Libby and March

by Atonia and Layne

March Nova had only been in The Glen for a short while and had spent his time in the kitchen working with Andy to get everything ready for the opening of Andy’s At The Glen. Today was opening day and to clear his mind and get a break he decided to walk up the street. He was amazed at the crowd there seemed to be some kind of commerce on the sidewalk.

Making his way through the crowds he came upon Lucy’s bakery. Having tasted some of the desserts she was preparing for the restaurant he was interested to see the bakery itself.

He was turning to leave after talking with Lucy when he bumped into someone and turned as she was picking up a shopping bag she’d dropped. All he saw was a mass of blond hair covering her face.

“Oh please allow me, sorry…so sorry…excuse me I didn’t see you,” March bent to help her and their heads touched.

"Ouch!" Libby touched her head where it had bumped against the man who was trying to help her with her bag. She'd just bought some of Lucy's doughnuts and was looking for something to drink to go with them.

When she got a good look at the man who'd caused her to drop her bag, she was fascinated. Tall, dark, and very good-looking......

"That's okay," she managed to say. "It's awfully crowded out here today." After that, she seemed to run out of words... She just stared.

“I’ve hurt you,” he said and touched her head where she had touched, “forgive me what can I do for you can I carry your bags? He asked his eyes touching hers softly.

His voice and his eyes were somewhat hypnotizing. "Oh, no- No thank you." Libby talked in a rush, as she always did. "That won't be necessary. I'll be okay. Thank you for asking."

He smiled down at her, “at least let me buy you a coffee for your doughnuts…they’re bad for you…you know?” He took her arm not waiting for an answer and steered her over to the table and bought two coffees and looked around for seating. Andy had lent some tables and chairs to Lucy for the sidewalk sale and March turned to her smiling and led her to a table in the shade of the awning..

This man seemed likeable enough, but Libby was outspoken and she always fired off the first thing to hit her mind..... "I can decide for myself what's bad for me, if you don't mind!"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound rude.. I would like a drink, if you're still offering. But coke. I don't drink coffee." The man had an accent that she couldn't quite place and he hadn't yet told her his name. "Mr.-?"

“Sorry I think doughnuts and coffee…it is an American thing is it not?” March exchanged one of the coffees for a coke. Handing her the coke, “My name is Marcello Nova but you can call me March…will you sit and tell me your name?” he asked “I promise not to bump your head or tell you what to eat…ah but that will be hard…I try,” he said smiling with all the unconscious natural charm he had....

That charm worked wonders.. Libby returned his smile. "Coffee and doughnuts is very American," she told him. "I've just never been a coffee drinker. Don't know why... Everyone else in my family drinks it."

"So- March- My name's Libby. Libby Tyler." As she sat, she noticed that he appeared smiling and happy. He was having a good time. "Where are you from? And how long have you been in Australia?"

“Libby,” he repeated her name and stirred his coffee. “I am born in Rome and I have been here in Australia…in Sydney…for two and a half years now and in this place…here for three days. What about you…how did you come here…you are American right?” He sipped his coffee and gazed at her over the rim of his cup.

Rome. So that beautiful accent was Italian. Libby had thought so, but hadn't heard an accent like that in person before. Almost totally against her will, she compared it to the slow American drawl of Dan Evans. Then she shook her head. She wasn't going to think about Dan... He didn't want to see her, so that was that.

"It's short for Elizabeth," she told March. "I've just always been called Libby."

Munching a doughnut, she continued, "Rome. I've never been there, but all the pictures I've seen are beautiful. I spent my last year of college in Sydney as an exchange student. I'm originally from South Carolina in the U.S."

March bit his lip he’d promised not to say anything about the sugary doughnut. Instead, “Elizabeth…that is a great name…ah Rome yes it is beautiful and noisy and full of people but I love it…it is full of life.” He did miss it every day.

“Your family they are still in um, South Carolina?” He played with the coffee stirrer flipping it between his fingers thinking for a moment of his family.

"Yes, they are. They've been talking about coming for a visit, but they haven't made it yet." She wondered what the lip biting was about.

"What about your family? Still in Rome?"

“Oh yes, except for one of my sisters who is in Milan and one in Florence my brothers and my mumma and papa still. We have a restaurant and a vineyard we make our own wine…is very good. What ah- do you do here? I don’t mean to pry,” he said smiling again.

"Oh, no. You're not prying.. I'm a reporter. I work for the Glen Times. Maybe you've read it since you've been here?" She hoped so.

"You make your own wine? That's wonderful!" She was enthusiastic. "Could we find any of it here? Maybe I could try some?"

Libby returned his smile, thinking how nice it was to see someone so happy. Dan was always so solemn. So serious. There she was, thinking about him again. She had to stop that. It might be possible with a man like this.

“You like wine-good. We will be serving it at Andy’s. It’s called Carlotta’s Vineyard, Carlotta was my great grandmother. Unfortunately, I have not had time to read anything but menus lately. You know I am the new chef at Andy’s At The Glen? It opens tonight you know…I hope you come…and be my special guest,” he smiled shyly meeting her eyes. “Maybe you will give a good report.” March liked her and her enthusiasm and she was pretty…there might be possibilities he was thinking.

A date, Libby thought. It sounded like he was asking her for a date. And did she want to go? Dan went through her mind once again and, once more, she pushed him firmly out. Here was a handsome guy asking her out. A guy who was enthusiastic about seeing her.

"I'd really love to come," she told March, with a smile of her own. "What time should I be there?"

“Well you know I cook so it will be after nine o’clock before I can join you. You come for dinner? If you come say 7:30 or 8:00 and enjoy a wonderful meal…I have Andy look out for you. He will let me know you are there and I will join you as soon as I can.” He leaned across the table, “You make me happy, Libby. I’m very glad I bump into you,” he smiled a most charming smile his blue-gray eyes deep and mysterious.

"That sounds great," Libby told him, noticing that smile and those beautiful eyes. "But- I can always wait until you can join me before I eat. Enjoy the meal with you. So you'll have someone to eat with you."

“You are sure that’s not too late for you?” he was touched that she would think of him and want to share food with him, “I will cook something special for us,” he reached for her hand and kissed it. ”I’m sorry I must go and prepare for tonight,” he checked his watch, noticing he’d been gone a lot longer than he realized. Andy would be getting nervous.

"No, it's not too late at all," Libby told him. "I'll come a little early and have a drink, and then, when you're ready, we can eat."

“Arrivederci fino a piu successivamente,” he smiled, “goodbye until later”

That kiss on her hand was warm and nice. He was so charming. It would do her good to get out and enjoy the company of a handsome man.

"I'll be looking forward to tonight." Libby smiled and waved at him.

March took that smile with him all the way down the street sharing it with the people he passed. The Glen looked better all the time.