Nicolo
The beach was our destination today. Brazen had been dying to go, but I wasn’t a huge fan of getting sand in places where the sun doesn’t shine. But for my lovely wife, I would gladly pick granules of sand from my ball sac, if that made her happy. The place I wanted to show her was a hidden gem that only locals knew about. You would not see many tourists at this special port. We took the train about thirty minutes outside of Bari to a small town called Polignano A Mare. There we would visit a small café where I had called ahead and asked for a picnic basket to be made. My wife and I were going to share a meal on the private beach and maybe make love for the rest of the afternoon. That was the plan anyway.
“We’re here, baby.”
“I thought we were going to the beach, not on a hike.”
Her eyes went wide at the sight of a cave that I was leading her to. It was a short walk from the café, but well worth the trouble to get to it. I chuckled at her comment. She was so spoiled from living in America. The beaches there did not make you work to find them. You simply drove to the location and got out of your car. To get to this one there was a short hike on rocky terrain, but the view was amazing. There was nothing like it.
“Sometimes you have to work to get to the best parts.”
“Nicolo, I don’t really like caves. That is a cave you’re leading me into.”
It was the sound of her voice that made me stop and pay attention to her. My Brazen had never sounded afraid since I met her. She was always confident and strong willed. This time, her voice was unsure and laced with fear. Taking her hand, I found that she was trembling.
“Tell me, what is it that makes you afraid of caves?”
She shook her head at me as if to say she didn’t want to tell me. There was some trauma there that she hadn’t disclosed. It felt like she delt with it and didn’t intend to. I took her by the hand and led her to a small seating area so we could talk.
“Simone, look at me. Remember what I told you on our wedding day? What did I tell you?”
“That you would die for me and keep me safe.”
“That’s right, baby. I will die for you. You are safe with me. That means you can tell me anything, as well. I will protect your heart as well as your body. Let me in, Brazen.”
“I’m afraid.”
“I can see that, but I am your man. I won’t let anything happen to you. Do you trust me to do that for you?”
Slowly, she nodded her head in affirmation. My heart jumped a bit when she acknowledged that she did indeed trust me. She sat there, running her damp hands on the skirt of her dress. Her head was down, and she was studying the cobblestone walkway like it was the most interesting thing in the world. Then she parted her beautiful mouth and began her story.
“Remember how you told me the story of how you first saw me? I was in your family’s basement. What you don’t know is, how that came to be. My father was at war with an Italian family named The Saldanos.
“Somehow, they broke into my father’s estate, kidnapped me, and took me to Italy. The town was similar to this one, but I wasn’t able to see much because they had me blindfolded. They were marching me from a car to a boat when the eye cover slipped down. I could smell the ocean. I remember that like it was yesterday. The water here smelled different than it did at home. It was clean and crisp. My captors forced me to walk into this cave like structure on the way to the coast.
“To an eight-year-old, it felt very much like the stories I read in school about the slave trade. I was marched, barefooted and chained through a damp cave. The walls felt as if they were caving in on me. The roof was low. I was tall for my age, and I remember having to duck down in some spots. I recall licking my lips because they were dry and tasting the salt from the water. The men who were with me were nasty and mean. They hit me and terrorized me. There was one man who looked at me like he wanted to do things to my body. I developed young, and he was one of those men who liked little girls. Luckily, I was never left alone with him.
“As soon as I got onboard their boat, I was taken down below and tied up in this dank little room. It smelled like there may have been mold growing on the walls. I don’t know how long I was there because I barely saw the sun. All I know is, I couldn’t speak the language, but I learned to decipher the different voices. One night, I heard voices that weren’t familiar. What sounded like a battle was going on up top. There was shouting, gunshots, and then silence.
“I sat in the dark, praying for my father to come and save me. Instead, God sent me an Italian savior in your father. He scooped me up and held me close to comfort me. I didn’t know who he was, but I knew on instinct that he would never hurt me. He eventually took me to your house, and that is where I was reunited with my father.”
“Damn! I knew something had happened to the girl in the basement, but I thought my father was the one holding her captive. I mean you. I still can’t wrap my mind around that little girl being you. That was the night they made the marriage agreement. Your father promised your hand to me because he knew I would always keep you safe, just like my father had.”
“That sounds about right.”
“Baby, I promise I will keep that agreement. Stand up. Now, give me your hand. I won’t let it go. You are not being marched into slavery. I am taking you to paradise. Now, follow your man to this beach so we can enjoy the rest of our day. You trust me, right?”
“I do.”
Brazen smiled up at me, and I couldn’t help but to pull her in for a hug. She was so soft and warm, and I wanted to hold her like that forever. I brushed a sweet kiss on her mouth and released her. She took my hand again when I held it out for her, and I led her into the cave. At the opening of the cave, I knelt and helped my wife remove her shoes. After removing mine, I informed her that the cave floor was covered in water from the waves crashing onto the beach. Taking her hand, we began our adventure, walking a short distance to the water. Maybe fifty or so steps and we were there. The entire time she was able to see and hear the water, and at no time was she closed in. When we came out on the other side, her breath hitched in her chest.
“Oh my goodness, Nicolo, it is so beautiful.”
“Not as beautiful as you, baby.”
I wrapped my wife in my arms and held her as ocean water lapped at our feet. I led her over to some large rocks where I setup the picnic. After helping her onto the rock, we sat and ate our lunch, enjoying the view and each other’s company.
“Nicolo, what are your dreams for us? I mean, do you want kids, and if so, how many? Do you want to expand the business? Where do you see us in five years?”