We were interrupted by the telephone ringing. "Allo, Monsieur Hadrian?" (the voice added my last name). It was a cultured British English but he had an accent. "This is he speaking." I replied. "My name is Giancomo, my good friend Tamara called me today to introduce me to you." "Yes," I responded. "We were with her this afternoon. How do you do." And so began our brief chat. He said he knew Chile and considered it one of the worlds prettiest countriesโฆ that He considered buying land thereโฆ how pleased he was that we had spent time with Tamaraโฆ his father had been a good friend of her husband, and more. "I understand that you will be in Monte Carlo on Friday", he commented. "Yes, we are planning on spending a few days there." I said. He continued. "We are celebrating this weekend in Monaco. I am having an early cocktail party on Friday and later there is a formal reception at the Fort Antoine Theatre. On Saturday we will be in Portofino returning on Sunday. I would like to invite you and your wife. Can I count on you to join us?" "Well that sounds magnificent Mr. โฆ" He interrupted, "No please, Giancomo, only Giancomo." "Ok Giancomo, I'm called Rian." I replied. Would you mind if I took a moment to inform my wife?" "Of course. Please do." I started to explain it to Gail. She had partly heard the conversation and figured out what we were talking about and she was excited and laughing. "I can't believe it", Gail said. "Tell him yes, we will be there. But Where? Back on the telephone I said, "Giancomo, we thank you very much. We'd be honored to attend." "Excellent, Hadrian, I look forward to meeting you." "Likewise Giancomo. Should we make reservations in Portofino?" After a pause Giancomo said, "Not necessary Hadrian. I am inviting you on board my boat. Friday through Sunday. We will sail to Portofino." "Oh." Was all I could respond, and Gail looked at me wondering if something had gone wrong. "Hadrian?" "Yes Giancomo." "Later this night I will have someone deliver all the details to the concierge at your hotel, as well as the invitation to the Reception at Fort Antoine."
In Monte Carlo we checked into the Mirabeau Hotel, and arranged with the concierge to return our car. We were escorted through hushed carpeted hallways to a beautiful room overlooking the sea, with a magnificent panorama of Monte Carlo below. We were captivated with the view and choose to stay in the room after we settled in, and while waiting to leave in a couple of hours for our weekend yacht rendezvous. We wound up on the bed toe to head, with me massaging her feet. A favorite pastime that Gail has delegated for me. While massaging her feet we chatted wondering what to expect this evening and this weekend. "Wouldn't it be nice to play at the famous Monte Carlo Tennis Club?, on clay." I asked. "I'll see if we can get on a court on Monday." Gail smiled. "I'll bet you won't have much fun playing with me on clay." Too good an opportunity to pass I said, "I assure you my love, I'm ready to play with you anywhere. But" I paused "Let's make a bet. I'll spot you 15 โ love on your serve, and 30 โ love on my serve, you choose which one." Gail studied me a moment, "What's the bet?" I thought for a moment. "If you win we will use our savings to get the ski apartment you want." Her face literally lit up. "Can we afford it?" she asked. "No, but we'll figure out something, as long as we stay reasonable." "You've got a bet." she replied, glowing in the process. "Oh, and what do you get if you win." That said with a coy look like she already knew what I really wanted. I pondered the question, taking my time before I answered. "I want to winโฆ whatever I wish." She smiled, lovingly. "It's a deal," she said. Then she had a thoughtful look. "You know Ri, I'd like this vacation to be about us, no Peter's, no girls ravishing you." My heart was beating loudly in my ears. She said girl's, plural, did she know about Francoise? I was taken aback, or was I reading too much into everything she said. Regardless of the mixed feelings, it made me proud, Gail wanted this vacation to center around us and I would be thrilled to receive her total attention.
We were both excited over our invitation to spend the weekend on a yacht. The invitation arrived late so we received it the next morning. Every detail was covered including a full itinerary for the weekend so that it was easy for Gail and me to prepare what to wear. After the cocktail party we were invited to a reception at Forte Antione and the dress was formal. Actually it said attire was 'Smoking'. Fortunately we had planned on having a formal night in Monte Carlo so Gail had an evening gown and I too was prepared for the occasion with a new tuxedo. We packed the clothing we needed for the weekend and readied ourselves for the cocktail party.
Our taxi passed into the Monte Carlo Marina and we drove from quay to quay until we found strip C. I must admit I was taken up with all the luxury, it was like living in a movie set. We passed sailing boats and yachts, some looking like they were 200 feet long, some modern and sleek in design looked like they were moving while standing still. We arrived at the 'Gabbiano Bianco' as another couple was walking up the gangway, a sailor-suited porter trailing behind them. The sailor came back down the gangway when he saw our taxi stopped alongside. We paid the taxi and approached the yacht. The sailor, just a boy, introduced himself as Mauricio and asked our name in heavily accented English. "Oh yes signore" he said smiling "you are the coppia we are waiting for." Gail and I looked at one another wondering about his saying 'the coppia' which sounded like 'copy' in our language. As I approached the ship I looked from side to side. I thought it was a good 200 feet long but later learned it was 136 feet. We were very impressed.
The gangway led to the back of the boat where a group of a dozen people were standing around chatting with drinks in their hands. Directly at the top of the gangway a ten or twelve foot section of the boat was open except for a canvas cover. Two highly polished doors with large panels of beveled-glass were opened wide and led to a large living room area.
Then surprise of all surprises. Just inside the living room door stood our friends from last year, Peter and Phyllis. Peter looked terrific in a white jacket and dark blue shirt and he wore an ascot they were facing away and only turned to see who was following the porter. When Peter saw us he raised his arms so quickly that his drink splashed, and with the broadest of smiles he said, "Ri, I simply don't believe this." Phyllis turned too and stood staring open mouthed for a few moments.
After handshakes, hugs and greetings Peter took the time to explain to the two couples standing with him that we were friends from last year and he introduced us. "I thought we would be seeing you next week." I commented. Peter smiling broadly, "We thought the same, but what a pleasant surprise." So per-chance was the meeting that we exchanged exclamations for a good five minutes.
The young sailor was standing beside us and the moment he saw a lapse in our conversation he beckoned with his hand to Gail and said, "Signora," signaling us to follow him. We took leave of Peter and Phyllis and followed the steward.
We descended one level on a rather steep staircase that opened into a narrow carpeted corridor. Halfway down the corridor the steward opened a stairwell door and retrieved our luggage which he had placed in the stairwell, and we continued to our cabin at the end of the corridor. He opened the polished door to our cabin.
A huge king size bed faced us with matching lamps on the wall and small matching end tables on both sides of the bed. A two person couch was in the corner on the starboard side with a round coffee-table and a bottle of champagne in a cooler. The tablecloth was maroon and beige as was the rest of the color coordinated cabin. The walls doors and bed frame were done in a rich wood finish and a huge colorful watercolor print of St. Paul de Vence was above the bed. Both forward sides of the room were paneled in dark louvered double doors. One side led to a closet, and on the other side to a full sized bathroom with bathtub, WC, and bidet. It was spectacular, much more then a movie set. Gail looked at me with a gleam of delight in her eyes. Mauricio was smiling at our obvious approval of the room as he placed our luggage on the rack and left. "It's amazing that people actually live like this," I said. Gail nodded, adding, "This would be a fun way to take a holiday." "Don't rush," I said. "Wait to see if we can take the sea."
Gail started to unpack our clothes while I explored the cabin. I had to stand on a chair to look out the portholes on both sides of the cabin. I walked into the closet, then the bathroom. One wall to the right of the bathtub was paneled in wood. An indented panel looked like a door but when I pulled on the bronze fixture it didn't move. However, when I pushed it slid into the wall and there was another door. I pushed down on the handle and it opened into another WC with a Shower stall, and beyond that a cabin, smaller than ours but beautifully decorated in blues and beige. I guessed that the bathtub was occasionally shared between cabins.
We unpacked our formal clothes to allow them to unwrinkle in the three hours we had before the reception. When we were dressed for the cocktail party we made our way back through the corridor. Everyone was wrapped in conversation, some animated, all so chic but somehow comfortable with each other. That no one noticed us actually helped us both relax. We made our way back toward the open door where Peter was standing in a large group, attentively listening to a lady, while sipping his drink. Halfway there someone took my arm, "You are Hadrian. No?" "Yes" I replied, to a gentleman in a perfectly fitted dark blue blazer. "I'm Giancomo," he said smiling and offering his hand. I shook hands with our host, smiling in a genuine show of pleasure and appreciation without his noticing we were novices. "Hello Giancomo", I said. And I placed my left hand on his arm, trying not to look the novice. I reached for Gail and with my arm on her waist said, "May I present my wife Gail." Gail offered her hand leaning forward. Our host smiled, released my hand and while holding Gail's hand said, "Sorry Gail, this is our custom," and he stretched to kiss her cheek with simple correctness. I noticed Gail's upper neck getting red, she was shy and it was usual for her blush when she met new people. She placed her arm in mine responding to Giancomo and said, "I can't begin to tell you how pleased we are to have been invited. Thank you so much." "Not to be thanked", our host replied. "Tamara said you were a delight. She knows. I thank you for coming." I added, "I understand this is a very special weekend." "It is" Giancomo added, "you will see". He turned to his right and gestured, "May I introduce you to my friend, Gabriela?" Standing just a step or two away from Giancomo during this discourse was a woman of about thirty, tall, strikingly beautiful and perfectly poised. She smilingly watched the exchange. I felt a tremor when she gave me her hand. We chatted a few minutes then he bade us to go mingle with the party, we would have time to chat later.