Tuesday, September 04, 2007

The Italian Invasion....Chapter Two

































(Pictures of Kewarra Beach Resort)

Some years ago the Fiat car company ran an advertising campaign with this slogan, “Have a love affair with an Italian”. I took their advice literally. There was no Fiat, but there definitely was an “Italian”!

Dinner out on the deck that first evening was high-spirited, to say the least. Andrea/Andrew, awed by the expanse of the island beaches and the lack of people on those beaches could hardly contain his excitement. Being used to over-crowded Italian beaches, what he’d experienced his first day on the island was all so very foreign, so very new and thrilling to him. Not wearied by his adventures, he stayed on long after Jan and her husband retired to their cabin. The attraction between the two of us couldn’t be denied. Though a million years younger than I, any concern about that was soon cast to the wayside! Who cared? Definitely not me, nor did it worry Andrea. I was a “free agent” and so was he.

Jan and her husband left the island, as planned, on the Sunday afternoon boat. Andrea chose to remain behind. Our relationship intensified. During the following week, I had to attend a tourism conference at Kewarra Beach Resort, a resort situated on the beachfront at Kewarra in the northern beaches area of Cairns. Andrea accompanied me. After all, Andrea was visiting Australia representing his father’s tour operator business, so amongst all that was going on between him and me, he was also learning a lot about tourism Australia! We continued on to Palm Cove after leaving Kewarra Beach where we spent a couple of idyllic days, just the two of us, the sand, the ocean and the sun.

After an emotional farewell at Cairns Airport where Andrea departed south to link to his flight back to Italy, with promises to return to Australia, I went back to my life on the island. Promises are often made that one feels will never be fulfilled. In this instance, I forced myself to face the reality of the situation. Andrea and I had shared a vignette, an unexpected, pleasant, passion-filled interlude. I refused to let my heart expect more. Watching him pass through the exit door onto the tarmac of the Cairns airport, I wiped away my tears, telling myself, “That’s that! I’ve had my “Italian Love Affair”…and it had been wonderful.” The world had stopped for us those few days. We’d become so engrossed in each other all else fell into oblivion. Nothing else existed. No one else existed except the two of us. And now it was over. It was time to put that aside and face the world once more.

The images of his flashing eyes, his mischievous smile, his lithe, brown body and his lively personality continued to tease and taunt me. Together we had fitted like fingers into finely-crafted gloves. I missed his conversation, his joyful innocence when confronted by the wonderment of his new surroundings. Through his eyes, I learned to look around me and see anew, too. And it had been exciting. I missed him. I missed him terribly, but I buried myself in work to help ease the pain and the loss. It was fruitless pining for him, I told myself. We would never meet again. I would be living a fantasy to think otherwise.

Andrea telephoned me immediately upon his return home to Italy. He continued to do so every couple of days. Four weeks had transpired since his departure when I reached for the telephone one busy morning in my island office. Andrea’s lyrical voice greeted me. My heart leapt and a smile creased my face as was the uncontrollable habit each time I heard from him. At his words, I became speechless. He was returning to Australia…to me! Was I still sleeping? Was this a dream?

To be continued.....(Sorry!!)

28 comments:

  1. Awww!

    It was just getting good!

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  2. lol Sorry, Janice...I had to race off to do some things so I had to cut it short for today. ;)

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  3. Kathleen Woodwiss(probably spelled incorrectly) watch out here comes LEE.
    Now if I had the book I who am a morning person would sit up all night just to finish it.
    "YOU ROCK GIRL"

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  4. lee,
    You know how to keep us coming back, he said panting and..
    rel ;-)

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  5. Hey, I have finally caught up on all of my blog reading.

    I remember Cairns fondly. The people I met were friendly and outgoing. I wish we had more time, and a car. Did some walking though.

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  6. Hey Lady Di...I'm tempering it down a bit...I'm not yet brave enough to go into minute details! ;) Thanks for your comment. :)

    A dose of an episode a day, Rel! ;)

    It's a pity you and Stormy didn't have more time, plus a car when you were in Cairns, Marc as the surrounding areas of Cairns are well-worth visiting. Maybe next time. :)

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  7. OK I am now labeling you Sunny the TEASE. All kinds of things are going through my head about his coming visit.....

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  8. Hahahahaha, american woman! I'm laughing my head off here! ;)

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  9. Italians are some of the most love/hateable people in the entire world!

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  10. Hi Lee, like with you time has become my enemy too but I have caught up for now, will be back for "continued."

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  11. Ahh...do you speak from experience, Gledwood? ;)

    Good to see you, Peter...time...it can be a pain at times, can't it? :)

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  12. Hi Lee ~~ Another great episode which
    was so interesting, and with his return - I'll be back !!
    Thanks for your comments, glad you liked my camelias and so far so good
    with President Bush. I sure agree with you about Mugabe !! Take care
    my friend, Love, Merle.

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  13. Hi Lee, just popped over from Janice.
    I was getting quite interested in story, ill be back to continue.

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  14. Sounds Like you come up with the perfect mixture of business with pleasure ~But did the Italian guy actually do any work for his father during his stay ?
    Best wishes

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    1. Ciao, yes I worked ... but not much !! Andrew

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  15. Hi again Lee ~~ I have been given another Nice Matters award and have to pass it on and I have chosen to give one to you. The logo is on top of my sidebar and Karen is in my blogroll. Take care, Love, Merle.

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  16. OH! I was getting excited then! How beautifully you describe him and the time you had together, Lee. And you could always blame it all on Fiat!

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  17. Ooooo Italian Spice! Not bad! lol

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  18. Anonymous11:32 AM

    What a wonderful story and great pics, I can't imagine being anywhere as beautiful as that.

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  19. Hi twice Merle! ;) Yes, fingers crossed during the President's visit...those clowns from "Chaser" have had their moment of "glory" from their stupid stunt...I hope they and the security people have learned a lesson.

    Nice to see you, Jeanette...thanks for coming by. :)

    I think he did try to make an effort, Lindsay! ;)

    So true, Welsh...it was all Fiat's fault! ;)

    Hahaha, Deslily...he was certainly a "matinee idol!"

    Great to see you, Ellee...there are some glorious areas up that way and well worth a look. :)

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  20. Merle...thank you very much for considering me. :)

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  21. You did it to me again... I should know better by now. Durn it LEE

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  22. lol...whoops! Sorry, CD! ;)

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  23. Every woman deserves an Italian love affair in her life. I'm still waiting.
    Next chapter soon please.

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  24. I agree wholeheartedly, jmb...I wouldn't mind another one myself! ;)

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  25. Excuse me
    how can you leave me hanging like this when I finally have a computer in my bedroom and am able to read the blogs????
    torture

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  26. Oh...I didn't know, Rebecca...I'll soon write some more to give you more bedtime reading! ;)

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