Crossed fates
Chapter 3
Milan, July 2022
Deborah, still incredulous about what had happened and with her ankle a little sore, drove Gregg to the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, telling him everything she remembered about it and leading him to the classic and superstitious ride on the bull. She was very clumsy because she struggled to organize sentences in English and didn't want to appear ridiculous. She apologized several times to him for her inability to articulate complex sentences but he told her: "Don't worry, if I had wanted an expert guide I could have gone to the agency, but I like visiting these places in your company much more, it is certainly more fun ".
Deborah resented a little in front of this statement and replied: "Sorry, are you telling me I'm ridiculous?"
He understood the misunderstanding and tried to justify himself in the simplest possible way to make her understand that his words were meant to be a compliment: "Absolutely not, I'm sorry if you misunderstood my words. I just wanted to say that it is nicer and more fun to visit the city with such a kind and informal woman than with a guide. I didn't want to offend you or make fun of you. I just wanted to tell you that I find you very nice and I enjoy spending time with you, that's all "
"Oh, ok, sorry. I'm happy of that "and blushed a little from the misunderstanding but also because, if she had understood correctly, he had just told her that he liked spending time with her.
They took some photos and Deborah obviously didn't miss the opportunity to take some selfies with him, a memory that would have been priceless.
She took him to piazza della Scala and showed him Palazzo Marino, then took him to the church that Alessandro Manzoni used to frequent, they went back and walked along corso Vittorio Emanuele towards piazza San Babila. Gregg was fascinated by how she tried to explain everything to him, in a simple but colorful way and he was increasingly intrigued by this woman, also because that coincidence about their ancestors kept buzzing in his head. Before saying goodbye he would surely say something to her, but now it was still early.
While strolling along the street, they came across some street performers playing famous songs, attracting a lot of people thanks to their skill.
For Gregg it was like a call, it was like he couldn't stay away from the music. He walked over to them, complimented them when they finished their piece and then told them something that Deborah couldn't understand because he spoke in a very low voice.
Suddenly he came back to her and asked her: "Do you know the words of Cohen's Hallelujah?".
"Yes, why?"
Gregg didn't answer her but gave his cell phone to a boy, asking him to record a video, then took her hand, brought her close to the guys playing and told her. "Let's go!"
Deborah was appalled: he was dragging her into a duet in the middle of the street in front of everyone and mostly recorded. She felt herself faint. The boys began to play and Gregg went off with the first verse, looking her straight in the eyes. She felt like she was dying, she felt like she was living in a surreal situation in a parallel universe, but at that point she understood that she would make a bad impression to back down. When it was her turn, not even knowing how, she began to sing and hearing her voice come out of her lips she began to smile, shaking her head as if saying: "I can't believe I'm really doing this!".
She also continued with the second verse and then he joined in the chorus, eyes to eyes, they shook hands enraptured by the melody and the words and when it was time for the final vocalization, they brought their foreheads together in a barely audible whisper. When the music stopped, they looked into each other's eyes for a second that lasted years, before hearing the applause of those present and being brought back to reality.
Deborah removed one hand from Gregg's, continuing to squeeze the other, and brought it to her face, to hide her shame, while the boy handed Gregg the cell phone with the registration. The boys of the group complimented both of them, then Gregg realized that Deborah was very embarrassed and that he was putting her in difficulty, so he greeted politely and moved towards Piazza San Babila always holding her hand.
When they were out of sight of the people, Gregg stopped. Deborah was as if in shock and hadn't uttered a word, she just followed him, incredulous of what had just happened.
Gregg looked at her and said softly: "You were very good but maybe I shouldn't have done it, I embarrassed you too much, sorry".
She looked at him again a bit dazed, then burst into a loud laugh and said: "You are crazy, Gregg! If someone else had dragged me into this absurd thing I would have killed him, but it was so funny and ... beautiful, extremely beautiful! Thank you. Oh my God what a crazy! ".
They both laughed and dulled the tension.
"I absolutely want to see that video, so I will be so ashamed for life!" She told him.
"Come on!", He replied pulling her towards a free bench. They sat down and he played the video: the boy had been very good at filming and you also want that the quality of Gregg's phone was the best, it almost felt like a professional recording. The two watched the video in silence and when it was finished, he said: "It's not that bad, in fact, it really turned out good"
"Indeed," she said. "Let me review it, please!".
The two concentrated more on the details and when they had finished the vision, they looked at each other: they were both thinking about the strong understanding that the music had created between them and the look they had while they sang. They remained so, in silence, looking at each other and trying to understand what was happening. Deborah's heart was beating wildly and she didn't know what to do, but she couldn't take her eyes off his magnetic eyes.
Suddenly he brought his face close to hers and started to kiss her. Deborah instinctively drew back. She knew she couldn't do it, she was married and had a baby, she couldn't behave like that, yet she couldn't control her feelings and emotions.
"I can't", she just said.
"I'm sorry, I didn't have to".
"It's ok, but ..." and she looked him in the eyes again. Suddenly she dropped all her defenses and it was she who kissed him. He kissed back, at first lightly, but then it got deeper and deeper until they realized they had to stop.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what's happening to me, I'm not like that, I'm married, I have a baby, I can't do it, but the sensations I felt before and now that I kissed you, here, make all my certainties waver "
"Sorry, it was my fault, I dragged you into this embarrassing situation. I'm not like that too, I don't kiss the first woman I meet, on the contrary, I go very slowly, but with you I'm experiencing sensations that destabilize me "
They looked into each other's eyes again and couldn't help but kiss. He got up, took her hand and without saying anything led her to his hotel. When they were in front of the hall he told her: "Only if you want it too"
Deborah's head was heavy, she no longer recognized herself. Rationally, she knew she shouldn't do it, but her heart, her senses and her body said something else. She had in front of her the man she had adored for 31 years and still adored, she could not leave. Instinctively she nodded a yes with her head. Gregg led her inside, took the key to his room, and they went upstairs. He opened the door, she entered, both of them in silence. Deborah took a few steps, then placed her bag on one of the bedside tables, turned and looked again at Gregg, who was undecided on what to do. He would have liked to hold her and make love with her, he felt something strong and irresistible towards this woman he had met by chance and he was a little scared. She was in exactly the same state of mind, with the added sense of guilt that oppressed her. Then she thought back to what she had experienced during the previous two years, to the promise she had made during the pandemic: she would never give up on anything, on any opportunity that life held for her. Every day could be the last of normal, we couldn't know what would happen the next day: Friday 21 February 2020 everything was normal. On Monday 24 February she had been blocked at home and a nightmare had begun: she would no longer have remorse, she would have lived moment by moment letting herself be guided by instinct and now instinct told her to kiss that wonderful man and to make love with him. Later she would think about the rest. She approached him, kissed him greedily and this encouraged Gregg who returned her kiss, hugged her and asked her again: "Are you sure?".
She in response kissed him on the neck and began to tinker with his shirt and took it off. He grabbed the hem of her dress and did the same. The two continued to kiss with desire and in a moment they found themselves lying on the bed. She broke away from his kisses for a moment, not because she was regretting it, but because she wanted to savor every moment and look again into Gregg's eyes, full of passion and desire, still incredulous.
He stopped in turn and asked her: "Everything is alright?", worried that she had changed her mind. Deborah replied: "Yes, I just wanted to look into your eyes and make sure it was all true".
He smiled, kissed her again, and they finished undressing. He was very sweet in taking her and she savored every moment, enraptured as in a dream that came true.
He lay down beside her and looked at her without speaking. Deborah returned his gaze and said softly, a little worried: "Now I'm asking you, is everything okay?".
"Wonderfully. I've never been overwhelmed by a woman like this in my life and I'm a little upset about it. It was wonderful "
She pointed out: "But please, with your fame who knows how many women you had at your feet"
"I didn't say I've never had women, but I've never felt what I'm feeling now"
"And what do you feel?"
"Very strong emotions that prevent me from letting you go"
She smiled, kissed him and just said "Thanks", but said nothing more. She knew that things couldn't go on and that it would never happen again.
They remained snuggled in each other's arms for a while, then Gregg made up his mind and said to her: "Do you remember when we were talking about our ancestors?"
"Yes, why are you talking about this now", she asked in amazement.
"I failed to tell you one thing. My Italian ancestor had married a half Kiowa Indian who worked for the pony express "
"I know? Even the mother of my ancestor's first wife ... oh my God, do you think ... "
"I don't know, but it's a strange coincidence"
"So if that were true, the two of us would be related, albeit distantly?", She asked almost horrified.
Gregg, realizing where she was going, reassured her by saying: "Technically no, you are descended from the second wife of that man and you have no blood relations with the two founders".
Deborah heaved a sigh of relief, the only thing missing from all the mess she was getting into was that she was guilty of half incest ...
Gregg added: "I think the only way to know is to retrace the story of that woman who married the pony express courier"
"How can we do?"
"I have actually already done some research on it, I told you that one of the reasons why I came here to Italy is this, even if I had not foreseen the latest implications ..."
"Oh my God what a mess I got into ..." Deborah exclaimed.
Gregg darkened his face and looked into her eyes: "Have you regretted us?"
Deborah took his face in her hands and softly replied: "How could I? It was wonderful and I wish I would never leave this room, but you know better than I that it won't have to happen again. I don't know how I'm going to stay away from you after today, but it's necessary and you know it. "
"I don't want to let you go, not after what happened. And then we have to understand if destiny really binds us "
"Yes, I did not say that we should no longer see or hear each other, as long as you want to, but what happened today will never have to happen again and no one will ever have to know. Swear it to me. "
"You're tearing my soul apart Deborah, but if that's what you want, that's fine. We will focus only on our research "
"Thanks" and kissed him as if to say goodbye.