GABRIELLA'S POV:
****Los Angeles, California****
"I can't believe we're back to this bored to death place." I groaned in annoyance as we got down from the plane.
"There's always next time." He smiled at me.
After almost a week in the beautiful country of Italy, we were back to the US on Sunday. We spent three days in the Lombardy region of the country and three days in the Metropolitan City of Rome. Those three days in Rome were as amazing as the other three days in Northern Italy. I think we toured the two cities.
Italy was glorious and is a place filled with blessings. I learnt a lot of things, from frying an egg, to cooking an excellent Italian dish, throwing a birthday party, getting schooled by fifth graders on a healthy relationship and how to avoid fights and hectic arguments, taking care of a fifth week old Pomeranian puppy, learning how to ride on a motorcycle, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!
~~~~~~
"She is so cute! What's her name?" Mom ask as he played with the puppy. We were currently in my house.
"Diamond."
"Italy."
Dré and I said at the same time and mom and Adela looked weirdly at us.
We looked at each other then back at them with a funny grin.
"Diamond Italy." We spoke simultaneously.
"Her name is Diamond Italy." My little sister said as though she didn't hear us well.
"I like it. It's....unique." Mom said. "I hope you guys know the responsibility of taking care of a puppy."
"Yeah. We do." André answered.
I fully don't. But I know I have to go shopping today for Italy. I have to buy whatever a Pomeranian puppy needs. We wanted to buy in Rome but the load that will be is huge so....in Rome we just bought little quantity for her.
André's phone began to ring. He quickly answered it.
"No...no....no....no...no..." He had this bored expression on his face. "No dude, no......okay yes.." He smiled. "....really...uhhh..." He looked at me as he thought of something. ".....can't we do it another time?......seriously? That's amazing...... Fine I'm coming..... This better not be stupid or I'll punch the three of you.....OK bye." He rolled his eyes and caught the call. "Sorry but I have to go." He said.
"To where?" I asked.
"Wes called me."
"Why? is something wrong?"
"You won't really understand. It's complicated. By the way, here's my card for the shopping." He placed it in my hand but I gave it back to him.
"No way Mr. Lombardi. I'll use mine."
"No, mine. I don't want you to spend with your money." He gave me back.
"And I want to spend with my own money. Okay?"
We just kept on bickering and bickering until Italy barked at us making the both of us look at her.
"You know she's right." I said as though I understood what she meant in the barking.
"You'll use both." He smiled.
"Perfecto." I grinned.
"You guys are really something else." Mom shook her head at us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What exactly do they buy when going on dog shopping?" I said as I walked with the grocery strolling while Italy was in it. And it seemed she was enjoying every bit of it.
Immediately after Dré left my house, I went to freshen up and then Italy and I went to Petsmart near Beverly Center.
I stopped when I got to the pet isle for food. Confusion wrapped my mind like a beautiful lace. Should I buy everything I see? Nahhh....only a stupid person would do that. And I'm not stupid. Right? Of course right!
"Italy let's go to another shopping. You like that?" I said and she barked as she walked inside the stroller.
I'm so proud of her. She really is brave and strong and mature. I read online that Pomeranians start barking from eight weeks but she's just five and she's barking so loudly.
That's my girl.
~~~~~
"Italy choose, Galaxy or Maltese?" I held out the two chocolates for her to see and she just looked at me.
"Both right? I thought so too." I said and nodded as I put it in the stroller.
~~~~
By another Isle, I was holding a packet of condom while inspecting it when I heard someone call my name.
"Gabriella." A soft feminine voice said.
I slowly turned around to see the person and when I saw, my heart raced fast and my eyes widened and shun at the person like a fully charged flashlight.
"Umm uh umm uhhh..." I stuttered as I looked at André's mom looking back at my hand that was holding a packet of rubber. Within a second I hurriedly placed it back on the shelve. "Good afternoon uhh.."
"Good morning." She raised up her wrist and looked at her expensive watch. My mom has the exact same thing. "It's still ten."
"Uhh sorry." I muttered nervously as I stared at the floor.
I suddenly felt so inferior when I looked at her beautiful dress. Are they royalty or what?! The times I've seen her, she's always looking so elegant and classy and beautiful.
I stared down at my dress. Oh wow. So classy (Note the Sarcasm).
There was a second of silence between us...and very awkward one. Well until she broke it.
"How are you?" She asked.
"I'm fine." I said evading her stare.
"How is André?" She said and I heard a hint of sadness in her voice.
I had to look at her face. "André's good. He's OK and fine."
"That's good to hear." She smiled weakly. "Is that your Pomeranian?" She said as she looked at Italy.
"Yeah. Actually André and I own her. But he said that he bought it mainly for me. I'm guessing as a thank you gift after I threw a Birthday party when we were in Italy. That's was actually before we went to Rome." Okay TMI. TMI!
"You guys went to Rome?"
"Yeah, actually we spent three days in Lombardy, then went to Rome and spent the other three days there and now we're back." I said as I brought Italy out.
"She's so adorable. She isn't aggressive right?" She said as she squatted down to meet Italy who actually went to her.
"No she isn't. She's very friendly." I assured her.
She took little Italy in her hands as she played with her fur.
"What's her name?"
"Italy....no actually Diamond....I mean Diamond Italy."
"It's...unique." She said with a smile.
"That's what my mom said also." I chuckled.
"You came to shop?" She asked.
"Yes but not fashion related shopping. Actually I came to buy things for Italy. So I guess you can call it Dog Shopping."
"You just began?" She spoke as she inspected my empty stroller.
"Actually I've been here for 45 minutes staring at what exactly to buy." I said nervously.
"You didn't prepare a list?" She asked.
"Nope."
"I can help you." She offered and I looked at her surprisingly.
"Really?"
"Sure. I don't mind. Besides, if I go home, I'll be bored. If I want to do any work either in the house or even in the kitchen, my husband won't allow me to anything and he'll start by giving excuse that we have maids to do that. Audrey and Amelia, I love them but they can disturb a lot..." I laughed at her statement. "As for Andrea, if she's home, she'll disturb me by showing me all of her dream boyfriends on social media. So I can help you, that's if you want. I won't force you to take my help."
"I accept. I really want your help actually." I grinned.
"That's good." She smiled back. "C'mon let's start. First of all, how old is Diamond Italy?"
"Five weeks, almost six."
"So do you have a bath tub?"
"Yeah I do."
"Okay so for me, when I was little and had a dog, my dad bought a rubber bath tub for him so that I could bathe him in it. And that's what you should do."
"Why can't I just bathe him in my tub?"
"Because from what I see, your Pomeranian is very hyper so she can be playing in the water and who knows when energy would kick in and in the process of playing she can just fully go into the water and drown quickly."
"Oh, I see." I said as I pushed the stroller with her by my side while holding Italy.
***
"For real?" I bursted into laughter and she followed.
"I am serious. He ate everything." She said.
"I know my boyfriend has pride and ego but never expected it to be so high."
"What the male specie of the well known Lombardi family have in common is their intimidating and stormy Hazel eyes, their pride and ego, their physique, their male domination, their annoying intelligence, and their uncontrollable anger." We both laughed.
She knew exactly what to buy and what not to buy for young Italy. After food and some other supplies for her, she brought up a good suggestion — which was to buy cute outfits for Italy. And they were the BOMB! Such an amazing idea.
We were currently at a Starbucks Café while talking about numerous things that were so many I couldn't remember all of them. In the midst, I got a call from André.
"Sorry let me take this." I said to her and she smiled. "Dré, hey what's up? Where are you?"
"I'm with the boys in Wes' house. The three of them just did a small birthday party for me. For just the four of us."
"Aww that's so sweet of them." I smiled.
"Yeah yeah. Anyways so for ditching on you it's just they are so...I don't even know how to explain them." He chuckled.
"It's alright Dré. Take your time and enjoy, I don't mind, I have company by the way."
"Who? Diamond?"
"Uhhh yeah. Diamond." I lied as I looked at Italy and Mrs. Lombardi.
"Alright. I'm guessing the both of you are done with your shopping?"
"Yeah we're done."
"Okay take care of yourself and I love you."
"I love you too." I blushed even though I was feeling the awkwardness of saying it in the presence of Mrs. Lombardi.
"I'll call you later okay?"
"Yeah."
"Send my love to Diamond." He said and I giggled.
"I will. Bye."
"Bye."
I cut the call.
"André?" She asked and there was a hint of sadness in her voice just like before.
"Yeah. Jake, Drake and Wes threw him a mini birthday party." I said and she nodded.
"That must be nice." She smiled weakly. There were some seconds of silence before she spoke again. "Gabriella."
"Yeah?"
"Can you do me a favour?"
"It depends." I said. "What is it?"
"Nothing fatal I just need you to do something for me." She hesitated then spoke after tucking a lock of her hair behind her ear. "Andrew — André's father, and I are throwing a post birthday party for André at the house but the problem is that if we go to him, he won't come and that's a fact we all know. So Gabriella, please, I know he'll listen to you if you'll tell him to come. Can you do that for me? For us? Please I haven't seen André in a week. I need to see my son." Tears welled up in her eyes.
"Mrs. Lombardi, you know how André is when it comes to you guys."
"But you remember you promised me that you would bring him back. Remember that night?" Tears cascaded down her cheeks.
"I know but..."
"Gabriella please. I just want to see him. Just a minute to just see him is all I'm asking. Please, I wasn't able to celebrate with him on his birthday, at least just help me. Put yourself in my shoes and see my condition. Talk to him, he'll listen to you. Please Gabriella, that's all I'm asking."
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