“Thank you for sharing your family. That’s why we’re here today. Campers, how many of you met Ms. Geni this year?” The kids yelled in response as she made her way to Carlee and Dean.
“I sure am sorry I missed those cookies! Where’s Dezzie?”
Dezzie jumped up. “Dezzie, I saw pictures, and that cookie was awesome! Ms. Geni, thank you for joining us this year. Your time and the cookies are a welcome addition. But what we’re really here to say today is thank you for your kinship to our cause
; another gift Carlee has shared with us, is you. I hope you’ll be back again.”
Geni looked at Carlee
, who was smiling, and then she looked out at the crowd. Ronnie was looking up at her, and she remembered the experience they’d shared. She glanced and saw Matthew running around taking pictures and was surprised to find Thomas and Brian in the crowd. And as she’d been warned, she couldn’t imagine not coming back.
“Friends, Ms. Genevieve Davis gave us a gift almost as precious as the heart she’s shared this week. Ms. Geni donated this piece of land behind me to help us grow the camp even more.” Geni, Dean, Carlee
, and Alison wore hard hats with the Butterfly Camp logo on them; and carried shovels with big lime-green bows.
Dean Rollins spoke again
, “We’re here today to make the first dig into the Thomas Grayson Davis Memorial Gymnasium.” The group bent forward to stick the shovels into the fresh dirt, and Matthew was there to capture it all in pictures. He noticed Carlee suddenly looking somewhat dazed, and before he knew it, her knees buckled and she went down. A loud gasp came from the crowd. Andy and Matthew ran to her. Geni tossed her shovel aside and was on her knees at Carlee’s side, holding her head. Alison ran for the nurse from the infirmary.
Only a few seconds passed
; Geni was on her knees splashing water on her face from a bottle someone handed her. Carlee’s eyes fluttered open, and the first person she saw was Andy.
“Papa, I’m OK!” she blurted out. She started to sit up, but the nurse was there by then, and eased her back down. “I forgot to eat
, and I got hot! I got dizzy, and I was hot, that’s all!”
A few minutes passed as the nurse took her blood pressure and did a quick exam, finally doing a blood sugar test. “
Has this ever happened before?” she asked Carlee.
“I’ve gotten light-headed but I’ve never dropped before,” she said in a shaky voice.
“She was nauseous last night and said she had a headache,” Andy interrupted.
They made her lie there and rest a few minutes while someone ran to the kitchen and came back with peanut butter crackers, orange juice
, and water.
She drank the juice and looked up.
“I swear I’m fine! I have a headache, and I’m starving is all!” She laughed as she said it, but there was concern among all those around her.
Jennifer, the nurse
, checked the blood sugar again a few minutes later and told Matthew, “I think she’s OK; she seems dehydrated. All this running around and the heat, I would guess. Her sugar was a little low the first time; it seems to be coming back up. I’ll check on her once more in fifteen minutes or so. I’d have her see a doctor as soon as possible.”
“
Can I get up now?” Carlee asked, embarrassed over the ordeal. They gave her the rest of the peanut butter crackers. She woofed them down with some more of the orange juice, and grabbed the water bottle Geni handed her.
“I swear I’m fine!” she said seeing the look on Andy and Matthew’s faces.
“I ate! I was just hot and hungry!” Everyone felt relieved, and the ceremony, that her fainting interrupted, continued. Afterward there was a big celebration.
Everything about the camp week was perfect, aside from that fainting thing
, Carlee thought as they packed the Hope Wells the kids had filled with their words and pictures of what ‘hope’ meant to them. The Hope Wells would make their way to the Butterfly Ball in the spring. The busses filled as the kids hugged, cried, and made promises to return the next summer, and there was great hope that they could.
Carlee, Andy, Matthew
, and Nathan loaded into the van Andy rented to head home. Geni rode with Thomas and Brian, and they all made their way to Andy’s house. Carlee smiled, knowing as they departed, that another great camp experience was complete.
“You scared the hell out of me,” Andy said once they were on their way.
“Me too,” Matthew told her.
“I’m fine. Y’all make fun of me,” she laughed lightly. “I just know that I have to eat a little bit of something, often, and I was busy and forgot.”
“Let’s not let that happen again!” Matthew said.
“I try to keep cheese crackers in my bag, but, hello? Where was my bag?” She laughed, trying to erase the concern she saw on their faces.
But she didn’t express her own.
Everyone stayed at Andy’s for the night. They joined with Carlee’s family at Giovanna’s for pizza. Carlee excused herself to go to the restroom, and Geni followed.
When they were alone, Geni asked, “
How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine,
please stop worrying. It was hot, I needed to eat, and well, I have my period now. The perfect storm!” Carlee laughed, answering Geni’s question –
is she pregnant?
The next morning, the entourage headed to Jacksonville. Carlee and Matthew would be there four days. Geni made arrangements with her doctor to see Carlee. A quick once-over and she agreed that the blood sugar information Jennifer sent from camp indicated what Carlee told them, she just needed to eat. She suggested that she find a doctor in London as soon as possible, continue checking her sugar periodically, and to assure she had snacks with her all the time. And everyone agreed if she said she was ‘starving,’ she would eat.
The
ir time in the states went by quickly and leaving was hard, but they’d all be together at Christmas, and Carlee hoped that Andy would sneak over sooner.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
~ Tuscany
Their time in the states went by quickl
y and leaving was hard, but they would all be together at Christmas, and Carlee hoped that Andy would sneak over sooner.
About an hour into their flight to London, Carlee felt nauseous.
“Matthew, I gotta go,” she told him trying to scramble out of the seat.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I gotta go!” she repeated, anxiously.
When she returned to her seat, she put her head on his shoulder. He slipped his arm around her and asked, “What is it, Carlee?”
“I got all swimmy headed and I had to go throw up,” she replied.
“Motion sickness?” he asked.
“I reckon.”
“Did you eat? Has it ever happened before? What can I get you?” he asked, the questions coming in rapid succession.
“I ate, no it’s never happened before, and I don’t know. Can I just lay here against you and close my eyes?”
Matthew raised the arm
rest between them, and she curled closer against him. She dozed and as she slept, he thought about her fainting at camp and now this…
Finally, she stirred and he pulled her closer. “Are you feeling better?”
“I think so
; maybe something I ate just didn’t agree with my tummy. How far out are we?” she asked.
He looked at his watch, “About two and a half hours.”
“I gotta pee,” and as soon as she stood up, she sat back down.
“What’s wrong?”
“I feel like I’m all swimmy and going to throw up again,” she whispered.
“Does it feel like flu or something?”
“No, not really,” she replied in a hushed voice. “I’m gonna sit here another minute.”
Matthew felt her forehead and decided that he didn’t think she felt feverish. “When you are ready, I’ll walk with you. I’m gonna call the flight attendant to see if they have something to give you,” and he reached up to push the button.
When the attendant arrived, Matthew asked, “Do you have anything for nausea? I think we have some motion sickness going on here. She needs to go to the restroom but starts feeling sick when she gets up.”
“Happens all the time,” the attendant said. “If you need assistance getting to the restroom, I’ll walk with you. I have Dramamine in the back.”
Carlee rose slowly, smiled and said to Matthew, “Gimme the bag thingy - just in case.”
When they returned, Carlee slid into the seat. “Thank you
, Fran,” she said as she did.
Fran turned to Matthew, “I told her it may make her sleepy.”
“Thanks for everything,” Matthew said as she walked away.
“I hope it helps,” Matthew said as she curled closer, and he kissed her forehead.
She slept for about an hour and felt better when they landed.
~ ~ ~
As they packed and got ready for their trip, Carlee made lists of things they needed; things to take, and things the owner of the apartment told her they may want to pick up in town before going to the villa. Matthew took one of the lists and ran to ASDA. When he returned he had a small bag and handed it to her.
“A surprise!” she said in a happy voice. She peeked
inside and laughed. “Oh boy, my very own supply of Dramamine!”
“Just in case!” She hadn’t had a repeat of the vomiting, so they figured that it was just motion sickness, but he wasn’t going to take a chance.
Sat
urday morning, they were on their way to Florence. Carlee took the Dramamine, before they boarded. Once on the plane, they settled in, anxious to reach their destination. She’d spoken with the owner of the villa several times, getting details and directions. They arrived in Florence around one in the afternoon. Matthew rented a convertible and put the top down to enjoy the beautiful day. Carlee slipped on sunglasses, a large scarlet-red floppy hat, and they were on their way. As they drove, Matthew looked over, noticing that Carlee seemed lost as she took in the scenery. He watched closely because the nausea and the fainting spell at camp remained on his mind.
“You look like Marilyn Monroe,” he
observed. “Carlee, your profile in that hat is gorgeous.”
“Wasn’t she beautiful? Matthew, do you see all these beautiful poppies?”
“I see something beautiful, but I’m not sure it’s just the flowers. I’m gonna pull over a minute. I want to take some pictures,” he said with a big smile.
She was wearing a soft yellow-colored sun dress, large dark, ‘Jackie O’ sunglasses, and the wide-brimmed hat, her red hair cascading beneath it.
As he opened her door, he reached for her hand, and they walked along the side of the road a short distance. He stopped and began taking pictures of the flowers. When he turned, Carlee was squatting down to get a closer look. She’d tipped the brim lower to shield her face from the afternoon sun. Matthew smiled at the image before him and started snapping pictures, rapid-fire. She looked up and he snapped more. When she started to laugh, he continued.
“These are gonna be good. Let’s go.”
They continued on to the villa, still about an hour’s drive away. The scenery as they drove was spectacular. Their reservation was for check-in at five that afternoon. The owner told Carlee of a little village and a market before they reached the road to the villa, so they stopped, explored, and shopped for a few things they wanted.
Following the directions they were given, they made their way from the village down a
long, winding, tree-lined dirt road. The villa sat in the middle of acres of vineyards, and olive groves. Carlee looked ahead at the old stone buildings covered with crawling ivy.
“It’s beautiful!” she said as they pulled up. There was one large building and three smaller ones nearby. Beautiful gardens surrounded it all, and the flowers were in full-bloom. The dwellings were on a rise, and the pool was a level lower; both looked out over the vineyards. Off in the distance were several other buildings. From what Carlee had read, she figured they were the winery and the building where they packed olives and pressed and bottled olive oil.
The caretaker
, an older woman, met them as they got out of the car. She introduced herself as Magda and showed them to the apartment. Excited, Carlee looked around; she’d looked at the pictures on the website over and over. It was exactly as the pictures showed it. The apartment was two-story, and Mediterranean. There was a small sitting and eating area, with a tiny kitchen downstairs. The bedroom and bath were upstairs.
“This bed looks like a big’ol marshmallow!” Carlee laughed. It was king-sized with a high dark wood headboard, and covered with a
puffy white down-coverlet. The floors were terra-cotta colored stone; the ceilings we’re rustic wood with open beams. Outside the bedroom was a covered porch with a bistro-style table and chairs. The view overlooked the pool, and vineyards.
Magda showed them around, and informed them that there was only one other apartment rented that week. They pretty much had the place to
themselves. She told them that dinner was at seven, “After you see sunset,” she said, and left them to settle in.
They carried their things in and headed out for a walk around the grounds
, which were landscaped beautifully. When they returned to the apartment, Matthew opened a bottle of wine and they sat together at the little table on the porch outside their room, taking it all in.
“Happy honeymoon,” he said, leaning to her for a kiss.
“I can’t believe we’re here!” she replied excitedly. “It’s all so beautiful.”
Later, after they’d experienced the sunset, they went to the main house for dinner. They explored a little before going to the dining room. The main room, as they entered, had large windows that looked out over the vineyards, and an old stone fireplace that was filled with flowers this time of year. Beautiful landscape paintings of the villa, representing different seasons and views, hung on the walls.
When they entered the dining room, they
found one large table, set for four. The table was deep, dark walnut with high-backed burgundy leather chairs adorned with brass tacks. The center of the table contained a large glazed bowl filled with fruit. It was quaint and candle-lit. A moment later, the other guests arrived.
They were an older couple, his mom’s age, Matthew guessed. “Carlee and Matthew Davis,” he said, extending his hand to the man. Magda came in and invited them to have a seat. The two couples sat at the table and continued the conversation.
“Reta and Arno Willis; we’re here from New York. I just retired, NYPD,” he said proudly. “Reta’s been crazy to come here for years. It’s beautiful isn’t it?”
“It is. We’re here from London. It’s our honeymoon a few months late,” Carlee said with an easy smile.
“You don’t sound British,” Reta said with a heavy New York accent.
“We’
re from Florida, actually,” Matthew grinned. “I teach at the University of Westminster in London. Carlee will be a student there in January.”
Magda
and a younger woman returned with a large bowl of salad, another small bowl filled with olives, and a plate of fresh bread with two saucers of olive oil sprinkled with freshly-chopped, fragrant herbs for dipping the bread. The younger woman returned with a bottle of wine. “My daughter, Adriana,” Magda said, introducing the younger woman, who filled their glasses.
“
Chianti from our vineyards,” the young woman told them. The two women left them to enjoy their salad.
“I’m a retired teacher,” Reta said,
“elementary educator for forty years.”
“I teach photography,” Matthew said.
“What are you going to school for, Carlee?” Reta asked.
“I have two semesters left to get my degree in psychology. I’m in the process of transferring to Westminster
College in London from Flagler College in St. Augustine.”
“Oh, we’ve been there, love St. Auggie
!” Reta said. “Be-u-ti-ful school,” she said emphasizing each syllable, in her heavy accent.
“Honeymoon, hunh?” Arno said with a big
grin.
“Yes sir,” Matthew smiled. “We married in March and Carlee had to return to Florida to finish her semester. She came over when it was complete
, and I finished out the school year. We just returned from a trip to the states to see our families, so we are just now getting away.”
“Newlyweds…” Reta smiled. “Me and Arno, thirty-five years and still honeymooning, God love ya!” she said, and lovingly pinched his cheek.
Magda and Adriana reappeared with homemade pasta, tossed with fresh spinach, garlic, olive oil and Italian sausage, and then another bowl with pasta, red sauce, and meatballs.
“
Mmm… This all smells heavenly,” Carlee said, as she loaded her plate with a little of everything.
They enjoyed the meal and the time with Reta and Arno.
The next morning
, Carlee made the coffee they’d purchased in town. It was a local roast, rich and bold. They took it, along with pastries to the little porch and talked about the day. Matthew had the camera taking pictures of their view.
“Let’s just stick around here, do you mind?
” Carlee asked. “It’s just so beautiful that I kinda don’t want to leave. Magda said we can visit the winery anytime. It’d be a nice walk. If you’d like, we could go early, before it gets hot. After that, we can go to the pool a while. They’re serving lasagna, and a beef and mushroom dish tonight for the meal. What do you think?”
Matthew listened as she chattered away, smiling at her excitement over everything.
“I think I’d like whatever you want to do, but are you feeling alright?”
“Yes, I feel fine!”
Later, they set out across the field to visit the winery. Matthew snapped off many pictures as they made their way. The view of the dwellings from the field between them, and the winery looked like postcard pictures. He stopped to take several shots in all directions, adding a panoramic shot to stitch together, from a natural little rise in field. They visited the winery and tasted samples, choosing some to ship home.
When they exited the building
, a big black cloud loomed overhead. The apartment was about a quarter of a mile away. Matthew decided if they were quick they could make it back before the rain came. They’d made it about halfway when the sky opened up. There was nowhere to take cover. They tried to run, but it didn’t help. Carlee wore a longer skirt, and it hindered her ability to move, clinging instead to her body. The rain drenched them, and they laughed as they made their way back. Almost to the dwelling, it eased up. Matthew had her by the hand and they turned to find a rainbow. He pulled his camera out and snapped off several shots, and then looked at Carlee.
“Don’t move,” he told her and smiled.
“What is it?” she asked.