Counting Stars // Spencer Reid (ON HOLD)

Chapter 13

Eliza arrived at the cafe at approximately nine in the morning. River sat at her feet as she had chosen a table at the front of the cafe. She had ordered some coffee and a scone to enjoy while she read. It was a cool morning compared to the humid summer days that would soon be upon them. Occasionally she nibbled on the scone and sipped some coffee. She expected Spencer to show up at noon but he had texted her saying that he was busy with work at would take a late lunch. Finally she decided to get up to take a short walk with River.

Shops and restaurants lined the street. Eliza carried the books in hand as River lead the way. It was a short walk as River just wanted to see the sights. Eliza went to sit at the table she was previously at but saw that a gentleman had sat in the same spot as she had. River had laid down at his feet.

"Come here," she signed to River.

River pretended as if she didn't see the command. The gentleman chuckled. "It seems like your dog has a mind of it's own. I'm sorry if I stole the spot you were previously sitting at." She shook her head as to say it was all fine. "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is David Rossi."

Then it clicked in her head as to why he looked a bit familiar. "Buon giorno signore Rossi," She greeted him in Italian as she had told Spencer she would.

He looked a bit surprised. "Come ti chiami?"

"Eliza Hayes," She replied as she used her notebook that she kept handy.

"I see you are reading one of my books, please have a seat." He gestured to the empty chair.

"Grazie." It confused the man as to why she was suddenly using a notebook to communicate as she had greeted him verbally just fine.

"How do you like my book?"

"Very well, I have a friend who works in the bureau with you and it helps me understand their work," she wrote.

"Is that so? If you don't mind me asking, why the notebook?"

"I am selectively mute and am not comfortable speaking for a long period of time."

"Understandable, where did you learn Italian? You have that beautiful flow of proper Italian but I haven't heard much of your Italian to judge grammar."

"I am self taught for the most part, languages are one of my hobbies. Since spanish and Italian are Latin based languages for the most part it was easy to pick them up after I learned a decent about of Latin. I am not fluent in Latin but I understand the language."

"Would you like me to sign the book?" Rossi offered. Spencer's copies of Rossi's books had been signed already but luckily she had her own copy with her that day as she was rereading. She handed the book to him. "My first book I published, I promise you my writing gets better as I published more books."

"I don't doubt that since I just finished the most recent one. I was just rereading."

He signed the book and slipped one of his cards in the front page. "If you ever have any questions pertaining to my work that my books can't answer just send me an email and I will answer them."

The food Rossi ordered to go arrived but he decided to stay and eat. He had offered to buy Eliza lunch but she declined stating that she was waiting for a friend to arrive. They had a conversation about how the bureau worked.

"You seem to know so much about me, why don't we change the subject to you? What is your profession?"

"I teach kindergarteners, although right now I am looking for a part time job since I am going back to school," she wrote.

"Your parents must be proud of you." Rossi smiled at her.

"You sound as if you talk from experience."