Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2021 16:17:52 +1000 From: Maxwell Dowling Subject: Impossible Love 16 Impossible Love 16 "I have two shop fitters, three electricians and a plumber." He placed the business cards on the table when we got in. I grabbed a bottle and two glasses and we went to sit on the fire escape. Lukas had a fun night and had gone off to sleep around nine so there was no need to put him in the kid's room with the others, he was sleeping soundly, and we did leave around ten so now it's our quiet time. "How much did you win at the card table?" "Four hundred dollars." "Good on you." "We go there next Saturday night and will win some more, I'm saving up for a new car." "What do you need a new car for?" "So I can drive my family around and show them off." He smiled and kissed me, I can't argue with that. "That will be nice, but you should get a van with your business name written all over it." "Good idea Antonio, you have some very good ideas lately." "One of them was to bring you here with me." "Yes, I was thinking that tonight, I like it here, no pressure, and I like your friends too, they are down to the earth." "They like you too Gianni, otherwise you wouldn't have all those business cards on the table." "When my momma died I didn't think I would have any more love in my life but I have now, Lukas brought plenty with him, and now I have yours. I do have yours don't I Antonio?" "Why would you doubt that Gianni, I love you very deeply, we are soul mates." He smiled and nodded his head and looked very happy tonight. The boys came in and a small party started on the fire escape, they were saying that they spoke to Nina and were very impressed with her professional approach, she is also going to look over their plans for the event. There will be two tents joined together, one with a kitchen and tables while the other will have the entertainment and drinks. "Do you have to fork out for big celebs Carlos, I mean does Cartasso winery want to bother with them?" "Yes Antonio, racegoers will flock to our tent just to see them and they will bring in orders." "Strange that you have to rely on them to bring in customers, from what I see from previous years it's only the model type pretty girls that go into the marquees to cruise the stars, and they don't buy wine." "Yes Antonio, but they also attract the rich young guys out for a good time." "Well good luck with that, I would do it differently but that's just me." All eyes turned to me so I should learn to keep my big mouth shut. I hate it when you work on a project you think looks wonderful and some smart ass says, "I would have done it differently". I guess I now have to come up with a better idea. "We are waiting Antonio," Carlos said. "Well I would ditch the celebs, fill the marquee with hunky Italian peasant men and target the rich older matrons, they are the ones that like to shop and entertain, they have money, lots of it. A little smile or a hand on the shoulder now and then from the boys would do wonders for your coffers. In other words, people are sick of seeing the same celebrities, they want sex, sell sex, sell gorgeous men in ripped shorts and open blowsy Italian shirts, think peasant, rural countryside, straw hats, hot gypsies, haystacks, vineyards, streams. Get some dancers in to do a semi strip show or sexy tabletop tease, but all dressed as peasant Italians, what woman could resist them? You are already thinking that you may use the ladies in Sophia Loren flowery dresses get some complimentary boys." "And where do you think you're going to find these guys?" "Nina." I laughed. "She's the head girl, run it past her when you all sit down to discuss the event." "He has changed everything Leon, do we have time?" "I think so, we have the Caulfield Cup already done, but the Flemington Birdcage is still in the making, I think, thanks to Antonio. "Well bring some of your cultures to the carnival, not just the wine, and fuck the highly overpaid celebrities off. Okay, maybe I have gone a bit overboard with the striptease but you know what I mean," I added and was getting a little drunk. Gianni moved and kissed me but deep down I didn't think we had the time to organize it all. I think there are only six or seven weeks to the cup, but maybe Nina can pull a rabbit out of her hat? I took another sip of my drink and lifted it to salute. "Cartasso winery, the taste of rural Italy," I proposed. Carlos smiled and kissed me a bit too deeply, Gianni groaned because he took his time, then the argument started. Two more bottles were produced and eventually two men joined us in our bed, Carlos deliberately put his ass in my face, I ignored him a little. It was behinds for miles in the morning, those boys have no shame, even Gianni was prancing around in the nude. I didn't play the game and slipped my shorts on, it wasn't because I didn't think I could compete with them, because I could, it was because someone has to show a little modesty around Lukas. He finally slipped his shorts on after Leon tried to flick his thick member with a tea towel, so I called a halt to their little game and made them put some clothes on. We sat at the table and ate a nice breakfast thanks to Leon, and discussed last night's ideas again. They said they probably won't cancel the celebs but they will get some horny waiters in, hopefully, some that can do a sexy dance. I told them again to talk to Nina when they catch up. She would already be making up a menu for them to look over. Gianni is going to the market to see Stavros and to pay him some money, he wants to begin on the alterations as soon as possible, it may take a week, it may take two, his new builder friends couldn't say until they looked at the place. Dressed and ready to go out showing off my son and boyfriend again, we walked down to the market in the sunshine. Gianni had his baby carrier tied around his neck and I carried the nappy and drinks bag like a good Italian wife, or should I say a good gypsy wife. It was busy there today and Alice automatically grabbed Lukas just as Gino came to see us. "Did you party last night Antonio?" "Yes, but just a couple of bottles, then bed." "I could hear you laughing from my place, next time ring me." He smiled, he's so gorgeous. I bought coffee and we sat at the table. "The market is all abuzz about the new café, Gianni has certainly raised some eyebrows." "He will do well here; he's got some great ideas." I watched Lukas from the table, he was being fed loads of love from the ladies. "Well he's got you Antonio, I know you will steer him in the right direction, and I'm here to help whenever." "Well it looks like he's taking notice of me, I ordered the new tables and Nina is going to organize fresh cakes for his shop," I added. "She's also helping the boys with their Melbourne Cup display." "Really? I suppose your conversations with her Saturday night helped then." "Yes, she's a very cluey woman that one." "She knows a lot of people, she used to be in the laundry business and got to know people through that." "I didn't know what she did, but she sure is on top of it all." "She has retired and conducts business at the Italian club, much more than the men do." "Well I am happy with her services; will Anna be coming over today?" "Yes Ant, we have to go buy some baby stuff, she wants to set up the second bedroom." "Is she moving in?" "Yes, she has her last day at work tomorrow and we can plan for the baby, I'm so excited." "I bet you are, have you heard from the ex?" "No Ant, she has disappeared and good riddance to her." Just then Gianni came back and smiled, then kissed me, it's the no shame Italian thing. "Did you get it all done?" "Yes Antonio, I have the keys and now I have to go and find out how to make coffee." He laughed and looked around for Lukas. "I think the ladies are wearing him out, he may want to rest for a minute." He got up to check his son and Pat rushed over. "When you have a spare minute Gino, the bins need topping up, good morning Ant, where's Lukas?" He laughed and went off to do his job, and I was left on my own because Pat had gone into the florist shop to see our son. I watched Gino walk off and mused to myself, although he may have been my first love, he wasn't a pinch on Gianni. The young ladies that worked in Stavros' café were all over Gianni until he said he wasn't going to put off any of the casual staff, he would keep them all on as they could teach him the ropes. "Well Antonio, it looks like we are both back at work tomorrow, this is going to be so much fun for us." "You maybe, but I will stay home and look after Lukas." "No, you have to be at work because I am, I don't want you having affairs with the neighbors behind my back." "Never going to happen Gianni, I thought we talked about that." He laughed. "We will bring Lukas with us, he is never too young to learn about market life." I could bring him in I suppose, but I will make Gianni take him home early, I don't have much to do except sit and have coffee, I will turn into a Stavros soon, it's a shame I never played cards. I get it, I know he wants me here for re-assurance and to explain a few quirks he might come across, so I told Alice I would be in, and if either of them wants the day off they can have it. She clicked her teeth and answered, "Yes, I'm sure you will be working the full day Antonio, you are so out of shape, you would do better amusing yourself in a gym somewhere." "Shape, what shape?" I looked around myself to try and see what shape I was in. It didn't go down well with me as I pride myself on my shape, maybe I had better restart that running again. I looked around the café and found myself placing counters everywhere so I had to stop, it's his business, not mine. Although I did have a small, extra idea I will run past him. I thought seeing he was a winemaker he could start a small boutique business making his very own brand, all he needs is a good supplier of grapes and a warehouse, and guess who knows where there is a warehouse or two for sale? The market was closing by the time he learned how to make a coffee or two, and now and then I could hear Stavros and his mates laugh. He doesn't know how clever my boy is, he will be laughing a different tune after the café opens. "Ready?" "Yes, are we walking home or getting a ride with Gino?" "Let's get a ride, I'm bushed." My man is exhausted. We caught Gino and squashed into his truck, Lukas's stroller bounced around in the back so I held him close to me. We told Gino we would see him in about an hour. Lukas was placed in his carrycot to have a much-needed nap and Gianni stood me in the middle of the bedroom and very slowly stripped me. "I have to shower." "No you don't." "But." He kissed me to shut me up. "I like your smell Antonio, let me smell you?" He smelt me all over as his hands slipped into every crevice until they came to my arms which he lifted and started licking my pits, his breathing was heavy and his dick was iron like. He then gently lowered me to the bed and with his awesome legs he parted mine, he couldn't wait any longer, he had to have me. "I get the sense you don't like me doing you all the time Antonio." "I do Gianni; I love you doing me." "Are you sure?" "I am sure." I rubbed my bum which was a little sore after that performance, but it will come good. We showered and by the time we dressed the boys were in our home and being silly again. I tried to talk to them about their meeting with Nina but they said we will talk about it later, but now they wanted to measure dicks because they didn't believe I was as big as them. I huffed and puffed my way downstairs with Lukas, he wasn't heavy but Leon's finger rubbing my ass crack was a distracting factor. He stopped when I told him I would drop the carry basket if he continued. Everyone was there and it was a celebration night because Anna will be moving in tomorrow. I offered to help but she said she had movers doing most of the work, she was so excited and couldn't stop kissing Gino, I think they will be having an early night. Alice was telling me she had another big order dropped off today and it was urgent, so I will go help out tomorrow whether she likes it or not. "What's it for?" "A seminar, something to do with small business, they want six of your big ones." "Easy to do, but the ladies can do them at the warehouse." "We have to keep the businesses separate according to your accountant otherwise the books will get mixed up." She grinned. Grandad is doing an amazing job, I suppose he's happier than he's ever been, beats him sitting around at home all day. "Now boys, tell me what happened with Nina?" "Have a drink first Antonio." "No, please tell me, and don't you dare fill Gianni's glass again Leon, I saw you." He blushed. "Well she took our floor plan and almost destroyed it, we told her your ideas and she started making a list, we didn't say much after she got on the phone to make calls but we did tell her to expect to cater for about three thousand racegoers. We think that's over the top but better to be safe than sorry, we can give the leftovers to a charity." "When do you see her again?" "Tomorrow morning, she said she will have something for us and we need to hand over some cash too. Gianni, are you going to the bank in the morning?" "Yes, to get cash, do you want some?" "Yes, and we will come with you, we normally don't handle cash so this is going to be a novelty for us Antonio." He grinned. "How much is she charging?" "Five thousand for her services upfront and she will give us a quote for the food and staff, she also said she will redesign the interior." He smiled. "Boy, good money if you can get the work." I laughed. "Yes Antonio, she comes very cheap, have you any idea how much we would have had to pay a coordinator to get it all done, a lot more than Nina?" I don't know much about it, it's really out of my comfort zone. "One million plus we spend on events like this Antonio, Nina isn't going to get anywhere near that figure, she's worth her weight in gold." "What did she say about the celebs?" Leon went quiet then stared at me. "Ditch them." Carlos and he started laughing in my face, I suppose they didn't want to hear, `I told you so' from me. "So you're going to the bank in the morning, do you want me to come with you?" "No Antonio, I got this. I hate going into banks they all look at me like I'm going to rob them." "Wear a suit then." "No, just casual and I like to look at their scared faces." He laughed and I knew it wasn't his clothes, it was his good looks that got their attention. "I can give you the cash baby." "No, I want to do this on my own, you do too much already," I looked at his gorgeous face as he started talking to Gino about cars and again wondered what I did right to deserve this god in my life? Anna brought out some bread and cheese and it was destroyed, and my ass was almost destroyed when Gianni put me to bed, I didn't feel a thing. I didn't feel anything because I was so bloody drunk. I fed Lukas and Gianni dressed nicely for his hour at the bank, the boys knocked and were ready to go as I took another headache pill. I didn't argue with them but had decided last night to go for a run while they sat on the steps and drank to the future. Lukas was smiling and talking baby talk to me, he hasn't a worry in the world at the moment, and looking around the room he's not short of a toy or two, which makes me wonder, where the hell does it all come from? A knock at the door and three ladies appeared carrying bags of baby food, it had been frozen and labeled and they gave me a list of what was there and what I should be doing with it. I made coffee and we talked for an hour then I gave them some cash. They couldn't stop holding Lukas and talking about the Cup event, they had been asked to cook their special dishes for the day. "How many of you are there?" "About fifteen of us cooks Antonio, we will do it all at the Italian club as they have four big ovens, and Nina is tending to some food warmers at the racecourse," Loren said. "Well if you need anything just let me know, I can't cook but I can wash up dishes." I grinned. "One television for the kitchen would be nice, so we can watch our serials." She laughed. "One TV coming up my lovelies, and thank you from the bottom of my heart for doing Lukas' food for me." "It is our pleasure for the little one, I suppose you don't find the time to cook Antonio?" "No, my Nona has filled my freezer as you can see, so there's no need for me to learn." "And where is that delicious husband of yours this morning?" The three of them grinned at me, have they no shame? I started laughing and answered, "You were too early, he has gone to the bank but if you have another coffee he will be back soon." "Oh yes Antonio, we would love another coffee." Horny ladies, that's all I need. He came back and the first thing he did was kiss me then Lukas, then he kissed and thanked the ladies for all their help. He sat and had coffee with us and kept folding his curly hair back behind his ears, I looked at the ladies and all their mouths were open, just like mine. They eventually left and we thanked them again, then took a rug for Lukas and two chairs out into the sunshine. "How did you go?" He tapped his pockets and said he got some cash out eventually when he proved who he was, he was then quickly escorted to the manager's office where he told him all about investments. "It all went over my head Antonio, so I was rude and said to him to just give me my money." "How much did you get?" "A hundred grand, I don't need it all but I wanted them to grovel a bit because he annoyed me." I laughed. "Can I put it in your safe place?" "Of course you can, I'll get some tape." He got down on his knees and taped the bulky envelopes under the sideboard, then he stood up and my heart skipped a beat. "Antonio, can we not talk about money, it is unimportant to me, let's talk about us." "Okay, what do you want to talk about?" "Your sexy body." He fucking leered at me so I took my t-shirt off and he took the grand tour. He got a phone call later in the morning and had to go to the market to meet some tradies, the work will be done on the closed days so as not to disrupt the market too much. Everything's there, he just has to tell them what he wanted to be changed, like the two serving windows and downlights for the wine. "That reminds me Gianni, why don't you make your brand of wine, like a boutique winery? I'm sure you have some recipes in your head you would like to try?" "Yes Antonio, I would like that very much, a small family-run winery is all I ever wanted but I got stuck in the big one, it was all about the money not the wine Antonio, although it is good wine." "Maybe think about it, we can source the grapes from the farmers and you have the know how to make it." "But I will have to be at the two jobs which removes me from your presence." "Don't worry about me, I have plenty to do." "Yes Antonio, running in the park before looking through a hole in the wall, meeting Gino for a quickie, and now I believe your hairdresser was getting some of your wares." "Who the fuck told you about that?" "Your friend Cal, he was at the bank and he told me all about your boyfriends. He said you were getting some from everywhere." I seethed, how dare he discuss my private life? "Did he also ask you for your phone number?" "Yes Antonio, I gave him yours." He laughed his head off and started kissing me from the neck down. "I love you Antonio, you are very much fun for me." "I try," I answered, but I will have a go at Cal or maybe I will just wait for his call. "Do you want me to come with you?" "Yes please Antonio, we come now, and then go together to the market." We walked down the street and I'm sure I felt some leakage, where does he make all his man juice, in a vat, it's never-ending? Lukas has been whisked away again and I started helping the girls do their blooms, they are to be picked up in the morning and I had better start ordering more urns and bowls for the shop, they are looking pretty depleted. I looked across at the café tables and they were full of pretty ladies, my man is such a magnet. He was running around telling two guys what he wanted and then he ran in to see me. I was almost hidden by long stems but we managed a small talk about how the serving windows work. I left the counter and went to talk to two spunky tradies. "A new shopfront, this side to order coffee, the other side to get cakes and a big counter for the wines across the back of the store. Maybe wood panelling across the bottom and the windows are to open upwards above the counters, and three down lights at the top." They knew exactly what I was talking about so got their measuring tapes out and started doing their job. "Can I make you a coffee Antonio?" "Yes baby, only if you sit with me." I had plenty of time but he was flustered so I had to calm him down. When he went to get our coffee, I got a phone call. "Hello?" No answer but whoever it was hung up. "Cal just called Gianni, he hung up on me." "Serving himself right Antonio, I don't like him playing games, when is your next hairdressing appointment, I maybe will come with you?" He laughed. The guys wanted to know where the lighting in the shop was going so I showed them while Gianni spent some daddy time with his son he had rescued. I think that was the wrong thing for him to do because women came from nowhere, that Lukas is such a chick magnet also. He passed him over and went to give Stavros his money and they shook hands, we are now the owners of a very nice coffee shop I think. I had more coffee and my workday is almost over, the ladies had finished off the blooms and looked pretty pleased with them, I didn't check them out because I could tell they were perfect. "Your husband is going to make me broke Antonio." I heard behind me. Stavros was sitting at the next table and had leaned over to talk to me. "Why?" "Our deal, it's not good, I said I would pay for the fixing up the café, not the whole renovation." I laughed at his face and shrugged. "That's business." I know Gianni won't charge him for the reno, only the painting and a few light bulbs but Stavros doesn't know it, his face was beetroot by the time he finished blowing his stack in Italian. "But you can't do that to him Gianni, he's a good friend." "It's business Antonio, Stavros also pays for new taps and sink, and some plumbing." He laughed, he's so adorable when he does that. We started walking around the market and Cal went red-faced when he saw me and dived into the back of his stall, I think he's hiding. Gianni starred and started getting a little following because he had the baby while I looked at a few clothes for us, then I spied the stall I wanted. "What are you calling your shop Gianni?" "I don't know Antonio, I thought you may have had a name already." "Luca's bar and cafe." He looked at me and was thinking about it. I wanted to do a very small tribute to his brother Luca, and I liked the name. "Can I think about it?" "Yes of course you can, the only reason I asked is that this is where you get the name and phone number printed on t-shirts, aprons, and tanks, but when you're ready, we can do it then." "I did want to call it, Gianni and Antonio's wine bar and coffee lounge, a taste of Italian country." "You don't need my name blazoned on it Gianni, shorten it a bit." A look of horror came across his face and he replied, "Do you love me?" "Yes Gianni, loads." "Then I want to call it that name." "Okay baby, it's all good but why don't you shorten it to Gianni and Antonios?" "Good, fixed then, everyone will know it's a bar and café anyway and they will know we are together too." Yes Gianni, but that won't stop some people from hitting on you. "We can have that written at the top of the entrance maybe." "Okay." He started looking at gadgets and then he got lost in the camera sunglasses and had to have a pair, they have a USB attached to a small camera on them, god knows what he want's them for. Some more baby clothes and a few packets of nappies later and I was loaded up to go home, Gianni giggled as I carried it all, he had Lukas to carry. Lukas was put down for a nap after I bathed him in the sink, I must buy him a better bath but keep forgetting. Gianni opened a wine and we stared at each other, he put his new glasses on and was watching me moan as he made love to me. I see, he's filming my face movements and looking down at his member moving in and out of my ass. I think it's called a point of view porn. The boys came home and entered through the balcony, I was changing Lukas when they burst in full of smiles. I went to the toilet and changed the towels while I was in there. When I came out all three of them were in front of the TV watching Gianni's home-made porn, they kept looking at me like I was going to get a good shafting from them but I accidentally turned the power off at a crucial moment. "I will have to call the electrician," I said. "Let me look." Gianni was eager to get the show started again. While he looked at the meter box and the boys grabbed a wine I slipped the USB out of the TV and replaced it with one of Lukas' cartoon ones. The power came on and Gianni ran to jump on the couch. The cartoon burst into life and they moaned and blamed him for mucking up the filming but thought they will do it next time, I giggled to myself and was feeling very satisfied. "How did you go with Nina?" "In a minute Antonio, we are watching this cartoon." So I went over and turned it off and they moaned like a bunch of school kids. When they finished we sat at the table nd Leon opened another bottle of wine. "Now tell me what's going on?" "She has done more than we have in four months Antonio, waiters and cooks are reserved, a stylist will do the internal decoration. We don't have anything to do except pay out the cash and ok the plans of course. It's going to be very different from what we are used to and we aren't telling momma or poppa until it's over." "Will they be a problem?" I asked. "Yes because they like to keep any events that involve our brand top shelf at any cost." "That's why I don't get involved Antonio, I like your ideas better," Gianni said and kissed me. "But I thought you went around the world to some events." "Yes and no, I was only there to explain the wine-making process, not the table decorations." "So Nina has taken it all over and she's doing it for five grand." The boys shuffled in their seats, they were being cagey I think. "Okay Antonio but you can't tell everyone we discussed it last night and we have given her five grand, but we will give her another twenty on completion, she's well worth it and more if we think she deserves it." "Good, because she will save you a lot of money in the long run, what about the hunks?" I had to say it, but got a nudge from Gianni. "They will be sourced from the Italian club she will personally pick the best looking ones." "I wonder if she needs a hand?" I asked out loud. "Antonio, if you don't stop it I will shove Carlo's dick in your mouth." He was angry. "Yes please, boss." That was when another argument about loving him started and the boys exited through the balcony, then Gianni giggled and opened another wine. He sat on the sofa as I closed the blinds and we both watched the USB film, it was nice and he captured my new nose perfectly. I didn't feel like going downstairs tonight because I was just as happy to play with our son on the floor, he was a beautiful little kid, no trouble at all and he never complains, I loved his company. Gianni tossed and turned, he wanted to stay but he wanted to go too, and when the boys knocked they won, and my hunky boyfriend left with his bottle in hand. I spent some time putting bubs to bed because he wanted to talk to me all of a sudden, so I sat and listened until his eyelids started closing. With time on my hands, I thought about our conversation last week so I fired up the computer and searched, `Basilio Legartt gypsy Italy'. It came up with nothing much that was noteworthy, then I searched, `Legartt family gypsy Italy'. That got me several hits and I started reading pages and pages of nothing that made sense to me, the second one it came come up with was a bit simpler. Legartt is one of the many gypsy `royal' family names, but nothing more than that. My next search was Maria Cartasso. I got many hits and the first one was a history of the Cartasso family, I went down to Maria's section, it indeed said she was married to Basilio and she was also heir to her parent's fortune along with her sister Sabine, it told of her tragic drowning at the lake and the distraught little boy's grief, but it didn't mention his name or his father's disappearance, which I thought strange, it was as if they didn't exist. The next site and the many other sites she was mentioned in did the same, no baby, no husband. Eventually I got to one that had a photo of Maria and Basilio at a gala wine night and they looked gorgeous together, by the way they were looking at each other you could tell they were in love, Gianni is the spitting image of his father. I got my phone out and took a photo of them and will get it printed and give it to Gianni to place by his bedside or on the sideboard. The door was banged several times so I went to answer it, Gianni fell into the apartment almost flat on his face. "I get drunk Antonio, sorries." I helped him into the bedroom and by the time I had every stitch of clothing off he was dead to the world, so I took some very revealing photos. You all know I love my jack off material. Please consider a donation to Nifty