Villa Paradiso: Villa Paradiso, #1

By Ted Atoka

Two retired businesswomen from Austin, Texas, share a dream. They’d like to build a life-care retirement facility that caters to world-traveled individuals who are extremely active even when at home, like themselves.
They team up with four recent college graduates to bring their dream to life. As soon as the plan is in motion, the little group discovers that turning a concept into a reality is not a task for the faint of heart. Obstacles loom at every turn, but the journey is filled with hilarious incidents. Caution: Reading this book may cause sudden spasms of laughter.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Huntington House Press
• Release date: Sep 1, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386111436

Ted Atoka

Ted Atoka lived the first half of his life in Boston, MA. He made a Christmas visit to friends in Oklahoma in 1981, and fell in love with country life. Five weeks after returning home—to a raging snow storm, he packed up and moved to OK. He and his wife live on a piece of land on the side of a dirt road. They share the fresh air with a peacock named Penelope, two dogs, a small herd of deer, and a feral cat.

Book preview

The Introduction

Grazia Ricci looked up from her desk and beamed as her cousin Giovanni — Joe to her and their friends — stood by the office door. His friend Ted Bliss stood beside him. Grazia was the assistant director of the clinic at the Grand Hotel in Trentino, Italy. Joe spoke from the doorway. Hungry?

Just give me a minute. She pressed a button on her desk phone and fired off a string of words in Italian. Ted assumed she was telling somebody that she was going to lunch. She hung up and smiled at them. I’ve reserved a private dining room, the Salvadori, for our lunch. It’ll be nice to have a meal without any interruptions. She stood up and led the young men down the plush carpeted hallway toward a bank of floor-to-ceiling windows that framed an alpine panorama.

During the meal, Joe and Grazia kept an animated conversation going, mostly in English and sometimes in Italian. But Ted wasn’t listening. Instead, he was making a conscious effort not to stare at Grazia’s exquisite natural complexion, which looked flawless without makeup. Grazia’s blouse was not tight or revealing, but he still had to fight with himself to keep from staring at the silky ivory fabric that covered her breasts. Although he cleaned his plate, the grilled fresh trout on a bed of sauteed apples, mushrooms, and chestnuts held little interest for him. He’d never recall the steamed asparagus, the polenta, or the fresh breads and Tosela cheese, and he never truly tasted the crispness of the local wine.

He could not erase the radiance of her face from his mind.

Grazia’s cellphone buzzed just as she laid down her fork. She pressed the speaker button, and the phone blared, Code red, code red, front reception desk. Code red, code red.

They all ran toward the main entrance and saw a tall, bald-headed man with a silver-haired woman draped over his shoulder. He spun in a circle in the center of the reception area. Help! Oh my good god, HELP!

"Cosa c’è?! What’s wrong?!" Grazia shouted.

She’s choking! She can’t breathe! He quit spinning, bent over, and attempted to stand the lady up. But she kept sagging toward the floor, and her face was the color of her dress: purple.

Ted slung one of the woman’s arms over his shoulder, and Joe took the other one. The two young men held her upright while Grazia stepped behind her, encircled the lady’s midsection, and jerked her arms to herself in a tight compression. A dun-colored wad shot out of the woman’s mouth and attached itself to a white wall. The lady in the purple dress made a great, gasping noise and plopped into an office chair that somebody had wheeled up behind her.

"Grazie, grazie molte," she mouthed as a pink flush returned to her face.

You’re fine now, Grazia said. Although it’s a good idea for you to stay seated for a short time.

I thought I was a goner! the woman gasped. And my idiot son, the big-shot attorney for chrissakes, didn’t have a clue what to do. Someday those damnable prunes will get me. I’d quit eating them if I could, but I like them. And they keep me regular. My name’s Fiammetta Shaidy, and I’d like to thank you all for saving my life. Would you please join my son and me in the lounge?

Mother, we have an appointment soon...

Shut up, Isaiah, and give these people your thanks for saving my life. The old woman turned in her chair and pointed at the tall man with the bald head. This is my son, Isaiah. A poor excuse for someone who shaves every day, who has two very large flat feet, and whom the lord endowed with a little chubby between his legs. Heaven knows how he managed to become so successful. I guess he must have inherited a bunch of his mother’s genes. Isaiah, snap back to life and wheel me into the lounge. I need a large grappa, and we need to thank these people properly.

Fiammetta nodded her head toward a comfortable room away from the reception area. As her son rolled her toward a doorway, the diamond ring on her right hand caught a beam of sunlight and exploded like a holiday sparkler. The glitter of the gem matched the twinkle in Fiammetta’s blue eyes.

Chapter 2

The Invitation

We live in Austin, Texas. I’m on one of the top floors of the same building that pickle-puss lives in. Fiammetta pointed her nose at her son, who was drinking a cup of coffee. We’re here in Trento to visit friends, buy some art, and relax a little. Hell, some of the old geezers around this joint still have some life left in them. And that’s more than I can say for bigfoot over there.

Grazia and her two companions tried their best not to laugh, although a low whistle chirped from Ted’s nose and Joe’s right eye twitched several times.

Ted looked at Fiammetta and smiled. I’m Ted Bliss, from Edmond, Oklahoma. Joe’s from Trento and graduated with me; we’re here visiting his family. Grazia lives here, and she’s returning to the States with us. She expects to get her U.S. nursing certification in a few months; she’s just waiting to see what will transfer from her Italian coursework. We all need to see what’s available in our field. I have a degree in nursing home administration and Joe’s is in hotel, restaurant, and hospitality management. Actually, we’re thinking about running a life care retirement facility. We just need to find a way to get hooked up with the right company or group of investors.

The regal lady called across the large table to her son, Hey, numb-nuts, pass around those nibbles. We’d like to munch on something too!

Fiammetta began rummaging through her purse, and Isaiah pushed a platter of speck and a plate of rye bread and crackers across the table. I don’t believe in coincidences, but this is really something, she said. I made a note about a place in Oklahoma I heard about. I haven’t visited it yet. Someday, if Isaiah gets off his backside long enough to get everything finalized, I intend to buy it, rebuild it, and make it my home. She handed Ted the most expensive piece of stationery he’d ever seen. It was light gray, and she had written an address on it in beautiful script. I’ll tell you what, you all come visit us in Austin, and we’ll talk some more about it. I’ll have Isaiah send a car for you all. I have a date tonight, and I need to get back to my suite.

She rose from her chair, straightened up, and said to her son, Give everybody one of your business cards, kiddo. They can call us when they’re ready to make arrangements. I gotta go.

Mother, we have a prior engagement.

Listen tall-boy, I said I have a date. Now, run off and find your own sandbox to play in. I’ll catch up with you about noon tomorrow — if my date’s left by then. She nodded her head to the others and said, Nice meeting you all. Thanks again for saving my life.

Fiammetta didn’t look a day over 60 as she strode out into the hallway. The attorney, glossy wallet in hand, began to hand out business cards made of paper-thin brushed aluminum. Embossed in royal blue letters were the words: Isaiah M. Shaidy ~ Attorney at Law. His contact information appeared in smaller print below.

The attorney pocketed his wallet. You each have my card, and now I’ll tell you something about my mother. She suffers from early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, and she may not recognize any of you the next time she sees you. It’s entirely up to you whether you decide to follow through with her offer. And now if you’ll excuse me, I must keep a prior engagement with one of our art dealers.

Ted noticed that Mrs. Shaidy’s son wore highly polished cowboy boots. As the attorney hitched up his pants and turned to leave, Ted wondered if he could ride.

Chaptr 3

To the States

Ted spent the next five days in a whirlwind of touring, meeting Joe’s friends and extended family, and he also had the pleasure of getting to know Grazia much better over a lengthy dinner. They locked arms, strolled through Trento’s piazzas, and talked about their plans for the future. It was just before dawn when Ted arrived back at the Albergo della Famiglia Ricci, the inn owned by Joe’s family.

Early on the morning of their final day in Trento, Joe’s mother, father, three cousins, and two aunts sat at the long table in the great room of the inn. Everyone had cappuccino and snacked on assorted croissant-style breads called cornetti from two china platters. Grazia’s mother, father, and brother also sat at the table. Mario, the elderly tour driver Ted had hired, was helping Roberto, the inn’s loyal employee, line up suitcases in the hallway of the lodge. Joe’s father rapped on the table with the knuckles of his right hand, and a hush fell over the room.

I must say a few things before you all go. First, I want to tell you how nice it has been to have you all here with Mama and me for this wonderful time. The patriarch looked at Ted and spoke to him using his full name. You are a member of the Ricci family now, Ted Bliss; this is your home for all time too. We shall miss you like we miss Giovanni when he leaves, even though we know it’s time for you to become men of the world. And you, Grazia, he said, smiling at his niece, a woman of the world. The old man pulled a huge white handkerchief from his pocket, covered his nose, and muffled a honking sound. He folded the handkerchief twice and wiped the corner of his right eye. We hope you will all be back to visit us another time. And now, for each of you, I have something.

He pulled a small briefcase from under his chair, opened it, and withdrew three beautiful leather-bound photo albums, small enough to fit in a suitcase. These are photos of us all, your family. Keep us with you always. Here, Grazia, one for you. Ted, this one is yours. And Giovanni, take this one.

Joe’s two aunts started bawling, and Roberto, standing in a far corner, pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and honked his nose. The sound echoed throughout the great room.

The old man began to clap and said, Roberto, bring the grappa! Get everybody a glass. We must give these people a proper send-off.

Warmed from the drinks, the three young people shook hands at least three times with everyone in the room. Everybody talked at once, all smiling and laughing. Each of the travelers got another hug and handshake at the front door. One of the aunts handed each of them a paper sack and said, Take this. It’s for when you get hungry.

The white Toyota was idling at the curb, and Mario and Roberto loaded the luggage into it. Gray clouds cloaked the mountains, and the surrounding buildings had turned a darker gray. A slight breeze flapped and ruffled the collars of their jackets. A cat let loose a loud meoowwww close by, which was answered with a bark loud enough to crack the icy silence of the crisp alpine morning.

The two young men buckled themselves into the back of the car. Grazia sat in the front seat next to Mario. They rolled down the car’s windows and waved to those standing on the sidewalk. Shouts from the family members grew fainter as the Toyota sped off toward the train station.

Mario unloaded the suitcases and walked with them to their platform. Their train was making a low humming noise as it waited to make its marathon run to the finish line in Verona. The kiss that Grazia gave Mario nearly knocked the cap from his head and made his entire face go bright red. He shook hands with the boys one final time and stepped back.

He waited until he saw the trio take their seats by a window. Joe raised a hand in salute. Mario waved back and mouthed the words, Arrivederci, Giovanni. He shivered and felt the weight of 77 years on his shoulders. Mario blew his nose, turned, and walked back toward his Toyota.

Chapter 4

The Call

Ted, Joe, and Grazia sat on the floor of the Bliss family living room in Edmond, Oklahoma. Ted leaned against a wing chair, Joe reclined on the couch, and Grazia sat in the open with her legs crossed. Joe’s friend Yvette Sutton perched on a large ottoman. She had bouncy sand-colored hair and a smile that never quit.

All we have right now is a bunch of possibilities, Ted said. None of us has anything written stone. Should we follow through and make the call to the Shaidys in Austin? Or are they just a couple of fruit loops?

Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 25, Grazia’s ring tone, interrupted their discussion.

"Hello...si, I mean yes this is she, okay, that is wonderful news. You’ll email me the particulars? Yes, I’m pleased that my transcripts from Italy were all it took. Thank you so much; yes, I promise that I’ll let you know the results as soon as I find out myself. Bye-bye, and thanks again." And she snapped her phone shut.

Grazia brushed strands of ebony