One Winter Weekend

Chapter 11

Chapter 11

N ight was falling in Venice, and while another city might have quieted down with the dying light, San Marco seemed even more beautiful now as the Christmas lights blazed to life.

The Basilica was gloriously illuminated, and everywhere Naomi looked festive displays were being lit up in the darkness. The city looked like a romantic postcard at night.

Unfortunately, the dying daylight also meant the temperature was dropping, and Naomi and Max hastily moved on from the Square to find a restaurant. Naomi hadn’t realised her stomach was growling; now she realised they had skipped lunch in the excitement of the tours. It didn’t take long to find a little trattoria that wasn’t too crowded and sit down to order their dinner.

Max let Naomi take the reins in ordering, and she found it hard to pick just a few dishes. There was calamari, a favourite of hers already; pumpkin risotto and seafood risotto; seafood dishes she’d never even heard of, including squid ink and cuttlefish; and of course plenty of tempting noodle and vegetable dishes, often with seafood in the mix. Max visibly paled at the mention of the squid ink but bravely ordered a tamer seafood dish with crab meat and vegetables. Naomi finally settled on her order and also asked for a bottle of wine for the table; the waiter produced one with a flourish, along with two very generously sized wine glasses.

The concept of lingering over a meal at a restaurant had always seemed a little odd back home since Julia, but somehow here in this ancient and magical city, it seemed that hurrying through the meal would be an affront to Venice itself.

Max and Naomi ate slowly, talking about everything they had seen during their tours. By the time dessert had been served, they drank the last of the wine, paid the bill and got ready to leave, they had been at the restaurant for nearly three hours.

It was only once they had returned to their hotel room that Naomi realised she hadn’t called her parents to check in on Julia. While Max brushed his teeth in the bathroom, she guiltily dialled her mother’s cell phone.

She answered after several rings. “Naomi! How is Venice?”

“Beautiful,” she answered truthfully. “Amazing. We’re seeing so much. And the food is incredible.”

Her mother chuckled. “And how is Max coping?”

Naomi laughed a little, remembering her husband’s face as they perused the menu at the restaurant. “Well, he’s a little alarmed by some of it, and he doesn’t like the boats. But he’s having fun. How is Julia doing?”

“Oh, she’s as perky as ever! We’re out shopping for Christmas decorations now.”

“You remembered to bundle her up?” Naomi immediately thought of a dozen other things to ask: Did you pack her favourite stuffed animal? Do you have an extra soother in case she loses hers? What about a bottle? What about…did you…what if…

But her mother seemed to anticipate the questions. “She’s wearing her favourite teddy bear coat, I packed Mr. Hippo in her diaper bag, she has an extra soother and a bottle of formula, and she ate and got a clean nappy on before we left the house. And we’ll be home in plenty of time for a little pre-dinner nap. Don’t worry, Naomi, she’s doing fine! Concentrate on enjoying yourself. Your weekend will be over far too soon.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Naomi said, giving her ‘I love you’s’ and hanging up. Max emerged from the bathroom and collapsed onto the bed. “Oof. I’m worn out from all that walking. How’s Julia?”

“She’s doing great,” Naomi said, fiddling with her phone. She felt torn—on the one hand, she was glad to hear that her daughter was doing well, but on the other, she still felt bad for being so far away. And yet, she’d truly enjoyed her day and knew this entire trip would have been impossible with a baby in tow. “You’re still up for more sightseeing tomorrow?”

“Of course,” he said quickly, trying to look alert and failing utterly. She leaned down and kissed him. “Get some rest. There will be plenty of time to make plans in the morning.”

Max fell asleep almost immediately, and Naomi slipped under the blankets.

For a moment she debated leaving the phone on in case her mother tried to call, but then she resolutely turned the ringer to the “silent” mode. Mum’s right, she thought sleepily, pulling the blankets up to her chin. This weekend will be over in a heartbeat. I’m going to enjoy it while I can. With thoughts of decadent desserts and twinkling lights still filling her head, she drifted off to sleep.