I shot back a reply,
“I will. Slight detour. Will you be okay by yourself?”
“Aren’t I always? Don’t strain yourself by worrying about me.”
I texted back another apology, but she didn’t reply. Her usual M.O. when I’d pissed her off. I tucked the phone back into my tote bag. Was I truly considering this?
Yes. I meant it when I told my sister I had to do this. I’d regret it if I didn’t, and I was tired of regretting things. I sent Mario a nod and a thumbs up through the window.
Then, I took inventory. My bridesmaid’s dress was zippered up in a bag provided by the venue. It draped across the seat opposite me. Did I have any other clothing? I didn’t want to put that back on.
“Oh shit,” I muttered and frantically dug in the tote I’d packed for the wedding center. Double shit. I hadn’t planned for more than essential items to help Ellie, and a comfortable change of clothing for me once the ceremony was complete. Ellie’s bag was bound to be much worse. Maybe I’d luck out, and she packed dresses in the lonely carry-on in the trunk.
“Is everything okay?” Mario leaned in the open door.
“I have one change of clothes, and whatever Ellie packed, if you don’t count these.” I motioned to myself and the dress in the bag.
He smiled and slipped into the seat next to me. “We’ll fix that. In eleven hours or so, we’ll land in the fashion capital of the world. I’m sure you’ll find everything you need.” He tried to return his face to the stoic mask he’d had on when talking to the driver, but his cheek quirked into a little dimple.
Mario Valentini had a dimple. I fought the urge to fan myself.
The driver returned and pulled the car around to the back of the building. He parked beside a rather large plane that had the passenger stairs readied for boarding. The driver opened the door for us, and stewards from the flight company took my bags to a loading hatch at the back of the plane. “I need that tote?—”
Mario steered me toward the stairs connecting to the front.
“I need my bag.”
“Don’t worry. You’ll have access to it.”
I wanted to protest, but there were people ushering us onto the jet and fussing over the preparations to depart. A man from the airline staff stood at the top of the stairs.
“Mr. Valentini, the pilots are ready. The plane is prepared. You have a crew of five, and your things are in the stateroom storage. Edward sends his regards.” He noticed me, the dress I wore, and added, “And this beautiful woman is?”
“My wife.”
The attendant’s mouth opened and shut. “I see. Congratulations.” With that, he stepped to the side of the jet stairs, and allowed us to enter.
“I’m not your wife,” I whispered to Mario, then smiled at a female attendant who led us to a grouping of four seats. Beyond them was a table with seating room for four comfortably. A third section filled the back of the cabin, which had a couch and another set of two chairs facing each other. “Where’s my bag?” I scanned the seats for signs of it.
“This way, Mrs. Valentini.”
At her honorific, I shot a glare at Mario. He smiled slyly and stepped aside so the stewardess could lead me to the back. Beyond the last section with the couch and two chairs was a door leading to the largest airplane bathroom I’d ever seen. It came complete with a little window next to the sink that had its own makeup mirror to the left, and through one more sliding door, my things were piled neatly on shelves, and the bridesmaid dress and the empty bag for the dress I was wearing were hanging in a small closet. There were two suits hung there as well. I fingered them one at a time. One was silk and the other, a very fine wool. Nice.
The stewardess opened a couple of drawers in the bathroom showing me where extra toothbrushes and all the accompanying necessaries were. “I hope you enjoy your flight, did you want coffee, wine… champagne?”
What the hell. While I was being impulsive, I might as well milk this for all it was worth, because when the bubble burst, I’d regret not taking full advantage of the situation. “Champagne.”
“Excellent choice.” She dipped her head and left me alone to marvel at the incredibly useful and yet brazenly opulent space.
“I’ve died and gone to heaven.” That was the only explanation for all of this.
“Allie?” Mario broke into my reverie with a light knock on the open door to the bathroom. “We need to depart. The tower has cleared the flight.”
“I’m going to Italy.” In style.
5
Mario
