I’m finally revisiting the characters from The River City Chronicles nine years after their original timeline. I’ll be running the series weekly here on my blog, and then will release it in book form at the end of the run. Hope you enjoy catching up with all your faves and all their new secrets!
Today, Carmelina gets an unexpected phone call as she’s packing for her Italy trip…
< Read Chapter Eighteen
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Chapter Nineteen
Travel Plans
Daniele pecked Carmelina on the cheek. “I’ve got to dash down to Bergman to grab a few travel supplies for Friday. Need anything?”
Carmelina stared at her open suitcase on the bed. “A bigger suitcase?” It was Samsonite, and easily three feet on the long side.
He snorted. “Bigger than that? It’s already almost as big as you are. We’ll only be in Rome for a week.”
“I know, but do you realize how many possible wardrobe combinations that is? Two changes a day—that’s pants, shirt or blouse, underwear, socks, shoes, and bra—” Her face scrunched up as she tried to do the math. “That’s like 217 pieces of clothing.”
Daniele chuckled. “Tesoro, math was never your strong suit. And why two per day? Just wear the same thing a couple times.”
“And have your family laughing at me for wearing jeans to a fancy Italian dinner?” Daniele was a sharp dresser. She’d bet his mother would give her the evil eye if she showed up for dinner in… god forbid… casual clothes.
He laughed again, good-naturedly, and squeezed her shoulder. “You may be right. Just try to keep it… manageable. I could get you some of those vacuum bags.”
She grinned. “Yes, that would be perfect. I’ll need about thirty—”
“Let me do the calculations. Just work on getting everything selected by the time I get back, and I’ll help.” He winked and slipped out of the room.
Although a day never passed when she didn’t miss her first husband, Arthur, she knew he’d approve of her new man.
A minute later, the garage door closed, and Daniele was on his way.
Carmelina set about choosing her clothing for the trip. Daniele was right, in a way, though she’d never give him the satisfaction of knowing it. She could wear some things more than once, and mix and match them so she didn’t end up wearing “the same thing” twice.
She was just debating which of seven scarves she needed most when her phone buzzed.
Sam Fuller.
She picked it up immediately, sinking down on her bed. Her massive pile of clothes tilted toward her, threatening to bury her under a cotton and polyester avalanche. “Hey.”
“Carmelina?” He sounded small and far away.
Poor Sam. “Yeah, it’s me. I saw your name on caller ID.” She pushed the tower of clothing away to collapse across the suitcase. “How are you?”
There was a long pause. “Not so good. Things… there are so many things to do here.”
She nodded, then realized he couldn’t see her. “I know. Do you want to Facetime?” In reality, she was a bit of a mess. She had Mondays off when her bakery was closed, and she’d slept in. Her hair went in a number of different directions, and she hadn’t yet made up her face. Not suitable for public consumption.
But Sam was Sam.
“Not right now. I’m running on about two hours of sleep, and I’m a bit of a mess.”
If you could just see me… She laughed, then covered her mouth. “Sorry. It’s… I never know what to say at times like this.”
“Just hearing your voice helps.” There was a sound that might have been a muffled sob. “It happened so fast. One day he was here, and we were planning a trip to Puerto Vallarta in the fall. Next thing I know…”
“Yeah.” It had been like that with Arthur, too. “It’s always too fast.” Her heart ached for him.
He took a deep breath and pressed ahead “So… anyhow. I called for a reason. Give me a sec.”
She missed the old landline phones, where you could twirl the spiral cord around your finger to kill time and give your hands something to do. Especially in moments like these. “Take your time.”
He and Brad had been good together. There was an age gap, sure, like between her and Daniele. But they’d always been “the boys” to her. She’d let too much time pass since she’d gotten in touch with them. And now Brad’s gone.
“Okay, so, Brad wanted to have his ashes scattered in the Effie Yaw Nature Center.” He said the words slowly and deliberately, as if he was trying to get them all out clearly, without faltering. “He’s being… Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” She wished she were there to hug him.
“Cremated. Today.”
Arthur had been buried, so she hadn’t had to deal with that particular issue. But a loss was a loss. “He’ll like it there. By the river.”
“Yes. By the river.” He grabbed onto her statement like a lifeline. “He always loved Sacramento’s rivers.”
“That’s perfect.” She cringed. Nothing about this was perfect.
He didn’t seem to notice. “I’m flying in on Wednesday. I was hoping I could stay with you. I was going to get a hotel but there’s some kind of convention in town and everything is super expensive. My friend Oscar is coming with me.”
“Of course.” She wasn’t leaving until Friday morning. “When were you planning to spread the ashes?” She glanced at the suitcase.
“I hadn’t decided. I’ll be there for a week or two—”
She bit her lip. “I only ask because Daniele and I are leaving for Italy on Friday. His lesbian cousin is getting married.” She cringed again. Why did I mention marriage? And lesbians?
Another pause. “We can do it Wednesday.”
She shook her head. “No, don’t decide on my account. I can—”
“Don’t be silly.” He sounded a little more like his old self. “Brad would want you there. I’ll email you the flight info.”
“Thank you.” She closed her eyes, remembering Brad as he’d been when she knew him. “He loved you, Sam. Hold onto that.” She squeezed the red scarf in her hand.
“I know he did. He loved you too.”
Brad was… had been a man with a big heart. He’d taken care of Marissa before Carmelina had even known she was her granddaughter. “You can stay as long as you like. I’ll give you the keys and the alarm code when we go.”
“I really appreciate that.” Silence fell between them again. Then, “I have to run. Oscar’s calling. See you in a few days.”
“Bye.” She stared at the blank phone screen after he hung up. It would be good to see him. And so strange that it’s without Brad.
With a sigh, she set her phone aside.
It was time to tackle the rumpled mountain of clothing that had taken over her bed.
< Read Chapter Eighteen
Like what you read? if you haven’t tried it yet, check out book one, The River City Chronicles, here.