Work in Progress

Chloë and Luca spent the rest of that Thanksgiving weekend evening on the dance floor and, to Chloë’s absolute delight, exchanged telephone numbers and addresses for future correspondence. Chloë had always been a prolific letter writer, but she promised herself she would pace her communication with him. For his part, Luca wasn’t much for the written form, but he had her phone number and fully planned for a get-together when Chloë was back at university. He knew she lived with her parents so he’d have to play it cool, but he was taken – finally, Chloë thought – with her and planned to see her often, if that was something she’d want. He hoped that, on his return to university the following year, they would build on their budding relationship.

It was two weeks later that Luca phoned and invited Chloë to his home for the following weekend. The rapture. Nearly breathless with excitement, Chloë immediately accepted despite the fact she’d planned on finishing her Political Science essay then.

“I’ll just pull an all-nighter or two and get it done in time,” she thought, relieved that the campus library was open around the clock.”

Chloë could barely contain her excitement. As a result, John Stuart Mill suffered short shrift in her term paper. She knew it wasn’t anywhere near her best effort but she gleefully handed it in on Friday afternoon before heading to the train station for trip to Oshawa.

“Ma, this is Chloë,” Luca said, introducing her. “Chloë, my mother, Carm.”

They were standing by a window table in Ristorante di Angelo, the couple happy to be in out of the pelting rain.

“It’s so good to meet you, Mrs. di Angelo. “Luca has told me such good things about you and his family.”

“Call me Carm,” she smiled at Chloë. “Everyone does.”

“Ma’s a legend in these parts,” Luca explained with a grin.

“This restaurant is beautiful. Luca told me a bit about it, but it’s even nicer than I’d imagined.”

“Are the two of you eating here tonight, Luca?” Carm asked, hoping for a chance to learn a bit more about her son’s new love interest. She had never been particularly fond of Joyce who, because she was Luca’s girl, got away with poor service in her waitressing shifts. But Joyce had never stayed overnight with the family, so there wasn’t much opportunity to learn more than Luca and the other wait staff had told her. Carm was happy for Luca, and relieved that Chloë was still at university. She was adamant her son return to university next year, and saw Chloë as a good incentive. “If only the romance blossoms and survives,” she thought.

Her weekend with Luca was everything Chloë could have dreamed, and more. Luca was gentlemanly and considerate, anxious to please, nothing like the brash boy she’d met in History 101. He had some events planned: a club night Saturday, then a lazy Sunday where Chloë could get to know a few highlights of his hometown.

Though she hadn’t thought it possible, Chloë was even more smitten with him as her train departed for the trip home. Luca was waiting to wave her off and blew a kiss beside her window. There had been a lot of kissing and cuddling over the two days of her visit. Nothing more as she was sharing a room with Luca’s cousin who helped with cooking in the restaurant, and lived with the di Angelo family.

As they parted, Luca said the words she hoped desperately she would hear. “See you soon.” She wondered had he meant it, or was it just a polite kiss-off? No matter what he had intended, it didn’t dampen Chloë’s excitement. She knew her feelings for Luca had begun as a physical attraction but, after getting to know him better over the two days, she felt a wave of what she knew was a more romantic love. She wondered, though, did Luca feel the same about her.

“She seemed OK, that girl,” Carm remarked to Gino as they stood by the pizza oven.

“What girl?” he asked.

“The one with Luca for the weekend. Chloë something. I think she’s besotted with him. It may even be mutual.” She grinned at her husband.

Gino had been too busy cooking for the weekend rush to say more to Chloë than “Lovely to meet you. Enjoy your stay.” The girl had reddened before answering, “Thank you so much for welcoming me to your home. And restaurant.” He was glad to see she had what seemed a shy streak. Joyce had been too loud and overbearing as far as he was concerned.

As the train pulled in to her final station, Chloë still had butterflies, but the weekend had gone better than she could possibly have hoped.

Chloë’s wish for a return visit to Oshawa was soon realized when Luca invited her for a few days over the Christmas holidays. She hadn’t been feeling great and knew she needed a break from her busy life, but she eagerly accepted Luca’s invitation. Chloë was overjoyed that Luca seemed to feel at least some of the affection she felt for him.

She could barely control her excitement in the days leading up to her visit. She had permanent butterflies floating about in her stomach, so much so that she felt a little bit off. Anxiety does that, she reminded herself. She was no stranger to it, always feeling nauseous and lightheaded if she had to speak in tutorials.

Chloë packed her suitcase with her necessities and her carry bag with presents for the di Angelo family. She would miss Christmas Day with them, as she would be back in her parents’ house by then. They were none too happy about their only daughter flitting off to visit someone they had never met, a boy no less. But it wasn’t worth the argument her mother knew would ensue. Especially not at Christmas time.

As the train was pulling in to the station, Chloë donned her glasses and stretched her neck left to right, looking for Luca. She didn’t see him among the crowd gathered on the platform, and began to feel that familiar panic that always preceded her plans going wrong. “Let him be there,” she silently begged. “I won’t ask for anything else, I promise.” She wondered to whom she was addressing her pleas, but intended to cover the options.

Then, there he was, stepping out of the doorway to the train lobby. Chloë had to stifle a whoop of joy, but waved vigorously at Luca. Just as she was getting up from her seat to exit, Luca caught sight of her and answered her wave with two thumbs up.

“I’m glad you’re here,” Luca smiled as he greeted her.

“I’m glad to be here. Definitely.” Chloë was quick to respond, immediately wishing she hadn’t added “Definitely.”

She held her bag of gifts tightly as Luca took her small suitcase and guided her to where his beloved Chevy Metro waited.

“I thought about going somewhere else to eat, but Ma said she left dinner for us at the house. If you’d prefer, though, we can try another place. The Ristorante is about to close, but there are plenty of other options. Up to you.”

Though she was nursing a headache and had no desire to eat, she replied,“No, what your mother left for us sounds wonderful. And very kind.”

“It’s not anything from the restaurant,” Luca explained. “She’s been busy the last week or so cooking and baking at home for the family Christmas.”

“I’m looking forward to it all,” she said.

The di Angelo house was aglow in outdoor Christmas lights and the restaurant next door resembled a Christmas gift box with festive decorations and lights nearly pouring out of it. As the snow fell lightly on them, the two made their way from the car into the warmth of Luca’s family home.

The smell of fresh baking greeted Chloë the instant the front door was opened. She thought about her own home and the scant fuss that was made during the Christmas season.

“Oh God, the house smells delicious,” she said to Luca.

“Yeah, Ma’s a pretty good cook,” Luca said, following that with a wry smile.

“I wonder why that is.” Chloë feigned confusion.

“Exactly.”

She was all but flabbergasted when Luca suggested they join his cousins in Christmas caroling around the neighborhood. She had heard music and voices coming from the restaurant next door, and was wholeheartedly reveling in her situation. With Luca at Christmas! Chloë’s thought drifted back to the reality of the past year. What had she been doing during Christmas vacation then? She felt her stomach churn. Butterflies. Busy butterflies. She remembered how miserable she had been a year earlier when she believed she must abandon all hope of any relationship with the Italian classmate who, without knowing it, had captured her attention and so many of her emotions.

Now, the whole world, wrapped in the comfortable hug of the season, was welcoming Chloë to what she hoped would be her new reality. She happily agreed to the caroling though she knew she lacked in vocal talent. When the pair returned to the di Angelo house, it was past midnight. Despite the fact she’d been awake for nearly 24 hours, Chloë didn’t want the night to end. It was perfect, “just like a romantic Christmas movie,” she thought, in virtual disbelief at how her fortune had changed.

When Luca bent in to give her a kiss goodnight, he nearly whispered, “Tomorrow we’ll spend at my place. Gary is staying with his new girlfriend, so we’ve got it all to ourselves.” Immediately, Chloë wondered if she were still going to be spending tomorrow night with Carm and Gino. It would, she worried, seem rude to just up and leave when they had opened their home and hospitality to her.

Luca sensed her concern. “Don’t worry. Everything’s copacetic with Ma. We’ll move your stuff over in the morning so we can have the entire day together.” He gave her a sideways grin. “Also the night.”

Chloë giggled. “I’ve never actually heard someone use the word ‘copacetic’, but I’m very glad it is.”

It was almost too good to be true.