Kate Concealed Read online

  The kitchen was a holly hobby type with a stove and oven about a third the size of one in the States although it did boast two burners, one small and one large. The fridge was small too, and almost empty. The boys probably ate out for almost every meal. There were some old pastries, oatmeal, and yogurt, none of which sounded appetizing at all. Ellie put the money in her wallet while Kate picked up the map, which was really a brochure for the university and looked it over. The university was amazing. More like several city blocks. Several ancient city blocks.

  “I’d really like to hike up the hill like Colby suggested, but I’m starving and there’s nothing here to eat.” Kate went to their room and grabbed their bags.

  “Let’s go find a café and get some real Italian food.” Ellie clapped her hands. “We can sit and watch people and talk with locals.”

  “Yeah,” Kate said, grabbing Ellie’s hands. “Let’s go see what it means to be Italian. Wahoo. So excited.” She forced her glee. She had to. She had to make up for the awful trip to Jersey.

  Kate grinned and handed Ellie her bag, which she slung over her shoulder. Kate did the same with hers. “This is going to be a lot of fun. Remember what we talked about. You can’t keep pining over Duran.”

  “I know.” Kate said it, but she didn’t really agree with the words.

  “Besides,” Ellie said as she walked to the door. “This is a university. That means guys our age. Hot Italian guys.”

  “You mean guys three to five years older than we are.”

  Ellie waved her hand, dismissing Kate’s comment.

  They stopped at the third café they saw and sat and ate pasta and sauce with a crusty roll. They weren’t exactly sure what the sauce was, but it was delicious. They also flirted with several boys who came by, but they all happened to be tourists. “This doesn’t seem like an authentic Italian experience. Where can we go that is tourist free?”

  “Considering that tourism is one of the main industries in Italy, I’m not sure there’s anywhere we can go. It’s probably worse right here because of the university. At least the food is authentic. Let’s get out of here.”

  They walked aimlessly for a bit.

  “I can’t believe how much graffiti there is here and it’s not pretty graffiti either.” Ellie locked arms with Kate and they headed down the busy street.

  “I know. Maybe that’s what you get when you’re in a college town of like sixty thousand students.” Kate avoided some trash on the sidewalk.

  “If they wanted to make a statement, you’d think they’d make it beautiful so people would pay attention and want to look at it.” She made a sound like a cat crying. “Oh, Kate, I so want to paint right now.”

  “This is good for you. You can learn some moderation in your addiction.” Kate had her phone out, trying to figure out where exactly they were. “We’re at the border of the university. It’s crazy that the university just looks like a bunch of city blocks.”

  “It’s beautiful. I can’t wait to get inside some of these buildings.” Ellie looked wistful. “What’s next on the To Do list?”

  Kate knew that she also couldn’t wait to paint pictures of the buildings. “Well, we ate all that yummy food, why don’t we do the San Luca hike back up to the Basilica.”

  “Alright.”

  They took a short taxi ride to the San Luca Portico trailhead and hiked up, leaving the mass of buildings to the green of the hills.

  “Well look who we have here,” a good looking Italian guy said when they’d only gone a meter or so. “A couple of hot American girls.” He and the other three guys with him seemed to leer at them, so Ellie grabbed hold of Kate and hurried past only to hear several whistles call after them.

  “I like attention as much as the next girl, but that was pretty creepy.”

  Before Kate could respond, a tall, tan skinned man, who had to be in his forties whistled at them and said, “Bella.”

  “Back off, creeper,” Ellie said.

  “I thought you liked older guys,” Kate said, laughing.

  “Why are you laughing? We are not pieces of meat.” She glared at Kate, who continued to grin.

  “Sorry, Ellie. It’s an Italian thing.”

  “Oh, now you’re claiming to be Italian.”

  “No,” she chuckled. “Italian men whistle to show their appreciation for good-looking women. I read about it online. It’s not considered an insult like it is back home.”

  “Serious?”

  “Yes. So you can stop being offended.”

  A couple more whistles filtered over to them. “I don’t know. This may take some getting used to.”

  “Yeah. It goes against our sensibilities.”

  “Definitely, but I’m going to have to get over it. Check out those beautiful guys ahead.”

  Kate couldn’t miss them. It seemed most of the guys they had seen had been attractive in one way or another. Before the guys could whistle, Ellie introduced herself. She was back in the saddle.

  “Ellie,” one tall blond said in an unfamiliar accent. “You are from America, no?”

  Kate frowned, but Ellie brightened. “Yep. On vacation. You from here?”

  “We are all here for school.” He jerked his head to his four companions. “These are my flatmates.”

  “Oh.” The guys listed the cities they were from. Ellie asked them a couple more questions and when the blond wouldn’t stop touching her, she grabbed hold of Kate and pulled her up the hill telling them they were on a schedule.

  “I think you may have met your match, Ellie Lambert,” Kate said. “Italian boys are forward for sure.” The majority of people they met the rest of the way up the three-kilometer trail to the Sanctuary of the Madonna di San Luca were either tourists or students. It became a little game for them to guess if the people ahead were tourists or students. A whistle usually made the determination for them. Most of the people they met were very friendly and forthright. The cement trail boasted an arcade, a covered walkway enclosed by a line of arches on one or both sides of the walkway. It was one of the longest in the world with 666 arches. The brochure Devlin had given them told them it had been built to protect the icon of the virgin as they brought it up to the basilica.

  The basilica was surrounded by a lush forest and Kate sucked in a breath at the beauty of it all. They walked around the peaceful, ornate building checking out its many nooks and crannies. “You ready to walk back down?” Kate asked Ellie once they made it back outside.

  “Not really. I mean, we’ll run into the same kinds of people. College students and tourists.”

  “I thought you were keen on all the hot college students.”

  “I am.” She grinned. “But I’d really like to peek into more of an established Italian person’s life. I mean seriously, think about an Italian learning about our culture from a teenager.”

  Kate chuckled. That sounded pretty weird, but she knew what Ellie was trying to say.

  “We could go to Piazza Magiore that we drove by and that Devlin suggested had more locals than tourists.” She whipped out a brochure about it. “It says here that it is a market square from the 13th century.”

  “Good idea.” Kate had wanted to go there after Devlin’s description of it too.

  “First, let’s stop by the medieval section of town and see what there is to buy and see. It’s supposed to be pretty cool. It’s farther away, but we can cut back through the Piazza on our way back to the apartment.”

  “Medieval, huh? I’m game. I’m going to be taking lots of pictures, I’m sure. I’d like to paint a medieval scene, I think.”

  “There’s supposed to be great shopping and lots of good stuff to eat. Chocolate and stuff.”

  “Yum.”

  8

  While at first glance the market seemed authentic, it quickly became apparent that it was a tourist trap. There were fresh noodles of all sorts, but it was full of tourists and jam-packed with tons of students looking for a cheap meal. “This is nothing like how I’d imagined
it,” Ellie said. “And the smell. I’m not sure I can take much more.” The smell of raw fish and meat mixed with the scents of those that had been smoked was not a pleasant one.

  “Yeah. I’m not really interested in sausages. We’re going to hit students everywhere we go, there are so many here, but I’m hoping there will be a minimal number at the piazza.” Kate made a mental note to return and pick up some fresh pastas to take home with her at the end of their trip.

  “At least the chocolate was good,” Ellie said, putting another truffle into her mouth.

  They used a maps app to lead the way to the piazza and struck out on foot. The narrow roads led the way to the large, cobbled open area with little shops and eateries encircling it. They paused just inside the open area, both taking a deep breath and looking at each other and smiling before continuing. The piazza was quiet and beautiful. Doves and other birds swooped and landed, hoping to grab a morsel of dropped food. Waiters in crisp white and black uniforms served the many sections of open air seating, bringing and taking away food and drink to patrons. A few benches were scattered about, all already claimed. Those not seated at a café or restaurant milled about, browsing through wares that spilled out of shops onto the sidewalks, or window shopped in no apparent hurry. Others walked casually in small groups, chatting and laughing. Many of the benches were occupied by old men and women who threw birdseed for the many birds. Couples occupied the others. Love was in the air and it made Kate’s heart rush every now and then as she thought of Duran.

  An old couple walked by holding hands. “You see,” Kate mused, “if this is what it means to be Italian, I have no problem with it.” Kate grinned until it hurt her cheeks.

  “Do you feel like a part of you has become whole? Kinda like finding your dad?” Ellie leaned into Kate with her shoulder.

  “I don’t know if it’s the same, but I do feel a sort of pull toward these people, whether it’s because Colby told me I should, or if I really do.” A stray thought about her mom’s dad whipped through her mind and she shoved it back into a corner. She wasn’t sure how long she could keep the secret from Ellie.

  “Let’s choose the romantic notion and go with it. You feel the pull.” Ellie winked at Kate. “Wouldn’t it be fun if there was an injection that could make you feel what they feel inside? Feel truly Italian for one day? See if you liked how it felt.” She grinned and then said, “Check that out.” She motioned with her head to a gelato stand where a line of guys stood ordering and eating gelato. “I think I feel the need for some gelato.” She elbowed Kate.

  “Yum,” Kate said, thinking of the gelato and not the guys. Ever since Jersey and Jace, Kate had been more cautious when it came to guys and flings, not that she had ever really experienced a fling besides the one with Jace. She recognized that despite what a person portrayed on the outside, it was hard to tell what was going on inside. She still hadn’t completely forgiven herself for how she’d treated Jace that last day even though deep down she knew she wasn’t to blame for his actions. He’d had a lot going on in his life and hadn’t been truly happy for a very long time. Nonetheless, she would be careful and make sure she was clear about her expectations, how she felt, and what the guy should expect from her from now on.

  Ellie started over after she grabbed Kate’s hand and pulled her along. True to form, Ellie didn’t go to the back of the line, she walked right up to the guys and said, “Ciao!”

  Several of the guys said, “Ciao!” right back and looked her up and down and then moved on to Kate. Her face immediately heated up and she looked at her shoes.

  Ellie tilted her head and said, “Any good flavors today?”

  One of the guys moved forward and winked. “Would you like to try mine?” His Italian accent was thick, his voice deep.

  “Depends on what it is. I was thinking something with chocolate today.”

  “Nutella,” the tallest of the group said, stepping forward at the same time a dark blond with brown eyes moved toward them. “Stracciatella is perfecto for you.”

  Truly, Ellie could make any guy swoon with her beach tan body and blond hair. She looked at all the different choices and then at the guys who offered them and said, looking at the guy, not the gelato, “Stracciatella it is.” The guy smiled and held it out for her to taste. “Could you order my friend and me one? There’s no way I could tell her the name.”

  He smiled. “Yes.” And they followed him to the line. While standing there, the first guy who’d spoken moved toward Kate. “You are Americans?”

  “Is it that obvious?” Kate said, wishing her face would cool off already. It seemed everyone they had run into today had known they were Americans.

  “Well, you speak American English, not British English.”

  “Oh, yeah,” Kate said. “I thought maybe something about how we dress or act screamed American.”

  “Maybe a little, but that’s okay. You actually look Italian, though. I’m Martino.”

  “Maybe because I am. I’m Kate.” She was shocked that the words had so easily tumbled out.

  His head jerked back. “But you don’t speak Italian?”

  “I was adopted.” She searched his eyes to see his reaction. They moved slowly closer to the gelato stand and where Ellie and her guy, whose name Kate overheard was Constantin, were talking and laughing away. The rest of the other guys continued to eat their treats standing off to the side.

  “Ah. So you are here on holiday?” She didn’t catch any hesitance from him.

  She nodded. “Yeah. I’d really like to get a feel for how Italians are. To see if I’m like them.”

  “You think all Italians are the same?” Martino grinned like he was about to eat a whole cheesecake.

  Kate didn’t want to go into the whole gene thing. “No, but you knew we were American even before we spoke, I bet.”

  “Yes. I did.”

  “But why?” They shuffled forward as the line moved. “That’s the question, right? What is it that tips people off that I’m American and you’re Italian?”

  “I could show you Italy.” Martino’s smile was kind and inviting. “How long are you here?”

  “Only a few days, unfortunately. You think I can get a good taste of what it means to be Italian in only a few days?”

  “I think you can get a taste.” He winked. “I’d love to help you with that.” Kate’s whole body reacted with lovely tingles in response to his words, but her mind was yelling at her to be careful. What kind of a guy would want to spend serious time with a girl when he knew it would only be for a few days? Ellie ordered and paid. Kate thought about her promise to Ellie that she would open up while in Italy and not let her memories of Duran keep her from making other connections. Her heart thumped with a sense of betrayal and loss, but she said, “I’d like that,” ignoring the feelings. Nothing serious would happen in two days anyway.

  It was their turn to order and Martino bent over and whispered the words she’d need to say, his fingers resting on her forearms. Kate sucked in a breath and repeated what he’d said. He smelled musky and somehow fruity at the same time.

  The server raised her eyebrows and looked at Martino. He bent back down and repeated the phrase for ordering again, only he stopped in the middle. Kate repeated what he’d said and then he whispered the rest and she repeated that. Their server smiled and scooped three big scoops of gelato onto a cone for her.

  “Whoa! That’s too much.”

  “Lesson number one: Being Italian means doing it big and doing it right.” His thick, enticing accent helped imprint his words on her soul.

  Kate smiled and started in on the treat as they left the stand to meet up with the rest of the group. Martino kept a strong hand on her elbow, leading her.

  Everyone made comments about the size of her cone and laughed, their hands flying all over the place as they spoke. Martino leaned down and whispered, “Lesson number two: We like to be seen and heard.”

  Kate chuckled. “So do Americans.” She glanced at her
feet. He moved in front of her and looked her in the eyes, separating her from the others but only by a few feet. “Number three: As an Italian, you should never be ashamed of who you are or what you are doing. Being Italian means being proud to be Italian. You belong to a people influenced by some of the most interessante cultures throughout history.”

  As he spoke, she could feel how deeply he believed what he said. The Italian accent slid over her skin like a sweet caress, and she wanted desperately to feel the same way. His deep brown eyes seemed to see into her soul. So far she liked what it meant to be Italian.

  She stood straighter and smiled. “Wow. Three lessons in such a short time. How many lessons are there exactly?” She was dying for more. Through him, she believed she truly could discover her Italian-ness.

  “That depends on you.” He quirked up one corner of his mouth. Fire raced to her heart. She’d never met anyone as charming. At least not that would talk to her and act interested in her.

  “We hope you two enjoy Italy,” one of the guys in the group said. “But we must go to class.” He gave a meaningful look to Martino and Constantin. Ellie moaned.

  “How about dinner tonight?” Martino asked, his smooth voice begging her to say yes.

  “Actually,” Kate said, leaning around him to look at Ellie. “We already have plans. Tomorrow?”

  “Tomorrow is dinner with family.” He narrowed his eyes like he was thinking. “Yes. Lesson number four: Family is everything, but of course you should help others whenever you can. Would you like to have the most incredibile meal of your life tomorrow?”

  “How could I say no to that?” Her insides quaked and she had to be careful not to squeeze the cone in her hand too hard.

  “Excellent. Lesson number five: Eating Italian food is a sensuale experience, meant to be savored. And if you didn’t catch it, lesson number six is: Italians are very hospitable. Where should I pick you up?”