Page 35 of Tour Wars
Look for red. That’s the Buon Viaggio color.
In the distance, Davis stood atop a stone plinth, waving a bright red flag. TJ ran over to him. Panting heavily, he caught his breath before speaking. “I…I’m here. Is everything okay?”
Sylvie Galloway strode over to him, her face blotched with rage. “Everything is not okay. My friend Alice nearly passed out from the heat.”
The tour group clustered in a circle on the grassy space next to the main pathway. At the center was Alice, who sat with her head between her knees.
TJ knelt beside her. “Alice? Are you all right?” Given that she was in her mid-seventies and slightly frail in appearance, he hoped her fatigue was weather-related and not due to a serious medical condition.
She raised her head to face him. Unlike Sylvie, she appeared more embarrassed than angry. “I just got so dizzy. I don’t think I drank enough water when we were at the Colosseum. I’m sorry for making a fuss, but I was afraid if I kept walking, I might pass out.”
The blond tour guide—Sandra—approached TJ with a frown. “We need to get going or we won’t be able to visit all the stops on our itinerary. Can you handle this situation or not?”
“Sure, I’ll take care of it.” TJ turned to Alice. “Do you want to continue with the group? If not, I could lead you at a slower pace or find you a taxi to the hotel.”
She reached over and patted his cheek. “Aren’t you a dear? I’m not ready to give up the ghost yet. Why don’t you lead me around? Even if you aren’t an expert, feel free to make things up. I won’t know the difference.”
He laughed. “I know enough to give you a basic overview.” He looked up at Sandra. “You can carry on. I’ll make sure we meet up with you at one, as planned.”
“Very well,” she snapped. “Let’s hope there are no more interruptions. We have a tight schedule.”
What did it matter if she finished the tour behind schedule? Then again, maybe she had another group lined up after this one and she needed some downtime in between. Having done back-to-back tours at Pompeii, he could sympathize. But she could still show a little more compassion.
Davis handed the tour flag back to Sandra. “Here you go. If you don’t mind, I’ll tag along on TJ’s tour. I’d rather go at a slower pace.”
“I’ll join you, as well,” Sylvie said. “Quite frankly, that Colosseum tour was exhausting.”
By now, Sandra was shooting daggers at TJ. He gave her a sheepish grin. “Sorry. We should be good now.”
With a huff, she raised her flag high into the air. “Andiamo! We are marching.”
After the others had left, TJ viewed the motley trio with a touch of anxiety. It was one thing to take Alice on an impromptu tour but quite another to lead Davis and Sylvie, both of whom seemed very opinionated. “Um…I hope you realize I’m not exactly an expert on this area. I know a lot about Roman history, but—”
“But I’m here, so you don’t need to worry. Lucky for you, I memorized this part of the binder.” Emilia walked over to join them. Beside her was Cesca, the pink-haired guide he’d met earlier.
The sight of Emilia filled TJ with a burst of happiness. In an attempt to restore their usual dynamic, he smirked at her. “You think you can do a better job than I can, Dr. Flores?”
“Absolutely, Dr. Mayer. You didn’t even know where the Temple of Vesta was.”
Sylvie narrowed her eyes at him. “Is that true?”
“No,” he said. “I just needed a minute to get my bearings. But Em, feel free to lead the way. Aren’t you an expert on VestalVirgins?”
Cesca grinned. “I’m totally sticking around for this.”
“Joke all you want, but being a Vestal Virgin was a great gig.” Emilia pointed to a headless female statue. “These women had it made. In fact, if I’d been born during Roman times, I would have considered myself lucky to snag a spot in this temple.”
“Are you serious?” TJ asked. “Wouldn’t you miss…um…”
“Sexual relations?” Emilia arched an eyebrow at him. “You can say it, TJ. We’re all grown-ups here. Perhaps, but consider this. The Vestal Virgins lived in a luxurious house with a full range of servants. Unlike most women in Rome, they weren’t subjected to the patriarchy. They were legally independent and received sizable donations and gifts during their thirty years of service. They even got some of the best seats at the gladiatorial games. I’d say that’s a fair trade-off.”
“I would concur,” Sylvie said. “Sex is overrated, but independence and wealth? Definitely worth striving for.”
While TJ didn’t agree with her take, he wasn’t about to argue. He offered his hand to Alice. “Are you all right to stand up?”
She took it, her grip surprisingly strong. “Yes, please. Lead the way.”
After he helped her up, he addressed the group. “Before we continue, I’d like all of you to take a quick water break while I confer with my partner.” He led Emilia a few paces away from the others. “You sure you know enough to take on this tour? Neither of us prepared for it ahead of time.”
