Chapter 16: Teach Me How

The sun was high in the sky, shining down on the Bellagamba family as they returned home from church. Alexander walked slowly behind them, dwelling on thoughts as they wandered through his mind. The cross breeze along the mountaintop was refreshing and he found himself stealing glances at the vineyard below. The landscape and slopes throughout the small hills further down were pleasant to look at.

He wondered if he ever married, would his wife love looking at such a sight as much as he did? Would she find the lush green hills to be captivating too?

Yet along with those thoughts were questions around the idea of ever marrying. Would there ever be a person for him?

He stayed a couple of steps behind the jovial group of people. Along with them were Emilia and her mother. He caught her quick glances every time she turned back toward him. Her eyes held something deeper in them, something he hadn't seen in them years ago and he knew that she wanted to speak to him alone, but Alexander kept his distance, wanting nothing more to do with her strange analysis and questioning.

Besides, he found comfort in examining their contentment from afar. He hadn't realized how much he lacked it until he was surrounded by their joy. They had just left an early dinner. Church had lasted for hours, something he wasn't quite used to, yet couldn't find himself being upset by.

Wanting community felt quite too ambitious for the lonely man. The genuine joy and laughter that filled the air felt like something was missing from him. Witnessing it all though was rather intriguing.

Alexander set down his things in the large dining room, deciding not to retire to his room just yet. The bright summer sun shined brightly through the large sliding glass door, hitting Gabriella's cherished plants at the perfect angle. Yet regardless of their beauty or tranquility, he couldn't bring himself to ignore the thoughts of her that would travel to his mind.

"Dear, what's the matter? You've been down since you arrived." Gabriella Bellagamba's gentle voice could be heard as she peered her round face into the room. Her large golden eyes were filled with curiosity paired with the delicate smile that brightened her features. For a moment he felt like a young boy again- ready to relinquish his burdens at the feet of a parent such as herself.

She slowly entered the room, patting the sides of her dress as she did. "Is it because my brother canceled your meeting last minute? I can talk him for you-" She began seriously.

"No, no it's not that," Alexander replied with a weak smile. His eyes left hers as he shook his head. He didn't want to concern yet another person in his life. He enjoyed witnessing their jovial conversations and quiet moments of peace as they read to the young children just before the church had begun. That peace stuck with them throughout the day and he feared that pulling them into his chaotic world would strip them of it.

"Hm," Gabriella responded with hands clasped together in front of her. "Then what has gotten you so down? You've been this way for most of your trip." Her tone instantly reminded him of his mother. They spoke with the same inflections in their voice.

"It's too much to dive into." He sighed. "Besides, I wouldn't want to keep you too long. Doesn't Joe have a family night planned?" He asked while pushing forward a smile. It wasn't the most genuine smile, yet it was meant to encourage her to leave him there alone with his thoughts. Even though that was the last thing he wanted.

She waved her hand and laughed. "The fatigue hit him harder than it hit me for once. He's gone to bed early for the night. Now really, talk to me. Your mother would hate for you to keep all of that bottled up, whatever it is."

Alexander took a deep breath. He knew what she said to be true. His mother would simply not give up until she figured out what was plaguing him. He smiled as various memories of her asking her usual series of questions came to mind. It was always in a casual fashion, yet she remained unable to hide her motive of wanting to carry him out of his rut.

It was always as she cooked dinner. His father would arrive back home just as it was completed, like clockwork. A young Alexander sat at the table, completing his homework and his mother's persistence would consistently succeed within the hour and he knew it made her happy. Her bright triumphant smile at the end of each of these scenarios was enough for him to never want to keep anything from her. Nothing big or small.

Alexander pulled himself out of his mind and smiled over at Mrs. Bellagamba. He studied her for a moment. Her gray and white hairs glistened under the fleeting sunlight. If he had only a few more years with his mother, he would be able to witness her hair change like the seasons too.

"You two practically shared the same personality," Alexander remarked with a bittersweet laugh. Some of their traits were nearly identical and he wondered if she learned that from Gabriella or if Gabriella had learned that from his mother.

"Well, to begin, I hired a new intern." He shared. He clapped his hands together lightly. There was an internal struggle he faced as he tried to keep his expression neutral, he could feel his brows knitting together as the frustration came forward.

"Oh! That sounds wonderful. They must have been so excited to be taken under your wing," she beamed, but after a few moments of silence, her brows furrowed too. Looking puzzled she reached forward, tapping his hand, "What's the issue then?"

He blew out a breath, "The issue is she was excited for the opportunity, to support her family, for everything AMI had to offer that she wanted a part in, but-" he paused, stifling the growing irritation he felt toward Lorenzo and himself. "But now she's at risk because of an insecure man and because of me." He finished through a clenched jaw.

"At risk? Dear, how would she be in danger? She didn't intern to be a security guard. Right...?" Gabriella's face morphed into one of genuine perplexity. Likely imagining a small woman in uniform guarding the building.

"No, no. She's not interning for any security positions. This has nothing to do with her and everything to do with a rivalry. The company has had a few competitors over the years, but one man, in particular, has been adamant from the moment I arrived. His name is Lorenzo. When I first began the AMI corporation, he was at the peak of his career. Everyone in our line of work wanted to be him or at least be partners with his company, but his business decisions took a nose dive and along with his sanity it seems."

"Toward you." She correctly inferred.

Alexander nodded. "And her."

"Who is this woman? What's her name?" Gabriella asked in her curiosity. Her golden eyes were attentive and the slight smile on her face proved that she already knew what to expect in his response, as if she could see the conclusion already playing in her mind.

"Arielle Burkes, a new college graduate who is filled with passion and she's passionate about her beliefs. She loves God as you do." He replied, unaware of the smile that formed on his mouth, as he thought of what brought her joy.

"Ah, my kind of girl." Gabriella grinned in approval. Alexander's cheeks were temporarily tinted pink, but he pushed down any sort of romantic emotion that tried to build up within him again.

"I think the two of you would get along great," he spoke as he stared far away. Just the thought of them escaping the busyness of their lives for a moment together tickled his heart. He would love to sweep her away from her troubles, including the ones that were caused by him.

"Just the way you look when you talk about her, I think I agree with you." He didn't have to confess his feelings for Arielle. Her tone told him that he knew/

Alexander blushed again only this time, it was hard to fight off the apparent feelings that he had for Arielle. They breached past the surface and exposed him to one of the closest family members he had left, albeit not by blood, but by love. He didn't feel the need to hide the warmth on his cheeks. Not when it came to her.

"She's wonderful," he confirmed, deciding it would be best, to be honest rather than hide it. Hiding it had never worked before since he could hardly do it.

"I became stuck on her when I first met her. I was first captured by her beauty. Her smile could compete with the beauty of the sky. And then I learned that she has those strong morals that seem to anchor her right where she needs to be. And her heart. I've rarely witnessed another love like her. She's sacrificed so much for those she loves. She treats everyone graciously and I've noticed that she's quite humble. Apologizing even when I believe her actions and words are justified, at least to me, because her standard isn't what I think, it's greater than me. From what she told me, her standards come from God, and from what I've seen... I believe her. She makes me want to be a better person and it makes me light up on the inside..." he paused for a moment. "But it scares me too." He whispered.

Gabriella stared in awe. The young man before her, who had seemed to grow like a weed, quickly without any chance of stopping him- had fallen in love. Yet she wasn't sure if he had noticed that just yet. Instead, she reached forward and tapped his hand once more.

"Don't let it scare you." She responded softly.

A bittersweet laugh left his mouth. "That's easier said than done. Just the idea of my possible feelings has her painted as a target. Lorenzo won't stop until he has her or until I put a stop to him."

"Have you thought of going to who she goes to?" She asked while resting her cheek against her hand.

"Who she goes to?" He asked with a raised brow.

"Well who she and I and your godfather go to." Gabriella ended with a smile.

"Oh..." he nodded. "I'm assuming you mean, have I decided to go to God." He completed it for her.

"Yes, that's exactly what I mean." She chuckled.

"What makes you think He would want to hear from me?" Alexander had lived a life full of bad choices. He fended for himself for a long time and that meant doing things his mother wouldn't be proud of.

"What makes you think He wouldn't? If he wanted to hear from me with the past I had, He wants to hear from you too." She waved her hands as she spoke.

"I just find that hard to believe." He shrugged, but he recognized that something in his gut was telling him that he was wrong.

Gabriella sighed. "I used to feel the same way when I was younger in my walk with Him." She replied, a sad expression on her face as she reminisced about her own trials. "Here. You're staying for the next three weeks, right?" She asked.

Alexander thought about what he left back in the U.S. and acknowledged that there was no reason to rush back home. The AMI corporation was still under his watchful eye as was every security camera, email, and phone call. Vincent offered to keep a close eye on its operation and the two employees at his home were happy to have a month-long vacation. His ego took a hit when he realized that no one truly needed him and for a moment it ached, but he pushed it away.

Clearing his throat, he nodded. "Yes, I'll be here until then."

The incessant urge to go back to New York fled from him and he yearned for the heaviness in his heart to go with it.

2 Weeks Later

Alexander's plane landed back in America sooner than he had hoped. Yes, he missed his small American family, although he wouldn't announce it loudly enough to morph Vincent into a smug man. Yet he did miss the comforts of being in his own home, in his own bed. He could practically hear Greta and Richard swatting at each other as they made playful remarks in passing. The doting couple couldn't go long without poking fun at each other.

His family in NY was rather small, yet between them and his godmother in Italy, he realized that he had more than some others had. The handful of people in his life genuinely loved him.

Alexander briefly waved at the black car approaching and a large smile stretched across his face when he caught sight of its driver. He would notice those short gray hairs anywhere. Richard pulled forward, beckoning him to enter.

"Come on in!" He yelled past the energetic instrumental playing in the background.

Alexander shook his head but obliged. He had only taken one luggage worth of clothing with him which wasn't ideal for most but he had only wanted to escape and to find time to think.

Chuckling while entering the car, Alexander patted Richard on the shoulder. Greta sat in the passenger seat and beamed as she looked over at the young man.

"Oh, you're finally back! This man kept playing tricks on me while you were away!" She exclaimed while pouting. A pointed look was sent toward her husband before she jokingly huffed and returned her attention to Alexander.

Alexander rose a brow, "Tricks, Richard?" He asked in a sly tone.

"Ignore the misses. I think she's confused tricks with harmless pranks." He was interested with a shrug and began to pull off.

"Which are still tricks!" Greta quickly refuted causing Richard to fake an eye roll. With a gasp and light flick on the shoulder, they were back at it again. Alexander chuckled and watched the two in amusement. He truly did miss them, but the time away became an unexpected blessing.

His godmother had poured time into him by taking him along with her for her volunteer work twice a week. The church would meet and go together to share their faith and feed the hungry. He stood in awe when he realized how much strength his little godmother had within her. She would rise early in the morning and carry a large bag, akin to luggage, filled with food she prepared for them. Willingly choosing to walk seemed odd to the city man, but he appreciated the view and their long talks.

Each day, they spoke about God as the sun shined through each crack in between the branches. All of his questions were answered one by one. It felt like a dream as he began to feel jovial himself, a peace blooming in his heart.

Returning home was surreal for him. He undoubtedly missed those he loved, but he found himself yearning to know more. He had more questions, and his curiosity never satiated during his time there, but he could not remain in Italy forever. Even if it felt as though the hills were calling his name.

Alexander sat there quietly as Greta and Richard talked calmly amongst themselves. His eyes captured the rapidly passing trees and the mountains that towered high. Closing his eyes, he allowed his mind to wander back to God. For once, thoughts of Arielle did not interrupt.

Within the hour, they returned to his large estate. He should have felt at ease being back home, but it now felt too large all of a sudden, yet with his status, it was expected of him. The tall walls and spacious rooms all served as a reminder that he had not begun his own family yet. There was no wife to return to and no children running up to meet him at the door.

Yet even then, the house would be too large for them all.

His heart fluttered at the thought of change, but he wanted it.

He nodded toward Greta and Richard, dismissing them for the night as they arranged before his arrival. He knew that he needed the time alone to think. Making his way to his study, he searched the shelves diligently. Each book of philosophy seeming bland and without true wisdom now. They took up space and collected dust, but no longer had any use to him and as time went on, Alexander realized that they never did.

It only took a few minutes before his eyes finally landed on the one he was looking for. The gold lettering on its spine practically beckoned him. It read, "The Holy Bible," and toward the bottom, in the script was his mother's full name.

He swiftly plucked it from the shelf and walked it over to his desk. Flipping the pages quickly, he rushed over to the last passage his godmother had read to Him. It intrigued him more than he thought it would.

The answers she gave about God held his attention, but much of his reading had always been to impress or reach higher success. It was never for fun or spiritual reasons. Yet there he sat, absorbing each word and hoping that nothing would puzzle him. Who would he ask for help?

He found that many verses seemed to swoop over his head and he couldn't grasp them in time to make them make sense. As a man who never grew up praying, he didn't know what to say or how to say it. Gabriella walked him through a prayer to bless their food. Each service in Italy ended with an altar call, where people would go toward the front to repent or for prayer in general. Yet he felt filthy and unworthy. He didn't know if his mother would be proud of him, let alone God.

But without a shadow of a doubt, he knew that God was real.

So there he sat alone, confused and wondering where and how to go from here.

Arielle could be heard laughing with her mother and another woman from where Alexander stood. He held his forehead in his palm as he tried to pull together the words. He hadn't seen her in weeks, much less spoken to her.

With a heavy sigh, he knocked at the door. The sound of laughter died down, with the whispers from the ladies taking its place. Alexander glanced around as his mind wandered again. How would he greet her? What would he say?

"Alexander?" A soft voice pulled him from his thoughts. He nearly jumped, but her warm eyes soothed him for a moment. She stood with the door slightly ajar, some warmth from their kitchen mixing with the coolness outside.

"Arielle." He answered her just as softly. They stood there for mere seconds, but to him, it felt like years. The breeze seemed to nudge him forward and the disappearing sun illuminated the heights of her cheekbones. For a moment, he felt rude for staring, but he realized that she had been studying him too, and thankfully, she had broken the silence for him- as he felt like fish tossed far from the sea.

"I didn't know you were back," she whispered but then cleared her throat. Glancing back, she nodded to her mother and pulled the door close behind her.

He breathed in and out, gathering strength. Her deep brown eyes felt as though they were weakening him and her intense focus on him served as a distraction. Was she truly unaware of the effect she had on him? "I know you likely don't want to see me, but I-"

"I did want to see you actually." She interrupted. A light blush graced her face. "Sorry for interrupting your sentence." She whispered.

"You did?" He could feel the thundering in his chest, beating at the cage holding it in. He needed to take a moment to breathe. To focus.

"I did." She paused for a moment. Unbeknownst to Alexander, Arielle also sought for the words that she hoped would bring the clarity they both wanted. Recognizing that she couldn't put them together in a way that she found appealing, she focused on him and his arrival at her front door. "But what's wrong?"

He held his hand against his forehead while breathing 0ut a short laugh. "I think I found God..." His words were so quiet, that she wondered if she had heard him correctly.

"What did you say?" She asked with her mouth slightly agape.

"My godmother told me more about Jesus. I don't know where to begin or even how to pray. I- how- how do I contact Him? What do I- How do I-" His sentences stumbled over themselves as he searched for the right words. Arielle's eyes were wide as she absorbed his words. Alexander calmed himself and sighed. "Could you teach me how to pray?"

"Of course." She smiled. "I know someone who can help us too," Arielle replied. A slow smile grew on her face as she thought over the many prayers she had prayed for him. Yet a shiver ran over her as the cool wind began to feel ice cold. Alexander noticed her body shake lightly.

"You're cold. We can talk about this another time maybe? But for now, go inside- and um, if you're free tomorrow, we can meet up with that person?"

"Yes-"

"What are you kids doing out here? It's freezing," Arielle's mother laughed. "Come in, come in. I'm serving dinner now."

"Oh- uh yes. Let's eat," she gave Alexander a gentle smile and turned to follow her mother inside.

He began to follow them when a realization hit him. He watched happily as she walked over to her friend and they began to laugh and speak as if nothing happened at all. The light smile that pulled at his face hardly showed the joy in his heart. She had called him by his first name. Not behind a closed door nor followed by a quick correction, but she said it, normally. To his face. As if they had been best friends for years and he felt that everything would go better than he could have ever hoped.

A/N:

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I apologize for the long wait. I was unexpectedly hurt and had to be hospitalized. By God's grace, none of the injuries were fatal, but I've been healing and focusing on God and family during this time. The Lord has done many miracles during this time too.

If you all ever need prayers, feel free to reach out to me. I still check my notifications here fairly regularly.