Impossible love 55
My gut was in turmoil as I sat and tried to explain everything in detail to gran, I was really only going over old ground and wanted it all cemented in my head before I got to work, then the fun will start because I have no idea if Nina could help us.
"She will probably ask for more money but I don't know how much, if Basilio was involved it will run into the hundreds of millions."
"You are running ahead of yourself, we will deal with that when it happens in the meantime and for Gianni's sake do the café for him and take some pressure off so he can search."
"I will Gran, thank you. I must go and open up I will ring you if I hear something." I kissed them both and a disinterested baby and left for work.
It was like someone had thrown a lever and everything went into a panic when I got there, Nina was giving out the orders. Stavros and two of his mates were serving coffee already and the café was open.
"Antonio, I have Stavros and his men working when you need them, the three boys can do the coffee and cakes, Angelo and his staff will help with the tables if you can keep the wine flowing for them. I need you to be behind the wine counter but you are also needed for front of house do you know anyone that can sell Gianni's wines?"
I flipped my phone out and rang someone.
"Iris, how do you feel about going back to work?"
"Today, now if possible I need you here."
"See you in fifteen minutes then."
"Anything else Nina?"
"I will stay for an hour and when the panic in your eyes settles down you can take over." I looked at her then I crashed. Of all the times I had to have a breakdown it had to be when I'm needed the most. She steered me out the back and sat me down.
"Antonio, we don't have a crisis here it is only a crisis if you let it be one. The staff knows what they are doing they will see you right, Angelo has his men and ladies at the ready in case you get overly busy, if Iris comes by she can man the wine counter with you. It's all organized that Stavros will keep his eyes out for any stragglers that get forgotten, we have this, you have this." She was giving me a pet talk and I felt foolish as I wiped my eyes and started pulling myself together.
"Thank you Nina you are one of the kind." I tried to smile.
"I am having fun Antonio, that's what spurs me on, and you should try at least to be happy that your husband is out looking for your babies."
"I am, I trust him to search every corner of Italy for them." I didn't know how he was going to do it but I knew he wouldn't leave a stone unturned.
I talked to Pedro Ted and Matt they were happy to do their jobs a little harder today and Angelo interrupted and said his waiters will do the table orders if the boys could do the cake coffees and wines.
Gino arrived in a panic state and I took him over to the florist shop, Alice and Bianca were standing in the doorway with confused looks on their faces.
I told all three of them and Stavros's men what was happening and they all were slightly confused but not by Gianni's departure, but by my panicked state. Gino left to go into the café and when he came back he had a big glass of wine in his hand.
"Sit here Antonio, have a vino with me you have to calm down."
"It's too early." He lifted his eyebrows and I sipped on the drink.
Iris turned up looking like a shop assistant and she looked me up and down then she insisted she has wine with me.
Glasses were produced and it wasn't even nine yet, some sort of party was forming.
"Iris do you think you can help behind the wine counter today, you don't have to work all day just until the lunchtime rush is over."
"I would be happy to do that for you Antonio, are you assisting?"
"Yes."
"Well, have that drink then pop into your shorts please."
"What?"
"You heard me." She smiled.
"I will place a chair behind the counter so you can sit down."
"Antonio Cartasso, I have been selling wine for fifty years and I never needed a seat to do that, you take the money and wrap I will sell." She saluted me and I poured her another one.
It was time to get this show on the road the tables were filling up, Gino offered to send Pat over but I told him I would message him.
Nina had stayed behind the counter until we turned up.
"Feeling better now Antonio?"
"Yes lovely lady thank you."
Iris and I positioned ourselves behind the counter and she started selling to a young couple, she was very good at it too maybe we should offer her a part-time job. My panic attack had settled down by eleven and we were selling up a storm, everyone was on high alert and the buzz was felt throughout the Café.
It all worked out fine in the end I didn't need Angelo's men that much but I was grateful he offered, it made the boy's day so much easier. Iris was having a ball selling Gianni's wines and when I looked at her, she looked the part perfectly. She had a black frock on with pearls wrapped around her neck and had put a Gianni apron on, she looked like she had been working here for years.
"I can't thank you enough Iris, you are a gid send."
"Will you need me tomorrow?"
"If you want Iris, but I thought you would be pretty busy with all your hotels."
"I leave all that up to Tony, I spend my days playing cards with the staff or going to charity luncheons. My life is pretty boring Antonio."
"Four hours a day eleven to two, if you want more hours just let me know. I pay thirty an hour cash in hand."
"Shall we pop the top off this bottle and seal the deal?"
"Lead the way, my lady." I opened the wine and we both sat out the back, the boys will call us if we have a customer but the busy hour has passed.
"So you do nothing during the day, I find that hard to believe."
"Yes Antonio, Tony looks after the business side of things. I do charity work and hand out obscene amounts of money but basically, I am a salesgirl that's all I pretty much know." She saluted me and giggled.
"Well the job offer is genuine and if you do it in your own time it will be easier for you."
"I will do the hours you set Antonio, it will give me an excuse for not going to luncheons anymore, I'm bored with it all."
"You should hire Sabine she loves that kind of stuff." She smiled.
"The lady Sabine is getting some. I doubt whether she or Tony will want to go into work much." I laughed then we got another customer. After he left with his case of wine I fired up the computer out the back I wanted to check emails.
Yes there was one from Menowin, he sounded furious and said the Gypsy will never rest until the babies are found. Magdalena had insulted and embarrassed her kindred and will be severely punished for her insolence. He was happy Gianni is turning up he thought he could have handled it in secret but it's got too big now.
He said he will go with Tinker to the airport so they can talk on the way home. I wrote back and thanked him. Then I wrote to Gianni's email address. I let him know everything was okay here and I had hired Iris for the wine counter, he is not to worry about me because I now have a new drinking partner. I told him Tinker and Menowin will meet him at the airport and Sabine and Adamo will be at the family house when he arrives. I also told him how much I missed him and loved him, then I sent it to his phone he will get the message soon.
I rang gran she was teaching Lukas how to plant seeds in the garden she thinks he doesn't get enough fresh air. I told her I will pick him up on my way home and Nina has everything under control. She said she knew Iris was in the shop and most everything else, I suppose Stavros has something to do with that.
Alice was asking me if Lukas will be in tomorrow and I said yes he will be so she relaxed, that was until I asked her to drive Iris and me home I didn't want to risk my license for being over the limit.
"We have to pick Lukas up."
"I know Antonio, please just take Iris inside and make sure she puts her feet up."
I walked her to the door her butler, maid, housekeeper whoever he was took it from there.
"See you tomorrow Antonio."
"Good night Iris and thank you again." I gave her a big cuddle, she lingered.
I got a dressing down from gran that I was in no fit state to look after a baby, Alice reassured her that she was on top of it and he will be staying with her tonight. Gran had to let him go because she understood Alice loved him also. I grabbed the bag of food and walked out, Alice placed me and Lukas in the lift and I went to open another bottle. Lukas was very happy and now happier he has his TV to watch for the next hour, then we will go and sit with Gino.
I took the money out of the bags and started adding it all up, Iris had done very well today her totals were very good. I entered it into Gianni's books then I did mine and placed them in envelopes.
I packed an overnight bag for Lukas and left with two bottles and him under my arm to go meet our friends. I haven't been on my own for months now and I'm not used to it, at least with Gianni and the boys around I am watched constantly. Tomorrow will be a better day and I have to stop opening bottles of wine, even though Iris and I didn't even drink half a bottle it was enough to give us a good kick.
"Antonio, do you need anything?" Anna asked.
"No thanks kiddo, I think I have everything. Thanks to all my friends I don't need a thing except someone to sleep with."
"Gino's not doing anything I will send him up." That's the last thing I want is for Gianni to think Gino's in our bed.
"No it will be okay baby I have little movies and photos to keep me company. He won't be away that long anyway."
Gino breathed out I poured him another drink and winked.
I had offers from just about everyone that walked by, so many familiar faces and not a name recalled by me. Gino asked about the flower pots and I said for him to go and talk to Joe he will sell directly to him, cash if he didn't mind. I messaged Joe he knew Gino and said they have a few hundred spares. I thought if it was going to be ongoing and Gino does well we can grow just for him in the future.
A message from Gianni came through that read.
`Seven hours to go I miss you very much.'
I replied.
'Everything all right here, miss and love you the most'
I will write him a longer message when I get in, Lukas was getting antsy so Alice took him home to feed him and to switch the TV on, I kissed him goodnight and said I will see him in the morning. I hated it to be like this but tomorrow my baby stays with me.
There were no emails from anyone when I finally went upstairs and I did write a small note to Gianni telling him he had a good day and I was going to bed.
I went onto the gypsy family site and again it was lighting up, I looked at most of the answers and some were sightings most came up with nothing still. I was disappointed because if it was me I would have gone to the police and got them involved, but I don't know what contract she has with her people. I was deep in thought when the phone rang it was Gianni, I immediately started crying and I wanted him to talk because I wanted to hear his voice.
"We have arrived Antonio, Tinker and Menowin are here, mama is at the house are you all right?" He knows me well.
"Yes I have plenty of help with the café, I have hired Iris to sell the wines she's doing very well and Angelo's staff are waiting on the tables. Many friends have offered their services so do not worry about me."
"Okay I worry sometimes you know, Magdalena was last seen around the ports of Genoa so we are going to head there tomorrow after I have a rest. I don't know Antonio I have a very bad feeling she might have sold my babies."
"No Gianni don't think like that, she wouldn't do something awful like that, if anything she will be asking for more money."
"I hope you are right Antonio I pray you are correct."
"I am sure baby, just take a deep breath and get a good sleep that's very important, did Adamo come home with Sabine?"
"Yes they all came home, and they all want to help."
"Good then you're not alone." I heard the boys saying in the background that they missed me and I conveyed my love to them through Gianni. He hung up because the reception was bad. I switched off the computer and looked at the time, it was eleven so I stripped off then went to bed. I didn't want any more wine but could have sat on the walkway all night if I allowed myself to do so.
I didn't toss and turn as I imagined just had a good night's sleep and I woke refreshed, and for a fleeting moment imagined my husband in bed with me. I threw back the blankets and almost jumped out of bed, first thing the coffee machine was switched on then the computer then I hit the toilet.
I washed up and went to check if there were any emails, nothing and nothing new on the Gypsy site either just the same comments.
I sat outside and was thinking about Gianni when my phone rang.
"Antonio, I will walk to work with Lukas this morning. Please do me a favor and don't drive please run to work."
"Yes Alice I will run to work, and thank you for looking out for me."
"My pleasure and if Iris needs a ride home call her a taxi."
"I will baby, no problem, and I will see you shortly I'm almost ready to leave."
"Good he slept well and I will see you when I can." She hung up and I went to shower. I didn't run to work I walked with Alice and Lukas because they left at the same time. I got her up to date with Gianni and she said that Federico is thinking about going over to help.
Dumpster bins were lining the old car park today and some workers were there tearing out some outer walls so they can start on the new shops.
I turned the lights on then I played with Lukas on the floor, I had missed him and he will stay with me tonight. Ted and Pedro came in and were jumping up and down to tell me they both had passed their exams and it will be university next year. I talked to them a bit and they said they will still work casual if they could. I didn't have to worry about that at the moment Joe had rung and said Gino had picked up twenty pots and he will pay me cash tonight. I will go and have a look at his display later when I get the time. I cleaned up what was left of Iris and my little party broke some boxes up and restacked the cheap plonk cartons.
Pat came for coffee and told me not to forget Saturday night at the club. She also said my pots of flowers looked great, Gino had displayed them beautifully. It was when Iris came in early I felt bad, she was trying to help but I feared it will be too much for her.
"No drinking at all today Antonio, we are going to be busy in the next few days so we have to be on top of it all."
"Why?"
"I let it slip that I was appearing at Gianni's café for a week of wine advice if people were interested."
"How the hell did you do that?"
"I was on the radio last night, just a wine show I do a small regular spot on, are we stocked up?"
"Yes Iris, we have more in the florist shop cool room. I can send one of the boys to the warehouse if we get desperate.
"You shouldn't be here this early Iris, I don't want to wear you out."
"You won't Antonio, I am made from good stock I've always worked hands-on." She smiled.
"Have you heard from Tony?"
"Yes they are going to Genoa today, he said Sabine is beside herself with worry and Gianni has gone total crazy."
"I thought he might be, he rang last night and I knew he was toning it down for me, so I don't worry."
"Well I have been thinking about it a lot I think it would be beneficial to you to have a look at the shipping schedule out of Genoa, didn't Basilio come here on a merchant ship?"
"My god I never thought of that, but there's no way she would do a four-week trip with babies, it's dangerous. That's of course if she's coming here, she may be going anywhere in the world we may lose them forever."
"It was just a thought but worth a look." She started setting up some tasting trays then she checked the stock.
"Pedro, you're doing computers at school aren't you?"
"Yes Antonio, what do you need?" I turned the computer on out the back and told him what I wanted he grabbed a notebook and started typing furiously at the keyboard. My stomach was leaping and I was praying she didn't get onto a boat with the babies.
I left Iris to do her thing and went to grab a coffee, the market was filling up and our end seemed busier.
"It's because of the shop works, it's too noisy up that end. I spoke to Nina it's just for a few hours to clear away the old siding. The real work will start on Monday when the market is closed." Alice said in my ear.
"Oh by the way, Pat wants us all to go to the club Saturday are you up for it?"
"Yes Antonio, I think it's turning into a regular thing."
"Yes it is." I smiled because I thought about dancing with Gianni and then I felt sad he wasn't with me.
"There have been three ships that left the port in the last week Antonio, none to Australia two to Singapore, and one to Spain, then the UK." Pedro said as he placed a piece of paper beside me. I picked it up and looked at it.
"Which one would you catch if you were escaping the country?"
"The Uk one, Singapore is huge and policed heavily, the UK one is a little more relaxed."
"Thank you so much, I had no idea how to search it you're amazing." He puffed up and left to take over the coffee machine.
I washed up my cup and went to start helping Iris she had gathered a little crowd and was teaching them about wines. I listened because I might pick up some pointers.
I sent Gianni a message to let him know about the ships he can get the UK gypsy to keep an eye out for her. I got one back saying they were on to it, and he loved me.
She finished her tasting and I wrapped and took the money as they bought several of the better wines. She had a coffee and by the time she came back, she had six more customers waiting for her little talk. In better times I would have had her doing that permanently but the smile on her face was telling me she was like a kid in a candy shop, she was having fun.
Angelo came by and was chatting about Maxie and Tommaso's results, Maxie will go on to University but Maxie wants to do restaurant work he's more of a people person. He said he would be at the club Saturday and expects a few dances with me, he also offered to come and stay with me while Gianni was away. I smiled at him, all sorts of scenarios were running through my head then I said.
"Thank you Angelo but when I go to bed I want to sleep, not be looking at the spunk beside me." He laughed and said the offer was always open and he likes a little voyeurism occasionally.
I slapped his perfect butt and he left to run his business.
Stavros sent one of his men in with a note.
"I will see you now." I laughed and told Iris I will send Matt over I then went to meet with Stavros.
"I need an update, thank you Antonio."
I told him what I knew and about the shipping and he smiled broadly.
"That confirms it then, here is the address of the Ala hotel in Genoa, a lady with three small babies stayed there for three days last week. Please let Gianni know." He slipped paper over to me and my jaw was on the table.
"How?"
"I have ears everywhere Antonio, don't question me just tell your husband."
"Who told you this?"
"Ring him now otherwise it will be too late." I made my legs move and grabbed my phone and as I walked up and down talking to Gianni I could hear laughing coming from his table.
"Hotel Ala Gianni you have to talk to a room boy called Franko."
I suppose another nephew of Stavros's and I didn't care because it's something. He said they were on their way. I hung up and seemed to be doing more than they were doing over there, if she was at this hotel the room boy might know where she went.
I looked at the wine bucket and Iris.
"So sue me."
"Have you been busy, sorry I had to ring Gianni?"
"Fifteen cases of cheap plonk just left I need some more."
I poured myself a drink then grabbed the hand trolley to go get some more wine. I am going to pace myself today because I need to be on top of things, as you know my life can slide downhill very fast.
A message from Gianni. 'Just arrived in Genoa looking for the hotel now.' I played with Lukas while I loaded more cartons on my trolley then I went back to be met with a shop full of customers wanting wines, Iris what have you done to me. I suppose it's all about keeping busy so I can't dwell on the negative. I pitched in and had to get Matt to help cart cartons out to cars. Iris was like an old trooper she was selling anything and everything even our coffee blend and cakes. I have never seen such salesmanship and I thought Gianni was good but Iris ran rings around him.
The lunchtime crowd saw all our tables full and ice buckets were on every table, people were enjoying our wines. It was when Iris went and joined in, that I knew we had trouble coming, the wine counter got very busy and ice was filling the buckets slower than the customers could drink the stuff.
I went out the back when it was all settling down and poured myself a drink, I needed one. Iris was puffed out she had done a ton of work today.
"It will settle down tomorrow, they just wanted to meed me, like put a face to the radio voice Antonio I thought it would be good to meet and greet my listeners." She grinned.
"You're not on the radio tonight are you?"
"No Antonio it's a once-a-month thing, it keeps me out of trouble." She laughed, I think Iris is a little wicked.
`No joys here Antonio, she left two days ago and he didn't know where she went but she was with two men.'
'I will tell Stavros maybe he has an update.'
`I want to come home.'
`You have to stay.'
`Are you being good?'
`Yes of course and you?'
'Plenty of twinkles around here baby, but yes I am being good'
'Stick it out for a week then come back, if it's money she will contact us.'
This conversation I had with him just before I placed Iris into a cab and went to grab our son and Alice to go home. I had a quick look at Gino's display, the plants looked good and I could see some spaces already, he must have sold some.
I locked up and started walking with Alice towards home, people were stopping to talk with us and it took longer than I wanted because I needed to skype Gianni, I need to see his smile.
He wasn't answering when I got in so I will try it again later on. Lukas was his usual adorable self and I poured myself a wine and sat with him on the sofa, well he was on the floor. I tried to talk to him about his overnight stay with Alice and Federico but he wasn't having any conversations tonight.
It was Lukas that got up on his legs and clapped he wanted to go downstairs because he kept pointing to the lift. I bundled him onto my hip grabbed a bottle and glass and went to see if anyone was around. Little Sam was out tonight and Lukas wanted to talk to him, then he wanted to feed him his bottle which Anna laughed, he was still on the breast and will be for some time so Alice grabbed him and they had a good old catch up conversation. I updated them on what I knew then Gino thanked me for the pots he had sold twelve today and was grinning.
"It's about time you gave your old friend a hand, it seems like you are always helping everyone else to make money but not me." I hadn't thought about it that way and apologized to him. I also told him I will think of some way to get more money into his family. He saluted me and we bantered for another ten minutes.
Federico turned up and told us he just got off the phone to Sabine, she was almost at the stage of mounting a country-wide appeal on television. He didn't think it was wise because wherever she was hiding she would be too terrified to make a move. At the moment the balls in her court and we desperately want her to call us.
When I skyped Gianni he was dead tired and could hardly keep his eyes open they had been searching every hotel in the city and were bushed. I told him to get some sleep and I will ring him tomorrow night, then I watched as his eyes closed and he said.
"Thank you for being with me Antonio."
"My pleasure baby." Then he went to sleep, hopefully undisturbed. I touched the screen with a kiss then disconnected the call.
I had movies and photos to look at but didn't watch one because I didn't want to slip into that abyss. I played with myself but sleep got in first as I turned over and hugged my sleeping son.
The first week I nearly went crazy and if it wasn't for our friends and family my mind would have given up completely. Gianni was exhausted and Menowin was using every possible means to find this girl and the babies. At last they had all gone back to the vineyard. Sabine will see that he eats and sleeps she promised me she would do that. She said the boys were by his side all the time and when he searched so did they.
It was nearly getting to the stage when he would have to seriously think about coming home, there were no stones to be overturned, no dark corners to explore in the night. I was about to pull rank when I got a phone call late one night.
"Mister Antonio I have your babies." It was a young woman's voice and my heart leaped out of its cavity and that throbbing brick throbbed harder.
"Where are you, Magdalena? do you need some help?"
"Yes mister Antonio, I have escaped my father and brother and I am to deliver to you your babies."
"Please tell me where you are I will get help to you."
"I am among the unseen in your city. I will ring again, tell no one I call you, very dangerous for me to tell we here." She hung up I tried to ring her back but she was calling from a public phone box, my hands shook violently as I tried to ring Gianni but heeded her words, tell no one, I immediately disconnected. I will ring him when I get more information, the shaking didn't abate until I was on my third glass. How the hell did she get into Australia especially with three babies? The questions were adding up and as I sat on the veranda I looked out into the dark sky and thanked God for sending her out here to me, I can help I know I can.
Donations are always gratefully accepted at Nifty.