Under The Tartosan Sun, Part Two

Part Two, Chapter One:

The breeze from the sea wafted over the coast bringing a pleasant saltiness that mingled beautifully with the ever-present scent of bergamot, jasmine, and lavender. To the women of the sisterhood, it was the aroma of home.  As they settled down to talk there was one burning question they were all dying to know the answer to.

“Alright girl, spill it” Londyn asked, her words practically vibrating with the excited energy they were all feeling, “How was your date with Venessa?”

“It wasn’t really a date” Allegra said, playfully dragging out the suspense. “All we did was have some drinks, dance, and mostly talk.”

“Sounds like a date to me” Danielle said. “Come on, give us the details. Start with the juicy ones and then keep going!”

“She’s really sweet. She’s so down-to-earth. Oh God, she’s so funny! She’s just like the characters in her movies.” Allegra gasped, “It was one of the best nights of my life!”

Liberty smiled playfully. “That was some good night kiss she gave you. Honestly it was more like a good morning kiss.”

Allegra began to blush as that moment in front of the hotel replayed in her mind. “Oh my God! What a kiss! You saw that?” She turned to see Liberty smiling and nodding.

 Liberty side-eyed Allegra. “Matteo and I saw the whole thing." To the group she said, "We were having coffee in the hotel lobby when Venessa dropped her off.” She turned back to Allegra, “I’m surprised you didn’t see us. We were sitting right in the window."

Allegra began to blush harder. “Well, I was a bit distracted.” The group melted into laughter.

It had been three days since they had arrived back in Tartosa, but the memory of that night was still as vivid in Allegra’s mind as if she was still living in the moment. She felt goosebumps as her memory conjured the thrill of a simple brush of Venessa’s hand against hers or a look that lingered a heartbeat or two. She’d gone to the Accolades as Danielle and Londyn’s guest to experience the glamour and the magic that she’d only ever seen on tv from half way around the world. Somehow she found herself unexpectedly swept off her feet by an amazingly beautiful woman who also happened to be a movie star. They only met that night at the show, but the connection felt so real, so electric, so intense. Allegra was sure Venessa felt it too. The memory of it thrilled her. 

Allegra was enjoying reliving those memories. Now that she’d given her friends what they wanted, it was time to reveal her little surprise. “I’ve been keeping a secret from you. The real reason I’m in Tartosa is I have an audition with the Campagnia Lirica Tartosa.”

“With the what?” Summer said.

“Campagnia Lirica Tartosa. That is the formal name for the Tartosa Opera Company.” After the little language lesson Allegra said, “This is something I’ve dreamed of since I was a teenager. Singing for the famous Tartosa opera would be a dream come true. I'll never be the diva. I don't have the voice for it and I quite like the parts I play.”

"Are you kidding, you have a beautiful singing voice" Danielle said. "You'd be great."

"Grazie, but I'm not a true soprano, I'm a mezzo-soprano." Allegra explained how that vocal style, for her, was a blessing. As much as she loved the opera, if you got right to the heart of it, singing and performing was in her soul. Her affinity for the opera came from her mom and how they bonded over it. "I started much later than most training for this. With that late start I'm just grateful to even have the career I do. With my voice my roles are more diverse which is much more fun. The soprano gets the glory, but we get to have more fun."

They sat and talked soaking up the sun. Allegra mentioned if she passed the audition she was going to start looking for an apartment in the Bellacorde section of town. There were several nice places not far from the opera house. She hadn’t told Venessa about the audition yet. She wasn't sure why she'd held it back. She'd kept it a secret from the sisterhood because she wanted to surprise them. With Venessa it was different, she wasn't a part of the sisterhood, yet. Venessa was currently tied up in production on her latest movie and for now their relationship was texts and nightly video chats. Those chats weren’t the same as being there, but it was the best they had. Allegra kept pushing the thoughts down, but she knew eventually they would have to deal with the distance between them if this relationship was going anywhere. If she got this new job with the Tartosa opera it would add another layer of complexity to their future together. Or would it? There was only one way to know, so why had she been reluctant to say anything? 

The ladies began to notice the breeze had switched directions. It was coming from the adjacent Porto Luminoso district. Delightful aromas from the cluster of trattorias and ristoranti that ringed the piazza made their way up to the Rossi’s patio, serving as a reminder that it was time for lunch. Before Matteo left to go watch his beloved FC Tartosa with Darian, he’d prepared a light, delicious meal for the ladies. He left them Caprese salad and his lovely tomato tortellini soup which he’d learned from nonna Vitoria. Liberty finished it off with some fresh peach Bellinis he had lovingly taught her to make.

Liberty marveled at her good fortune to be swept off her feet by a man who not only loved to cook, but was practically an artist in the kitchen. To her he was a culinary Michelangelo. Liberty’s mind drifted to other areas in which Matteo was just as artistic and she felt the blush rise in her cheeks.

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That evening Londyn slipped into her pajamas, settled on the sofa, and opened the package she’d received in the mail earlier. It was two more rough drafts of scripts that her agent thought she’d be interested in. She had reached that point in her career where studios and directors were beginning to come to her, or more accurately Melissa, her agent, to feel out her interest in roles or to pitch ideas. The script she was reading currently wasn’t particularly noteworthy, but the lead character’s story, a single mom fighting to regain custody of her child made her think. Danielle had showered and slipped into pajamas as well and now she snuggled up. They kissed and then Londyn asked, “Have you given any thought lately to us starting a family?”

The question caught Danielle off guard. After a moment she said, “Not a lot. Why? What brought that up?”

“Oh, it’s this script. I don’t know why but it got me thinking. It’s about a mom...”

“Thinking of researching the role?” Danielle playfully tried to tickle Londyn's belly.

“Haha funny girl!” Londyn set the script on the coffee table, then leaned back and ran her fingers through Danielle’s hair for a moment. “No, it made me think is all. I know we’ve talked a little about starting a family, but I feel like maybe it’s time those talks got a little more serious.”

“Are you ready to start a family?”

“No…”, Londyn thought for a moment, “…but, I feel like we should be talking more about it.”

“Why the hesitation?”

“I’m still not, like, one-hundred percent sure the time is right” Londyn said. “We haven’t even really discussed our options. Should we adopt or go for IVF. If we did IVF, who’s going to carry the pregnancy. There's so much we need to discuss.”

“Your right, there is a lot to sort out.” Danielle sat silently for a moment. “This all really caught me by surprise. To be honest I haven’t given it much thought beyond knowing I want to be a mom at some point."

"My reaction to that script caught me by surprise too. Once those thoughts got into my head I couldn't stop them."

"Well, I feel like we’re in a great place in our lives, personally and professionally. Maybe it is time. Maybe not. Either way I’m ready to have these discussions, but maybe not tonight. I need to sort out my thoughts. And I'm guessing you do too” Londyn nodded. They snuggled in tighter, content to move the conversation on to other subjects for now. It was just nice to be home. To shut the rest of the world out, cuddle up with each other, enjoy the familiar, comforting scent of each other's perfume and the reassuring warmth of their touch. Londyn leaned in for a kiss. Just as their lips met Danielle’s phone alerted her to an incoming text. The tone was Jasmine’s.

Jasmine: “Hello Danielle. Hope I’m not interrupting. I know it’s getting late there. I’ll be quick. How would you and Londyn feel about coming to San Myshuno next week?”

“Hey Jasmine! You’re not interrupting at all, and we’re certainly curious.”

Looking over Danielle’s shoulder Londyn said, “She's not? Have I ever told you what a pretty little liar you are?” Danielle burst out laughing.

"Silly, stop it. Let me see what Jasmine wants. Then I'm all yours."

 Jasmine: “Your latest book is generating serious buzz. Good Morning San My wants to have you on to talk about it. Interested?”

“Ooo, Good Morning San My! Baby I’m so happy for you! This is huge!”  Londyn was beaming, nearly as much as Danielle was.

Jasmine: “Before you answer let me sweeten the pot. Since you’ll already be in town, I have two tickets to opening night of San Myshuno Fashion Week. Should I book you on Good Morning San My?”

“Let me think…YES!!!!!! 😍😍😍”

Jasmine: “I thought so. The tickets are my little way of saying thank you for being my best client. See you then.”

“Thank you Jasmine. You’re the best!”

“Tickets to San Myshuno Fashion Week! Her little way of saying thank you?” Londyn grabbed her phone. “Babe, forward that to me. I want to send that to Mel so she can see how I'd like to be thanked.”