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They had exchanged texts until 1 AM last night, where Joe said he needed some sleep before going to work. While Joe slept and worked, Nicky spent the entire night, morning, and afternoon thinking about what Joe meant by that they would see each other soon. When the thinking started to turn into a headache, Nicky texted Joe and asked what he meant. Instead of an answer, Joe sent a text with a lot of emojis, leaving Nicky even more confused because he didn't speak emojis at all, so instead of asking what the emojis meant, Nicky made his way to his Nonna and the Wednesday dinner.
When Nicky turned a corner, the road was closed off.
"Sorry," A police officer said. "The road will be closed for the rest of the day."
"I understand," Nicky replied. "Do you know another way to The Rose Garden? The nursery home."
"Yeah, my Nan lives there," The police officer replied. "Drive back and turn right. When you see Madison Street, turn right, and you should see the nursery home. Even though you have to drive up the hill."
"Thanks," Nicky replied. "Have a good evening."
When Nicky saw the hill, he felt like dying. It was the steepest hill in the entire city, and he had never been able to conquer it in his life.
"Move it, Old Man," A teen shouted just before he rushed by Nicky on a mountain bike.
Nicky shook his head as he began to drag his bike up the hill. Five minutes later, Nicky met the teen who stood still and was gasping for air. There was a reason why the hill was called "Killer Of Man".
"Hi," Nicky said as he offered the teen a bottle of water. "Drink this. It will help."
"Thanks," The teen gasped before emptying the bottle in one mouthful. "And sorry that I called you Old Man before. I'm late for work."
"You're forgiven," Nicky replied. "Where do you work?"
"KFC at the cinema," The teen replied. "Do you know another way?"
"Sorry to tell you, but you're going in the wrong direction," Nicky replied. "You should have turned left on Madison Street, not right."
"You're joking me, right?" The teen asked, and Nicky shook his head. "I'm so fired for being late."
"Tell your boss about the police," Nicky suggested. "It must be all over the city."
"That's a good idea," The teen replied. "Better get going. The good thing is that it goes down the hill this time."
Before leaving, the teen handed Nicky a voucher for a bucket of chicken as thanks for the water. Nicky looked after the teen for a moment before making the rest of the way to the nursery home. When Nicky parked his bike, he thought he heard someone call his name. Seconds later, Joe turned the corner with a big smile.
"Joe," Nicky said. "What are you doing here?"
"Told you earlier," Joe replied. "That we would see each other for dinner today. Your Nonna invited Ernest and me. Hope it isn't a problem."
"No, it isn't," Nicky replied. "But you didn't say anything. All I got was a text with a lot of emojis, which I didn't understand."
Joe laughed.
"Sorry, I have been spending too much time with my niece, who only speaks emojis, and sometimes I forget that not all people speak emojis," Joe said. "Could I see the last text I sent to you?"
Nicky found the text and handed Joe the phone.
"The man with curls is me, the burger is dinner, and the old lady is your Nonna," Joe said. "And the moon and waves are you."
"Ok, thanks for explaining it to me," Nicky said. "But why two emojis for me?"
"Well, I'm a romantic. When I went to bed, I saw the moon, which reminded me of you. And the waves are like your eyes, always changing," Joe replied. "Come, let's get inside. It looks like it soon will rain."
"Joe," Nicky said when Joe walked towards a door. "It's not that door. Come."
Joe followed Nicky until they reached a yellow door.
"After 5 PM, you need a key to get indoors," Nicky said as he used a key. "Or you can call for a career."
"Noted," Joe replied. "How long have your Nonna lived here?"
"Almost two years," Nicky replied. "Her mind isn't what it used to be, and it eases my mind that someone is looking after her. It's a great place, and she has made new friends."
Nicky caught a little boy with a smile.
"Hi, Artie," Nicky said. "How is your great great grandmother?"
"105 years old. I don't know how to count to that yet," Artie replied. "And we got cake today."
"Sounds like you had a fun day," Nicky replied, and Artie nodded. "How's kindergarten?"
"We got a new goldfish that we agreed should be called Goldfish," Artie replied. "And then a clown visited us. I don't like clowns but don't tell Sadie that. I want her to like me."
"I promise," Nicky replied as he looked at Artie's parents. "Hi, I see you're soon ready to have the baby, Missy."
"Two weeks to go," Missy replied. "Are you still up for looking after Artie when it happens?"
"Yes, it shouldn't be a problem," Nicky replied. "Artie and I are going to the zoo."
After talking a bit with Artie and his parents, they walked up the stairs. While walking, Nicky told Joe that he went to school with Missy, and they still talked together weekly. When they reached door 111, Nicky knocked on it and waited until his Nonna opened it. Both Joe and Nicky got a hug from Nonna before they were let inside, where Ernest was busy putting food on the table.
"Hi, boys," Ernest said. "Hope it's ok that we joined you tonight."
"It's yes," Nicky replied. "Joe told me that you were coming."
Joe and Nicky exchanged a smile only they knew the meaning of.
"May I say, Signora Di Genova," Joe said. "It's a lovely home you got."
"Thank you, Joe," Nonna replied. "And please call me Nonna. Signora Di Genova was my mother."
"I see where Nicky has gotten his humour from," Joe said with a smile and elbowed Nicky in the side. "Can I borrow a toilet before eating?"
Nicky showed Joe the bathroom before returning to Nonna and Ernest.
"Nicky," Nonna said. "Why didn't you tell me about your accident yesterday?"
"I meant to do it today. You know, face to face," Nicky replied. "And how do you know of it?"
"Saw it in the newspaper this morning," Nonna replied, handing Nicky the newspaper. "How bad was it?"
"Besides fainting again when I saw my own blood," Nicky replied. "I got a wound, but Joe patched me together."
Nicky showed Nonna the wound that had started to heal.
"Lily," Ernest said. "My nephew is very good at his job."
Nicky didn't know that Joe was Ernest's nephew because they didn't look like each other at all. Ernest could best be described as Einstein's cousin with his crazy hair.
"Just promise me," Nonna said as she placed a hand on Nicky's cheek. "You call me the next time when you get hurt."
"I promise," Nicky replied. "I didn't mean to worry you."
Nicky hugged his Nonna, and everything was good between them again. Nicky quickly read the article about his accident, and they got it all wrong. They wrote Nicky was drunk, had gotten a fine of 200 Dollars, and spent the night in a cell. Nicky showed Joe the article, and they both laughed before sitting down to eat the potato curry.
"Ernest and I have spoken about old days today," Nonna said. "And we think we owe you both an explanation of how we know each other."
"Lily and I met in high school in Rome. For a time, we dated, but everything changed when I returned from a trip to London," Ernest said. "I told Lily that I was gay and met the sweetest boy from France. We didn't act on our feelings because I am not a cheater. Lily understood and said she also had met someone else but that he had returned to New York."
"It was your Nonno, Nicky," Lily said. "And because I was only 17, while your Nonno was 21 and a couple of oceans between us, we decided not to start a relationship. But life works in mysterious ways. When we met again five years later, we just knew we couldn't live without each other, and we got 45 good years together."
Nonno looked over at her wedding photo with a smile.
"I owe your Nonna a lot, Nicky," Ernest said. "For the rest of our time in high school, we pretended to be still dating. It saved me from being bullied, but the real troubles started the day high school ended. My father wanted me to marry Lily before the year was over. My father made it very clear it wasn't an option to say no, because, as the only son, I had duties towards the family. When I told Lily what my father had told me, we both knew we needed to be honest."
"I went home with Ernest, and I still think it was a good idea I was there," Lily said. "Let's just say it wasn't pretty at all."
"And I was kicked out of the house for good," Ernest said. "I just knew I had to leave Rome for a time, but because I didn't have anything, Lily gave me 500 Italian Lira. I refused to take the money, saying I couldn't repay her, but she said it was an investment in my future. That was the last time I saw her, or so I thought. I couldn't believe it when I spotted my old friend on the street."
Ernest placed his hand over Lily's with a smile.
"I think I speak for us both," Joe said as he looked at Nicky. "We're glad you found each other again."
"Joe is right," Nicky said. "But what happened after you left Rome? And how does Joe fit in?"
Ernest drank the rest of the water.
"I left for London, where I found Jaq again. We got married a couple of years later when I left medical school and settled in Holland," Ernest said with a big smile. "I have never been good at geography. Jaq wasn't from France but from Holland. He had just tried to impress me with his French."
Joe laughed.
"I remember Uncle Jaq's accents very well," Joe said. "They were beyond terrible, but we loved them anyway."
"Joe is right," Ernest said. "Jaq and I were together for over 51 years before he died."
"And they raised me and my sister Izza after our parents were killed," Joe said. "I was 8, while Izza was just past 1."
Ernest placed a hand on Joe's shoulder and gave it a squeeze.
"Joe's parents were our good friends, and when a car accident claimed their life, we adopted Joe and Izza," Ernest said. "We raised them how we thought they wanted us to do it."
"And you did a good job," Joe said. "They supported me when I said I wanted to live as a Muslim. And they supported Izza when she said she wanted to marry a vegetarian Buddhist. They always had our backs. No matter what."
"I'm glad you became a father, Ernest. You always spoke of it back in high school," Lily said. "And I can tell you raised a wonderful young man."
"Thank you, Lily," Ernest replied. "Do you still have your parents, Nicky?"
"I only had my Mama, who died eight years ago of cancer. The other one was gone when my Mama told him she was pregnant," Nicky replied. "And now it's just me and Nonna left."
"Nicky makes sure to visit me a couple of times every week," Nonna said. "And we still go on holiday together. How many at the age of 24 do that?"
Joe raised his hand.
"Izza, her husband, kids, Uncle Ernest, and I do that," Joe said. "Last year, we rented a caravan. Let's say we won't do that again."
"But it was a fun week," Ernest said. "Where did you go?"
"We went to Norway to sail up the fjords," Nicky replied. "It was a very beautiful trip. Even though Nonna got the idea to eat a sheep's head."
"As I told you, Nicky," Nonna said. "It's very important to taste different cuisine."
"A sheep's head?" Joe asked. "Did you eat it, Nicky?"
"I couldn't because of the eyes. It reminded me of the ape heads from Indiana Jones," Nicky replied. "But Nonna did."
They all laughed before Nonna found the pictures from the trip to Norway. When they had looked at the pictures, Ernest found the pictures from the caravan trip. After drinking coffee and cleaning up, they decided it was time to go home.
"Nicky," Ernest said. "Thanks for letting us be here today."
"As I said before, it was more than fine," Nicky replied. "And it was a fun evening."
"It was yes," Ernest replied, shaking Nicky's hand. "Joe, do you want a lift?"
Joe placed his arm around Nicky's shoulder.
"No thanks," Joe replied. "Nicky promised me to show his bicycle."
Ernest laughed before getting into his car.
"You think you're funny," Nicky said with a smile but didn't do anything to remove Joe's arm when they started to walk.
"Glad you noticed it," Joe replied. "And very cute. Remember that."
"It's the curls; who does it," Nicky said. "What?"
Joe had stopped walking and let out a giggle.
"You flirted with me," Joe said. "Please don't stop."
"I promise," Nicky replied as he locked his bike up. "What direction are you going?"
"Towards downtown," Joe replied. "And you?"
"The same way," Nicky replied. "Wanna do something romantic?"
"Yes, please," Joe replied. "Love romantic things."
Nicky got up on his bike.
"Come here," Nicky said as he pointed at the bar on his bike. "Let me give you a ride."
"Why not," Joe replied. "But I think we should walk when we have left the ground. You know traffic."
Nicky agreed and got the bike going. He didn't speed at all; it was more trundling with his feet on the ground all the time.
"This is fun," Joe said. "And very romantic..."
More Joe didn't get to say before a police car stopped before them. Nicky recognised the police officer from before.
"I'm sorry, but I have to give you a fine," The police officer said. "Two on a bike isn't legal."
Joe got off the bike.
"Fair enough," Nicky said. "I guess the newspaper was right after all. I got a fine."
"Sorry, what?" The police officer asked. Nicky explained what happened yesterday. "Glad you're ok. If you want to give your friend a bike trip, please drag the bike, ok?"
"Yes," Nicky replied. "I promise."
Nicky accepted the fine of 50 dollars without arguing. Then they said goodbye to the police officer before they started to walk.
"I wonder how many on movies have gotten a fine for two of a bike," Nicky said. "They don't show it in the romantic movies."
"True," Joe replied. "I should pay half of the fine."
"No, you shouldn't," Nicky replied. "But don't tell my Nonna. She will only ground me for it again."
"I promise," Joe replied. "Wait, have you gotten a fine before?"
"I was a stupid teen. I got up on a scooter. I shouldn't," Nicky replied. "Please don't think badly about me."
"I won't," Joe replied. "I also did the same thing as you did. How long were you grounded?"
"Over two months," Nicky replied. "And you?"
"Roughly the same," Joe replied as his phone rang. He took the call, and when he ended it, he groaned. "My eight-hour shift has just turned into a twelve-hour shift."
Nicky stopped his bike.
"Sorry to hear that," Nicky said. "Maybe we should cancel tomorrow."
Joe placed a finger on Nicky's lips.
"No way are we doing that," Joe replied. "I'm so looking forward to that picnic with you."
"Ok, but promise to call if you can't make it," Nicky replied, and Joe promised. "This is the way home for me."
Nicky pointed to his right.
"And I'm going the other way," Joe said. "Text me when you get home."
"Only if you promise not to reply with emojis," Nicky replied. "Not before you have given me a dictionary."
They both laughed.
"I ask my niece for one," Joe replied. "See you, Nicky, tomorrow. And thanks for tonight."
"Yes, we do," Nicky replied. "Also, thanks for tonight."
They hugged each other before Nicky placed a kiss on Joe's cheek. After giving Joe a shy smile, Nicky got up on his bike quickly because he couldn't explain why he had just kissed Joe and to prevent questions.