Chapter Eighteen
The waiter chose that moment to deliver their entrees, and the conversation paused as they savored the meal.
Sophie dove into her Tagliatelle al ragù, a classic Bolognese-style ragù sauce made with tender ground beef, aromatic onions, carrots, and celery, simmered low and slow until thick and velvety, then tossed with ribbons of silky pasta. Sophie’s mother often made Bolognese and had taught her how to do it when she was just a child. She wanted to compare that experience from home with the authentic Italian one. It was wonderful. Her mother’s was vastly different yet comfortingly similar. After taking time to analyze the dish, she was certain it was the tagliatelle pasta that made the difference. This was freshly made pasta and had a different texture than the fettuccine her mother often served her Bolognese with.
“I’m so lost enjoying my dinner, I didn’t ask how yours is?” Sophie said, pausing her eating to let the flavors linger on her palate and taking a sip of the Lambrusco sparkling red wine the waiter recommended to pair with her meal .
“I had forgotten how wonderful the food in Italy was. I have been here several times, but it has been a while. You take for granted good food in the moment and then forget about the experience when you leave, and life takes over. I ate a lot of red pasta dishes when I was here last. I’m glad I tried the Gnocchi al pesto this time. These pillowy things are potato dumplings, and this bright green pesto sauce is made with basil that tastes like it was just picked off the plant. It is so fresh. The pine nuts, garlic, and parmesan cheese are the perfect balance of flavor. This meal makes me feel like a foodie, and yet I usually barely notice my food. “Eating is something that must be done to survive, but I rarely enjoy it; I just want to get it done and over with and get back to work,” Fernando stated, punctuating his words with a sip of his Soave white wine.
“Your eating habits are another area you could do some balance with. Swallowing your food without properly chewing it will catch up with you someday. It wreaks havoc on your digestive system and makes it difficult for your body to absorb nutrients. Not to mention, scarfing your meal down in ten minutes puts pressure on those eating with you to do the same. So, either they have digestive issues too or feel pressured to stop eating and go hungry,” Sophie added before taking her next bite and chewing it thoroughly.
“Point taken. I will endeavor to do better on all the previously mentioned fronts. This vacation will be the perfect opportunity for me to begin making changes. If you see me eating too quickly, walking too fast, or just forgetting to be present in the moment, please say something. I give you carte blanche to correct me. I want you to enjoy the adventure right alongside me.”
“Be careful what you wish for Andy; you might just get it,” Sophie warned with a twinkle in her eye .
Finishing their meal, they strolled hand and hand down the cobblestone streets to their next iconic landmark, the Trevi Fountain. Pictures didn’t do it justice. The fountain was massive, standing several stories high and as wide as a city block. The tourist map in her hand said the sculptures reflected the Baroque style and conveyed the power and majesty of the sea and its mythical inhabitants like Neptune, Agrippa, and Diana. None of that really meant anything to Sophie, but it was still beautiful to behold. The lighting installed in the fountain made it glow like all the other landmarks surrounding them.
“Here, toss a coin over your right shoulder and make a wish,” Fernando instructed, displaying a palm full of coins.
“I don’t believe in wishes or luck,” Sophie said, but picked up two coins and tossed them over her shoulder anyway.
Tossing the rest of the coins over his shoulder and into the fountain, he replied, “Me either, but sometimes doing silly things is fun. You know, I read once that they clean this out every day because over three thousand euros are tossed in, and it would clog up the fountain if they didn’t. It totals up to over one and a half million euros a year, and the catholic church gets it all, but the city has to clean it out.”
“That is an interesting set of facts in that cluttered brain of yours,” Sophie said, tapping him gently on the temple before turning to walk in a new direction.
“Wait, we haven’t taken a photo yet,” Fernando shouted, grasping her arm and pulling her back. He settled his arm around her waist and turned his cell phone to take a selfie.
“I help you take,” offered an older woman, who, by her thick accent, was obviously a local.
“Sure, thank you,” Fernando said, handing her his phone and posing with Sophie .
“Now, you kiss for good luck,” the old woman instructed.
“Oh no, that’s fine. We aren’t there yet,” Sophie said, taking a step away.
“You might not be; you only tossed two coins. But he is. He tossed in three. Blessing to you both on a long life and happy marriage,” she said, patting them on the cheek before toddling off.
“What did that mean?” Sophie asked, turning confused eyes on Fernando.
“Don’t know. I’m looking it up now. Ah, I see. This says that tossing in one coin means you will return to Rome. Two coins will lead you to a new romance, and three will lead to marriage. I had five coins. You took two, which meant I tossed in three.” Fernando laughed heartily at the coincidence.
“What is so funny?” Sophie asked, crossing her arms in annoyance.
“If Anthony could see me now,” he said, continuing to chuckle as he took Sophie’s hand and led her down the narrow cobblestone streets towards Piazza Navona without commenting further. They wandered through the throngs of people, admiring the magnificent Baroque architecture, peeking in the open-air shops at the displayed goods of local artisans, and enjoying the fragrance of fresh baked goods and roasted chestnuts.
When they reached the center of the square, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, illuminated against the night sky, greeted them.
“The map says this depicts the four major rivers of the continents then known to Europeans: the Nile, Ganges, Danube, and Rio de la Plata. Those are supposed to be the river gods posed there, and that obelisk topped with a dove represents the papal family that ruled at the time. I’m not tossing any more coins, so don’t even think about it.”
Fernando glanced down, catching a glimpse of her face in the glow of the streetlamps, and saw that she wasn’t as put out by the coin and romance nonsense as she was pretending to be. Wrapping his arms around her as they stood taking in the lively scene around them, he leaned close to her ear and whispered, “Thank you for coming with me on this adventure. Seeing Italy with you is much more fun than when I came on business and stayed in a rich man’s palace.”
Resting her head against his shoulder and leaning into him, she whispered back, “You’re welcome. Thank you for making one of my dreams come true and bringing me along on your adventure. It may have been your challenge to fulfill, but I am definitely getting the better end of this deal.”
Placing his cheek against the side of her head, he nearly kissed her but refrained from doing so... barely. “I wouldn’t say that. My eyes are being opened in new ways. Ways I never thought imaginable. I would guess that by the end of this, I will be the most blessed.”
Sophie was taken off guard by an enormous yawn at that very moment, and Fernando decided they should call it a night. The rest of Rome’s landmarks could wait until morning. They had already seen the Colosseum, so they had all morning and most of the afternoon to see the rest of the list before the official tour started.
Arriving back at the hotel, he unlocked her door for her, kissed her on the cheek, and wished her sweet dreams before walking to his door. Sophie stood motionless for a moment, staring at him.
“I can’t go in until you do,” Fernando stated matter of factly, his door pushed open but making no move to walk across the threshold.
“Oh,” Sophie replied, still making no move to enter her room.
“Did I overstep and offend you, Soph?” he asked, kicking himself for that kiss. It was chaste and on the cheek, but it meant so much to him he didn’ t want to apologize for it.
“What? No. It was… nice. I wasn’t expecting it. But. It was nice. Good night. See you in the morning. Say, 8 am?”
“Sounds good. Good night.”
“Sleep well.”
This time, Sophie walked into her room and locked the door behind her. Her dreams were indeed sweet and filled with a certain handsome boss.