Chapter 8

Chapter 8

And they're off!

W hen Frankie went to check in online, she discovered Giovanni bought them business-class tickets. She was floored. She was expecting premium economy. Business class was over seven thousand dollars! Each! She phoned him right away. "Gio! You got us business-class tickets?"

" Cara , I wanna buy first-a class but they no offer. I hope you not disappoint."

"You . . ." Then she stopped and reminded herself to be gracious and simply say, "Thank you."

"We gonna have to stop in Rome, so it's gonna be a long trip. I wanna you to be comfortable."

"You are the best!" Frankie gushed. "This is so exciting!"

" Sì . I, too, am excited." She could hear the smile in Giovanni's voice.

"I've wrapped all the gifts. We may need a bigger suitcase!" She chuckled. "I hope your mother likes the wrap and gloves."

"How could she not? It's from you. And it's bellissimo ."

Frankie cleared her throat, still uncertain where she stood with Mrs. Lombardi, who insisted Frankie call her Rosevita. There was never any tension between them, but with some mothers, you just never know what they are thinking.

Frankie had gone to great lengths to find something beautiful and functional that she knew Rosevita wouldn't buy for herself. She started at Saks, then to Bergdorf, then to Bloomingdale's, and then back to Saks. She was getting weary when she spotted a cream-colored silk and cashmere Gucci shawl and matching cashmere gloves. Nina's voice echoed in her head—"gloves are so generic"—but they looked exquisite together. She also found a lovely black and gray, silk and cashmere shawl with silver threads by Ferragamo for Aunt Lucia. She wondered if she should buy something else for Rosevita, but the total for the scarf and gloves was over seven hundred dollars. Even the shawl for Aunt Lucia rang up just under four hundred bucks. While she was shopping, she pondered if she should phone Giovanni and ask him, but decided to show him the gifts first before she blew another hole in her wallet. Much to her relief, he was pleased with her purchases and insisted, " Basta !" That's enough!

Giovanni had several cousins who were also on the gift list, but they were easy to shop for. Anything with an American football logo would be greatly appreciated. Of course, it had to be "official." Bootlegged jerseys were easy to come by. He stopped at the NFL store on Fifth Avenue and purchased an assortment of Giants, Jets, Dolphins, and Chiefs shirts, hats, and sweatshirts. It occurred to him that he should probably buy the extra suitcase so he could haul his loot back to his apartment, where he kept most of his clothes. Turned out he needed to buy two suitcases and settled on one silver hard-case with the Carolina Panthers logo, and a red one with the San Francisco 49ers. He figured they would be easy to spot at the baggage claim. Between him and Frankie, they would have four pieces of luggage. Good thing he booked business-class tickets. He wouldn't have to pay for an extra bag unless Frankie had something else in mind. But Frankie was a seasoned traveler and knew what the limits were.

The day finally arrived for them to head to the airport for a new adventure. Marco and Anita left the night before upon Rosevita's insistence; she wanted to have more time with her grandchildren. Giovanni was secretly relieved. It was going to be enough navigating the airport with just him and Frankie. Having two other adults and two children was a recipe for chaos.

A car service picked up Giovanni and his luggage first, and then they fetched Frankie. They planned to leave three hours before their flight just in case there was traffic, or lines at security. Their flight departed at nine o'clock in the evening, so the traffic shouldn't be terrible, but this was New York, and they were going to JFK. Anything could happen.

Frankie scooped up Bandit and explained one more time about Becky and how long they would be away. Sweet P. was on her perch, observing the ritual. Frankie set Bandit on the sofa and leaned toward her female feline, who didn't look too pleased. Frankie used her high-pitched baby-talk voice. "Oh, cutie patootie, Bandit is going to take good care of you. Right Bandit?" He gave her a look of acceptance, and Sweet P. allowed Frankie to give her a rub on the head. "I love you guys. Be good. Mommy loves you!" Frankie thought she might cry. She had never been away from her fur babies for more than a week.

The buzzer rang, letting her know Giovanni had arrived. When he came upstairs, he entered her apartment and spotted the cats. " Si buono per la tua mama. Mi prenderò cura di lei. Tornerà presto ."

Much to Frankie's surprise, they acted as if they knew what he said; both jumped off the couch and rubbed against their ankles. "What did you say to them?"

"It's a secret." He winked and grabbed her luggage. " Ciao, gattos !"

When they got in the car, Frankie insisted Giovanni tell her what he said. "Francesca, you should learn your Italian better," he teased.

Frankie pouted. "I'm going to miss them."

Giovanni hated to see her sad. "Okay, okay, I will tell you. I told them to be good. That I would take care of you, and you will be back soon."

Frankie squeezed his hand. "You really are the best."

They arrived at the airport without incident and moved quickly through the check-in process and security. Both had TSA clearance, so it was much faster, and they didn't have to take off their shoes.

Frankie had a small carry-on that fit under the seat. It was chock full of her makeup and personal items that she could not possibly go without should her luggage end up in Bulgaria. Giovanni also had a small bag with his shaving gear, hair products, and Frankie's favorite cologne. She loved to nuzzle his neck and inhale the fragrance, which she attempted to do once they were seated on the plane, but there was a small partition between their seats, so she grabbed his hand and sniffed the back of it instead. The flight attendants began their safety check, and the video played on the small screens in their cozy, private space.

After eight hours in flight, the plane landed in Rome, where they had to change planes for Naples. Hopefully their luggage would be heading to Naples, too. Although, it wouldn't be the first time Frankie ended up in one city and her bag in another. They finally found it the day she was leaving to go home. Good thing she had all of her facial products in her carry-on. All she had to do was run to the nearest department store and buy two outfits. She thought about it and realized she never wore those clothes again. She had to put donating those clothes on her to-do list.

The flight was smooth, and service was excellent. They announced all the gates for connecting flights, which lessened the anxiety. When they arrived at the gate, Giovanni and Frankie were nearly the first to deplane, and they had just under an hour to make their way to the next flight, which was only a few gates away.

The atmosphere at the terminal was festive. Christmas kiosks lined the concourse, with carolers dressed as elves entertaining the bustling passengers. Giant sleds were filled with donated toys that were to be distributed to a children's hospital. Frankie's first instinct was to buy a teddy bear at one of the kiosks. She handed it to one of Santa's helpers, who gave her a huge smile and a bellowing "Mille Grazie. Dio ti benedica." Frankie knew it meant "Thank you very much. God bless you," but she couldn't say much in return. She was kicking herself for not learning as much Italian as she hoped, but she couldn't take the time to study between planning the trip and having so many balls in the air at work.

They made their way through the throng of holiday travelers. Frankie noticed the mood of the crowd. Everyone was smiling, greeting total strangers with happy holiday wishes in a multitude of languages. You may not have been able to understand the words, but you could feel the sentiment. She imagined what Grand Central Terminal would be like at that moment. She pursed her lips. It would be totally bonkers. Hundreds of thousands of individuals, most carrying bags—suitcases, backpacks, Bloomindgale's Big Brown Bag—squeezing their way through a sea of people. She reckoned it was like trying to thread a needle with a sausage. She snickered.

Giovanni looked at her. "What?"

"Just thinking about how differently people behave when they're not trying to shove themselves into a place where there is no place to go."

He gave her a quizzical look. "Like-a the subway?"

"Or the train station." She continued to scan the area. It wasn't any less crowded than any other transportation hub, but it was the feel. The vibe. People were happy they were going somewhere. Anywhere. Especially if they were going to visit family; the family they actually wanted to see. Frankie giggled again.

Giovanni looked at her again. "You make yourself laugh. What is so funny? Do you not want to share?"

"Just silly thoughts. People. Family. Framily." It was the word Frankie used for people who may not share your DNA but were like family nonetheless.

"Ah, yes. Framily. Important. Very important." He placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her toward the gate, where the attendant was greeting everyone as if she were genuinely happy to see them.

"I think I need to take more frequent trips to Italy. Though, not necessarily at the busiest time of year," she said when someone accidentally bumped into her. But no problem. Several apologies, smiles, and good wishes. "See? If we were in New York, there would have been a brawl."

"Oh, Frankie. You are too cynical. You need to turn on the lights."

"You mean lighten up?" Frankie cackled, bringing more attention to herself.

Giovanni noticed the people staring and smiled sheepishly at the looks. "Sorry. I'm excited."

"My first trip. Here, I mean," Frankie added. "We're both a little excited." Then she leaned into the woman standing close to her and whispered, "Meeting the future in-laws." Not that they were engaged; she just thought it would be something funny to say. Frankie often made witty comments to total strangers.

The woman chuckled. "Good luck."

See? Frankie thought to herself. You made someone smile for no particular reason, just by making a human connection.

As they were shuffling their way closer to the jetway, Giovanni asked, "Why she wish you luck?"

"I told her I was going to hike Mt. Vesuvius." A fib, but that too brought a laugh. This time from Giovanni.

"Ah, I don't think so," he whispered, and then nodded at the woman.

The gate attendant scanned their boarding passes and wished them " Buon Natale , Merry Christmas." Frankie was getting goosebumps. It reminded her of her childhood, when she would reach the bottom of the stairs on Christmas morning. The air was electrified with anticipation.

Or was it anxiety? She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. This was the last leg of their travels. She would be in Salerno in about two hours. She looked up at Giovanni. The expression on his face was serene and confident. He was on his own turf. Frankie could sense the shift in him and found it rather appealing. Even more so than usual.

The pilot made the departure announcement in English: "Flight crew, arm doors and cross-check." Then came the safety video. Frankie may have flown over a hundred times, but she always paid attention, especially noting: "the nearest exit may be behind you." The flight attendant repeated the instructions in Italian. A few people turned their heads, Frankie included.

The flight took just under an hour, and once again, they were among the first off the plane. Naples Airport was as buoyant as the one in Rome. The sound of music, laughter, and sleigh bells filled the air. You could easily picture yourself in the middle of a holiday-themed snow globe. Tiny sparkles of lights woven into garland wrapped the walls and were draped from above. It was magical. Giovanni placed his hand on the small of her back again, guiding her down the escalator to immigration, then to the baggage claim area. There was plenty of excitement on that level, too, but not as jovial. Passengers scurried from one carousel to another as the information constantly changed. At one point, none of the carousels had any flight information. Groans and moans bested the popular tune of "Jingle Bells." The honking sound and flashing light of an alarm signaled the next arrival of luggage. The moans turned into questions, and a confusion of languages. Someone blew a whistle, and everyone halted in place. First in Italian, and then in English, a security guard calmly asked people to be patient and then announced a few flight numbers and where they could fetch their belongings. Frankie was relieved. The contrast from the winter wonderland to the baggage debacle unnerved her a bit. She knew she had been masking her anxiety during the week prior and during their trip. Soon. Soon she would be in the Lombardi family home. It was a big deal. Truly.

Giovanni sensed Frankie's trepidation and kept his hand on her back or shoulder at all times. Frankie realized how important Giovanni was to her. Not because he was being protective. Not because he planned everything down to the minutia of their itinerary. Not because he generously paid for her parents. Not because of any one of those wonderful things. It was all of it. All the love he gave to her, her family, and friends. All the love he gave to his family and their legacy. Yes, it was the whole package that made up Giovanni Lombardi.

He spotted the red 49ers suitcase. "Don't move," he said calmly to Frankie. He pulled it off the rotating machine and set it down next to where she was standing. Next was Frankie's suitcase, then the Panthers bag. The unclaimed bags went around the turn again. Still no bag for Giovanni. They waited. And waited. The crowd had thinned, and there were two lonely pieces of luggage left to claim, but neither were his. Giovanni took a deep breath and approached one of the attendants and spoke to him in Italian. The attendant referred them to a small office, where Giovanni was instructed to fill out a form. Frankie could feel small droplets of perspiration run down the back of her neck. Whyohwhy-ohwhy was this happening? She was just beginning to relax, and now they had to deal with a suitcase mishap. But Giovanni was cool, calm, and collected. He showed no sign of annoyance. He thanked the counter agent and escorted Frankie to the customs area, where they had nothing to declare, although Frankie wanted to declare she was about to have a nervous breakdown.

Giovanni sent a text to the driver who was meeting them to let him know they were slightly delayed. He turned to Frankie. "Not to worry, cara . I can borrow something from Marco. We have to come back tomorrow for your family. Maybe they will have my suitcase."

Frankie was mystified as to how composed Giovanni was. She knew he could be animated at times. Passionate. But at that moment, he was not disturbed in the least. "We have the suitcases with the gifts. You have yours. We will be fine." He put his arm around her shoulders and gave her a tug. "Come. Let's enjoy our holiday."

They rolled their bags to the sidewalk, where a man was standing with a sign that said L OMBARDI F AMILY . Again, it struck Frankie: family. She was part of it now. Or was she? At this point, she shouldn't have any doubt, but then again, why hadn't he asked her to marry him? She shook her head. She had to stop the noise in her head and made a promise to herself that she would follow her own advice and take each day as it would come. And on this particular day, she was going all-in to absorb the essence of Campania.

Frankie noticed the air was crisp but felt different. Not in a bad way. Just different. It was filled with thousands of years of people who traveled this land. She recalled reading an article that said in Italy, you would be breathing the same air as Julius Caesar. Molecules are constantly rearranged, so it was possible at the subatomic level, she guessed. She made a mental note to ask Amy about it. But standing there, at that moment, she believed it was true.

She looked up at the clear, blue sky. Even the color was different. It was vibrant. Rich. She wondered what it had observed through the millennia. Granted, there were thousands upon thousands of volumes of written history. But being an editor, Frankie knew it was the perspective of the writer that went on the page. She was fascinated with the idea that the sky witnessed many unspoken stories.

Giovanni glanced at Frankie. He could see the amazement in her eyes. Bene, he thought to himself.

The driver loaded the luggage into the trunk and opened the door for Frankie. He spoke impeccable English and pointed out some highlights as they drove along the E45 highway. Mt. Vesuvius was not to be ignored. It was massive. Powerful. Humbling. She asked the driver if people were concerned about it erupting. He echoed Amy's information that it is monitored twenty-four hours a day, and that they would know weeks ahead if there was any danger. Giovanni patted Frankie's hand. "We have tickets."

"To watch an eruption?" she said in jest.

" Cara , sometimes you are very funny." He patted her hand again.

There was a striking contrast between the roaming hills and farms to the north and the villages along the coast. Some of the roads were as bad as the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, while others were pristine. She supposed road maintenance was the same everywhere. The richer the residents, the better the streets.

As they neared Salerno, the driver continued on E45, which ran north of the city. From there, he exited to a winding local highway that took them past the Castello di Arechi, a medieval fortress built on a mountain, three hundred meters above sea level. Frankie had read that from there, you could view the city below and the Mediterranean that stretched to the Amalfi Coast. It was breathtaking and rendered Frankie to monosyllabic sounds of "oh, my, wow, oh."