Alone in Rome

Chapter Nineteen - Trigger Warning: Suicide

The following morning, Kate stopped at the front desk to see Mario on her way down to breakfast.

"Good morning signora," he said, back to his usual bubbly tone.

"Morning Mario looks like you're feeling much better."

"Bella Signora, I feel good this morning. No worry so much."

"I'm so glad to hear that Mario. Are you still feeling up to seeing the bank manager today?"

"Si si, I make appointment, we go today." 

"Great! It's not a problem, but I just wanted to ask, does he speak English? I really want to help, but I fear my inability to understand or speak Italian might make it a little difficult."

"Si... no... I don’t know. I will tell you what he say but I don’t understand this thing very well.

"Okay, please don’t worry Mario let's just see what happens this afternoon."

"Okay." He said, looking a little concerned. It was still a big step up from how Kate had found him last night, looking like a sad, lost little puppy.

Kate made her way to the dining room for her usual breakfast of coffee and a deliciously light, crusty panino. She ate quickly, still needing to head upstairs and get herself prepared for the day and figure out what she was going to do about the language barrier situation.

Kate sent a quick text to Alegra. What are the chances she isn’t working today? Unlikely, but still worth a shot. Her Italian wasn’t that great but it was certainly much better than Kate’s.

When she finished her coffee, Kate swung past the front desk again, confirmed the appointment time with Mario and headed back upstairs to get ready for the day.

With no response from Alegra, Kate was beginning to get anxious. She checked the time, it was probably too late back home to call Nina, but she sent her a text anyway, maybe she had managed to dig something up. Considering she had only mentioned it last night, Kate doubted she would have anything for her, but Nina shot back a rather informative text within a few minutes.

Although grateful she now had something legal to go by, the issue of language was still bothering her. How was she going to get her point across if she had to rely on Mario to do it? He was far too nice for something like this.

Kate's phone went off again, this time it was Alegra, she was already working a shift today and wouldn't finish until five. Damn it!

Reluctantly, Kate sent a text to the only other person she knew in the city, explaining what was going on. He was the only alternative, and that's if he didn't have a class today. Mario had been allowing Raphael to print out his flyers and use the hotel notice board to advertise classes, maybe he would want to help him out? Besides, who better to translate for her than a guy who taught Italian classes to English speaking students. It was perfect, really. 

He replied immediately with a simple "I'll be there."

Okay well, at least now there was help. Albeit annoying and slightly distracting help, but it was better than nothing at all. Kate hoped that they could convince the bank manager to allow Mario more time to repay his debt. She was still trying to figure out the next step, clearly, an extension wasn't going to be enough to get him out of trouble. The hotel needed to start making money, Kate would start him off with a business plan and a strict budget. She had no idea how to run a hotel, but business is business and Kate was doing great back home even with all the pro bono cases she took on. Somehow, she would make this work for Mario. She felt indebted to him, for his kindness and his guidance. 

Kate was digging through the old dresser looking for something appropriate to wear for their appointment. Annoyed with herself for not packing even a single pantsuit, she settled on a pair of blank linen pants and a loose fit white blouse. Her basic white sandals would have to do, the black stiletto pumps Kate had brought with her were not exactly bank manager appropriate.

Downstairs, Kate saw Mario waiting for her in the lobby. He was dressed in the same black slacks and navy blue shirt from this morning. Come to think of it, he usually wore black slacks and a navy shirt or plum or pale blue. Kate suddenly wondered if there was a Mrs Mario as if his lack of alternating wardrobe choices were somehow affected by this. Perhaps she was a quiet lady who stayed home baking for her grandkids? Kate hoped she wasn't like her own mother, maybe that's why Mario was always at the hotel? He had not mentioned anyone before and Kate thought better than to ask, she didn't want to bring up a subject that might elicit any more emotion than the nerves already present on Mario's face. Maybe he used to be a ladies man and just never thought to settle down? Kate! She said, almost out loud, scolding herself. 

She shook the thoughts from her head and headed over to Mario. She told him Raphael would be joining them at the appointment and his face lit up. Together, they walked the two blocks to the bank and waited for Raphael to arrive. Kate was growing curious and wanting to distract Mario from his nerves, she asked how he knew Raphael. Mario's reaction earlier made it seem that he was more than just a guy who used the hotel notice board to post ads for his classes.

Mario told her about a young boy of only nine or ten that stayed at the hotel with his parents, many years ago. They had come from Naples, seeking treatment for the boy's mother at the second biggest hospital in Italy. The boy's father, who was a craftsman had left his job to bring his wife to Rome, hoping she would receive the best possible care. They had sold their home and made the trip by train with only a few belongings. 

Mario said he took pity on them and allowed them to stay for only the cost of daily breakfast. The young boy would help him every morning wiping down tables, setting up chairs and replacing cutlery and packing up or sweeping after breakfast. He had never asked him to, but he was always there waiting for Mario every morning without fail. Then, one day, he was not there. Another day passed and then another. Mario, having not seen the family for three days, decided to go to the hospital and what he found there was nothing short of a nightmare.

The boy's mother had died three days prior and his father, beyond distraught had attempted to take his own life. He was in intensive care at the time, but also passed two days later. The young boy had been staying at the hospital, without any family nearby. Mario took him back to the hotel where he stayed for seven weeks before his father's brother came to take him back home to Naples. 

Thirteen years later, a young man walked into the hotel, looking for a job and a place to stay. Raphael had grown up and moved to Rome seeking out Mario, the kind man who had helped him and his family so many years ago. He worked some odd jobs at the hotel until he decided to go to University and study to become a high school teacher. Raphael was an actual teacher? 

Kate was absolutely devastated for Raphael, she couldn't believe he had been through so much at such a young age. She had taken him for a privileged, rich kid type, which was clearly not the case. At that moment, Raphael turned up and she didn't even know how to look at him or what to say, except to just thank him for coming.