Pleased To Meet You

First glance

Hello, son. Before I start writing where your mother left off I'd like to tell you about me too. 

As you know, I used to be very poor. I had no home, no money for food or even to take care of myself. My parents died when I was 9 years old and for a long time I lived in the streets until a social worker registered me into the system. A few years later a very generous family offered me a temporary home and gave me a new beginning. The Bartolinis were nice and kind. They taught me everything I know. I learned to speak fluent Spanish, French and English, to cook, swim, everything you can imagine. They were my first real family.  Sadly, bad luck haunted me anywhere I'd go. When I turned 18 I had to leave them because as I said, it was just temporary, they were only my foster parents. I felt really lonely, like no one wanted me until I met a girl called Julianna. I lived for a while with her and to be honest, I was deeply in love with her but I lost her too. She died of cancer. You might think that I had the worst luck and believe me I thought so too but I didn't give up. My dog Luca still needed me and I couldn't leave him. 

A year later after Julie's death I moved to Alessandria. I was ready to start over. I used to work in a little diner called "Donatello's" because I always wanted to be a cook and as I didn't have money to go to college I had to skip some steps and start working on my dream job. I met your Aunt Lucy in the diner, my best friend.  My life seemed pretty good by that time but I still felt really lonely and I used to think that maybe I would never find anyone like Julianna. I was going to be alone forever. I felt sick and tired of everything. Always clinging on to memories. I mean, most nights I would sleep under the tree where Julianna and I met because remembering that day made me think I was moving forward when I was actually frozen in time. Things were quite complicated. My boss hated me, Lucy and I argued about it, I had bills to pay... It was overwhelming. I needed a break. 

One day while I was talking to Lucy, a girl walked into the diner and sat at the bar. Lucy was in charge of taking her order but she refused to work on a Saturday evening, so I had to go take her work. When I looked at her my heart literally stopped. I was speechless and distracted by her beauty and those wonderful hazel eyes. She smiled at me and just like when I was little, I felt butterflies in my stomach. I was about to ask her name when Lucy decided to interrupt me.

Lucía: Am I missing something?

Giovanni: What? No. I'm taking her order. Go away.

Lucía: No, you're just standing there. What can I get you?

Camilla: Uhm--I don't know... Can-Can I see the menu?

I couldn't stop looking at her. I swear I was just standing there, so astonished by her. Lucy was  jealous of her. She seemed pretty angry at me because I kind of blew her off.

Lucía: That's not gonna happen, you know?

Giovanni: What? What are you talking about? 

Lucía: I know what you're trying to do and it's not going to work. 

Giovanni: Is it really that hard to think that someone could be into me?

Lucía: That's not what I meant. Do you even know who she is?

Giovanni: The girl of my dreams? You know, I'm thinking of ask her out during my break. She's so beautiful...

Lucía: Oh, my god. You just met her, Gio. 

Giovanni: So? 

Lucía: Stop idealizing people you literally just met. But this actually tells me you really have been living under a rock. She's Camilla Ontiveros. Daughter of the most wealthy and powerful man in Spain, owner of all those companies in Venice that ruined most of the business around the area.

Giovanni: No idea. 

Lucía: His dad was on the front cover of Forbes, you should read more. Anyways, what I'm really saying is why would she want to go out with a waiter if she can have anyone with that kind of money?

Giovanni: Okay, first of all I find that's a bit offensive and second of all, you don't know her. She could be different from her wealthy family.

Lucía: Oh, trust me,  I know her type. 

Giovanni: No, you don't. Besides, I'm not just a waiter, I'm a good looking and funny guy, so...

Lucía: Fine, it's your funeral but you know for someone like her won't be enough. 

I gotta say, I had great confidence in my 20s even though I could only of offer my looks to someone. I mean, I have curly black hair, I'm tall and lucky me, back then I was exactly your mother's type. I was sure nothing could go wrong but Camilla had my mind out of space. I couldn't think or even talk. I would get all nervous when I got near her until finally I decided to go to her and say "hello". She noticed I was trying to ask her out, so she told me that during my break we could get to know each other. We talked for hours and my work mate, Alonzo, covered for me. It was unbelievable how great we connected. It felt like it we were meant to be.  When my boss started to check on us I really had to go back to the kitchen so I wouldn't get fired. However, I did end up asking her out. She said that she needed to take a train to Venice that night but she still said yes. Son, always keep in my mind that when someone's really interested you can always tell and the fact that your mother didn't mind catching the last train to Venice that day made me feel quite good. 

As soon as my shift ended I left with Camilla. Before our date I asked her if we could go to my house so I could change my clothes. I fixed my hair and wore a great outfit (back then I used to wear my jean jacket, my black Converse, black jeans and some vintage t-shirt, you know your old dad trying to pull a 90s look). While I brushed my teeth I started to get a weird felling, like I was forgetting something, I kept checking my phone and looked around the house until I realized that I was actually afraid. I hadn't gone out on a date since Julianna's death and sometimes it's scary to meet other people when you lose someone because you think it will mean to leave them behind. I was starting to think I wasn't ready for this but I left anyway.  When I saw your mother it was like I knew she was the one for me and trust me when I say this, it's a big deal trying to listen to your heart because instead of talking to Camilla about it, I just thought were going out to  a friendly walk around town.  I took her to a karaoke/bar. It used to be kind of vintage, so everybody liked to go. I remember looking at Camilla  and thinking "this girl is perfect in every single way yet here I am wasting love".

We ate hot dogs, talked all night and honestly, I had a great time. I never told you this but I used to be a great singer. However, after Julianna passed away I just stayed away from the music. Camilla wanted me to perform at the bar with her and I refused to sing. I wanted to be up there on stage with her but I couldn't. I hadn't felt happy in a long time and with her it was pretty simple. She made me feel different. After years of loneliness and sadness, she came to my life and changed everything inside me but as you've told me, I don't let myself enjoy things. I couldn't help feeling this fear of letting go but doing the right thing wasn't my best quality. I ended up asking her out on a second date. 

I drove her to Venice and took her to her hotel. She said goodnight and kissed me on the cheek. Around midnight when I got home she sent me text saying that she had loved spending time with me and, well, the next day I sent Camilla a bouquet of flowers. Alonzo's cousin was the owner of a flower shop near her hotel, so I asked for a favor. I was an idiot by being this charming when I didn't know what was going on with me and my grief. Everytime I would do something romantic for her I felt guilty. I was a complete disaster.