Summer Wine

by Barbara Winkes

  “Can you even see anything?”

  “Not really,” Callie admitted, laid her notebook aside and leaned back in her chair with a happy sigh when Rebecca embraced her from behind. “I guess it’s time for a break. So--tomorrow.”

  “Yeah, tomorrow. Tomaso’s sister will come get us at the B&B and take us to the family dinner. I don’t know if I’m thrilled or terrified.”

  “Imagine how Dina must feel.”

  “Some of the same, that’s for sure. Whatever happens, I’m glad she has at least another year to think things through, even if she does apply for the program. Wow. I can’t imagine having her gone for a whole year.”

  “That would be a reason to visit again, don’t you think?”

  Rebecca gave her a grateful smile. “You know I was hoping for the roller coaster to stop at some point…now I think it might never, but I can live with that. You’re with me. We are the same, no matter what happens.”

  “Yes. You never have to worry about that.”

  They had survived prejudice and innuendo in Autumn Leaves and still made it their home. They had already won.

  * * * *

  Callie and Maggie had left for breakfast. Dina stood in the middle of the room, looking indecisive.

  “I don’t think we forgot anything,” Rebecca assured her. “Let’s go eat. We’ll be on the bus for some hours.”

  “Yeah, I guess.”

  Keys in hand, Rebecca hesitated when Dina’s wistful tone registered with her. “Are you okay?”

  “I am.” Dina sighed. “I have to confess something. First of all, I hope you meant it when you said all’s forgiven. I can’t believe how mean I’ve been. I’m sorry.”

  “I know. We’re okay.” Rebecca pulled her into a hug. “That’s not all, is it?”

  “No. Sergio asked me to stay in Rome. I could get on all the tours for free too. Mom, please don’t freak out, okay? I told him no.”

  “Wow. That’s good. I’m glad you came to that conclusion.” Rebecca sat on the bed even though her stomach was starting to growl. “How did you get there?”

  “I love it here,” Dina said, “but we’ve only been staying for a few days. This is vacation, and when I come back to study, it will be different. I want to be with Tomaso. I don’t want to screw with any of that.”

  For the moment, Rebecca could excuse the use of language, if Dina was able to make smart decisions anyway. “I’m proud of you,” she said.

  “Thanks. I know you’re also worried, but you don’t have to be. We’re not thinking about going all the way yet.”

  “I am even happier about that,” Rebecca admitted, making Dina laugh.

  “I knew it. Well, there I said it. With the time we have, it would be too much stress anyway…and you and Callie always around.”

  Rebecca gave her daughter a quizzical look. “Sometimes I can’t tell if you’re kidding, and, frankly, that’s a little disturbing.”

  “Now you’re kidding me—remember when Anna asked me to hide the pregnancy test?”

  Rebecca remembered that all too well. She had found the test in Dina’s room, terrified of the implications, the same weekend David and the girls had gone to Disneyland, and she had found refuge at Callie’s. “What a question.”

  “Yeah. After seeing what she went through, with her parents and her boyfriend, and some rumors at school…all after she wasn’t even pregnant--no way. I still want to go to university. You know when we saw that archeological site, with the girls digging up pieces of ruins and coins and stuff? That’s awesome. I think that’s what I want to do.”

  “Then I guess we have to look into those programs in earnest once we’re back home.”

  To her surprise, Dina leaned forward to hug her tightly. “Thank you so much! I really don’t know why I said these things. You’re always the one who’s there for us as usual.”

  “Well, Dad—”

  Dina made a face. “Dad is in Hong Kong. I know he loves us, and of course I love him, but really? Did you ever ask him about that phone call?”

  “That…phone call?”

  “Don’t freak out. I knew Callie would tell you, and I never asked her to keep it a secret. So, did you?”

  “No,” Rebecca said, feeling calm and secure in the decision she’d made regarding this particular subject. It was surprising and liberating.

  “Why?” Dina’s question was without scorn. She was simply curious, which made it easier to come up with an answer.

  “Because it doesn’t matter.” It wouldn’t change anything, not the fact that we once loved each other. Maybe not in the way people should love, maybe she and David had gotten too comfortable, if not lazy, in their relationship, but she didn’t need to go into that much depth with Dina. “We wanted both you and Maggie. We want you to be happy more than anything. That will never change. We’re just very lucky to both have found someone.”

  Dina nodded. “That’s great. Now let’s have breakfast before we run out of luck and the buffet’s empty.”

  “Yeah, let’s do that.”

  The trip to Siena was a little less than three hours, which Rebecca assumed would fly by after the trans-Atlantic flight experience. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, literally or otherwise. She enjoyed watching the changing scenery as they left the city of Rome behind and the countryside unfolded as they made their way south. Rebecca remembered the jokes they had made in the past few weeks about going to Chianti. They’d definitely check out the duty free zone at the airport on their way back. She could imagine the two of them sitting on the porch, or in front of the fireplace, sharing a glass of wine and memories…Rebecca halted her train of thought, shaking her head to herself. She was getting too far ahead of herself. Those memories were moments yet to come.

  In the late afternoon, Tomaso’s older sister Bianca, greeted them with an enthusiastic welcome, speaking so fast not even Dina could get everything. She gestured towards her car, a yellow Fiat.

  Dina was somewhat disappointed Tomaso hadn’t come with her. However, her face lit up as she translated the words she’d been able to make out when Bianca repeated parts of her speech in a slower pace.

  “She hopes we’re hungry, and everyone is excited to see us. Especially Tomaso. He wanted to come, but then he would have had to travel on the roof on the way back. Oh, and Mom, she loves your haircut.” She continued to explain that Bianca was home for a couple of weeks from the University of Milan where she studied Slavic languages. Bianca knew a bit of English too, but Dina understood her well enough. Even with no one ending up on the roof, they had to squeeze in tightly. The drive took them out of the city and up into the hills, from which the view was dreamy once again, but with different sights, the endless stretch of fields and vineyards in the light of dusk.

  Dina turned to her from the front passenger seat, all her excitement reflected in her smile. “I’m so glad we came here. I’m sure it would have been great to hang out with Dad, too, but this is so awesome!”

  Rebecca nodded, the moment too emotional for words, as much for Dina’s heartfelt statement as for the beauty of the landscape around them. If the rest of Tomaso’s family was as welcoming as Bianca, there was no need to worry. She caught Callie’s glance, and they exchanged a wistful smile. It didn’t mean that they weren’t still nervous about how this evening might go.

  Tomaso had sent lots of pictures, but when Bianca parked her car in front of her parents’ house, all of her guests were stunned by the view. The courtyard home almost on top of the hill looked like something out of the movies.

  Tomaso stood on top of the stairs, waving. For a moment, Dina hesitated, then she all but ran into his embrace.

  “Oh no, you’re not,” Rebecca commented when she turned to Callie and saw her wipe her eyes.

  “You have to admit this is a teary-eyed moment.”

  “I guess so.”

  Bianca shook her head with an affectionate smile. “Amore,” she said with regard to the young couple, something both Callie and Reb
ecca understood without translation, and gestured for them to follow.

  Tomaso eventually realized that there were more people to consider than Dina, and he greeted them, a bit self-conscious, much to the amusement of his parents who had arrived behind him. The moment was a lot less awkward than Rebecca had feared. There was the language barrier, and then the fact that they had something fundamental in common--the pain of seeing their children growing up far too fast. Dina and Tomaso hadn’t let go of each other’s hand after everyone had said hello, and his parents, Graciela and Marco, offered to show them around the house before dinner.

  Dina’s little flirt seemed completely forgotten, and Rebecca managed to relax. No one questioned anyone’s life here. This was all about curious parents meeting for the first time, enamored but watchful of their kids’ love story. Dinner was set outside on the terrace, again with a beautiful view. They were joined by Bianca and Tomaso’s older brother Francesco, his wife and daughter who happened to be Maggie’s age, and Graciela’s mother Giovanna.

  The scene made Rebecca happy and wistful at the same time. After all the struggles to establish a reality according to what she knew to be the truth, these days, she could see clearly like never before. Where she’d gone astray, and what really mattered in her life: She had always loved to invite friends into her home, great food, wine and conversation that made her one of the favorite hosts in Autumn Leaves. She loved her family.

  However, in the last couple of years or so, she’d been tired of everyone, including David, taking her for granted, dinner parties at last moment’s notice, plans made without her that she nevertheless had to adjust to. Far away from it all, in another country, with this family who treated her, Callie and the girls like they were old friends, the haze was clearing.

  She watched Angelica and Maggie communicate in a mix of English and Italian, relieved beyond measure to see Maggie who had been through so much in the past year, back to her happy self, chatty and smiling. Dina and Tomaso were talking as well, gazing deep into each other’s eyes while the food on their plates was getting cold. Rebecca held on to the promise Dina had made her. Next year was another story--they’d renegotiate on the subject.

  Graciela said something, then tugged on her younger son’s sleeve to get his attention. Tomaso blushed as his mother had to repeat, the humor of the situation not lost on the foreign guests.

  “Okay, my mom would like to say a toast and thank you to Dina’s moms, because they came all the way here so Dina and I could see each other. Oh, thank you from me too.”

  Glasses clinked together. There would be more teary-eyed moments to come, Rebecca assumed, as Callie took her hand under the table.

  “It’s our pleasure,” she said. “Thank you for having us.”

  * * * *

  Tomaso joined them the next day to show them around Siena, arriving at the Bed & Breakfast ten minutes early, as eager as Dina. She had changed three times before both she and Rebecca deemed her outfit appropriate not only for meeting her boyfriend, but also a day of sightseeing that would include a church or two. Their kiss was chaste, but they held on to each other long enough for Maggie to roll her eyes.

  At a little after nine, the sun was already high in the sky. Tomaso took them to the Piazza del Campo, where they took some pictures, one of them in front of a beautiful marble fountain with impressive detail.

  “It’s called the Fountain of Joy. Now we must go up the Torre del Mangia,” he said, pointing to the tower attached to the medieval town hall. “You can’t beat the view from up there.”

  “How many stairs?” Rebecca asked, half-joking. It was hard to argue with his youthful enthusiasm. She was, however, a bit worried about Callie. Going up might not have the same effect as when they’d visited the catacombs, but those stairs would be narrow all the same. Callie shielded her eyes with her hand as she looked up the tower.

  “I’d say enough not to be worried about enjoying pasta and wine for the rest of the vacation. I’m up to it if Maggie is.”

  “That’s very good…because I already booked tickets for all of us,” Tomaso admitted. “Let’s go? We’ll have to wait anyway, because they allow only a certain number of people at the same time.”

  In the end, the waiting period was no longer than a half hour, and the long climb began. Tomaso took the lead, Dina and then Maggie followed him.

  “Are you sure?” Rebecca asked again. “This is your chance to turn around.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Callie insisted.

  “Okay. I’ll be watching you, don’t worry.”

  “You better watch your head in here. This was not built for tall people.”

  Rebecca laughed to herself, assured that they’d be fine after all, and very much deserving of the tasty Italian cuisine afterwards. There seemed to be no end to these stairs. She had stopped counting after two-hundred and began to understand while Tomaso hadn’t told them the whole truth.

  “Everyone still all right?” She felt the need to check in with the rest of her family.

  “Aside from the pain I’ll feel tomorrow?” Callie called back. “Sure. We’re not sharing the dessert this time.”

  “Agreed.” Rebecca sighed. More steps. She was beginning to doubt that this had been a good idea, especially given the fact they’d have to walk the same amount of stairs to get back down.

  Finally, they reached a level to step outside. Tomaso took pictures of Dina and Maggie with the huge bell in the background while everyone was catching their breath and taking in the view that was indeed amazing and worth the effort.

  “There are more stairs,” Maggie pointed out, having to raise her voice over the wind.

  “You don’t have to sound so excited about it,” Rebecca murmured, making Callie laugh. “We’re almost there. Can’t stop now, can we?”

  “Oh no. Nothing’s going to stop us now. Let’s do it.”

  * * * *

  After they had solid ground under their feet once more, minds still reeling with something a camera could never capture, they spent some more time on the Piazza, taking more pictures, spending more money on souvenirs and postcards.

  Callie didn’t have to wonder any longer why Valerie had fallen in love not only with Toni, the reluctant lover, but also her country. From the timeline she was able to piece together on the remaining letters she had found, Valerie had gone a few times by herself, even after she and Toni had broken up. She felt sad for her aunt, for the conversations they’d never had, but at the same time grateful. Not only was she lucky enough to have an environment that allowed her to be who she was, regardless of a few hopeless, mean-spirited people who would never see the light—she also got to share all of it with the person she loved. At home in Autumn Leaves, and during this trip that was shaping up to become so much more than they’d hoped.

  While she hadn’t understood half of what was spoken at the dinner table, Callie had a good sense for atmosphere. The DeLucas were comfortable. Whether they approved of Callie and Rebecca’s relationship or not, they hadn’t said anything, aware that it was simply none of their business. Callie was fine with that solution. She was also grateful that Rebecca and Dina had resolved the almost conflict.

  “Bianca is going to Florence with some friends on Sunday,” Tomaso said. “I wanted to ask permission for Dina to join us, and Mom asks if you’d like to come over to dinner again tomorrow night.”

  Nice try, Callie thought, amused. This was probably his way of getting a quick yes out of Rebecca for both questions, so she wouldn’t take too long to think about the implications of either one. Dinner was safe. Dina and Tomaso, unsupervised for a big part of the day, maybe not so much.

  “Dina could stay over if you allow it,” he ventured. “Maggie too. Angelica has been asking about you. She hopes to see you again soon.”

  Maggie’s face lit up, and it was clear Tomaso had made another ally regarding the weekend plans. “Really? Mom, can we go?”

  “I’d like to talk about that with your parents too.”
Rebecca winced, and Callie could imagine what she was thinking. With Tomaso as the translator, there wouldn’t be much opportunity to address any potentially awkward subjects.

  “You won’t have to worry, Mrs. Lowman. We’ll take the bus to Florence, and my parents will be in the house the whole weekend. Besides, there’s no way they’d let us sleep in the same room,” he finished with obvious regret. Dina offered a disarming smile.

  “Please tell your parents we’re grateful for the invitation, and that we’re happy to accept. All else, we’ll make sure when we get there?”

  “No problem,” Tomaso and Dina said in unison. Callie had the suspicion they were going to work on Maggie some more, until Rebecca couldn’t say no.

  She didn’t think that there was any harm in allowing the teens to go on a day trip, and Maggie have a sleepover with a new friend. It would also mean that she and Rebecca would have to find themselves something to do for that time. Oh well. That wouldn’t be too hard.

  They stayed behind for a coffee while Dina and Tomaso took Maggie on a stroll around the piazza while remaining within sight.

  “You’re probably not happy to let Maggie out of your sight for a whole day and night, even less so than the lovebirds.”

  Callie could tell from Rebecca’s rueful smile that she’d had the right idea.

  “I know things are creeping up every now and then. That’s okay. We’ll get through them.”

  “Yeah. You didn’t get dizzy when we walked up there,” Rebecca remarked.

  “No. I guess for me, up works better than down.” She’d been talking about underground tunnels versus bell towers, so there was no reason for her face to flush, or Rebecca to crack up.

  “Did you ever imagine this?” Callie asked.

  “Where my life is going in general, or this particular moment?” Rebecca shook her head. “Never. It’s not much better than anything I could have ever thought of.”