Charles was extremely nervous waiting down in his room while the two sisters spoke upstairs. He changed out of his suit putting on a pair of jeans, a sky blue polo shirt and a comfortable pair of topsiders. Charles washed his hands before taking 2 more vicodan, Charles became distraught realizing there were only 4 pills remaining in the bottle. Then suddenly it occurred to him that he was now Dr. Charles Le Mesa, his new identity, and Dr. Le Mesa had a license to prescribe medication in this country. No sooner had he relaxed a thought came to his mind, If he wanted, he could easily take his new identification, the new Mercedes and all his money locked up in his closet, and just drive off and leave, never to be seen again. This is when Charles realized he liked Felina, and her family, very much, and for once in his life he felt like he belonged, nicely fitting in among their gracious, loving company. Charles had been made to feel like he was a part of the de la Rosa Diaz family.
"Charles?" Felina called out tapping on his door as she did not wish to enter unannounced.
"Come in." he beckoned.
"Oh Charles," she smiled sweetly shaking her head a little saying "Serena would like for me to apologize to you, on her behalf, as she is completely, and utterly embarrassed, finding us in such a compromising position." Felina laughed helping to ease the tension Charles was feeling. "She says she hopes you do not feel too uncomfortable and begs for you to still be kind enough to join us for lunch."
Charles did, indeed, feel embarrassed himself, but this was something he was easily able to get over so he happily agreed to come along. Serena greeted Charles outside by her black BMW luxury sports sedan and the two gave a warm embrace to each other. The two sisters hopped in front as Charles sat in the back seat as the they drove down the wide, tree lined avenues on that warm, sunny Summer's day. The three friends stopped for a light lunch at a local tapas bar, where they drank a few glasses of beer along with a couple of shots of Anejo before they wandered over to the massive Recoleta cemetery complex. They entered the enormous gates flanked by neo-classical Doric columns which towered over their heads. Felina began their impromptu tour at Our Lady of Pillar; a church founded by the Order of Recoleta monks who built the structure along with their convent in 1732. Charles learned this vast cemetery was made public in 1822 and was designed by the architect Prospero Catelin. The area, nearly 2.5 acres, was filled with 4691, above ground, mausoleums, in designs of Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Baroque and Neo-Gothic styles, all resembling the actual buildings of Buenos Aires, the extensive grounds were a miniature version of the old port city. Charles rather enjoyed their long walk as he snapped photographs with the new Nikon camera he had purchased after a drunken lunch. He delighted in taking pictures of Felina and Serena who donned dark, movie star sunglasses, wearing their short, Summer dresses and leather sandals, their tan legs and feet, polished toes exposed. Charles was having the best time enjoying the fresh air and sunshine with them that day. Finally they came to the Duarte family mausoleum, the final resting place of Eva Peron, here Felina and Serena paused, in a show of respect, each saying a silent prayer then making a movement across their chests in the sign of the cross, Charles thought this simple act of admiration and devotion was quaint so he waited for their prayers to end before they made their way out of the cemetery over to the Plaza de Mayo.
The picturesque old city plaza, filled by palaces and museums, was centered around a long public green garden surrounded by palm trees. The modern skyscrapers towered over the old buildings, most no more then three or four stories tall. There was the Caterdral Metropolitana, an imposing Greek style structure that resembled the Parthenon, Charles especially liked the Cabilo, a small 2 story, Spanish colonial style building with bright white stucco that gleamed in the strong sunlight. The most impressive building in the plaza was the Casa Rosada, the Presidential Palace, another Spanish colonial style structure, constructed of large, dark pink, granite blocks and colonnades, a long central balcony, over the facade of the building, looking out down across the city square. Felina explained the color pink was chosen as symbol of unity between the 2 political parties, the los blancos and the los Colorados. Charles did not know much about the political turmoil that had reared it's ugly head, years back in the earlier part of the 20th century, in Argentina, but he did not have much of an interest in politics any way, foreign or domestic. However he was fascinated when Serena told him a little about one of Argentina's most beloved National Heros of the Argentine War of Independence, Manuel Belgrano, of whom a majestic bronze statue of him, atop a rampant horse, sits just outside the Casa Rosada. This reminded Charles of America's greatest hero, General George Washington, and this made him a little homesick for his native land. With the hours long tour nearly over, Serena, Felina and Charles were close to exhaustion after walking around all day. So a little after 6:00 the trio headed out for a nice quiet dinner at a local famous steak house, Parilla Cabrera Norte, in the trendy Palermo Soho district.
They were as tired as they were hungry, so they started off with the hearts of palm and avocado salads, followed by a huge slab of ribeye, the 'Ojo de bife', for Charles, a nice petite cut of Kobe for Felina, and Serena dined on a wonderful dish of Lomo Saltado all served with champignones y tomates seco and cazuelitas de puree de papas andinas, and the deicious meal was, of course, enjoyed with three bottle of exquisite and expensive red wine. With no room for desert in their full bellies, Charles happily paid the bill, and being quite intoxicated he left a way more than generous tip for the shocked waiter. Now Serena had purposefully not consumed as much alcohol as Charles and her sister, doing this she was safely able to drive them all back home a little after 8:00, just as the sun had began to set, according to her plan. Felina and Serena had to wake Charles for he had quickly fallen asleep in the back seat on the twenty minute ride back to their townhouse.
"Come on darling." Felina said as she helped the drunken man up to his feet telling him "Let me get you to your room, so you can go to sleep."
"Right this way." Serena said as she opened up the front door, her heart racing with the thrill of what would come later in the night.
"Sorry girls, I think I should not have had that last bottle of wine." Charles apologized slurring his words a little, as he collapsed on his bed.
"Let me help you out of your clothes." Felina said demonstrating her friendship for him by removing his shoes, socks, shirt and jeans, including his B.V.D.'s. "Now climb under the sheet." she instructed the suddenly naked man, who did as Felina asked covering himself up, as she bent over giving him a brief kiss on the cheek. "Now close your eyes and go to sleep."
Charles gave her a drunken smile and a wink as he yawned telling her "Won't you lay down here with me?"
"Not right now, let me go and check on my sister," she paused then whispered in his ear "I promise I will come back in a little while." Felina lied, then she went to his bedroom door and turned off the light.
"Charles?" Felina called out tapping on his door as she did not wish to enter unannounced.
"Come in." he beckoned.
"Oh Charles," she smiled sweetly shaking her head a little saying "Serena would like for me to apologize to you, on her behalf, as she is completely, and utterly embarrassed, finding us in such a compromising position." Felina laughed helping to ease the tension Charles was feeling. "She says she hopes you do not feel too uncomfortable and begs for you to still be kind enough to join us for lunch."
Charles did, indeed, feel embarrassed himself, but this was something he was easily able to get over so he happily agreed to come along. Serena greeted Charles outside by her black BMW luxury sports sedan and the two gave a warm embrace to each other. The two sisters hopped in front as Charles sat in the back seat as the they drove down the wide, tree lined avenues on that warm, sunny Summer's day. The three friends stopped for a light lunch at a local tapas bar, where they drank a few glasses of beer along with a couple of shots of Anejo before they wandered over to the massive Recoleta cemetery complex. They entered the enormous gates flanked by neo-classical Doric columns which towered over their heads. Felina began their impromptu tour at Our Lady of Pillar; a church founded by the Order of Recoleta monks who built the structure along with their convent in 1732. Charles learned this vast cemetery was made public in 1822 and was designed by the architect Prospero Catelin. The area, nearly 2.5 acres, was filled with 4691, above ground, mausoleums, in designs of Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Baroque and Neo-Gothic styles, all resembling the actual buildings of Buenos Aires, the extensive grounds were a miniature version of the old port city. Charles rather enjoyed their long walk as he snapped photographs with the new Nikon camera he had purchased after a drunken lunch. He delighted in taking pictures of Felina and Serena who donned dark, movie star sunglasses, wearing their short, Summer dresses and leather sandals, their tan legs and feet, polished toes exposed. Charles was having the best time enjoying the fresh air and sunshine with them that day. Finally they came to the Duarte family mausoleum, the final resting place of Eva Peron, here Felina and Serena paused, in a show of respect, each saying a silent prayer then making a movement across their chests in the sign of the cross, Charles thought this simple act of admiration and devotion was quaint so he waited for their prayers to end before they made their way out of the cemetery over to the Plaza de Mayo.
The picturesque old city plaza, filled by palaces and museums, was centered around a long public green garden surrounded by palm trees. The modern skyscrapers towered over the old buildings, most no more then three or four stories tall. There was the Caterdral Metropolitana, an imposing Greek style structure that resembled the Parthenon, Charles especially liked the Cabilo, a small 2 story, Spanish colonial style building with bright white stucco that gleamed in the strong sunlight. The most impressive building in the plaza was the Casa Rosada, the Presidential Palace, another Spanish colonial style structure, constructed of large, dark pink, granite blocks and colonnades, a long central balcony, over the facade of the building, looking out down across the city square. Felina explained the color pink was chosen as symbol of unity between the 2 political parties, the los blancos and the los Colorados. Charles did not know much about the political turmoil that had reared it's ugly head, years back in the earlier part of the 20th century, in Argentina, but he did not have much of an interest in politics any way, foreign or domestic. However he was fascinated when Serena told him a little about one of Argentina's most beloved National Heros of the Argentine War of Independence, Manuel Belgrano, of whom a majestic bronze statue of him, atop a rampant horse, sits just outside the Casa Rosada. This reminded Charles of America's greatest hero, General George Washington, and this made him a little homesick for his native land. With the hours long tour nearly over, Serena, Felina and Charles were close to exhaustion after walking around all day. So a little after 6:00 the trio headed out for a nice quiet dinner at a local famous steak house, Parilla Cabrera Norte, in the trendy Palermo Soho district.
They were as tired as they were hungry, so they started off with the hearts of palm and avocado salads, followed by a huge slab of ribeye, the 'Ojo de bife', for Charles, a nice petite cut of Kobe for Felina, and Serena dined on a wonderful dish of Lomo Saltado all served with champignones y tomates seco and cazuelitas de puree de papas andinas, and the deicious meal was, of course, enjoyed with three bottle of exquisite and expensive red wine. With no room for desert in their full bellies, Charles happily paid the bill, and being quite intoxicated he left a way more than generous tip for the shocked waiter. Now Serena had purposefully not consumed as much alcohol as Charles and her sister, doing this she was safely able to drive them all back home a little after 8:00, just as the sun had began to set, according to her plan. Felina and Serena had to wake Charles for he had quickly fallen asleep in the back seat on the twenty minute ride back to their townhouse.
"Come on darling." Felina said as she helped the drunken man up to his feet telling him "Let me get you to your room, so you can go to sleep."
"Right this way." Serena said as she opened up the front door, her heart racing with the thrill of what would come later in the night.
"Sorry girls, I think I should not have had that last bottle of wine." Charles apologized slurring his words a little, as he collapsed on his bed.
"Let me help you out of your clothes." Felina said demonstrating her friendship for him by removing his shoes, socks, shirt and jeans, including his B.V.D.'s. "Now climb under the sheet." she instructed the suddenly naked man, who did as Felina asked covering himself up, as she bent over giving him a brief kiss on the cheek. "Now close your eyes and go to sleep."
Charles gave her a drunken smile and a wink as he yawned telling her "Won't you lay down here with me?"
"Not right now, let me go and check on my sister," she paused then whispered in his ear "I promise I will come back in a little while." Felina lied, then she went to his bedroom door and turned off the light.
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