Real life sometimes intrudes on my fantasy one, much to my annoyance. I have solid reasons why it took this long to pick up the thread of this story, all which mean nothing to you. But, here it is.
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I sat back and tried to relax as the jet winged it's way across the ocean, idly listening to Nonna and Gina chatter, feeling the weight of the ring on my finger and smiling.
Life was indeed beautiful. But I knew it was just a dream. I'd wake up soon to my lonely little life in my lonely little condo, smiling at the dream.
I did sleep, and my dreams were filled with visions of a home in surburbia and the patter of little feet.
After peeling Nonna off the window we deplaned. There was a driver waiting for us, holding a sign with my name on it. I was walking toward him when my new assistant stopped me. I looked around to see Nonna and Gina surrounded by a small mob. Apparently someone knew we were coming.
I apologized to the driver. After checking to make sure I would be driven to our hotel eventually, he took Julie, the new assistant, and left, smiling. He asked if Mr. Carrelli knew that I was Italian. Gina laughed and rattled off something to him. I asked her what she said.
"I told him you were marrying into the family. That you were an Italian in training. A work in progress."
Five hours later we were delivered to our suite.
Exhausted, we all retired early. I had scheduled us to arrive a couple days before I had to actually work, and Nonna had a full program for us to keep. Her great nephew Carlo had a small van, and he was designated official driver.
She had us up at six, fussing around, checking her dress, her hair, our dresses, our hair, until she drove us to distraction. Julie tried to stay behind but Nonna made her come too.
We went to a small cafe for breakfast, owned of course by relatives. It was packed, all family.
Julie was considered a relative by association and had a bit of culture shock, being kissed and hugged relentlessly.
"My cheeks are raw and my ribs feel bruised. Are they all like this?"
I smiled. "They're actually taking it easy on you. You get used to it."
After that it was rounds of houses and cafes, until the evening.
I'm sure she'll have tales to tell, especially about the nightlife. Nonna decided to spend the night with her first cousin, and the younger generation took the rest of us dancing. We didn't get back until almost four. I was kind of protected because I was engaged, but Gina and Julie got thrown to the wolves. They both had silly grins on their faces when we got back, and Julies' blouse was misbuttoned.
I slept until noon, and then Julie and I went over the account while Gina went to meet Nonna.
No one was exactly sure what offended the Italian CEO, and the situation was getting time sensitive. If they didn't iron it out the German affiliate would be in danger of hostile takeover.
The CEO had been vacationing in Monte Carlo, sulking, in my opinion.
He was tanned, relaxed, but not the least bit apologetic. He still wouldn't say what he was angry about, just that until he got an apology there would be no moving forward.
"Please, Mr. Carrelli, this is a good deal for your company. German engineering, Italian innovation, American manufactured, this is a match made in heaven. Think of the future, think of the employees that will suffer if this falls through."
He grudgingly agreed to a private meeting before they went into another round of negotiations. I hoped I had enough magic in my hat to pull it together.
On a lighter note, he asked about the family I had brought with me. I told him they were my future in laws and showed him the ring.
"Ah, a good Italian boy?"
"In spirit. He was raised by his aunt and uncle with a lot of help from his grandmother. His name isn't very Italian. It's Campbell. His paternal side is Irish."
He frowned.
"Isn't Campbell a Scottish name?"
Brian had told me a little of his Irish history.
"Originally, yes. But in the eighteenth century the British decided to bring some Scots into Ireland. The thought that mixing the blood would calm both factions down."
His curiosity tweaked, he asked if it worked.
"Not exactly. The best analogy my future husband could give me was killer bees. Are you familiar with the term? Well, some scientists thought if they crossed European bees with African bees they would get better honey production. That aspect proved correct, but the mixture made the bees much more aggressive and territorial. They swarm harder and are a little more toxic, and will attack far past the range of either species on their own. That's what happened when they mixed the Scots and the Irish. I've seen his temper once, not directed at me thank goodness, and I can understand it."
He laughed and said he was looking forward to meeting him.
"But until then, I insist you bring your family to dinner tonight, around seven. I'm sure my wife would love to meet them."
I couldn't refuse. Julie begged off, seems she and one of the cousins hit it off, and she wanted to go dancing.
"Be careful honey, these Italians are addictive."
We dressed to the nines. Nonna knew of a dress shop that had been around for generations, and we got some custom tailored dresses for a very reasonable price. They had a wedding dress in the window, beautiful beyond words. Nonna said something to the shop owner. Gina took several pictures for future reference.
Mr. Carrelli welcomed us, saying his wife was delayed and would arrive shortly. She came rushing in, apologizing. She stopped and looked at Nonna.
Time seemed to stand still.
"Maria?"
"Margarita?"
Suddenly they were hugging, babbling like schoolgirls and crying like babies. We all watched in wonder.
Seems they were best friends from the time they could walk until Nonna left at ten. Sixty three years and they still recognized each other.
It changed from a quiet dinner into a celebration. Seems Nonna knew Mr. Carrelli too, although he was a couple of years older. It was hard to believe he was seventy five.
We ended up looking at family pictures and getting a story with every one. Soon it was late.
Nonna ended up staying, Margarita wouldn't let her leave.
I had talked to Brain twice on Skype, and missed him terribly. We still had over two weeks to go.
