Doubting Thomas

Previous episodes:
https://www.abctales.com/story/luigipagano/three-men-and-car
https://www.abctales.com/story/luigipagano/mastplan
https://www.abctales.com/story/luigipagano/going-dutch-edited 
https://www.abctales.com/story/luigipagano/give-me-moonlight  
https://www.abctales.com/story/luigipagano/long-journey-night 

Even though we had slept only a few hours, we were bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. Shortly we were to meet the girls again and we had the prospect of another enjoyable day ahead.

They had promised to show us the attraction of Amsterdam and Utrecht and, time permitting, even Volendam.

With the end of our brief holiday getting near we knew that we had to make the most of it.

The first thing we did was to buy little presents for our hosts who had entertained us so well on our arrival.

Remembering what Eva said about a song by Johnny Dorelly she had heard and liked very much, I found a music shop that had that particular record and purchased it.

I was looking forward to meeting her again.

Cornelia and Bella arrived on their bikes which they parked on racks on a sidewalk. We would use public transport for our tours, they said.

Alf and Giovanni welcomed them effusively. It was then that I realised Eva wasn't coming.

Cornelia explained that she had received a call from her saying that she'd be unable to join us as the previous night she had caught a chill and was in bed indisposed.

I put on a brave face and I  asked them to send her my good wishes and the little gift I had intended to give her.

My middle name is Thomas and for a moment I wondered if I was acting in character when I doubted if that was the real reason for her absence.

She had made clear that she was in a relationship and perhaps regretted the previous night's encounter.

I told the rest of the group to go and enjoy themselves and that I would be visiting the Rijksmuseum.

###

I often think of those days long ago and remember our dreams and expectations. Did they become a reality?

Well, yes and no. Alf did not marry Cornelia but eventually got his restaurant, years later. He wed someone else, got divorced and remarried the same woman. He never lost his appetite for travel.

I never got to write out bills for Alf's customers as we had planned but, in the search of a stable occupation, became an accountant and settled in the U.K; Giovanni never got the hang of the English language, was homesick and went back to Italy to his old job as a mechanic.

© Luigi Pagano 2023