Why I added a photo of the Temple of Aesculapius?
Because words fail to capture its beauty. Lovely place!














Dana returned to the hotel and gathered her things as quickly as possible. Only stopping to kick herself for not giving Will a proper farewell. Surely he deserved that much. This was twice she’d walked away from him. She was burning bridges left and right. Even standing before her gifts, her reason for leaving the restaurant seemed juvenile yet, shamefully, she’d left him, again.

In line, Dana shifted from foot to foot. The front desk was busier than normal during check-in. The whole situation had snowballed out of control. She felt certain Will genuinely cared for her as she did him. It wasn’t just about the sex, despite the obvious chemistry between them. If it were just about the sex she would not have reacted to the women’s chatter with such anger and indignation. No, her reactions were the result of her increasing emotional attachment to Will. They confirmed what she suspected, she was falling in love for the first time in her life. And never being one to entrust her heart to the whimsical notion of love, the realization that she was falling for a man she hardly knew both frightened and intrigued her. Moreover, it made her question her decision violently!

"He doesn't deserve this." Dana pondered erratically. "Stupid stupid stupid!! Just leave. No! don't leave. He won’t take me back. Stupid! Just give them the key and go. What the hell is wrong with me?"

“May I help you?” The front desk clerk asked
.
Dana looked around the lobby hoping to see Will. She sighed and placed her room key on the counter and left...full of regret.

Will waited in the restaurant another half an hour after Dana left, then he hailed a taxi and left. “Drive” he ordered and closed his eyes. He had no desire to see Rome. He’d been wrong about Dana, he saw that now. He thought she’s be steadfast, she wasn’t. He thought she’d be open-minded, she wasn’t. He hoped she’d like him enough to one day love him, she hadn’t. She had, within twenty-four hours, walked out on him twice.

It was afternoon when he arrived at the hotel, giving Dana sufficient time to pack her belongings before he returned. By the looks he received from the front desk, he knew she’d come and gone. In their room he found all the gifts he’d given Dana lying neatly on the bed as if she were asking him to take inventory to prove she hadn’t taken anything that wasn’t hers. Will fingered a pair of garnet and diamond earrings as he walked to the balcony. The city buzzed below, but Will felt nothing. He knew this numb feeling well and he hated it, yet there it was…like an unwelcome houseguest. He was closing down, shutting his emotions and physical presence off from one another. It was a family trait of which he had in spades. Unbeknownst to her, Dana was helping to eradicate this "problem". However, her fickle behavior is exactly what sent him into hiding in the first place. He thought it was going to be different with her. It wasn’t. She was no better than the gold-diggers...with them, at least, he knew where he stood. Dana gave the impression that she gave a damn. And he, wrongly it appeared, took her at face value, let down his guard, and fell in love with her. Were it not so painful, it would have been comical.

A maid knocked and let herself in. Will asked to have a drink brought up from the bar. For her serves, Will gave her all of Dana’s gifts, calling her back only to discard the pair of earrings he’d been holding. “That’s the last of it. Thank you.” He said dryly, closing the door.

Night began to fall and so had any shred of hope Dana would return. Will called his assistant who booked him on the first morning flight leaving Italy. Will packed his bags and ate dinner on the balcony and prepared for the long flight home.
Dana quietly closed the door behind her and dropped her bags, turning towards the sound of the shower running. Her nerves stood on end, her gut churned, and her ego begged her to run. But her heart kept her in place. She waited in the middle of the room, her right hand lost feeling. She came to attention, clenching and unclenching her fist, when she heard the shower stop.

Will emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel and drying his hair. He stood frozen, indifferent to Dana’s return.

Dana hadn’t expected indifference. Anger, or happiness, yes, but his indifference cut so deep she shrank inside. “Will, I’m…”

“I’ll have the room next door made up.” Will cut her off. “You will sleep there.” He hung his towel over the door and began dressing for bed. Dana was taken aback by his coldness.

“Tomorrow, we’ll meet downstairs for breakfast at nine o’clock sharp and tour the catacombs thereafter.” Fully clothed he opened the room door and held it for her. “You can wait downstairs. A chamber maid will see you to your room. Goodnight.”

He can’t be serious; Dana looked at Will in disbelief. When he didn’t flinch, she picked up her bags and heard the door close in her wake. Downstairs, she sat in the lounge debating whether racing back to Will and telling him how she felt and apologizing was worth the humiliation. Of course it was, but, like any man, his pride was bruised and he needed to brood. Dana hadn’t seen this hardened side of Will and she hoped, after their reconciliation, her immaturity would never again land her on its receiving end. If she could only talk to him, she’d lay her cards on the table, they’d pick up where they’d left off. With a better understanding of what each of them wanted and expected. Dana thought better of running to Will. If he’d wanted to talk he wouldn’t have put her out. Her punishment was the distance he put between them.

It wasn’t long before a maid came for Dana. Her room mirrored Will’s right down to the crystal soap dishes. She made herself at home and took a small meal on her balcony. Will sat on his reading as though she weren’t just a few feet away. He read in silence, as if she didn’t exist.

That night, alone in their respective beds, neither of them slept a wink.




The only thing colorful about breakfast was the waitress’s sunny personality and the flowers brought in from the hotel’s garden. Will and Dana ate in perfect silence, not a word passed between them, their gazes never met. The clicking and clanking of silverware and crockery, the hushed murmurs from other tables, the swing of the dining room door was all to be heard. He meant to humiliate her and it worked like a charm. Dana’s teacup slipped from her nervous hand, hitting its saucer and tipping a splash of tea onto the white tablecloth. Will looked on, unmoved. Dana bit back tears.

“Go upstairs. Pull yourself together.” Will ran his white napkin across his lips and stood. “The car is outside. You have five minutes.” He dropped the napkin on plate and left without another word.

Two minutes of uncontrollable sobbing, two minutes of self-reflection and one minute of deep cleansing breaths later, Dana met Will in their car for a day of sightseeing.

“The Catacombs of Domitilla: named after Saint Flavia Domitilla…” Dana read from her guide book. “…are unique in that they are the oldest of Rome's underground burial networks, and the only ones to still contain bones. They are also the best preserved and one of the most extensive of all the catacombs. Included in their passages are a 2nd-century fresco of the Last Supper and other valuable artifacts.”

Will walked ahead of Dana, marveling at the cold stone walls. “Continue.”

“They are the only catacombs that have a subterranean basilica. The entrance to the catacombs is achieved through this sunken 4th-century church, at via delle Sette Chiese 280. In the past, the basilica had become unsafe, and was abandoned in the 9th century. It was rediscovered in 1593, and much of it was reconstructed in 1870.”

“Thirty days before the Senate under the Roman Emperor Domitian would confirm an edict to kill all Jews and Christians in the Roman Empire, Domitilla convinced her husband Titus Flavius Clemens, a powerful consul, to stand up for the Jews.” Will met Dana’s eyes for the first time that day. “She was a strong woman of high principles and conviction, not easily persuaded.” He walked toward her. “She saw the big picture. Titus Flavius Clemens was a lucky man.” He brushed past Dana, heading for the entrance. “Rather befitting we came here, don’t you think?”

“Væ, puto deus fio.” Dana whispered into the vacant darkened cave.

Will squinted his eyes against the midday sun. It was a bright, sunny, but chilly day, and bringing Dana to this particular network of catacombs given their present situation was a step too far. His callousness chilled him more than the short gust of wind blowing down neck. He pulled the collar of his shirt closed, still Dana walked past him, and inquired about their next destination as if she weren’t embarrassed, as if he hadn’t hurt her. He knew he had, and seeing her pretend he didn’t cut him like a knife.

Will and Dana sat quietly as the driver weaved through the city streets. Finally Dana spoke in a small voice. “If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to walk around the Villa Borghese Gardens before we loose the sun.” She rubbed her right hand, it felt like pins were shooting into it.

“Driver?” Will called. “The Villa Borghese Gardens, please.” He noticed Dana persistent attention to her hand. “Is everything all right?” His first kind words took Dana by surprise.

“Yes, I’m fine.” Dana smiled fakely. “I’ll visit the Temple of Aesculapius, the Greek God of medicine and healing, while we’re there.” She gave another fake smile, looked out the window, and brushed a tear from her eye.

Will was none the wiser.

Upon arrival, they were taken across the narrow river, onto Tiber Island where the temple lay. The marble and stone shrine with Aesculapius himself sprang up organically from the surrounding greenery, willows, and blooming flowers. Will was immediately struck by its peacefulness and Dana’s almost trance-like calmness as she read the inscription on the temple wall. Whatever was on her mind, whatever she was going through, it held precedence over their quarrel. No longer restless or fidgety, Dana, it seemed, had found some measure of peace.
 



Exploring the winding paths, Will gave Dana her privacy. He’d visited Rome often as a child, however the city he knew was swallowed ritzy new real estate developments with spatters of tacky tourist traps sprinkled in for color. The Old City, with all its grand monuments, fountains and statues, was structurally untouched, however, there was sadness about them, they cried out in protest like spent hooker at the degradation of it all.

Tiber Island, Temple of Aesculapius more particular, had always been an escape. In contrast to the overpopulated confusion of the city, it felt wide open and positively serene. It was the closest to paradise I could find in the hustle and bustle of the city. It was where the seven year old Will ran when he discovered his father’s infidelity on what was supposed to be a ‘father and sons’ weekend. His father, like most men in their family, worked in the interest of the family which often took them away from home. But Will’s father was different. He doted on his family and loved his wife. Everyone envied them, but for the life of him Will couldn’t figure out why. Surely everyone lived his charmed life...surely everyone, right? No, no one’s life was as perfect as his seemed through the eyes of a sheltered youngster.

Will’s childish illusions of Camelot shattered when his father introduced him and his brothers to his mistress and their two sons. Naturally, Will’s older sibling understood the gravity of this cataclysmic admission. Dumbfounded, Will couldn’t understand why they left the lady’s house without saying a single word. The two little boys were no older than himself, and they looked nice enough so he smiled at them but, slowly, his father confessions tore young Will’s veil of innocence to shreds, let’s the light in and snuffing off the last flames of magic.

Will pulled his collar close, recalling the lonely night he spent amongst island brush after running away from his father and how the events of that weekend shaped his view of family, fidelity, and steadfast commitment….and children. Yes, he wanted children—a house full of children, not for his own recreation or sport, rather because he loved them. Maybe he’d expected too much from Dana after all they’d only known one another for a few months. Whatever his feelings were, he couldn’t expect her to reciprocate or live up to his standards.

Suddenly they’re little experiment, globetrotting with a stranger, casting aside one’s past and living for the moment, began to reveal its flaws. As humans, we forge bonds by using equal parts past, present, and future; only then can we form commonalties, and love the whole person. Their experiment proved this theory.

“Wilhelm Rothschild!” A man shouted and Will turned to the tall, brute of a man smiling widely with a blonde trophy on his arm.

“Louis?” Will shook the fellow’s hand, then hugged him. “What the hell are you doing in Rome?”

“Day tripping, what else? You haven’t met…” he gestured to the blonde. “…my fiancee, May.”
 
The beak-nosed blonde regally extended her dainty hand to Will. “I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting you personally however our families are close.” She let her words hang, hoping Will would draw the connection. “My father is Richmond Armstrong….my mother is Rebecca…”

“Aye!” Finally a light bulb sprang to life. “Yeah, our parents grew up together.”

“Where have you been? We haven’t seen you in ages.” Louis playfully shoved Will’s shoulder.

“Working.” Will blew a puff of air. “I don’t make the rounds anymore. Being trotted out to function after function never was my thing. You know how it is.”

“Tell me about it.” Louis rolled his big brown eyes skyward. “That’s why we’re here, the damn Westgrove function. A bunch of pompous old bags begging for money. They don’t know your name but.…”

“…they know how much you’re worth.” Will finished his sentence, smiling. “Oh they know our names. They want our monikers for their daughters.” His eyes went to May. “Isn’t that right?” May was the type trophy bride: obliging, cultured, and wafer thin. In short, a living, breathing, money grubbing, elitist Barbie. Just the sort of woman who’d be drawn to Louis’s monolithic inheritance…and just the sort of woman Will avoided.

May clung to Louis arm and gave a bashful grin. “I have no idea what you’re talking about Mr. Rothschild.” Louis was handsome, however comparing him to Will was tantamount to comparing Neil Patrick Harris to Richard Armitage: each handsome in their own right but ultimately quite an unfair comparison.

Louis looked around. “Who are you here with?”

“I’m here with my friend, Dana.” Will turned and looked towards the temple as Dana was walking up the path with a little sway in her hips. Casually dressed or not, Dana was gorgeous. Will felt envy seeping from May. “Louis, May, this is my friend Dana,” He said with Dana by his side.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Dana shook Louis’s hand, she hesitated when shaking May’s, realizing that she was the lady from the restaurant. And, given May’s pinched smile, she instantly recognized her. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Charmed.” May replied, dryly, then turned her attention to Will. “I’ll invite you before Louis gets the chance, we’re going riding tomorrow. Why don’t you and…” she grinned at Dana. “I’m sorry, what was your name again?”

“Dana,” Louis answered.

“Yes…Dana. Why don’t you guys come along? It’ll give you time to catch up” she grimaced.

“Oh, wait, sorry Dana. Do you ride or have I assumed too much?”

Will was just about to launch at her throat when Dana spoke up.

“I ride a little.”

“Of course!” Louis laughed, trying to cut the tension May sparked. “Every woman says she rides a little, then she shows up the men.” He winked at Dana.

Dana smiled. She liked Louis, he was pleasant. “We’d be happy to come. And I’ll try not to embarrass myself or Will.”

“Then it’s settled.” Louis shook Will’s hand. “We’ll leave at ten o’clock. Madison Park.”

Everyone said their goodbyes and Louis and May left in the direction from which they came.

“Well done.”

“Thanks,” Dana then spat for effect.

“And that was disgusting.”

Dana inched closer to Will as they made their way back to the boat. She could’ve sworn she felt his fingers brush hers. 


                                                           *****


Back at the hotel, Will announced that he couldn’t suffer one more evening on hotel food, and insisted on going to white table cloth restaurant. Exhausted by the day and still having not discussed the rift between them or the subsequent events, Dana didn’t put up a fight. Will flippantly sent out to a nearby boutique to replace Dana’s finery. A dutiful assistant delivered a parcel of clothing only minutes before Will came knocking. Dana quickly slid in a little black cocktail dress and heels. Will was dressed smartly in a black suit and white button down. If this was the world Dana was expected to maneuver through, she needed instruction which Will tried to pack into the twenty minute ride to the restaurant, resulting in Dana staring on in disbelief and confusion. Rank, family, the who’s-who, all the do’s and don’ts ricocheted off her head.

The Mavericks, as she understood it, were self-made billionaires who ignored convention and went with their gut and get drunk punctually. The Exotics were known as the pink flamingo type: wealthy enough to build mammoth house but immediately, and to their neighbor’s horror, defaced it by employing pink flamingos. The Magnums sprinkle their conversation with random French words in hopes of adding Old World charm to their New World ambition. The Eccentrics would fit in perfectly at Wuthering Heights: filthy rich, they count their hunting dogs amongst their closed confidants, and all too often smell like wet wool.

“And where do you fall into the equation?” Dana asked over her plate.

“I don’t. I never have and I doubt I ever will.” Will laughed. “At first glance it seems like an endless steam of niceties but it’s laborious.” He looked up from his plate. Dana was hanging on his words. “I think you’ll do fine, it’s only a day of riding. Speaking of which, are you sure you’re up it?”

Dana took a drink. “I haven’t ridden in a while but I’ll be fine.”

“Of course you will.” Will chased a few pieces of chicken around his plate. “Dana…”

“Can I get you anything else, sir?” The waiter interrupted.

“The car, please. It’s been a long day. Do you mind?” Dana asked Will.

Will stared straight though her, then said without taking his eyes from her. “The car.”



The ride back to the hotel was cold and indifferent and upon arrival, they retired to their separate rooms as if they were strangers. This is too much, Dana said into her bathroom mirror. But I’m not ready to give up. I’m sick of running.

The light from Dana’s room shown on Will’s balcony. When he saw the light extinguish, he rolled over and told himself what he was doing was for their own good. Funny, it didn’t feel that way. Still, as much as he wanted her beside him, as much as he wanted to talk to her, he couldn’t put his pride aside. Will closed his eyes and went to sleep.