Page 140 of Wicked

Maybe there can be justice.

I hear the jet circle again, and my eyes find it in the sky. It is low, and banking steeply. I dislike being disturbed topless, and what sort of moron flies that low?

As the plane peels off, I keep reading and glowing. Laughing, I leap up, and I run into the warm water, knowing my boss is caught and about to be hung.

I feel great, and I feel better about the world. Justice is sweet.

Topless in the lagoon, under my sun hat, and wearing my big sunglasses, I celebrate with my sparkling water.

I glow happily, alone, and something tells me everything will be all right.

I’m rudely shaken from my moment of triumph when a sleek chopper skims the water in the distance.

“Private, my ass,” I mumble as the chopper heads away.

I walk around the lagoon a little, and I peer far into the distance. The couple who brought me here are now heading away in their launch.

“Oh shit!”

I start to freak out when the sleek white chopper comes back into view. It banks around, fans out, and lands several hundred feet away on the pristine white sand.

Suddenly, a dog leaps out of the chopper door, and it sees me. Wagging its tail, it runs towards me along the beach. Confused, Iwalk up the beach topless and wonder if I’m being messed with. That’s when I realize the dog is Tito. My Tito.

Without wondering how he traveled, I run to him through the water.

Tito charges across the shallow lagoon water, and we hug in the sun. As I hold him and shed a tear, Tito yaps and wiggles.

I then notice the chopper pilot walking towards me. He wears a perfectly tailored navy suit, Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses, and bare feet.

He almost looks like Dante… But it can’t be. Firstly, he’s in Italy, and secondly, he can’t fly…

Or can he?

The mysterious pilot walks on, and as I hold Tito, my heart does strange things. It leaps, surges, and jumps around like a mad thing. The pilot and I examine each other from afar, and Tito starts to look between us both. His tail then starts to wag.

As the pilot gets closer, I wipe my eyes and realize it’shim.

“You’re a hard woman to find.”

I say nothing, and my body tenses up. I try to remain polite, and I say nothing. Dante steps closer, and cautiously, he crouches at the water’s edge.

As I kneel at Tito’s side, everything seems to fade away.

The entire universe. The last month. All the travel. Moments. Words in books. It’s just me, Dante, and Tito.

Like we’re in the castle.

“I found out that what you wrote about Italy is not what’s in your heart. I read the second article, and you truly have a way with words, like an artist. Like Da Vinci or Michaelangelo.”

I gulp, surprised to be compared to masters, even if it’s likely a plea.

“That you like… or even love Italy. It’s best you don’t ask how I know everything I know. I want to apologize and do the right thing, Raven. I want to be honest.”

I stand and cross my arms over my breasts as Dante rubs his jaw, disturbed. He rises and we stand on the edge of the lagoon.

“As we built out the theme park, I took on too much. I was stressed, and as CEO, I was protecting my company back in New York. I hurt you, and that is unforgiveable. It won’t ever happen again.”

My heart jumps, but I feel confused. Hurt, angry, and now confused.

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