Coffee meets Tea

Missing

"What do you think so far Montey?" Markus asks staring out the windows of the Limo and then glancing at Montey's face to search for expressions. Montey looked at Markus sitting farther away from him in the limo they were picked up in from the airport and she smiles softly.

"it's beautiful out here. More than i could imagine." Montey replies and smiles at Markus who smiled wildly back at her.

"Sì, l'Italia è molto bella." Markus replies agreeing that Italy and Rome were in fact very beautiful."Do you speak Italian yet Montey?" Markus asks forgetting he was speaking to an American girl.

"I can understand it very little, if you speak slowly enough. But I can't speak any of it back at all." Montey admits and she embarrassed that she didn't know more. You should always know a language of the country you move to. "But i am learning it in school." she adds at the end.

"Ahh an what school?" Markus asks and Montey pulls out a small envelope from her bag and hands it to Markus.

"My plans were to have a job in a small coffee shop not far from Sapienza University, and that would pay for my small apartment above the shop. I work in return for living situations. And that is a letter from Sapienza welcoming me to their school. They helped get me out here. I did well in school, and i got out here with scholarships." Montey explains and Markus read the letter fondly while nodding to Montey's conversation at the same time. He throws the letter back to Montey cheerfully and clicks his tongue against his teeth as is to tisk this information. Montey wasn't sure if this was a bad thing or not.

"You are a hard worker I can see that. I appreciate people who work hard for their livelihood. I admire that in woman especially. Let me show you how hard work pays off here in Italy." Markus says and the limo rolled up to the most beautiful giant villa.  Montey gazed with her mouth open. it was like it's own tiny village. Like the countryside of Italy was brought right in the city. The buildings looked old yet well structured and put together. Created with different colored tan stone and red stone shingles. So many arch ways and different sized windows with plants at each opening. Stone mason pathways and side walks looked like they were crafted by Van Gogh, their beautiful varying color that created abstract formation gathered around in whirling patterns. The front landscaping consisted of the greenest grass and trees and flowers and even a pond with the bluest water.  And this was just the front view of this tiny village. 

"Benvenuta in casa mia." Markus says and they stepped out of the Limo to gaze at it's glory. Markus took in a deep breathe as if he hadn't had Italian oxygen in a long time. Montey watched as Markus stared at his home, like he hadn't seen it in years. Her stares were interrupted by the squeals of a woman at the gates of the Villa. An older woman who was speaking so fast in Italian Montey could hardly understand it. She wore dazzling clothing and looked well for her age, she ran around the car as fast as she could and hugged Markus long and hard but that was too was broken by an instant.

"Bastardo! Mostra qui il tuo volto." She yelled angrily at Markus pinching his arm very hard he gave out a little yelp. Montey watched with confusion and looked around to see if anyone else thought this encounter was odd. She stood in silence waiting and watching periodically checking her phone.

"Mama, please. Do not yell so loud." Markus begged but this was followed by another harsh pinch in the same spot which caused Markus to bit his lip.

"You GONE for over a year! And now you come home? Not even a call Markus? WHY?" the woman yells who Montey perceived as Markus's mother, she surely did act that way, and he surely respected her as a relative that was far above him. A Man Montey had seen with such a large intimidating presence, now cowering in front of a very small Italian woman who was waving her arms around yelling loud enough for those in the streets near to hear.

"Mama please. You know I tried my best." Markus pleaded and the woman placed a hand on her hip and then let out a huge sigh and then raising her hands as if to say 'forget about it' and she then embraced Markus again. This time however the woman caught wind of Montey seeing her stand there and her curiosity was peaked.

"Markus, you brought home a woman? Young woman? How did you capture such a dime piece?" the woman says and Montey's face erupted into redness. both Markus and Montey spoke at the same time to interject Montey was not with Markus in that type of relationship. They both stopped talking and then Markus fixed his shirt and stood straighter then holding his hand out for Montey to take. Montey nervously stepped forward next to Markus tucking her phone in her bag.

"Mama, this is Montey, I met her in Colorado at the airport. I am hiring her to help me with some things. She is a student at University near here. I thought I would show her some true Italian hospitality her first day here. She was very helpful in keeping me company on my flights." Markus explains and the woman, looked at Montey up and down and grinned.

"Ahh I see, My name is Marta Rosa, but everyone here calls me Rosa or mama. You may call me Mama. So you are a student, congratulations. And welcome to Italy." Rosa says and Montey and her shake hands.

"It's a pleasure to meet you. Your home is so beautiful." Montey adds not really sure what she should say at this point, her days kept getting stranger and stranger, so she decided to just roll with it.

"You're American? Ahh i just love the Americans. Except for you food. So unhealthy, too much cream. You people could use more Olive oil in your food. We will show you true Italian food and hospitality yes. Come in the both of you. Take a load off." Rosa says and she clapped her hands in joy and Markus and Montey followed inside the Villa. The inside was about what Montey imagined. Original stone work and walls, with intricate molding and gold paint that outlined parts of the frames of each arched doorway.

"This home has been with our family for many many generations Montey. It was built by our ancestors and has remained in our family since. Even though the city grew around us this place remains the same. What do you think?" Rosa asks and they strolled through was was just the entrance towards the main room that lead you in the direction of everywhere else in the house. 

"It is marvelous, so beautiful." Montey replies and looks around, it was like being in a movie.

"Ma? Everyone seems to be here but, where is Vyles?" Markus adds and the air seemed to get heavy and Rosa turned to her son with a look of sadness in her eyes.

"Vyles has moved out, I have not seen her in many months." Rosa says and Markus looked very upset, Montey kept to herself.

"Do you know where she may be?" Markus asks clenching his fist and Rosa nods no.

"Rumor has it she is still in town. But i am not sure where she goes. I was to send men to look for her, but I think leaving her be should be best. After what happened  a year ago and then you disappeared. She is very mad at you Markus." Rosa says.

Montey was trying to wrap her head about what was going on but it wasn't her business. What happened a year ago? Why was Markus finally returning home after such a long time? Montey was trying to find answers but ended up getting more questions. Who was she dealing with, this family?

That night Markus introduced her to the huge family, they ate delicious food and despite the fact Montey was uncomfortable the whole time, she found her self enjoying the spontaneous adventure that this was. But what didn't leave her mind the whole day and night was that she still hadn't got the chance to meet this Vyles person, and by the sounds of it she might not be able to.

Maybe this meant her life could get back to normal? Maybe it meant she didn't have to work for Markus and she could go back to her coffee shop, and her apartment and stay on the plan she had made from the start.

Or maybe it wasn't that easy either...