Previously, Grazia’s childhood as a Cuban refugee of Operation Pedro Pan was explored, highlighting her deep bonds to family, her career success, and a failed marriage. While attending a company party, a beautiful Harley-Davidson motorcycle caught her eye, triggering a sense of restlessness. Read Chapter 11 here.
Chapter 12: Dave and Grazia
Tampa, Florida – December 2023
At least I’ll leave with money in my pocket, thought Dave as he watched his boss give year-end bonuses to all 200 employees. The annual holiday party was obnoxious, especially the open bar. Even after twenty-seven years sober, Dave couldn’t tune out the hypnotic snap of wine corks releasing from bottles. To most, it was the sound of celebration; to him, it was the sound he’d spent half of his life learning to ignore.
Once Dave got his check, he placed it in the inside Napoleon pocket of his leather motorcycle jacket, and decided to leave. He wanted to be around the other gearheads as little as possible. Engineers were boring. Himself included.
He said a clipped good-bye to his teammates and approached his Harley in the company’s parking lot. The shine he’d polished into its chrome last night still shimmered. A tall woman with long, dark hair stood eyeing his bike.
He approached her from her side. “You ride?” Dave said to Grazia, as he eyed her black leather pants, sparkly heels, and fuzzy red Christmas sweater.
“Oh. Ah. No. I’m just catching the sunset. I love getting a shot every night.” Grazia said, adjusting her reindeer-ears headband that was sliding down her brunette bangs. “But did you know the Harley motor sound is one of only seven sounds that’s trademarked?”
“No. Hadn’t heard that,” said Dave, as he pulled on the coarse hair of his beard.
Grazia cocked her head, moving her gaze from the bike to his face. “Do I know you?” Grazia asked. “I’ve never seen you before. I know everyone here. You must be new.”
“I’ve been here thirty-two years. Got exactly 701 days left until I can clear out my desk and ride my bike forever.”
“I can’t believe we’ve never run into each other. I’m going on twenty years myself. Also on the two-year plan. But I’ll miss this place. It’s been a big part of my life.”
Dave shrugged his shoulders. “I can’t wait to ride all the way to Slovakia to find my family. No more blueprints. No more meetings about meetings.”
Grazia positioned her phone and took a picture as the sun touched the Gulf. “Every night I do my best to get a shot. They’re so hopeful, sunsets. I love them.”
She turned to Dave and flipped her hair so slightly.
“Last I checked, there’s no bridge from Tampa to Slovakia. You gonna build that in the next seven hundred days, engineer?”
“Ha. Clever. Nope. I’ll ship the bike, cruise over on the Queen Mary 2, and ride the rest of the way.”
Grazia’s heels clicked as she walked around the bike, examining its sleek red trim that highlighted the strong angles. Dark chrome shone like tinsel on a Christmas tree.
While she eyed the bike, Dave studied her. Grazia’s young attitude didn’t match her age, and he appreciated that. Fun, but not stupid, he thought. A rare combo. He liked extroverted women. They were a nice foil to his introverted self.
He held out his hand. “Dave.”
She gripped his palm. “Grazia.”
Dave reached for the handlebars, unlocking the steering lock.
“I got this Road Glide Limited especially for the trip. I’m going solo, but it’d be fun to have someone on the back with me.”
“Are you inviting me to Europe?” She faced him directly, squaring her hips to his. She tilted her head, twirled the ends of her hair and said, “I don’t even know your last name!”
