Page 20 of Finding Love in the Clouds

“Did I wake you?” he asked surprised.

“No, this is what I look like when I enter the elevator at work and magically appear all put together when I reach the thirty-fifth floor. It’s quite amazing. You should definitely patent the design.” Sarcasmdripped from her words, but it was lost on him as he stood and stared at her.

“What?”

“Yes, Andy, I just woke up thanks to your pounding. What do you want? My alarm hasn’t gone off, so I’m pretty sure I’m not running late. That would mean you woke me early, and I hope you have a very good reason for doing so, considering the jet lag I am currently experiencing.” Her fist had made its way to her hip, and her eyes continued to glare at him when he continued to stand and stare without explaining his reason for waking her. “Andy!”

“Are you wearing anything under that robe, Soph?”

“WHAT?I cannot believe you just asked me that! Of course I am. What has gotten into you?”

“I just. You never. I umm…” Fernando ran both hands through his hair, trying desperately to collect his thoughts before he made this situation any worse. It was like every brain cell in his head scattered when she opened the door. He had never seen her less than perfect before. He liked it. But now was not the time to say as much. Maybe he should just walk away and not say anything since his brain had temporarily lost its filter.

“You just… thought I only wore professional clothing? You never thought… I slept? You umm… forgot I was a human?”

Her snarky response caught him further off guard, and her irritation rang through. His dark brown gaze met her angry gray one.

“I’m sorry, Sophie. My brain short-circuited for a minute. My apologies. I awoke about an hour ago and went for a run. I was sitting down with breakfast and coffee to enjoy the dawn when the tour director slipped this under my door.” He handed a flier to Sophie. “They opened a pre-tour excursion of the Vatican City. We have to callthe number to let them know if we are interested and meet up with the guide at 10 am downstairs. Do you want to go?”

“Yes! Of course.” Grabbing his wrist, she turned it to look at the time on his watch. “Six!You went for a run at five in the morning, Andy? I could have slept another three hours and still been ready with plenty of time. Haven’t you ever heard of beauty sleep?” Sophie huffed and started to close the door, but Fernando placed a palm on the aged wood to stop it.

“So, for future reference, how long does it take you to get ready?”

“If I’m already up and just changing clothes and freshening my makeup fifteen minutes max. From a dead sleep in a hurry, thirty minutes, but if I’m adding a leisurely breakfast in the mix, an hour tops,” she informed him, still obviously miffed at him but cooling down now that there was a good reason for waking her.

“So, you’re going back to bed for three hours, and then if I don’t hear you moving around at nine, I should knock again?”

“No, once I’m up, I’m up. Going back to bed will just make me groggy all day. I’m going to get dressed. Let’s hit the landmarks we were planning to see last night before we meet up with the tour at 10. I will be ready in fifteen. See if you can find some bikes to rent. That will increase our chances of making it to all our destinations in the next three hours.”

Closing the door, she got to work, making herself presentable. Twelve minutes later, she reentered, dressed in white linen shorts with an oversized navy blue shirt that hung off her right shoulder and tucked into the front waistband. Underneath, she wore a white spaghetti-strap tank top, canvas sneakers covered her feet, and large white sunglasses perched atop her head completed the outfit. “Ready. Did you happen to grab me breakfast?” she inquired as she slipped a small backpack onto her shoulders.

“Of course I got you breakfast. I may be a little absent-minded at times, but I try not to be a total cad,” Fernando stated defensively, handing her a white paper bag with freshly baked cornetto and a cup of still-warm cappuccino.

Sophie was glad the coffee had time to cool as she gulped it down between bites of the sweet, flaky pastry. By the time they made it out onto the street and claimed their rental bikes, she was finished with her breakfast and ready to get the exploration started.

“I entered the landmarks into this handy little app. If we head to the Spanish Steps first, we will get it all in and arrive at the Castel just in time for opening,” Fernando informed her, straddling his bike while presenting her with the screen of his phone.

Clicking the strap on her helmet under her chin, she replied, “That sounds good to me; lead the way, boss.”

Navigating the cobblestone streets and busy traffic of Rome on two wheels was a bit hair-raising and wiped any remaining haze from Sophie’s brain. Energy thrummed through her, rays of morning sun warming her back as she pedaled hard to keep up with Fernando, avoiding being hit by impatient drivers. She had never been more glad that she was not leading the way in this unfamiliar city.

Twenty minutes and a few wrong turns later, they arrived at the Spanish Steps. “I’m not sure these were worth almost dying for,” Fernando quipped, looking up at the marble stairs that ascended gracefully from the Piazza Di Spagna to the Trinita Dei Monti Church.

“You can’t come to Rome and not at least see them. I read that the three landings represent the Trinity. Let’s climb to the top. It’s supposed to be a really good view of the city.”

The panoramic view was spectacular. Bright orange rooftops of Rome spread out before them, the square below alive with activity as vendors set up their stalls and locals began their day. They took afew moments to rest and sipped cool water from Sophie’s pack before continuing their morning journey.

Back on the cobblestone streets, they pedaled past quaint cafés and bustling markets, historic landmarks, and ornate fountains. Honking horns and shouting, laughter, and chatter filled the air as the morning breeze carried the scent of freshly baked goods and blooming flowers. Sophie had never experienced such a vibrant ambiance before, and it thrilled her to be a part of this energetic setting.

They traveled along the Tiber River for several minutes before reaching the St. Angelo Bridge. Sunlight glistened off the surface of the water as it flowed gently along and beneath the elegant arches of the ancient bridge.

“Can you believe this bridge is almost two thousand years old?” Sophie asked as they came to a stop at the entrance to the bridge and dismounted their bikes.

“It is mind-blowing to think just how old that is. All the history this has survived,” Fernando replied, taking her hand and strolling onto the bridge. “The detailing in these marble sculptures is stunning. I wonder how long it took them to carve each angel.”

“You can almost feel the ripple of the fabric against your skin and the texture of the angels’ wings beneath your fingertips,” Sophie agreed. Turning to look at the angels they had already passed and then looking ahead, she commented, “They all hold an item from the crucifixion. Look, the flogging column to which Jesus was tied, the whip that wounded Him, the crown of thorns, the Veil of Veronica, his garment and the dice they used to see who got it, the nails that pierced his hands, the cross he died on, the spear they plunged into his side, even the sponge they rose to his lips. This bridge is the retelling of Christ’s redemptive story.”

Tears filled her eyes, and Fernando wrapped her in a comforting embrace. “I never knew you were so emotional. This is going to be a very teary trip for you, I see.”

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