Chapter 20
"Not yet, my dear. At least wait until the snow stops," Ignazio said from the small hotel suite kitchen as he watched me. I sighed and tore my eyes away from the window where I was staring longingly at the enchantingly immaculate falling snow.
"I know," I said dejectedly to Ignazio as I shifted on the hotel couch and looked over at my lonely camera lying on its chair.
"Maybe this will cheer you up," Ignazio said, coming up beside me carrying two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
"Ooh, thanks Ignazio!" I said, reaching out and carefully taking the mug from him. "Woa, what is this!?" I asked, seeing that the liquid inside the glass was white.
Ignazio sat beside me and smiled wide, his dimples showing and his eyes shining, "It's white hot chocolate with peppermint chips in it."
"Wow," I said bewilderedly, shaking my head, "Fancy."
I moved the warm laptop off of my thighs and set it on the coffee table, then sat cross-legged on the sofa and sipped the white hot chocolate.
Ignazio watched me intently, and when I smiled and licked my lips he smiled triumphantly and sipped his own.
"Oh, you've been checking the sales information," Ignazio said, seeing my laptop screen. He leaned forward and picked it up, adjusting himself on the sofa so he was sitting right next to me, his shoulder against mine. "Wow, Tamzin, the shirts are doing great!"
"Aren't they!?" I said excitedly, "And they haven't even been up for up a week yet! I think people might be buying them up as Christmas presents!"
"Probably so," he said, setting it back down. He smiled at me and moved his arm around my shoulders.
"Ignazio, you're going to make me spill my hot chocolate!" I protested, leaning forward and shrugging him off.
He shook his head, smiling, but complied.
"Are you excited about tomorrow?" he asked eagerly.
"For The Christmas Eve party not on Christmas Eve?" I asked, and he laughed, nodding.
"Of course!"
He was referring to the "New York Christmas Eve Extravaganza," the huge outdoor Christmas concert in Times Square. There was going to be several different artists performing Christmas songs to a massive crowd of fans. It was a huge event, and it was an honor for Il Volo to be invited. I thought it would be a cool photography opportunity, with the extravagant stage decorations and a huge adoring crowd, but I wasn't sure if I'd be able to get to the photography spots I wanted. Michele said it didn't really matter if my photos weren't en pointe for this concert, since it would be televised anyway, but I disagreed, wanting to get superb photos to be able to present to the Il Volovers.
Though it wasn't Christmas Eve yet, the concert was going to be televised on Christmas Eve, so for the artists performing, December 20th was the new Christmas Eve.
"I think it'll be fun," I said, shrugging, "A big Christmas party."
"This concert's extra-special," Ignazio said, and I nodded.
"Definitely, because it's outside! It's going to be so cold!"
"Just make sure you bundle up," Ignazio said, "Coat, scarf, hat, gloves…" and I shook my head.
"I can't wear gloves. I have to be able to operate the camera!"
"Yikes, Tamzin, you're not going to be able to feel your fingers when it's over!"
"I know!" I said, "So I'm planning on getting some good pictures in the beginning of your songs, and then retreating to nurse my fingers."
He laughed.
"Yes, so it's going to be cold. But that's not why I meant it's extra special."
"Then what did you mean?" I asked, reaching out and pulling the laptop back onto my lap. Ignazio reached out and gently took the laptop, wordlessly closing it and setting it beside him on the couch. Confused, I didn't protest. Seeing that he was trying to get my full attention, I set down my hot chocolate and turned to face him.
He smiled gently at me and reached out to take my hand. His hand was warm and gentle, and larger than my little nimble one. He cradled it and smiled at me when I looked up from our hands to his face.
"It's extra-special because it's the last concert we'll be attending together before you leave for the month-long holiday break."
"Oh, yeah," I said softly, thinking of the early flight I'd have to catch the morning after the concert. I'd have four weeks off from our touring to go home to Florida and Harrison.
"What will you do in your time off?" he asked. "I suppose you'll be relaxing after having spent so much time around us and our shenanigans."
I laughed and shook my head.
"Relaxing? Ignazio, I'll be working!"
"What? Why?" he asked, looking confused, and I laughed again, tilting my head toward the laptop.
"I've got to start on a new project, now that that one's finished!"
He laughed, squeezing my hand, and I stayed still to receive his kiss on my cheek when he leaned in toward me.
When he pulled back, he was gazing at me with a sweet faraway smile on his face, and I raised an eyebrow at him.
"What?"
"Tamzin, I'm so happy that you're finally enjoying being with us! It's so great to see you being ambitious and excited."
I smiled and looked away, but he released my hand to reach for my face instead, getting me to look back at him.
"I see that spark in your eye more and more often."
I smiled, and he let go of my face and adjusted himself on the sofa to put his arm around me, and I let him this time.
"So what else will you do over the break?" he asked.
"I'll spend some time with my parents, I'll probably find some things to do around Harrison, and I'll monitor the Il Volo T-shirt and poster sales."
"Will you have some more landscapes to show me when you get back?"
"Of course!"
"Good! I can't wait!"
"So what will you do over the break? While you're home all the way over in Sicily?"
The endearing way he sighed softly in seeming relief as he smiled up at the ceiling prompted me to move closer to him, laying my head on his shoulder and a hand on his side.
His eyes brightened at my sudden movement, and he adjusted his arm around me to keep me close against him like I was.
"I'll be with my family again," he said, smiling. "I feel like I haven't seen them in ages! It's been so long…I can't wait to see their beautiful faces again! My parents, and my sister Nina…and my friends from home also. I'll have four whole weeks to be with them."
"Sounds nice," I said, peering up at him as he spoke.
"It'll be wonderful," he agreed, but then turned his head to me and gazed at me, his face shifting to look more somber as his arm tightened protectively around me. "But it's so long to be away from you, my dear. I'll miss you so much."
"I'll miss you too," I said softly, entranced by his sweet brown eyes.
He gently stroked my side with his thumb, and then after watching me quietly for a few moments, he leaned into me and kissed me, and reached for the side of my face when I kissed back. He pulled away after a moment and leaned his forehead against mine.
"Four weeks, Tamzin. It's so long to be away from you."
He kissed me again, and hugged me tightly.
"I wish I could just hide you in my coat and take you with me to Marsala!"
I laughed and hugged him back.
"Why can't you?"
He released me from the hug and kept me against him like we were before, smiling at me.
"Because you need to see your family, too. One day I hope I'll get to take you with me though, Tamzin."
"I'd love to go to Sicily! I bet the landscape is beautiful."
He laughed and nodded.
"Yes, my dear, it is. You'd get some great pictures."
"Four weeks…" I said, thinking. It was a long break to have, considering I had been traveling with Il Volo night and day since August. But the boys hardly got to see their families, Michele told me, so it was good for them to go back home for a while. After the break, we'd start on the U.S. tour for the past CD, completing the tour we began before the Christmas concerts.
"It's such a long time," Ignazio said again, and then he smiled playfully and leaned into me, "We'll just have to make the concert tomorrow extra-special!"
"Meaning what?"
He kissed me, hushing me, and I shook my head and let it go, dismissing whatever antics he was inevitably planning.
He rested his head lightly against mine and didn't say anything more. He just held me, and I stayed still against him for a few minutes, feeling his arm around me and the warmth of his skin through his shirt. When I quickly began to feel uneasy with the silence and moved to get up, I was surprised for a moment when he pulled me back to him and held me tightly.
"Stay for a few minutes longer," he said softly, pleadingly, looking down at me with a gentle expression, and I nodded and settled down against him again, letting him hold me.
I stood shivering in the freezing air of Times Square as I watched Mariah Carey finish her performance, listening to the roar of the crowd. The producers had set up a small V.I.P. section on the side of the stage for photographers to stand, and I leaned against the railing surveying the crowd, trying to figure out how to get the photos I wanted. I decided I'd have to fight the crowd, and looked at the screaming fans pressed against the front of the stage. My long red coat fluttered in a sudden wind, and I shivered and rubbed my gloved hands together. The evening was dark, but the brilliant stage lights easily illuminated all of Times Square.
The noise of the crowd heightened suddenly as Mariah Carey's last song came to a close. Their screaming jolted me into action, slipping my camera around my neck, pulling off my red gloves and shoving them into my pockets, and exiting the protection of the V.I.P. area.
I stood beside it, poised to dive into the crowd as Mariah left and the host came out again to introduce Il Volo. He dragged out his introduction, and I jiggled my foot anxiously, my red high-top tapping against the freezing cement.
Come on…come on…where are the boys?
There was a lot of movement in the crowd as Il Volo fans fought their way to get closer to the front, and I watched the stage, waiting to see them come out.
Okay…here I go…
"Please welcome…Il VOLO!"
The people applauded, and I hurried into the crowd, holding my camera tightly and protectively against me.
"Excuse me! I need to get closer!" I said to people as I wriggled my way through them. To my surprise, some people actually let me past. I was able to get somewhat close to the stage, and I held up my camera and zoomed in on the three boys walking out together, the first notes of "Rocking Around the Christmas Tree" filling the air and energizing the crowd. In the midst of the people, there was noise and energy and movement all around me, and I fought to get a better spot to take pictures.
The boys were all wearing thick black coats to keep warm in the freezing December air as they performed, with scarves around their necks and thick gloves on their hands. They all looked stunningly handsome still, and they smiled eagerly at the crowd and waved as they sang energetically, moving around the stage and playfully dancing with each other for the crowd's entertainment.
I wove my way in and out of the sea of people, holding my camera away from those who simultaneously bustled past me. I went around getting the best shots I could with the people constantly in my way. As I took my pictures and fought through the fans, I wrestled my frustration, knowing exactly what I wanted but unable to get it because of the crowd.
I did the best that I could, and then finally decided that I had enough pictures, and that I had enough of the crowd also. I fought my way back out of it, escaping into the V.I.P. area and sighing as I sat down and set my camera on a table beside me.
My face was freezing, my cheeks and nose surely a bright red. My fingers felt small and weak with the cold, and my palms were red and pained. My hands were numb, and I rubbed them together and breathed into them, trying to get feeling back to review the photos I had taken. Then I could finally put my gloves back on!
I looked up at the boys, watching as they sang "O Holy Night," which seemed somewhat to pacify the crowd. I considered going back into it for a moment, but then shook my head quickly at myself as I tried to massage feeling back into my fingers. I had done the best I could.
I shoved my hands into my coat pockets and stood up, going to the end of the V.I.P. section and looking up at the boys from the side of the stage. I watched Gianluca as he gazing out lovingly at the people in front of him, his express tender and serious. I looked to Piero, who moved to the edge of the stage to greet some of the fans, looking eager and content up on the stage. Then I looked up at Ignazio, whose smile was bright and his eyes shining as the song ended and the crowd cheered loudly.
Then after a moment of cheering, Ignazio raised his microphone and said something to the crowd about being home for Christmas, but I was too entranced by the brilliant lights and his smile to hear him. Piero asked the crowd to sing with them, and then the first few notes of "I'll be Home for Christmas" echoed throughout the square, and the crowd cheered.
"I'm dreaming tonight…Of a place I love…Even more than I usually do," Ignazio sang, and the people swayed and sang along with him, their voices joining his in a beautiful choir. Ignazio nodded and encouraged them as he sang, and I smiled and leaned forward, resting my elbows on the railing and setting down my chin in my freezing palms.
I was about to turn and get back to reviewing the photos so I could put my gloves on when Ignazio turned sideways to look at me. It wasn't a subtle glance; he turned completely to the side to beam at me. I returned his sweet smile, dropping my elbows and resting my arms over the railing. Then he started toward me, and I raised my eyebrows in surprise, drawing back when he came nearer and tilting my head at him in confusion.
I raised my hand and motioned as if to shoo him back to the middle of the stage, but he smiled wide and shook his head. When he started down the steps on the side of the stage, I left the V.I.P. section and went to meet him.
"What's up?" I asked.
"Did you get some good pictures?" he asked, his eyes shining playfully.
"Uh…yeah. What are you doing? Get back on the stage!"
People in the crowd were staring at us, some looking as if they wanted to come over since he wasn't on the stage anymore, and I felt as if I was interrupting the show by talking to him.
"I will," he said, holding out his gloved hand for mine, "Come with me."
"What!?" I drew back instinctively, pulling away my hands and vigorously shaking my head.
"Oh, come on, Tamzin! Come up with me."
"No!"
"Please, Tamzin? I won't leave you by yourself. I just want to bring you with me."
He smiled gently at me, his expression suddenly softening, keeping his hand out, and I nervously eyed the stage behind him.
"If it'll get you back up there," I heard myself say, nervously slipping my bare hand into his gloved one. It was warm around my skin, and he gently tugged on my hand and led me next to him back up the steps onto the stage. I eyed all the people watching us, watching me, and turned my face away quickly when Ignazio released my hand.
"Ignazio!" I protested, not wanting to be without his guidance, but he smiled sweetly at me as he reached into his pocket and then leaned toward me.
"For your fingers," he said over the noise of the crowd, slipping a pocket warmer into my palm.
"Oh!" I said, feeling the sudden blissful warmth against my skin. "Thank you, Ignazio!"
Ignazio took my hand and squeezed it, holding the pocket warmer between our palms. He stood close beside me, raising the microphone to sing again. He watched me, smiling, as he sang, and as I looked up into his eyes, it was like when he came over to my hotel room and sang to me as he cooked something or watched me edit photos. He took me gently around the waist, pulling me close to dance with him, and I put an arm around his shoulders and gingerly clasped the front of his coat in my palm over his chest. I smiled at him, and he smiled back as he sang. After a moment he dropped his arm holding the microphone, nodding at Piero, who took over singing. Ignazio quickly slipped the microphone into his pocket and took my hand, spinning me around once. When I turned back to him and stepped closer, reaching up to put my arm around his shoulder again, he reached up and took my hand, smiling playfully as he did a quick rock-step toward me.
"Salsa?" he asked, and I quickly shook my head and looked out over the crowd, frightened at the idea of dancing in front of all of them.
"No, Ignazio," I said, softly, my voice sounding small as I saw the media's cameras focused on Ignazio and me. Ignazio read my nervous expression and quickly pulled me back to him, taking me around the waist again.
"Alright, my dear, no salsa. I'm sorry," he said softly in my ear, holding me tightly as he gently swayed back and forth with me, taking out the microphone from his pocket to sing again.
I kept myself focused on his face as he sang, his eyes bright, but his expression tender. He sang the last few notes of the song, and then the audience erupted into applause again, and when I turned my head to look nervously at the crowd, Ignazio kissed my cheek.
"Ignazio!" I gasped, turning back to him, "Not on stage!"
He laughed and hugged me, and I looked up at the bright stage lights again.
"Can I get down now?" I pleaded, and he nodded and took my hand tightly in his.
"Come on."
He led me back across the brightly lit stage and went down the steps on the side with me.
"What'd you think!?" he asked eagerly as we reached the bottom of the steps and he released my hand.
"There were so many people," I said, realizing how breathless I sounded.
"I don't think I've ever seen you nervous before…" he said teasingly, smiling playfully, and I shot him a sudden glare, making him laugh.
"I'm sorry it frightened you, Tamzin. I just thought it would be fun. Are you okay?"
I nodded, letting my glare slip away.
"I think…I do not belong onstage, Ignazio."
"I won't do it again if you don't want me too," Ignazio said, his expression gentling. He leaned forward and kissed me softly on the lips, and I let him since we weren't on the stage anymore and somewhat hidden by camera equipment. "But I do think you belong with me, my dear."
I smiled at him, and he kissed me one more time before turning and heading back to the stage and up the steps.