Ch. 16 - Romantic Serenade

The date for JC's final exams at university had come and gone and Alesia had not heard from him in days.  She got no response from calls and texts and took to exercising till exhausted to cope with the anxiety of not knowing what was going on with him as days turned into weeks.

Alena was now a celebrated celebrity chef and often did appearances as a celebrity judge for food contests.  It was after one of these particularly exhausting contests that she got a call from Armondo wanting to meet at the Relaxation Station.  She was tired and wanted to fall face first into bed but with both of them so busy with work it had been weeks since she spent more than twenty minutes with Armondo.

"Armondo this place hasn't even opened yet and I don't want any trouble.  Since the last mayor was tossed into that volcano they've had trouble trying to find a reputable company to run this place.    I've missed seeing you but couldn't we have met some where in town?  Judging on all these food shows has really been putting me through the ringer."

"Sweetie I know how tired you must be and I'm so grateful that you came all this way for me," Armondo soothed.  

"Here these are for you."  How lovely she looked was all Armondo could think about as he offered her the roses.  

"They're lovely," Alena sighed taking the flowers.  

"Listen I'm sorry I was a bit crabby before.  I really am glad you called to meet up.  I've missed you so much..."

Armondo couldn't take it any longer, he had seen more of her on the cooking shows he recorded on his cable box at home than he had in person in these past few weeks.

"You're just so beautiful Alena and I've missed you so much too.  I wanted us to have some time together away from everyone else and interruptions from work.  Will you watch the stars and talk with me a for a bit?"

"How could I not say yes after that?"

As they watched the stars together the two caught each other up on what was going with work and the bits of their personal lives the other had missed out on.

"I'm starting to get worried myself about JC," Armondo said after Alena told him about JC and Alesia.  "I haven't been able to reach him myself when I get a spare moment and try to call and see how he's doing in Monte Vista.  If something serious had happened to him I'm sure his family would have let us all know right away.  Maybe he just has some personal business to take care of before he comes back.  You know your dad did make one heck of an impression on us that night at dinner.  If it had been me your dad had gotten on to that night I'd be sure all my ducks were in a row before I came home to you."

"I can see that," Alena said rolling her eyes about how stern Octavio had been with the guys.  "Mom keeps saying this will all turn out for the best and I can't take it on any greater authority than that so we'll all just have to wait."  Alena stood and reached out for Armondo's hand.  "Okay Mr. Vice President show me around your company's new resort."

"I can't believe how amazing this place is.  People are going to love this place when it finally opens.  I'm so proud of you Armondo, this promotion has been a long time coming."

"I'm really proud of you too Alena.  Landing your very own cooking show on a major network is amazing."

"Here," Armondo said as he got down on one knee.  "There's something I've been wanting to ask you for a long time now.  Alena Divine will you marry me?"

"Yes Armondo, yes I will marry you," Alena said as he drew her into a kiss.

"I'm so happy we're finally going to be doing this," Alena sighed while the two cuddled on the bed together.  "These bed's are just for show right?"

"Well since it's just the two of us here it doesn't have to be,"Armondo replied with a wryly grin.

The two missed a watching a lovely sun rise from their spot on the mountain top.

Alesia was wondering what was keeping her father.  He had called her to meet at the park after all but he was ten minutes late and wasn't picking up his phone.

She was preparing to leave when she heard the call of a familiar voice.  

"Ciao bella signora," JC called as he approached an elated Alesia.

"Oh my goodness JC!   My dad set this up didn't he?  When did you get back home?  I've missed you like crazy and you weren't responding to any of my texts and calls."

"I got all your messages when I landed back home and bought a new phone.  Your dad came to pick me up at the airport and boy was security surprised when he just poofed into the airport.  He told me how worried you've been and said I should meet you here."

All Alesia could do was smile at how sweet her father was.  "How did your finals go?  Were you able to earn your degree?"

"Yes, I graduated with a perfect gpa.  I wanted to invite you and everyone else but things got a little crazy with the rebels on campus.  Their leader was some insane technophobe and staged a protest that turned into a riot that took out three cell phone towers and the power company.  The military got involved and it was just one huge mess.  I'm sure it will be all over the news when the communication towers are rebuilt."

"Here I want to show you what I learned at university," JC said as he got out his guitar and began singing an Italian love song.

Che bella cosa è na jurnata ’e sole,

n’aria serena doppo na tempesta!

Pe’ ll’aria fresca para già na festa...

Che bella cosa na jurnata ’e sole.

Ma n’atu sole cchiù bello, oi ne’,

’o sole mio sta nfronte a te!

’o sole, ’o sole mio, sta nfronte a te,

sta nfronte a te!

Quanno fa notte e ’o sole se ne scenne,

me vane quasi ’na malincunia;

sotta ’a fenesta toia restarria

quanno fa notte e ’o sole se ne scenne.

Ma n’atu sole cchiù bello, oi ne’,

’o sole mio sta nfronte a te!

’o sole, ’o sole mio, sta nfronte a te,

sta nfronte a te!

(O Sole Mio by Giovanni Capurro)

"Alesia Divine you are the brightest star in my universe. Will you shine that beautiful light of yours down on me for the rest of my life as my wife?"

Alesia screamed with joy jumping up and down in jubilation.  "Yes, yes, yes!  Yes, I will marry you JC!"

"Oh JC its a diamond with little purple stones all around it.  You had this specially made didn't you?"

"Yes, I told the jeweler that I wanted a ring that complemented the brightness of your eyes."

JC laughed at himself as he realised what he just said.  "Wow that was unbelievably cheesy."

Alesia began crying and laughing at once.  "I agree but it was still very sweet and romantic."

JC dried her eyes and hugged her to him.  He had missed her so much the thought of leaving university early to be with her had crossed his mind more than once.

"I was starting to wonder if this was ever going to happen for us," Alesia admitted shyly.

"What did you think your dad scared me off and I found some pretty Italian girl that didn't have a terrifying mystical being as a father to settle down with?"  JC joked.

"No of course not.  Just don't take the four break up songs addressed to CJ on my album seriously okay?"