Home Away From Home - 50. Chapter 50

Morning came and I was awaken by someone knocking on the bedroom door. “Want to bet it's Alessandro or Manolo, or both. We got our of bed and put our pants on, I went to open the door and it was both. “Aunty sent us to get you out of bed.”

I looked at Puppy and mouthed the words, ‘I bet’. “Ok, let us finish getting dressed and we'll be right down.”

We took a quick shower, and it was quick, dressed, packed our travel bags and headed for the kitchen. Sitting on the top of the stairs waiting for us, Manolo and Alessandro, did you think we went back to sleep.”

“No, we just want to sit with you.”

“I think you just inherited two new brothers.”

As we entered the kitchen, “Good morning Carlo and Anthony, I hope you slept well.”

“Thanks Sandro, we always sleep well in this house. Unless, we leave a wakeup call.”

Sandro looked at the boys, they ducked under the table. Puppy started to laugh. Whispering, “Aunty didn’t send you did she?”

The boys shook their heads no.

“After all that food I ate last night I think I’m still full, Aunty, just coffee for me.”

“Do you think she heard you?”

“Why?”

“Here she comes with two plates, eggs, ham, and toast. Also a side of fried Polenta.”

My stomach groaned, Puppy laughed when he heard it. “Will just skip lunch on the plane and have a light dinner.”

Eating in an Italian household is something else. No one stopped talking, you took a bite, someone else would be talking, as soon as you swallowed your food, they would be talking to you, one thing, everyone ate slowly. You couldn’t talk and eat at the same time.

As it was getting close to the time to leave, the boys began to fidget. They kept asking what time was it, even though only a few minutes had passed. “What time did you tell the crew we'd arrive?”

“I told them we'd be there around 9.”

“Maybe we should get ready to go now. It'll take time to get there and then to say goodbye.”

“Ok, Marcus as soon as you are finish, you and Ed get ready to leave. We'll get there a little earlier than plan but it will take longer to say goodbye at the plane.”

When Ed was finished eating, he picked up his bag and set it by the door. In a flash, two boys with their bags were sitting on the floor next to Ed’s bag. I looked at Puppy, we just couldn’t help laughing. When Marcus sat his bag down, Manolo and Alessandro took our bags and set them down next to the others, Aunty was laughing. Soon the cars were loaded and we were off to Milan's airport and our plane.

They parked their cars in front of the private airfield terminal, the terminal wasn’t large but they filled it up. I sent Ed to check on the plane. He came back and said they were ready. You'd think it would be easy to board a plane, not my plane. As soon as Ed came back, boxes started to arrive. It took us another half hour just loading boxes of food into the plane’s luggage department. Then they rolled the ramp to the plane, two boys couldn’t wait.

Marcus came back to the terminal, “We’re ready to board.”

I hugged and kissed Aunty good bye, Hugged Paolo and Gianna, hugged Sandro, “Don’t worry, he'll have a very good time.”

Puppy told the boys to say good bye, they followed Ed to the ramp, turned, waved and boarded the plane. I thanked everyone as did Puppy, then we boarded, making a last minute waves, the ramp was rolled away and the door was closed. Marcus and Ed took their seat at the back of the plane, the boys sat across from us, looking out of the window. “One of you change seat with us and then you both can look out of the window.”

I much prefer to look at Puppy, so it was a win-win situation.

“Carlo, Roger said we have a 15 minute delay and then we'll take off.”

“Good, Helen, maybe you should go over the safety regulations.

And she did to a very attentive audience.

Soon the plane started to move, the seatbelt sign came on, then the engines were reved up, I watched the boys. Their eyes became bigger and bigger as the plane started to move. Lift off for a first time flyer is always interesting to watch. They had smiles a mile long as they saw the ground becoming smaller and smaller.

Helen started a movie, so I moved so the boys could see the screen. It was one of the Disney movies. With Puppy’s head on my shoulder, I drifted off.

The silence woke me, the movie had finished. Helen began to serve lunch. She pulled the boys trays from the handles, placed a table cloth, napkins and silver ware on their table. I noticed that our security personnel already had their table ready.

Lunch was a light salad and sandwiches, not dainty ones. The ones we called hoagies. “Carlo, we were counting on only one child, I’m short one sandwich.”

“ Give mine to Marcus, we'll have just the salad.”

She put a salad and sandwich on each tray except Puppy’s and mine, we just got salad, she did give us a few rolls. When she handed the extra sandwich to Marcus, he must have asked whose it was, Helen pointed to me and I got a thumps up from Marcus.

Puppy and I had tea, the kids had Cokes and I okayed a beer for the security boys.

After lunch, Helen took the boys one at a time, to see the front of the plane. I wondered what they thought. Imagine you have never flown, now you're in a plane and someone asks you, if you want to see the cockpit. You would have been so excited, and the boys were.

“Helen, let the boys look at the list of movies we have, play whatever they like.” I had no fear what kind of movie they would pick, all of the movies on the plane were rated G or PG.

When I checked the boys, they had their heads together going over the list. Finally they settled for two movies, one was ‘The Hobbit’ and the other was ‘Finding Nemo’. I thought they were a good choice. Puppy and I napped with one eye open, we watched the boys.

“Carlo, we're two hours out, do you want dinner?”

“Yes, Helen, go ahead and make preparations for dinner. Fix the pilots dinner first.”

I watched as Helen fixed two trays and took it to Roger and Bob, she came back and got two bottles of water for them. As she began to place table cloths, napkins and silver ware on trays, “Carlo, are we going to eat?”

“Yes Alessandro, we are two hours away from landing. So we'll eat dinner on the plane because it's late and I’m sure the cooks are in bed.” Actually, I knew they would be up waiting for us.

Dinner consisted of a soup, salad, fish with green vegetables. It was light but filling. “Helen, this will not be enough for Marcus and probably Ed as well. Offer them more if we have it.”

“I took that into consideration when we order the food. I have a second plate for them.”

Do you know how to get boys to eat, even if they say they don’t like something, get them interested in a movie. They will eat without looking at their plate. At least these two did.

Dinner over, movies finished, “Boys, look out the window and let me know when you see lights.”

“Carlo, we'll be landing in 30 minutes.”

“Boys, please put our trays away, fasten your seat belts. We ll be landing soon. You should see lights in about 1 minute.”

“There, I see lights. Wow, there are a lot of lights there.”

Then the bump, we landed. The boys faces lit up in a big grin. “Boys, stay seated until Helen tells us it's ok.”

It wasn’t long that Roger had us parked in our usual space. I looked out the window and saw Peter pushing the ramp to the door. Helen opened the door, Marcus was the first one out followed by Ed. Puppy and I stood up, stretched, “You boys ready to get off the plane?”

Big smiles, we walked to the door, they led the way. I said hello to Peter, introduced him to the boys. “Alessandro, you and Manolo go where Marcus is standing and pick up your luggage. Then take it to Peter, he will load it in the bus and help you in as well.”

Puppy and I walked to where Marcus was unloading the baggage compartment. “Marcus, take what we can and the rest can be brought when the bus comes back for Roger, Bob and Helen.”

We took about half of the food and all of the luggage. The ride to home was quick. As soon as we arrived, the porch was filled with family and the boys. Alessandro and Manolo just looked. Carlos ran up to greet me, “Pop, I’m glad you're home.” Seeing the boys, “Hi, my name is Carlos, what are your names?” I looked at Puppy, he smiled and within 10 minutes the kids were talking a mile a minute.

Picking up their suitcases, Carlo led the boys into the house. The next time I saw them is when they came out to the pool. The boys had taken the boxes of food to the kitchen where David was holding court.

I took a cup of tea and headed for the pool. The boys came up and welcomed me back, Mom had to hug and kiss as well, Dad gave me a hug but no kiss. Maria jumped on my lap as soon as I sat down. “I’m glad you're home, Dad.” Then I heard behind me, “Me too, Pop.”

I was home and I was so glad, I gave each of the kids a hug and held it for a few minutes. “I missed all of you.”

Carlos came out with the boys and introduced them to everyone. Mom was glad to see them, I think she monopolized them for a half hour just asking questions about the family back home. “I think it might be time for Mom and Dad to visit Pavia.”

“Puppy, I’m going to bed. I still have a lot of sleep to catch up.”

“Go ahead, I’ll be up in a little while. I’ll check on the boys to be sure they are squared away.”

I went and took a hot shower, and when I hit that pillow, I was out. I didn’t hear or feel Puppy when he got in bed. The next morning I woke at 5, and there was my Puppy with his head on my chest, right were it’s suppose to be.”

After showering, shaving and brushing my teeth I headed for the kitchen, ready to resume my breakfast role. When I walked into the kitchen, David handed me a cup of tea and Troy was cooking bacon. “You both are up early, but I’m not complaining.” I set the cup on the table, and gave each of them a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “So bring me up to date, what’s happen since I was gone?”

While I was drinking my tea, and then eating my breakfast, they brought me up today. The two bedroom cottages were finished, and appropriately named. Troy wanted to know if he and Doug could have a hut, I said I would review what's available and if nothing, then I’ll build another just for them. This time I got a smile, a hug and a kiss on my cheek, just as Puppy walked into the kitchen. “Troy, you have your man, leave mine alone.”

You know the look when someone does something totally innocently, but to someone else it looks differently, that was the look Troy’s face. He began to stammer and stutter, “It’s ok Troy. Puppy is kidding.”

There was a look of relief on Troy’s face. David was laughing, he remembers many times when he was caught in one of our jokes. “Puppy, come and sit beside me before the boys wake up.”

Troy fixed a plate for Puppy along with a cup of tea. “I was surprised when I came to the kitchen this morning to start breakfast, David and Troy had it all under control.”

“Well, don’t expect every morning. We thought you would sleep longer.”

“Who would sleep longer?”

“Good morning Mom, Dad, come sit and be waited upon by our kitchen staff”

That didn’t happen. Dad sat with us, Mom got him his coffee and breakfast. I guess habits are hard to break. Slowly the kitchen began to fill up. The boys came in, took a plate and coffee, headed out to the tables by the pool. Then the groups, led by Carlos came in and swamped Puppy and I. We had to make room for them. “Did you guys get a good sleep?” They nodded their head.

“Carlo, I think they are still sleepy?”

Tony didn’t say anything, lifted Puppy’s arm and placed it around his shoulder. “Carlos, what are you going to do today?”

“I’m going to help Gramps in the garden, gather eggs and then swim.”

“You should give Alessandro and Manolo a tour. I’m sure they would like to see the pool and the Captain’s Walk.”

“Ok, Pop as soon as I finish my chores, I’ll do that. They can come with me.”

The boys nodded in agreement. “And you princess, what are you going to do?”

“I have to practice my piano lesson and then Gram is going to give ma a cooking lesson.”

“Well, it seems everybody has something to do. I guess I’ll go to my office and work. But not until I see the new additions. Coming Puppy?”

We took our cup of tea and headed to the pool. “Good morning guys.” We walked to the two bedroom for Joe and Roy. Then I saw Joe and Roy’s, the sign still said, ‘Resident Artist’ but they added the word ‘Extraordinaire’.

“Have you heard any word from Joe or Roy?”

“No, the last word was the letter where they said they were going to be guardians of the twins.”

“Maybe we should call them and see how they are doing.”

“I’ll call then later, maybe at my lunch time. Now I have to go to the hospital. I’ll see you tonight.” A kiss then he was off.

I saw Carlos and the boys heading over to the garden with Dad, I followed. It seems every time I go there, it gets bigger and bigger. “Dad, I know your garden is larger but is the chicken coop also larger?”

“Yes, we haven’t bought any new chicks, but that's one horny rooster. These are all hatched here. In fact, I think there are two hens sitting right now.”

“How many eggs are being collected now?”

“On average three to four dozen each day.”

“What do we do with that many eggs?”

“You should see the boys eat. Marcus puts away 6 each morning. Mom makes her own pasta so that takes up eggs and we have pasta several times a week. I think Doug takes some home once in a while.”

I just looked at my Dad’s smiling face. He was happy, I gave him a hug and left for my office. When I got there Doug was sitting in my chair. “Are you looking for your office?”

“Yes, I thought this was my office, but it looks like it its yours.”

“The conference room is done and your office is in there. I’ll show you.”

We walk out of his office and made a quick right turn, open the door and there was my office with a conference table at one end. “I didn’t realize this was finished. I never notices this when I came home last night.”

“I could put sign on the office doors if that helps.”

I laughed, but we need another office. Giovanni is going to work with us. He has a degree in civil engineering which will assist us on project evaluations.”

“We can put two offices next to the conference room wall. It would cut down on the living room but this room is really large.”

‘Call Mr. Harou and see what he can do.