We lay there for some time, recovering, our breath coming back to us, our minds regaining control of our bodies….”Now it is time for lunch,” you said, smiling at me, giving me a wink, and a light kiss on the cheek. We got dressed, and sat together, as one, nourishing our bodies, depleted from our session. The wine was white (a German Riesling from the Rhine valley), and dry, a perfect match for the assortment of cheeses our host had prepared for us. The bread was fresh, obviously made that morning in her kitchen….the sausages were savory and also fresh. We ate, the tastes, the smells filling our stomachs….not speaking, but the silence filling our souls as well. When we were done, I packed up the basket, while you sat, watching me, a warm glow still outlining you, the look of animal passion replaced by a new look, one of knowing, one of contentment, one of understanding, of being. I helped you up and we were off again, but not headed down the same road we arrived on. It was late afternoon, the shadows beginning to creep across the fields, but still several hours of daylight left. We crested a small hill and visible in the valley below us was the small village we had driven through after leaving the train..…..the church steeple rising high from the center, no building rising above it. We pulled into the square, and I stopped outside a small café. The square was quite busy still, the weekly market still open, stalls setup throughout….farmers, butchers, bakers selling their products. We sat down at a small wrought iron table, a waiter promptly asking for our order. As he departed I looked at you, grasped your hand in mine, pulled it to my lips and gently kissed it…..holding it against me for a brief second, an eternity.
Our espressos arrived and we sat their, sipping, the caffeine giving are bodies a much needed jump….holding hands, talking, being one. I noticed kids playing in the fountain, a dog chasing a ball……a small plane flew overhead, its propeller making a low drone. You were telling me about the town you grew up in…..your voice drowned out by that of the plane, the words no longer words to me. The bright yellow flowers on the fountain faded to gray……I looked up, saw the bombers, their payload falling to earth…..the square empty, the air raid siren whaling in the distance…..then your hand on my cheek. I turned, looking at you, “Baby, you with me honey?” I smiled, squeezed your hand and tried to brush it aside, “Yeah, right here, Angel,” turning away from you. You grabbed me again, looking deep into my soul, “You are beginning to scare me, is there something you need to tell me. Remember honesty between us, always!” I took a sip of my espresso, the intensity of its flavor jolting my mind sharply. I smile faintly at you, looking past you, “I’m fine Angel, it’s not your burden to bear,” a quick glance at you, “I’m fine!” I stood up, put some money on the table to cover the check and walked towards the bike. As I put my helmet on and sat down, I noticed your were still sitting, a shadow of pain visible in your eyes. You got up, walked over to me, grabbed my cheek and turned my head to yours, forcing our eyes to join. Your lips moved, words came out, but they were not necessary, I knew what I had done the minute I stood up, “Baby, when I got on that plane, it became my burden to bear,” a small tear running down your cheek…..I wiped it away…..and pulled you to me.
You sat down on the back of the scooter, leaning against me, squeezing me tightly. It was a quick trip back to the villa, and in a few minutes we pulled up to the rear door…..the lady of the house returning from her garden, having picked what she needed for dinner. We followed her into the kitchen, setting the basked on the counter, thanking her for the wonderful lunch she had sent us off with. She smiled, and in her broken English said, “I hope you are hungry, dinner is in an hour!” We looked at each other and giggled, well knowing that we could not possibly eat in an hour, having just finished our lunch. I thanked her again and asked her if we could take our meal in our room, a bit later in the evening……she smiled and nodded. I took a bottle of wine from the wine cooler and led you back out the kitchen door, your hand in mine….across the back driveway, onto a small gravel path. It was dusk now, a hazy gray cast over the yard….high boxwoods rising on either side of the path. We walked a bit further, you could hear the sound of bubbling water, then through a stone arch……a small garden laid out before us. It was set in the renaissance style, a small fountain in the center, various bushes, flowers, and plants laid out in a Greek Key around it….the perimeter lined with old cypress trees. We sat together on a small wooden bench, a slight chill in the air, a soft glow being thrown by oil lamps in each corner. I opened the bottle of wine, and we sat together, quietly sipping, snuggling, watching the light fade as the sun slipped beneath the horizon. I looked at you, gazing at you, my eyes dropping away for a brief second, then back to yours, “I’m sorry, Angel, “ and I softly kissed your forehead.
Our espressos arrived and we sat their, sipping, the caffeine giving are bodies a much needed jump….holding hands, talking, being one. I noticed kids playing in the fountain, a dog chasing a ball……a small plane flew overhead, its propeller making a low drone. You were telling me about the town you grew up in…..your voice drowned out by that of the plane, the words no longer words to me. The bright yellow flowers on the fountain faded to gray……I looked up, saw the bombers, their payload falling to earth…..the square empty, the air raid siren whaling in the distance…..then your hand on my cheek. I turned, looking at you, “Baby, you with me honey?” I smiled, squeezed your hand and tried to brush it aside, “Yeah, right here, Angel,” turning away from you. You grabbed me again, looking deep into my soul, “You are beginning to scare me, is there something you need to tell me. Remember honesty between us, always!” I took a sip of my espresso, the intensity of its flavor jolting my mind sharply. I smile faintly at you, looking past you, “I’m fine Angel, it’s not your burden to bear,” a quick glance at you, “I’m fine!” I stood up, put some money on the table to cover the check and walked towards the bike. As I put my helmet on and sat down, I noticed your were still sitting, a shadow of pain visible in your eyes. You got up, walked over to me, grabbed my cheek and turned my head to yours, forcing our eyes to join. Your lips moved, words came out, but they were not necessary, I knew what I had done the minute I stood up, “Baby, when I got on that plane, it became my burden to bear,” a small tear running down your cheek…..I wiped it away…..and pulled you to me.
You sat down on the back of the scooter, leaning against me, squeezing me tightly. It was a quick trip back to the villa, and in a few minutes we pulled up to the rear door…..the lady of the house returning from her garden, having picked what she needed for dinner. We followed her into the kitchen, setting the basked on the counter, thanking her for the wonderful lunch she had sent us off with. She smiled, and in her broken English said, “I hope you are hungry, dinner is in an hour!” We looked at each other and giggled, well knowing that we could not possibly eat in an hour, having just finished our lunch. I thanked her again and asked her if we could take our meal in our room, a bit later in the evening……she smiled and nodded. I took a bottle of wine from the wine cooler and led you back out the kitchen door, your hand in mine….across the back driveway, onto a small gravel path. It was dusk now, a hazy gray cast over the yard….high boxwoods rising on either side of the path. We walked a bit further, you could hear the sound of bubbling water, then through a stone arch……a small garden laid out before us. It was set in the renaissance style, a small fountain in the center, various bushes, flowers, and plants laid out in a Greek Key around it….the perimeter lined with old cypress trees. We sat together on a small wooden bench, a slight chill in the air, a soft glow being thrown by oil lamps in each corner. I opened the bottle of wine, and we sat together, quietly sipping, snuggling, watching the light fade as the sun slipped beneath the horizon. I looked at you, gazing at you, my eyes dropping away for a brief second, then back to yours, “I’m sorry, Angel, “ and I softly kissed your forehead.