Under a Siena Sun (Escape to Tuscany Book 1)

by T A Williams

  As she slid into the driving seat, David reached over and caught hold of her hand before she could turn the key in the ignition.

  ‘Lucy, I know we said we’d go out for dinner, but I’ll be quite honest, I think I’d be happier just going home.’

  She gave him a big smile. ‘You’re not the only one. I’ve had it with crowds for a while. I felt like a fish out of water back there among all those celebrities.’

  He caught hold of her hand and squeezed her fingers. ‘I’m sorry. It’s an artificial world and very different from the one you know. Maybe it might be better if we avoid that kind of thing for a while.’

  ‘Thanks, David, that’ll suit me down to the ground. Now, if you’re happy with ham and melon, pecorino cheese, and the remains of the ice cream, let’s go back to my place.’

  ‘Manna from heaven.’

  Chapter 27

  Lucy went into work on Thursday morning feeling pensive. After David had gone back to the villa and his dog just after dawn, she had lain in bed, reflecting on her experiences the previous evening. On their return to her house, they had enjoyed a delicious homely meal together and a wonderful night, but she couldn’t stop thinking about what he had described as the artificial world in which he lived. Was there any way she would ever be able to fit into such company?

  Yes, she liked David a lot, maybe even loved him, and she enjoyed being with him immensely. The fact was, however, that her whole life up to now had been a million miles away from such luxury and privilege, and with a serious job to do. Care for others was her raison d’être and she knew she was committed to it. Did she really see herself settling into that sort of lifestyle, where all that mattered was winning – whether at sport, in love or financially? No sooner did this thought occur than she remembered that he had told her he was thinking about setting up a charity. That wasn’t the action of a heartless and selfish man. Just because he had taken her to the Palio party didn’t mean he was out of the same mould and she would do well to be a bit less judgemental.

  Something that brightened her day came from Bruno. He reappeared at work, looking tanned and relaxed, and took her to one side. To her delight, he told her he and Virginia had spoken at length and he had forgiven her. What was more, he had carried out his original plan and had asked her to marry him. She had said yes and Lucy was very happy for both of them. The idea that she might inadvertently have been responsible for splitting them up had been bothering her and it was a relief to hear that relations between them had been restored, hopefully better than ever. She felt even happier an hour later when Virginia took her by the arm, walked her out into the gardens and hugged her. There were tears in her eyes as she thanked Lucy.

  ‘Bruno told me he went to you for advice and you told him he should give me a second chance. I’m so very grateful, Lucy and when I think that I was worried you’d try to take him from me… You’re such a lovely, lovely person and I hope you’ll forgive me for thinking badly of you.’ She kissed Lucy on the cheeks and hugged her warmly once more. ‘Thank you so very much.’

  That evening Lucy and David, accompanied by Boris, walked down to the Cavallo Bianco for dinner and, to her relief, there was no sign of Tommy. Although Boris appeared to recognise his sister, there was no great show of affection and in true Labrador tradition he appeared much more interested in the enticing aromas all round. David was immediately recognised by the owners and most of the other diners, but nobody bothered them, apart from a couple of people who asked him, very politely, if they could be photographed with him. Lucy had little doubt that word would soon get back to Tommy that the two of them had been sighted together and, no doubt, he would ensure the news appeared in his paper. Still, she told herself, this kind of exposure was part and parcel of dating a celebrity, like it or not.

  After a very good meal, they walked back up through the olive trees to the villa. The temperature was high and the humidity in the air even higher. There were clouds in the sky obscuring the moon, but they soon got accustomed to the dark and had no trouble finding their way. Boris occasionally disappeared from sight completely, only for his eyes to then appear amid the bushes, glowing an ethereal green colour. David was holding her hand and as they reached the spot where they had seen the porcupine, he stopped and pulled her gently towards him.

  ‘You’re a bit quiet tonight, Lucy. Is everything okay?’

  ‘I’m fine.’

  She heard him snort. ‘I used to be married, remember? I know what that word means. Even I know that fine doesn’t mean fine. What’s the matter? Come on, we know each other well enough by now. What’s eating you?’

  She hesitated but then gave in. ‘I suppose if the truth be told, I’m scared I’ll never be able to come to terms with the whole celebrity lifestyle thing. You know – being recognised and photographed, rubbing shoulders with people with all the money in the world but the morals of a tomcat. I’ve become very fond of you in a very short space of time and I love being with you, but sometimes it’s hard.’

  His arms stretched around her shoulders and he hugged her to him. ‘I’ve become very fond of you in a very short space of time as well, Lucy. Listen, what we have is too good to lose. I’ve never felt like this before about anybody, and that includes Rosy back in the day. I’ll do what it takes to make you happy. Just say the word and I’ll happily go back to being a hermit if that’s what you want.’ He lifted her chin with a finger and kissed her softly on the lips. ‘Really, don’t worry. Whatever it takes, okay?’

  She kissed him back and did her best to convince herself that, with time, she would be able to settle into his life, but she knew it wasn’t going to be easy.

  Over the next few weeks, she experienced some of the happiest days of her whole life as her love for him grew – yes, she had even started using that word, but only inside her head for now. The stress and fear of the Congo disappeared completely along with the nightmares, as she did her best to carry out her stated aim of living for the moment. She found herself settling down even more at the clinic, although she still remained uncertain about the ultimate direction of her future. But, for now, she really did manage to enjoy life on a day-by-day basis.

  At the beginning of September her parents came over to stay with her for a week. Although she had already told them she was seeing David, they were pretty star-struck – particularly her mother, still a keen tennis player – when they met him. For his part, David was charming, communicative and generous as always. He insisted on taking them for lunch at the villa outside Florence where he and Lucy had eaten on the day he was first outed by Tommy, and her parents were most impressed with the place and the food. He drove them there in the Mercedes – the Ferrari, apart from being too small for four people, had not been out of the garage since the day they went to Punta Ala – and Lucy could sense her father’s fascination with the luxury vehicle.

  That night, after David had returned to the villa, Lucy was surprised to hear her father tackle the subject of relationships; something he had scrupulously left to her mother all her life so far.

  ‘Lucy, sweetheart, are you sure you’re going to be able to cope with being with somebody like David?’ Seeing the expression on her face, he was quick to clarify what he meant. ‘Don’t get me wrong. He’s a good man, and your mother and I like him a lot, but he comes from a very different world, you know. Is that going to be a problem for you?’

  ‘It’s something we think you should consider, Lucy.’ Her mother laid a comforting hand on top of hers.

  ‘Oh, I’ve been considering it all right, I can assure you. Not a day goes by without me wondering whether we can make it work and how.’ She gave a frustrated shake of the head and a sigh escaped her lips. ‘It’s complicated. I really do like him an awful lot and I’m pretty sure he feels the same way about me. If he were to get really serious, I honestly don’t know what I’d do. I know I want to be with him, but I also know I’d want to keep on working. And if I took another job somewhere else, what then? What if I decide
d to go back to MSF?’

  ‘You’d work it out, Lucy.’ He mother gave her hand a squeeze. ‘You’re a bright girl and he’s a good man and you’d come up with a solution, I’m sure. Don’t forget, you can’t expect to have everything the way you want it. Life – and relationships – demand compromise.’

  ‘I’m sure you’re right. Yes, as far as the practicalities are concerned I expect we could sort something out, but, deep down, it’s a question of principle. I know what I think about the injustice of most of the world’s wealth being in the hands of the very few and that isn’t going to change. Sooner or later my principles are going to come up against my feelings and it’s going to be tough.’ She shrugged, trying to release some of the tension creeping into her shoulders, and did her best to sound positive. ‘Anyway, I’ve only just started going out with him and everything’s going so well at present, so I’m going to let the future look after itself for now.’

  On their last night before flying home to the UK, David invited Lucy and her parents up to the villa for dinner. She and he had been keeping chastely apart while her parents were here and she had been missing him a lot. To her surprise when they got there she found that he had prepared the meal by himself, rather than asking Fioretta for help. There was ham, melon, finocchiona and fresh figs as a starter and then he had made a wonderful mixed salad, all apparently grown in the vegetable garden on the estate. They ate outside on the terrace in front of the villa from where they had a spectacular view out over the hills as far as the distant mountains. He had decided to do a barbecue and, assisted – or at least tailed – by Boris, he grilled a fine selection of meats, along with skewers of prawns and octopus interlaced with baby tomatoes. To drink there was champagne, followed by Armando’s red wine, and it was a lovely evening. As the sun sank below the hill behind them, they sat back and enjoyed the peace and quiet, while Boris noisily crunched his way through the remains of a massive T-bone steak at their feet.

  ‘And when’s your friend getting married?’ Lucy had told her mum all about Nicole’s upcoming wedding.

  ‘This time next week in Avignon. David’s going to come with me, so I’ll have my plus one for a change. Normally at weddings I end up all on my own.’

  She saw her mum smile contentedly. ‘It’s about time you got yourself a plus one, Lucy. You’re very lucky to have found David.’

  ‘I’m the lucky one.’ David reached over and caught hold of Lucy’s hand. ‘She’s the best thing that’s happened to me for years and years.’

  Fortunately it was dark enough for Lucy’s blushes not to show, but she chose to downplay the significance of his remarks. ‘Ssh, don’t let Boris hear you say that. I wouldn’t want him to get jealous.’

  Later on, as he walked with them back down to her cottage, David took her by the arm and slowed his pace, letting her parents go on a little way ahead. She pressed herself against him, curious to see if he had something to say. As she waited, she watched the fireflies dancing underneath the trees and breathed in the scent of lavender in the air. His voice was little more than a whisper, but the message was unmissable and her heart leapt.

  ‘I meant what I said about you being the best thing that’s happened to me. The fact is, Lucy, in case you hadn’t realised, I’m afraid I’ve fallen in love with you.’

  Hearing him use the L-word for the first time gave Lucy an overwhelming desire to leap on him and roll him into the bushes but, in deference to her parents, she restrained herself and just raised herself on her toes to kiss him softly on the cheek. As she did so, she almost tripped over Boris who was trotting along at their feet.

  ‘Love me, love my dog. And I do, David, both of you.’

  Chapter 28

  The following Friday after she had finished work, David picked her up and they set off for Avignon in the Mercedes, stopping for the night in a luxury hotel on the Tuscan coast, just north of Viareggio. This was a very stylish modern hotel and their room had a broad terrace looking out over the tops of a forest of umbrella pines towards the deep blue of the Mediterranean with its unbroken sweep of golden sandy beach. Behind them, the view was even more spectacular up into the nearby mountains which, at first sight, looked as though they were covered in snow. In fact the hotel was very near Carrara, home to Italy’s famous white marble quarries, and the setting sun shed a gentle pink glow across the dusty white slopes. It was a very romantic spot.

  Their room was huge, with a massive – and inviting – king size bed. The bathroom was as big as her bedroom at home and unsurprisingly in there the floor, walls, basin and shower were all clad in marble. Everything was spotlessly clean, ultra-modern and doubtless vastly expensive. Dinner that evening on the immaculate rooftop terrace was excellent and she couldn’t fault any of it. The service was impeccable, the wine exquisite, the view stunning. Her companion was cheerful, attentive and very appealing. It should have been a wonderful evening except that her annoying Jiminy Cricket of a conscience kept snapping at her heels throughout, as thoughts of Ahmed and Rahel, and her good friend Miriam – now missing for months – threatened to dampen the mood.

  After a long, languorous, loving night, they both went for a swim in the sea in the morning and the cool water finally managed to clear her head. As she swam idly about, relishing the refreshing feel of the water on her skin, she gave herself a serious talking-to. She was going to a good friend’s wedding with the man she loved. So he was rich; she knew that he was a good man at heart. Money didn’t always have to be a bad thing if it was in the right hands. She was alive, she was healthy, and she had every reason in the world to be happy. And that was what she was going to be. As she had told her parents, the future could look after itself for now.

  She swam over to where David was floating on his back, caught hold of him and hugged him so tightly, they both disappeared under water. Trying to kiss him underwater was a step too far and they both emerged coughing and spluttering, but she was still hanging onto him.

  ‘What was that in aid of?’ He was grinning at her.

  ‘That was me telling you I really do love you, David Lorenzo, and I never want you to forget that.’

  ‘And if I promise never to forget it, you promise not to try to drown me again?’

  ‘It’s a deal.’ She kissed him again and she knew she had meant every word of what she had said.

  The wedding took place in a lovely old Romanesque church in Nicole’s charming Provençal village, just outside Avignon. As they walked in and took their seats, she saw a number of faces turn towards them and recognition dawn on many as they caught sight of David’s tall form. But, for once, Lucy barely noticed as she suddenly stopped and stared. There, sitting in the second row, was a very familiar face. Breaking the respectful silence of the little church, Lucy set off down the aisle at a run and almost threw herself into the arms of her friend.

  ‘Miriam, it’s you. You’re alive.’

  ‘Lucy, Lucy, Lucy, it’s so good to see you, my gorgeous girl. Nicole told me you were coming today so I thought I’d give you a little surprise.’

  Lucy looked around and smiled apologetically at the other guests as she grabbed David’s hand and pulled him down alongside her to sit with Miriam.

  While the organ continued to play quietly in the background, Lucy quizzed her about what had happened. The story was almost as awful as she had feared. Miriam and her little group of patients and colleagues had ended up hiding out in a tiny encampment in the inhospitable bush, without electricity or any connection to the outside world. They had stayed there, in fear for their lives, for almost three months while rival warring factions had rampaged throughout the area. Only a few weeks ago the fighting had finally moved on and things had calmed down enough for the group to make their way once more out into open country and, ultimately, back to civilisation.

  Miriam had travelled on to Kinshasa and flown from there to France barely two days ago. Lucy clung to her arm and listened intently, her delight at finding her friend alive and well threatening
to make her burst into song. Fortunately for the others in the church, before this could happen the organ struck up the wedding march and the ceremony began.

  The reception was in a big marquee pitched alongside the ruins of a Roman villa only a hundred yards from the church. The sun was shining, the surroundings were charming, and everything went well. As they got there, Lucy immediately spotted Geneviève and took David across to meet her. They embraced and exchanged news. Geneviève told them she had found a good job in an immigration reception centre close to where she lived in northern France. The man on her arm was introduced as Didier, her ‘petit-ami’, which sounded promising. Didier turned out to be a tennis coach and he appeared overwhelmed to meet David and soon the two men were chatting amicably in a mixture of English and French, which David spoke unexpectedly well.

  The bride and groom appeared and Lucy embraced them both warmly. After hearing so much about François from Nicole while in Mabenta, Lucy felt she already knew Nicole’s new husband well. She introduced David and saw Nicole do a double take before glancing back at her with a broad grin and a wink.

  ‘I’m so pleased to see you looking so happy, Lucy. And – don’t take this the wrong way – but you’ve put on a few kilos and you look a whole lot better for it.’ She turned to David. ‘We were quite worried about Lucy, you know. She was working herself into the ground at the clinic.’

  He smiled back at her. ‘I can imagine. That’s the sort of person she is. That’s why I love her so much.’

  Nicole’s eyes flicked to Lucy’s, presumably as she registered his choice of vocabulary, before she winked at David. ‘Everybody loves Lucy.’

  ‘Not as much as I do.’ He caught hold of Lucy’s arm and pulled her close. ‘She’s one of a kind.’