Chapter 26 Taking Chances #2
She’d apologized a thousand times for Rome, as had he, but what she’d said, the thing about hating the part of her that was him, still divided them like the glass partition that separates inmates from their visitors at a prison.
No matter what either of them said, they couldn’t get past it.
He didn’t want to leave like this, but if he stayed, it could get worse.
As far as his return to Arizona, he’d been searching online for volunteer opportunities.
There was an Adopt-a-Senior program available.
The Scottsdale Fire Department was looking for “older adults” to educate the public on various programs, such as fire prevention and hiker safety.
The Scottsdale Historical Museum was looking for a docent to welcome and orient visitors.
Though nothing had seized him yet, he liked the idea of helping people. What better purpose could there be?
That’s what was on his mind as he wandered around the old town, looking for a gift for his housekeeper. A piece of jewelry? A bottle of balsamic vinegar? A box of artisanal chocolate? Beyond lost in this grid-less city, he started to fish out his phone to consult the GPS when he heard his name.
“Signor Briggs.”
George twisted toward the voice. “Hi, Corrado.”
It took him a moment to process the encounter. He’d spent entirely too much time thinking about how the man could cause a disaster in Bianca’s life. Now, he stood there before him.
The two of them, man-to-man.
There were indeed such things as coincidences, but there were also moments in life that came together due to more than chance.
“How’s your visit going?” Corrado’s English carried a British air to it. He wore clogs, black pants, and a white chef’s jacket with his name and the name of the restaurant embroidered on the chest. His short brown hair was slicked back.
“We had a nice visit around the country.” George gave an extremely brief overview of their trip, then asked, “You ready for the big night?”
“I hope so. And I hope you’ll be joining us. I haven’t heard from Bianca.”
“She hasn’t said anything about it lately. Besides, I have an early flight back home the next morning.”
A nod. “Well, I hope you had a nice stay.”
George let out a grunt. “Very nice.”
This felt like an opportunity, his only chance to say a few things to the guy who had his teeth into Bianca. Corrado was the main reason she might not ever come home, and though he knew he was exposing himself to more trouble, he couldn’t not seize the moment.
He took a long breath, came up empty when he tried to second-guess himself, then said, “She’s special, Corrado. One of a kind.”
Corrado furrowed his brow. “I know.”
George held up a finger. If there was an alpha male here, it was him—a father who’d do anything for his daughter, even risk further fury.
“But she’s also fragile. Especially right now.
It’s clear that she has feelings for you, but I think she’s confused.
While I have you, I can’t help but ask that you not lead her down the wrong path.
Sure, you two might have something going, but you need to consider what’s best for her.
I’m worried she’ll stay for you, and frankly, I think it could be the biggest mistake she ever makes. ”
Corrado pinched his chin, clearly agitated but trying to keep his composure.
George kept on. “She’s going to realize that she abandoned the life she worked so hard for, and it’ll be next to impossible to get it back if she doesn’t return home within a year. You understand?”
Corrado dropped his hand from his face. “How would she feel about you telling me this? Warning me off?”
“You and I both know the answer to that. Naturally, I’m hoping you won’t tell her what I’ve just said. I know I can’t force you not to see her. I’m just trying to help guide her along the right path and asking for your help. Man-to-man.”
“The right path,” he mused. “I suppose that’s an objective consideration.”
“I’ve got sixty-five years of experience. Trust me, I know what I’m talking about.”
Corrado nodded a few times, then cut George a look. “I need to get to work.”
“Good luck with things,” George said as he turned to leave.
A half hour later, George walked into the bookstore. The last time he’d come close to a Sandy encounter was when she’d hidden from him. He’d hoped that she might have found her way to giving the two of them a chance, but his hopes were cinders in a dying fire now.
She sat at the computer behind the counter, glasses on, her hair scraped into a ponytail. When she looked up, she visibly sighed, which wasn’t a good start.
“Are we back from our travels?” she asked.
“Word gets around, doesn’t it?”
“A friend of Bianca’s was in a couple of days ago, mentioned it.”
George approached hesitantly. An instant longing came over him. So many questions that all centered around Could there have ever been a world where you and I worked?
They held eye contact for a while. He felt his cheeks swell into an uncomfortable smile, but she wasn’t budging.
Were he not so infatuated with her, in love with her, captivated by her—some damn thing—then he would have walked away and let it die.
Something kept him there, though.
He crossed his arms. “I’m leaving in a few days and . . . and I didn’t want my last memory of you to be you running from me.”
“I don’t know what that means.”
“Technically, you ran from me twice. First after a heck of a slap. Then when I came here to find you a few days later.”
She set down her glasses and massaged her temples.
“Hey, I get it. I’m not here to convince you. I totally understand if you’re not interested, but I want to be friends.” The words sounded dumb as they left his mouth. What the hell, though. He meant it.
“What does that mean, George? What are we going to get out of being friends?”
“Well, you might have a stock of friends, but I don’t.
There aren’t too many people I want to spend time with, get to know, but you’re one of them.
” He held her gaze. “I’d like to call or email you from the US.
There’s a good chance my daughter’s not going anywhere, so I might even be back before too long.
Would it be so bad if we kept in touch?”
She looked left past the postcards.
“Anyway, I’m not here to harass you. It’s just that meeting someone like you doesn’t happen to me every day, and you can bet I’m going to fight to get to know you, to be your friend.”
She shook her head in disbelief. “You realize that people call me The Porcupine behind my back. Why in the world would you want to get to know me? Trust me, George, it gets worse the closer you get.”
George touched his chest. “I’m not looking for perfect. I’m far from it.” A pause to collect himself. “You come across just a few people in life that . . . that you connect with. You’re one of those for me. And if all we’re meant to be is friends, then so be it.”
She shook her head at him. “You’re a real problem, George Briggs. You know that, right?”
“Isn’t that the truth.”
They looked at each other for a while, then she asked, “How’s it going with Bianca?”
“We had a great trip—mostly. You would have been proud of me. Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, then down to Florence, Naples, and Ischia. Finished in Rome. Got new shoes.”
She leaned over the counter to check them out. Gave a thumbs-up.
“But I continue to screw things up every once in a while. I guess that’s what dads do.” He couldn’t help but think about Corrado. If only he hadn’t run into him.
“I’m sure she knows you’re trying,” Sandy said.
“It’s true, I am trying. A long way to go, though.”
“A work in progress.”
“That’s right.”
“Aren’t we all?” she said. “Look, George, in another life, we maybe would have had something. But I’m in no shape to ever be in another relationship, not a serious one.”
He raised a hand like he was swearing an oath. “Yeah, I understand.”
“I hope so. You’re a good man, and I enjoyed spending time with you. I hope you can figure out retirement.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“And I’m sorry I hit you. That was uncalled for.”
He touched his cheek, then waited, wanting her to say more.
She shook her head for a while. “I’ve left a wake of bad relationships behind me. Ones that have hurt too much. Even the idea of another is too much to stomach.”
“I get it. I’m not happy about it, but I get it.” She glanced at the door, his signal to leave.
How extraordinary that this woman could break his heart when they hadn’t even been together.
“Okay, well, glad we got this far,” he said, starting to go.
“I would like to be friends, though,” Sandy called out.
“Okay, then friends it is. Maybe I’ll see you before I take off.” He left before she could see how much her rejection had cost him. He’d be okay with friends, but the whole thing felt a bit one-sided.