Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
Arriving in Madrid, Aria waved to Santo as she came out of the exit, having retrieved her luggage. She was genuinely happy to see him, but her smile was strained. She sent a quick text to Corinna that she had gotten there and thanked her again for helping with the trip.
“Hey little sister,” Santo yelled, running to hug her and taking her suitcase. “How are you doing?”
“I'm okay. Just very tired.”
“Well, I’ve got you now. You relax this week, and we can talk when you’re ready.”
“Thanks, love.”
When they got closer to Santo’s townhouse, Aria said, “Wow, this architecture is gorgeous. The pointed arches and stained glass windows are breathtaking.”
“It’s my favorite thing about Madrid, obviously. The city brings me so much inspiration when I’m working on new projects.”
“Sorry it's taken me this long to make it out here. I'm really looking forward to seeing Madrid with you, though. Just give me a day to rest, then you can show me around, okay?” she said, trying to sound less devastated than she was.
“You got it. I have so many places to bring you. And who knows? Maybe Spain will inspire you,” he said, watching her closely.
Once they arrived at Santo’s townhouse, he carried her luggage in and got her settled in the guest room.
“Got you in here. I didn’t have much time to get it ready for you, but the sheets are clean and you can use the bathroom in the hallway,” Santo said as he led her to the bedroom. “I’m right across the hall if you need anything.”
“This is perfect,” she answered, putting her purse on the bed and looking around.
The bedroom was warm and inviting with colorful bedding and lively pieces of art. There was a small bookshelf with lots of books to choose from once she settled in.
“Hey, I’m going to call Mama and Papa. I didn’t tell them I was coming,” she said sheepishly.
Santo’s eyebrows raised but he didn’t say anything.
“Make yourself at home. Are you hungry? Or do you just need to rest?”
“It’s getting late, and the time difference is throwing me off. Rest, I guess? Then we can talk in the morning.”
“You got it. Towels are in the basket in the bathroom. And tell them I said hi.”
Aria stepped toward him and kissed him on both cheeks.
“Thanks for letting me crash. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
She dialed the number and placed a video call.
“Hi Mama. Sorry to call so late. I know you had a long trip home. Where's Papa?” Aria said as she sat on the bed.
“I'm right here, my angel. How are you?” Aldo asked.
“Well, I'm actually in Madrid with Santo,” she answered.
“What? Why are you in Spain?” her parents exclaimed, talking over one another.
She took a moment to figure out how to reply.
“I needed a little break. I got things in order at the office, and I'll be here for a week or so. I missed Santo, so here I am,” she said with as much joy as she could force into her voice.
“I see,” her dad replied. “Well, enjoy your trip and hug Santo for us. Tell him to take good care of you and that we love him.”
“I will, Papa. Love you both,” she said as she hung up.
Looking at her phone again, Aria scrolled through the missed calls. There were about fifteen missed calls from Alex and multiple texts, but saw that they both stopped about the time she had arrived in Madrid.
Sighing as she plugged it in to charge, she unzipped her suitcase and found where Corinna had packed her pajamas and toiletry kit. She headed to the bathroom, stopping to look at herself in the mirror.
What am I doing? I feel so lost.
The urge to call Alex was overwhelming but she knew if she heard his voice, she’d probably get on the next flight home.
Once showered, she thought about joining Santo in his living room when she heard the TV playing quietly, but she needed to rest. She crossed the hall to the guestroom and slipped into the sheets, pulling them close to her as she closed her eyes.
She must’ve been exhausted because the next thing she knew, the morning sun was peering through the curtains.
Aria smelled coffee and drug herself out of bed to have breakfast with Santo before he left for work.
She padded down the hallway in thick socks, following the smell of much needed caffeine. Santo was dressed for work in black pants and a button-down white shirt, stirring a cup of coffee.
He looked up and smiled when she entered the kitchen. It was very industrial in design, something she knew her brother loved. Stainless steel appliances and accents, black marble countertops and bright white walls gave his home a modern and minimalistic feel.
“Good morning,” she said, ruffling his hair.
Aggravated and trying to put it back into some order again, he said, “Good morning to you. And leave my hair alone. You know how long it takes for me to tame this beast.”
Aria smiled as he attempted to finger comb his thick hair into place again. Pouring herself a cup of coffee, she sat next to him at the bar in the kitchen.
“So, do you want to tell me what happened?”
“How long do you have before you need to leave for work?”
“I don't have a meeting until ten, so fire away,” he replied, sliding a pastry toward her.
Taking a bite of the Palmeritas, the buttery sweet explosion made her mouth water. In between bites, she recounted all the details of what had happened since they spoke last.
Santo listened attentively, his eyes soft with sympathy as he reached out for her hand.
“I’m so sorry. I wish I knew what to say.”
“Corinna says I need to do what I want to do for a change.”
“I agree. This has been a long time coming, Aria. You’re welcome here for as long as you like.”
He pulled his hand away and sipped on his coffee.
“I know. But for now, it will just be about a week. I needed to get away. At first, in my impulsiveness, it was about getting out of Alex’s way.
I can’t be the reason Alex upends his whole career.
But what Corinna said on the way to the airport really hit home.
I need to discover who I am, what I want. ”
“Again, I agree,” he said, his facial expression evident that he wanted to say more.
“Why do I feel a ‘but’ coming?”
“But,” he continued, “with everything you’ve told me, and what Mama and Papa said to me after meeting him, are you sure you’re ready to walk away for good? Isn’t there a way to compromise?”
“I didn’t give him a chance to find a compromise. He wasn’t open to that. He just kept saying he was willing to walk away from it all to be with me. I can’t let him end up resenting me later on.” Her voice softened and tears stung her eyes. “Like I resented Nicholas.”
“What do you mean?”
Aria squirmed in her chair and took a sip of the sweet coffee to fortify herself.
“I did. I couldn’t say it out loud until now, but I did. I let my dream of writing die to make the publishing house a priority, and now I feel resentful for all the years I lost. Does that make me a horrible person, Santo?”
“Absolutely not. You did what you did for Nicholas. You sacrificed a lot. I’m not saying go back to Alex right now. I am one hundred percent in favor on what you’re doing. But you’ve made a decision for the man without giving him a chance, giving you both a chance.”
Aria pushed the plate away, wanting to end the conversation.
“So, what time do you get home tonight? I can cook us some dinner. Oh, and where can I go on my own today? I’d like to find a quiet spot to write outdoors if possible.”
“I’ll be home by 5:30. Parque del Retiro isn’t far, and you’d love it. It has museums and pagodas perfect for you to relax and write. It’s always busy, lots of people milling about, and very safe. I can drop you on the way if you’d like.”
“No, no, you go on. I need to get ready and you’re running close to the time you need to be at work. I’ll order an Uber. See you tonight.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. But if you need anything, call. I’ll let the office know that I need to have access to your calls if my cell has to be turned off for any meetings.”
“Go, go. No fussing.”
Santo put his coffee cup in the sink and turned toward her.
Kissing his cheek and running her hand along the top of his head again on her way back to the bedroom, she said, “I'll see you tonight. Hey, what happened to the girl you were seeing?”
“She said I wasn’t romantic enough,” Santo said with a huff.
“Maybe you were just too boring,” she teased.
Throwing a kitchen towel at her, Santo left for work.
After a hot shower, Aria got changed and ordered an Uber to Parque del Retiro.
Grabbing her crossbody bag and journal, she went out to wait for her ride.
Exiting the car, Aria looked around and knew the park was exactly what she needed. There were tall evergreen trees that reminded her of the coastline near her and Nicholas’ special place.
With her messenger bag slung across her, and wearing a pair of her favorite jeans and a gauzy shirt, Aria walked through the park, reading the signs that led her to a quiet spot under a gazebo.
The sight was even more stunning than the pictures Aria had seen online. It was centered around a lake, and the cool air brought with it the scent of the flowers that grew nearby.
She took out her journal and sat down to write, making a mental note to visit the free art galleries the park housed later on.
Aria watched runners taking advantage of the paths that wound around the park, and families enjoying the boating options on the lake.
Her eyes scanned around the picnic grounds, the sound of a laughing child catching her attention, as they often did. The father was running after his son causing the boy to laugh and run away.
As she watched the happy family, her heart ached.
Will I ever have this? A family of my own, picnics in the park?
Turning back to her journal, she leaned back onto the sun-warmed bench and began filling page after page.
Aria used the angst she was feeling inside to describe what the main characters were experiencing. She realized that the story she was creating felt very personal, and before long, as the words flowed, it was evident that this was her story.