Betty's First Trip to Rome the Prequel - Chapter 18 – Sunday dinner

It was Sunday, the day of his flight to Rome, and Gio had spent the day with his family including going to church with them in the morning. Gio's mother, father and sister Antonella were seated around the table for dinner. He was taking the overnight flight to Rome and this was his last meal with his family before Daniel came to pick him up and take him to the airport.

Mrs. Rossi set a bowl of pasta in front of Gio. She was happy that he had regained his appetite and she made his favorite dish.

Gio said "Thanks for making this Ma! You know I love it."

Mrs. Rossi said "Well, it'll be the last home cooked meal you will have for a month so I wanted to make it something special."

Gio replied "What I eat in Rome might not be the same as your cooking but think I will eat well. You shouldn't worry about me."

Mrs. Rossi said "I am so glad you came to mass today. It was nice that the whole family could go together. I mean except for Maria, of course. But, we'll see her soon."

Gio said "Yes. I can't wait to see her and my handsome little nephew."

Mrs. Rossi said "I suppose you came to mass to see the pretty girls. I saw several of them trying to attract your attention. You should come with us more often."

Gio said "Ma! Don't say that, it's not like I'm a stranger there. And that's not the reason I went, I went for the usual reason, to pray."

Mrs. Rossi thought that Gio's money problems must be weighing on his mind and that was what he needed to pray about. She was concerned about how his business was doing and she was worried about him leaving it to someone else for a whole month. She had noticed that Gio was very serious at church and he had paid no attention to the young women in the congregation who were so obviously interested in him. She thought he should find a nice girl and settle down. She saw several girls that morning that looked nice. She wished he would decide to settle down instead of only thinking about his business all the time.

Mrs. Rossi said "Come on and tell me about Betty. What do you mean that she is just a friend? You are telling me you are just friends and you are spending a whole month together? And why would her boss pay for flights and hotels for you both? Is that the man I met here, Daniel? That is very strange. I don't understand it."

Gio responded "Ma, I tried explain it to you already. Daniel wants to give her a vacation and he wanted someone to go with her. He knows we are friends and that I was going to Rome for a month and he asked me to take her with me and show her around. That's it."

Mrs. Rossi frowned "Still, I wonder. Why would her boss do that? What kind of boss does that for an employee?"

Gio responded "A boss that wants to reward his assistant for excellent work. She has done a lot for him professionally and personally and he holds her in very high regard."

Mrs. Rossi said "Oh, so he feels something for her and yet you are the one sharing the hotel suite with her. It doesn't sound proper. What is the meaning of that?"

Gio said "Nothing! I assure you I know what he thinks and he doesn't feel that way about her. And sharing a suite is just a convenience, that's all. We will be sleeping in separate rooms Ma."

Mrs. Rossi said "And why are you going today? You were supposed to go with us next week and now all of a sudden it's a huge rush and you're leaving today."

Gio responded "Her boss picked the flights. There is a big reorganization at work and this was a good time for her to get away for a few weeks. It's been a rough time there and she needed some time off. I'm just lucky that it coincides with when I want to go."

Mrs. Rossi responded "Well, yes, of course, that is nice. You know I've been really looking forward to seeing this Betty Suarez girl ever since you started talking about her. I met her sister Hilda, remember?"

Mrs. Rossi thought Hilda was pretty but that she dressed like a hussy and wore too much makeup. She looked fast. She guessed Betty was like that too since Gio liked that type. She wondered what Gio was not telling her about their relationship. He was a grown man and had had girlfriends before. He didn't have any problems getting a girlfriend when he wanted one. She suspected there was a lot more going on than he was saying. And he hadn't brought Betty home to meet them. She wondered if it was because he was ashamed of Betty or of his family. She was inclined to think it was Betty. She thought he should find a nice girl rather than be with someone like her. A girl he wouldn't even call a girlfriend.

Gio said "You'll get to meet Betty in Rome. We can get together after you get there."

Antonella looked up from eating and said "Hey. I know a Hilda Suarez. She is my classmate Justin's mom. I see her at school sometimes. Is that the Hilda that Mom met?"

Gio answered "Yes. That would be her."

Mrs. Rossi was surprised to learn that Hilda had a son in Antonella's class. Hilda seemed too young to have a child that age. She seemed way too young. She must have been a teen when she had him. And even more shocking was that she was apparently unmarried.

Mrs. Rossi said "Hmm, so she has a child and is not married? She is Miss Hilda Suarez? Gio, why are you getting mixed up with these sisters? I suppose Betty has even poorer morals than her sister since she is going to Rome with you and sharing a hotel suite. You say you are just friends but I don't believe it. I wonder what she thinks you are. What are you doing hanging around with the likes of her Gio? I am ashamed of you. Is she Catholic? I expect you to make an honest woman of her or not get involved." She sighed heavily "Good god, Gio! What am I going to tell your grandmother?"

Antonella giggled. Gio blushed "Ma! What are you saying? Please, you know nothing about it! It is nothing like that. And don't you go talking about Betty like that!"

Antonella said "So then what are you ashamed of? I know you snuck into confession today. My friend Bianca saw you."

Gio's blush deepened. He had hoped he'd avoided being noticed. He had gone to confession but he didn't want his family to know he did.

Gio had discovered that being only a friend to Betty was harder to do that he thought it would be. He hadn't experienced this problem before since the girls he went with had always been willing. But Betty was different. She wasn't like the other ones. And the problem was that whenever he was near her he had a nearly irresistible urge to kiss her. Hilda had made him aware of it and since then he had found out that being aware of it didn't help him to resist it. This trip was going to be a challenge. It would be a struggle. He promised himself that he would do everything in his power to live up to Betty's faith in him. He was determined to show her he was in control of himself and he was worthy of her trust. Betty wanted a friend with her on her trip and he would be that friend. He was desperate and he was asking for divine help.

Mrs. Rossi saw Gio's red face and said "So there is something you are not telling me! Gio, no son of mine should take advantage of a girl like you are doing. You call yourself her friend, huh? Is that what you kids call it these days? I keep up to date from my book club. I know all about hooking up, don't you think I don't! I'm sure that this girl wishes you were the gentleman you should be!" she glared at him "Gio, I can't believe you are bringing a girl like that to meet your grandmother."

Gio blushed an even deeper shade of red. This was becoming a very uncomfortable conversation with his mother and Antonella was not helping.

Gio was exasperated "Ma! You have completely the wrong idea. Betty and I are not, uh, you know, uh … she's not like that. God! Ma you are embarrassing me. Yes she is Catholic. She is a great girl and she is perfectly respectable. I am not the slightest bit embarrassed to introduce Betty to my grandmother."

Gio's father finally interjected "I think you should let Gio eat his dinner in peace. Son, do you want me to check on the deli before we leave town? Is everything okay there?" he paused and added casually "Do you need any money?"

Gio answered "No, I'm good. Thanks for asking. The deli is fine so there is no need to check it. The new guy has been doing great and he knows he can call me if he has any problems. He's fine, the deli's fine. Everything is taken care of."

Gio's father said "Good, then let me tell you about the funny incident at work last week, you haven't heard this story yet."

Gio looked at his father gratefully. He was very relieved to avoid any more questions from his mother and listen to his father's story.

Later that day Daniel, Daniel Jr. and Claire came in the town car to pick Gio up. They were early for the flight and would have to wait at the airport but Gio was packed and he was eager to go.

Mrs. Rossi said goodbye to Gio at the door. She said "Please Gio, explain to me what is really going on with between you and Betty. Just tell me. What am I going to tell your grandmother?"

Gio kissed his mother and answered "Betty is my friend. That's what you tell her. That's all you can tell her. The best I can do is to let you know if the situation changes. Ma, I promise, if it does you'll be the first to know." He picked up his luggage and hurried out the door.

Gio, Daniel, Daniel Jr. and Claire had been waiting at the airport for over an hour. Daniel had been trying but he was unable to reach Betty on her cell phone. Daniel had sent a town car to pick up Betty, Hilda, Ignacio and Justin in plenty of time and they should have gotten to the airport already.

Daniel and Gio were starting to get anxious because they hadn't arrived yet and it was time to check in for the flight. Their flight was the last one to Rome that night and if they didn't get on it they would have to wait at the airport overnight for a flight out the next day. Gio was petrified that Betty was having last minute second thoughts about the trip. He would be a basket case if she backed out of it now.

Finally Hilda answered Betty's phone. She sounded frantic. Hilda was nearly in tears and Daniel could hear the sound of Betty crying. He could hear Ignacio and Justin comforting her. Betty was sobbing into Gio's handkerchief.

Hilda said "Daniel, I don't know if we'll make it. We're stuck in traffic. There's been an accident and the highway is a parking lot!"