Chapter 22

The next day, I was just getting out of bed when Gi barrelled in telling me we were going to the market whether or not I liked it. Luckily, I had PJ’s on this time. I learnt my lesson yesterday!

I LOVE a good market, so there was no telling me twice. I quickly had a shower and got dressed and ran downstairs with a backpack ready for all the ridiculous trinkets I knew I was going to buy that I didn’t need.

Landon was surprisingly still at home sipping coffee at the dining table with Leo next to him.

Leo looked up at me sheepishly.

“Morning!” I went and gave Landon a quick k**s and ruffled Leo’s hair on the way past, as to make sure he knew everything was OK.

“Not the hair!” he mocked horror, as he tried to fix it.

“Good morning Amore.” Landon smiled at me as he pulled out a stack of bills and handed them to me. “Here it’s easier to pay cash at the market.”

“This is the only time I am not going to argue, so enjoy it”. I took the cash, giving him a lingering k**s before putting it in my purse. Or trying to put it in my purse!

Landon chuckled at me.

“Where’s my k**s”? Leo fluttered his lashes at me.

Landon rolled his eyes.

I kissed my palm and ruffled his hair again “there you go.”

He tried to duck and stop me. “Not the hair.”

“Man, I love having you here. Now lets go”, Gi motioned towards the door while still laughing.

Landon grabbed my hand, making me turn back and look at him.

“I love you! Enjoy!” he kissed my knuckles.

I couldn’t help giving him another k**s, showing him my feelings. I am not quite ready to say it yet, but I think I feel the same. If there was a time in my life where I could say I thought I was falling for someone, it was now.

The market was everything and more!

Did I say I LOVE a good market?

The guards were good at blending in and making feel like they weren’t breathing down my neck.

Gi and I just chatted as we did an initial lap, just looking at everything.

There was fresh fruit, fresh bread, every type of homemade pasta, cakes and everything you could think of. The clothing, trinkets, jewellery and touristy stalls and my favourite the handmade toys.

On our lap back around, we actually stopped at the stalls. Some stall owners spoke English and told me about their products, others didn’t, so Gi would translate.

“So what happened yesterday?” Of course I wasn’t getting away from it.

“I overreacted to Leo being protective.”

“So let me guess, you felt claustrophobic and you became worried you no longer had a say in your life?”

I just looked at her dumbfounded for a second before I nodded.

“Yeah, I get like that too.”

“Really?”

“Yep!”

“I didn’t think they were that bad with you from the short time I have been here anyway. Sorry!”

“Don’t be. They have gotten better, but that’s only because I’ve screamed and threatened them all a few times.”

I couldn’t help the laugh of disbelief that came out.

“Don’t be afraid to give them hell. I know it isn’t in your nature, but everyone has their limits.”

“Thanks! I appreciate it.”

“No, I should be thanking you because you distracted Leo yesterday so I was able to get a date with a hot guy.”

“More than happy to help then! When? Do I need to distract them again so you can slip out?”

“Nah that’s the easy part.” Her smile was huge and I could tell she was a pro at it by now.

I was at a handmade toy stall with the older woman who had lovingly made all the dolls and teddy’s while her husband had made all the wooden toys.

She spoke broken English but did very well. I loved her enthusiasm as she spoke about how she had been making teddy’s since she was a girl with her grandmother.

She was telling me one of her many stories when I noticed a little girl looking at one of the dolls with pure joy and longing. The mother came up and shook her head sadly, the little girl looked so sad it broke my heart.

I quickly pointed to the little girl and pulled out some money, giving it to the lovely vendor and winked. She knew exactly what I wanted without me saying a word.

The mother was pulling the girl away when the vendor quickly stopped them and gave the girl the doll. The mother tried to decline but the vendor spoke to her, probably telling her that it was already paid for. The mother looked at me and tried to say no again, but I put my hand up and shook my head, then motioned to the little girl who was hugging the doll as tight as her little arms could.

Upon looking at her daughter, the mother sighed and thanked me profusely, or so I think, as it was in Italian. I kept saying it was my pleasure until they finally left to do the rest of their shopping.

It made my heart light and gave me an idea. I turned to the vendor, looking at her massive smile as well.

“Here I want you to give every child that looks like they need a smile a present from me today. Will this be enough?” I gave her a wad of bills.

“Oh, this is too much.”

“No, please. My gift and I think I see a little boy who might need a smile now…” I saw a little boy just standing a little way away from the stall holding his mother’s hand, looking at a wooden train.

“You too kind. God bless you.”

“And you. It was lovely meeting you.” I turned and watched as she picked up the train and walked over to the boy.

She spoke to the mother as she handed the train to the boy. The look on his face made my heart explode.

I looked around then and saw Gi at the next stall looking at jewellery. I walked over and joined her.

After a moment, an older man with salt and pepper hair and a very expensive suit walked up to Gi and said something. He gave me a warm smile and nodded. I smiled and nodded back, not wanting to be rude. She looked surprised at the start but then put on a winning smile.

“Mr Russo always a pleasure. I would like to introduce you to Landon’s girlfriend, Kate. Kate, this is Mr Russo.”

I extended my hand and he took it as his smile grew. His shake was firm and to the point.

“It is a pleasure to meet you. How long have you been in town?” he asked with the thick accent you would expect.

“Not long, but I am loving it here. It is very beautiful and everyone seems lovely.”

His smile was warm and genuine, there was a twinkle in his eye that I couldn’t quite work out, but the fact that Gi’s jaw was nearly hitting the road, I think there is a story here I need to find out about.

“With such a beautiful kind woman it would be hard not to be nice in return.” Interesting statement, definitely a story!

“You are way too kind.” I noticed another little girl walking past with a big smile and a new doll in her arms, which made my smile widen. Mr Russo noticed the little girl and nodded his head like he was having an internal conversation.

“So you have moved to da country.”

“Yes, sorry to say you’re all stuck with me now.”

He laughed “Oh no you are a treasure. I need to go, but I hope to see you again soon. Gi, Kate, it has been a pleasure.”

“Pleasures all mine.” I nodded as he tapped Gi on the arm as he left.

Gi said she needed to make a quick call so I let her be and went back to the jewellery.

I decided to buy some pieces I know everyone back home would love and the earrings I saw Gi admiring. Oh and, a couple of pieces for me as well, because that’s what you do when you’re at the market!

It didn’t take long before Gi appeared beside me. She was smiling with such excitement I was waiting for her to give out a small squeal or something.

“You seem happy.”

“Yep!” she popped the P.

She suddenly gave me a bone-crushing hug.

“OK. So I am guessing you’re going to be very happy I got you those earrings you were looking at as well then?”

She laughed “My turn to get you something then.”

“Deal!”

We spent another couple of hours there buying everything from more jewellery, some real touristy stuff to send home, bread, condiments, candles and whatever else took my fancy.

Yep, I love a market!

We got snacks on the way and I made sure the guards got something as well. They all looked at me shocked as I handed them their bag of goodies. I couldn’t help the laugh that left my lips. They weren’t used to me yet. All the guards we had in Australia, including Gio were currently on leave. Landon gave them a couple of weeks off.

By the time we got in the car to go home, my legs were aching but I had a massive smile on my face.

I looked up in surprise when the car stopped at Ma’s and Tom was standing there with his hands in his expensive suit pockets.

He walked around to my car door and opened it for me.

“Umm.. thanks Tom”. I gave him 3 k****s. “How are you today?”

“Very good. Come, Uncle Andy and Maria are waiting for us. Don’t worry, all your food will be taken back to the house and put away so not to spoil.”

I looked at Gi, who seemed unfazed. She just shrugged and followed us in.

We walked into the big living room where everyone, including Ma, were seated. As soon as we walked in, Ma jumped up and came and gave me her signature hug.

“My daughter! Amazing as always! Come sit!”

She then went and gave Gi a big hug as well, making Gi’s smile grow. Something was going on!

I went and shook Uncle Andy’s hand and gave Maria the customary 3 k****s.

“How was the market?” Ma asked with a big smile on her face.

“Fantastic, I love markets. I was surprised there wasn’t a family stall there.”

“Ah yes, we have tried in the past and it wasn’t that good, but I think we will try again. Did you buy anything good?”

“A few presents to send back home.”

“Oh, I have a gift box of things to add with wine and oil to send as well.”

“That’s lovely, mum will love that. Thank you!”

“How are you finding it here?” Maria then asked.

“It’s beautiful and the weather is amazing.”

We then just talked generally for a while about the differences between Sicily and Australia and other bits and pieces.

It was nice and relaxing, but I wasn’t stupid about the extra happy undertone they seemed to have. Since it was happy, I wasn’t that worried though.

As always, Tom didn’t say much and I wasn’t surprised Uncle Andy didn’t either. Gi piped in every now and then when Ma or Maria purposefully brought her into the conversation.

After a little while, they said it was time for them to head home, they just wanted to “check up on me”.

I still couldn’t stop the feeling that it was more than that. I just shook it off though.

Gi and I chilled and watched a movie with A LOT of snacks after that in their theatre room.

Ma came and joined us about half way through. She was nearly kicked out by Gi after 5 minutes though, as she asked a hundred questions to try and catch up on the movie plot. I couldn’t help but laugh at them.

“What’s happening? What did I miss?”

“Ooph!” was all that came out of me as a very heavy Leo suddenly appeared and sat on me like I wasn’t even there. “Do you mind?” I mumbled into his back, trying so hard not to laugh.

“Ma, there’s something wrong with your furniture. It’s a bit lumpy” he said while squirming on my lap.

Oh, I know how to fix his little red wagon!

I licked my hand and quickly wiped it down the side of his face.

“What the f**k!” he jumped up, wiping his face. “What was that?”

I just smiled innocently at him “What was what?”

He continued to wipe his face with his sleeve this time.

I let out a loud laugh as he started sniffing his hand and sleeve wondering what was on my hand.

“You worried I peed on my hand and wiped it on you? How dare you sir! Now shut up, it’s the end of the movie.” I tried to go back to watching the movie but knew this wasn’t over.

He watched me and you could practically hear the cogs in his brain going at full speed.

“Shut it you two!” Gi hiss laughed.

Ma was shaking her head while the smile on her face nearly split her face in two.

Leo pretended to get comfortable in another chair, but I could see him watching me.

I needed a weapon.

The only thing I had was my glass of drink, which was almost finished, but it could work.

The movie finished and Leo jumped up stretching and left the room. I got up and stretched, then grabbed the drink as I had a feeling he was going to try and ambush me at the door.

“Thanks for the great day, I think I will head back home”. I made sure I said it loud enough so Leo could hear it if he was on the other side, but not loud enough, so it looked suspicious to Gi and Ma.

“Thanks for today girly. Sorry I have classes tomorrow but I’ll try and catch you again before the weekend.”

“Today was great. No problems, just message me or show up.”

She laughed and gave me a hug.

Ma wrapped my arm in hers to lead me out.

Oh, this is going to be interesting if Leo is waiting behind the door.

It also meant I couldn’t pick my glass back up again.

We reached the door and I motioned for her to go through first.

She smiled and obliged.

Just as she did, Leo half pounced and half tried to stop himself. His hand was stretched out and a centimetre from Ma’s forehead or what would have been more the height of my face.

You could see it was wet with something.

Ma grabbed his hand and twisted it, bringing him to his knees. Man, this woman was fast!

“Nice try!” she smiled down at him as I lost it!

I stumbled out yelling good bye the best I could as I laughed my a*s off.

Best outcome ever!