arms around an extra pillow. 'How can I get Jaime to open up?' Elizabeth asked herself. A quiet knock on the door and then the appearance of Marina with a tray of food interrupted her thoughts. "Did I wake you Signorina?" Marina asked cheerfully.
Elizabeth stretched out and collapsed back onto the mound of pillows piled on her bed. "No. I was awake Marina!" Elizabeth chirped. "Is Jaime up yet?"
Marina set the tray down in Elizabeth's lap. "Yes. She's gone for a run. Ms. Nam should be back in a few minutes."
The maid walked over to the cream-coloured curtains and tied them back with the ribbons, which hung on the window frames. "I see her coming up the front driveway right now!" Marina informed, pointing out the window and then waving.
~~
Elizabeth bounded down the stairs in time to meet Jaime going up. "Hey, did you have a good run?" Elizabeth inquired.
Jaime nodded. "Yeah, it always feels good to get outside. It's so beautiful out here. I almost forgot how beautiful."
Elizabeth studied her friend. Jaime seemed distant again and Elizabeth didn't quite know what to do.
"Hey, uh, Jason has some stuff to do today, so he can't come with us," Jaime suddenly informed, snapping back into their conversation.
"We have plans?" Elizabeth asked surprised.
Jaime hadn't been up to sightseeing lately and barely ever left the garden.
"Yeah. Of course!" Jaime exclaimed. "Why wouldn't we? We've only got like, oh, 3 days before we've got to head back to Port Charles."
Jaime laughed absurdly at Elizabeth. "Be ready in 20 minutes!" Jaime yelled as she jogged up the stairs.
Elizabeth watched her disappear beyond the corner of the red hallway corridor. "Elizabeth?" Jason called.
Startled, Elizabeth turned her head to find Jason standing at the bottom of the stairs in his leather jacket and black jeans. Same old Jason.
"Yeah?" Elizabeth replied. "I heard you were going out today?"
Jason nodded. "Yeah, I've got a couple of errands to run. I think I might have got a lead on Rosco and Mr. Nam needs to see me," Jason explained.
Elizabeth frowned. "You're not going to see him are you?" Elizabeth gasped. "Jason, I know you know him, but it doesn't mean you should go see him. I mean, he…he killed a man, for no reason!"
Jason remained stoic. "I have to," he stated. "Now listen, I want you and Jaime to take one of my men with you when you go sightseeing. You won't notice him, but he'll be watching you. I don't see how this could be over."
Elizabeth swallowed and walked down the last few steps to the main floor. "What do you mean, you don't see how this could be over? Do you think he'll try to get her back? Kidnap her again?" Elizabeth whispered.
Jason said nothing.
Elizabeth ran her hand through her hair and bit her lip. "But Jason, shouldn't we just leave…"
"What are you guys talking about?" Jaime pouted. "We can't leave before I show you the rest of Venice!"
Elizabeth and Jason looked at each other and she felt an understanding pass between them. They wouldn't alarm her with their thoughts. "Oh, no. I was just kind of getting worried that Gram's hasn't called. You know my Grams!" Elizabeth chuckled uncomfortably.
Jaime peered at the two worried conspirators and shook her head. "No worries. Really!" Jaime dismissed. "Why don't you call her now, before we leave. I've got a million things for us to see."
~~
Elizabeth was excited as Jaime began listing off the places, which they would visit. They'd already taken a gondola ride to the only vineyard in Venice, the San Francisco Della Vigna. The vines of luscious grapes were already soon to be ripe for harvest. And Jaime also took her to the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari, a beautiful period monastery. Elizabeth forgot all about the horrible events of the past weeks.
"Are you ready for the last place?" Jaime exclaimed, as they hopped into the black sedan.
Elizabeth felt a huge grin appear on her face. "Yeah! Jaime, I can't believe there are so many places like this here?"
Jaime nodded and started up the engine. "Yeah, they just don't make these things anymore!" Jaime agreed, peering up at the monastery one more time.
"So what's the last place we're heading to?" Elizabeth looked on the map she carried with her. She had been marking with a highlighter, places which Jason and Jaime had taken her during her stay in Italy.
"The last one's a secret. The only thing I can tell you about it is that it's one of my favorite places to go."
Elizabeth bit her lip and grinned. "Well then what are we waiting for?" Elizabeth laughed. "Let's go!"
~~
Elizabeth's gaze climbed the immense structure. It was large, with arches and pillars ornamenting the front of the building. It took Elizabeth's breath away. "What is it?" she whispered.
Jaime opened the driver side door and leaning on the roof of the car she smiled. "It's called the Ca' Cornaro Spinelli. But it's better known as the 'Non Noblis Domine'."
Elizabeth exited the car and walked toward the building until she found the bank of the canal. The Great Canal filled the gap between the beautiful building and the two awestruck admirers. "Do you know anything about it?" Elizabeth asked.
Jaime sat down beside her. "Its architect was Mauro Codessi. He was commissioned by Pietro Lando to create this palace for his wife Bianca Cornaro. They say it's called 'Non Noblis Domine', because of a psalm engraved in stone under one of the ground floor windows."
Elizabeth studied Jaime as she continued on with the history lesson about this historic palace.
"Apparently a Florentine artist by the name of Giorgio Vasari was commissioned to paint 9 ceiling panels, but they were all but lost somewhere," Jaime rambled.
Jaime seemed as relaxed as she'd ever been, sitting on the bank of that Canal.
"And there's an atrium somewhere in there. I've never been in there you know?" Jaime informed Elizabeth.
"Jaime?" Elizabeth whispered.
"Yeah?" Jaime replied, slowly turning to face Elizabeth. Her eyes seemed drawn to the old building.
Elizabeth smiled hesitantly. She didn't know if this was the right time to talk to her about the kidnapping, and Rosco. "About the kidnapping…"
Jaime shook her head, not allowing Elizabeth to finish her thought. "I don't want to talk about it. Not here." Jaime motioned to the building.
"You know this was the first place my Mom and I saw when we took in the sights of Venice?" Jaime stated wistfully before standing up and brushing the grass off her khaki shorts. "We'd better get back."
Elizabeth nodded. "I'm glad you took me here Jaime," Elizabeth smiled as Jaime began the long trip back to the villa.
Jaime closed her eyes for a second and turned to Elizabeth. "I'm glad I have someone to share that with. No one understand how much that place means to me. You're the first person I've shared that with."
Elizabeth felt tears begin welling up inside her. "I…I don't know what to say. I can't believe that I would be the first person you would tell about it," Elizabeth gasped.
Jaime nodded. "I think you understand. I mean, you understand that there are some things…some people you just go back to when you think that all is lost, ya know?"
Elizabeth understood. Jaime needed time with her mother. It was a comfort thing. She'd been through such an ordeal and to come back to a place where she experienced such peace and happiness with someone she loved, well, it was something no one could provide Jaime.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth didn't have a place specifically, but she did have a person, Jason. He was there for her and was always there for her. Jason was her rock.
"When we get back," Jaime whispered. "I'll tell you the whole story."
***
Nik and Gia arrived back at Port Charles a couple of days ago. Five days since the disastrous dinner and the appearance of Elizabeth and Jason together in Italy. Neither of them wanted to leave, not when they'd heard so abruptly that Jaime maybe in trouble, but they couldn't seem to find out anything about any sort of kidnapping or fowl play. 'Definitely what you get when Jason Morgan is involved,' Nikolas grumbled.
"A penny for your thoughts Nikolas?" Gia whispered into her lover's ear.
Nikolas smiled and kissed his fiancée on the lips. "Nothing. I was just wondering if there was any news on Jaime. I don't think anyone in Port Charles has heard anything, from Elizabeth or Jaime."
As they lounged in the large, stone office at Windemere, Gia caressed Nik's worry-creased face. "Listen, they'll be fine. I know you're worried, but what else could we do Nik? We didn't even know where they were staying and you had guys looking everywhere."
Nik nodded. "I know, but if Elizabeth is in trouble or in danger because of Jason…" Nik paused and he clenched his fist. "I will hurt him."
Gia was the one to nod this time. "I know. But you don't know what's going on and you can't just assume things. Besides if something had happened to Elizabeth, don't you think Audrey would have heard about it by now?"
Nik pursed his lips. "Not if Jason Morgan has anything to say about it!" Nik spat. "He doesn't care about anyone than himself and his stupid mob boss!"
Embracing the tense Nikolas, Gia kissed him tenderly on the neck. "Why are you so upset about Jason?" Gia laughed. "I mean, at least he's there to keep her alive. Liz is probably one of the few people that that blonde robot cares about."
Nikolas pulled out of the embrace. "That's not something I want to take comfort in. Gia, Liz is Lucky's girl!"
Gia shrugged. "From the looks of it, she's moved on!"
Nik slammed his fist on the desk. "No, she hasn't. Liz isn't thinking straight. She's just mad at Lucky for being brainwashed. She still loves him," Nik protested.
Rubbing Nik's tense shoulders, Gia tried to soothe him. "You're probably right. Liz probably is on the rebound, but can you blame her? I think that maybe Liz and Lucky have been through way too much. There is such a thing as letting go, Nikolas."
She felt his shoulders slump in defeat. "But it shouldn't have happened. Gia," he sighed helplessly. "It's my fault. It's all my fault. And now I have to tell him that Liz is with Jason now?"
Gia sighed. "I don't know. Do you? I mean you don't even know anything for sure!"
Nik nodded. "I suppose. But Liz is supposed to come back in a few days, and if she doesn't come back…what then? I don't think Lucky should have to lose her after all of this!"
Gia swallowed and prayed. She prayed that even though Jason was a mob boss's right hand man, he would bring Jaime and Elizabeth home safely, for all of their sakes.