The Sunnyvale Girls

by Fiona Palmer

  ‘Mum, Rocco married very late in life, didn’t he? Was he still nursing a broken heart, do you think? Why didn’t he go back to Maggie?’ Flick spoke slowly, trying to pin down her thoughts as they raced around her head.

  ‘I don’t know, love. I’m asking myself the same things.’ Toni leant forward. ‘I guess we just have to wait until we get home and see him.’

  ‘What do you think Nan will make of all this? Do you imagine she’ll want to meet him?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Toni said again. ‘It was a long time ago and they have separate lives now.’

  They fell back to their own thoughts and Stefano remained politely quiet. Flick studied every detail of him, from his long fingers gripping the wheel to his lean forearms.

  ‘Stefano, we really can’t thank you enough for what you have done for us. How can we make it up to you?’ she asked, shooting him a special smile.

  ‘Your company has been plenty. I am very lucky. To see such a reunion is amazing.’

  Flick couldn’t see his eyes behind his sunglasses but his lips curled into a grin, and for a second she imagined what it would be like to kiss him. He moved one hand from the wheel, resting it on his leg, fingers splayed, taunting her. She clutched hers tightly in her lap. She had only just broken up with Chad, had her heart crushed yet again, and yet now here she was, thinking of another guy. A guy who lived in Italy? Flick, the girl who made bad choices and had bad timing.

  Toni spoke up. ‘You must let us repay you somehow. Maybe dinner on us?’

  ‘No, no. Maybe I come to Australia one day and you can be tour guide.’

  ‘You should come work for us over harvest. It’s a great way to see Australia and get some cash at the same time. We have lots of overseas backpackers who do it,’ said Flick.

  ‘What is it you do for harvest?’ he asked.

  Toni went into great detail of the workings at harvest time. Long hot days in the header, right down to how the machine worked to cut off the heads of wheat.

  ‘But there is always a cold beer at the end of the day. You could be a great header driver for us,’ she added. He was confident behind the wheel.

  ‘It seems like a dream.’

  ‘Well, this seemed like a dream to me too, and yet here we are in Italy!’ said Toni.

  When they arrived back in Montone, Stefano insisted that they have late lunch with him at the restaurant, as it was only two o’clock. They’d spent over four hours with Francesca, yet time had just flown.

  Sofia was cleaning down the last table when they walked in. Flick could see the relief in her eyes that Stefano had returned, but didn’t seem so pleased when he seated them at a table.

  ‘Stay, relax. I’ll go make us my favourite pasta,’ he said and headed for the kitchen area. Sofia followed him, talking loudly as they both disappeared behind doors.

  ‘She seems friendly,’ said Toni.

  Flick didn’t miss the sarcasm. ‘I know. Don’t think she likes us.’ By ‘us’ she meant herself, but it felt better to include her mum. ‘I wonder what her story is.’

  ‘Have you asked Stefano?’

  Flick pretended to read the wine list. ‘What’s the point? We’re not here for long.’ She was unsettled by her own words. Why couldn’t she just be normal and find normal men?

  ‘Just because you live in different countries doesn’t mean you can’t have a new friend – or more, if it ever came to that. Don’t be too dismissive,’ whispered Toni.

  ‘Maybe you should listen to your own advice,’ Flick shot back, one eyebrow raised.

  When Stefano reappeared ten minutes later, he was carrying three plates of pasta. It looked simple but the truffles made it taste amazing.

  ‘Wow, truffles just for us?’ said Toni.

  Stefano shrugged. ‘I find them myself with our dogs.’

  ‘I guess it’s no different to us catching fresh yabbies,’ said Toni. ‘People pay a lot for them in the city.’

  They all tucked in, stomachs hungry, no one talking. It had been such a long morning. Flick had only a few strands of pasta left when Toni broke the silence.

  ‘Is Sofia your sister?’

  Flick nearly choked and reached for her water while trying to stop her eyes from smarting. She would throttle her mum later, but right now her ears were straining for his reply.

  ‘Um, no. She is a good friend who has worked here with us for years. She’s actually my older sister Martina’s best friend.’

  ‘Is your sister here?’ Toni persisted.

  ‘No. Martina lives in Roma with her boyfriend.’

  Flick cleared her throat, finally able to breathe properly again.

  ‘Lucky girl.’

  ‘I don’t think so. Roma is very busy. Are you planning to go?’

  ‘Yes, we fly out from Rome. We take our car back to Arezzo then catch the train to Rome,’ explained Flick.

  Stefano sighed, a sad smile on his face. ‘I will be sad to see you go.’

  ‘We thought about going to see Pietralunga this afternoon. I read there is an ancient castle there,’ said Flick, not wanting to think of their departure yet.

  Putting down his fork, he nodded. ‘Yes, the fortress. It is from the Lombard period, around the eighth century.’

  ‘Did you want to come with us?’ she asked hopefully.

  Already he was shaking his head. ‘I am needed here now but come find me after. We could go for a walk at night, the lights are very pretty.’

  ‘Sure, sounds great.’ Flick was leaning closer, lost in his words, his smile and the deep, dark pools of his eyes. She’d totally forgotten her mum was sitting with them until Toni spoke.

  ‘Well, that was delicious. Thank you once again, Stefano. You are a wonderful cook.’ She excused herself for the bathroom.

  Flick had hardly moved her gaze from Stefano’s face. A strange gravity was holding her to him. Everything about him held her fascination. His long eyelashes, his lips and his smile.

  He reached for Toni’s plate and went to grab hers. ‘It’s okay, I’ll bring it,’ she said, helping him clean up. Inside the kitchen area she put the plate down and waved to Massimo. ‘Grazie,’ she called to him before turning to Stefano. ‘Thanks again. I’ll see you later.’

  He nodded, his eyes intense. ‘You come find me when you get back.’

  On the way back from Pietralunga they stopped by the edge of the road to take a photo of Montone up on the hill in front of them. Such a majestic sight, straight from a story book.

  Pietralunga had been lovely. They’d sat outside a shop enjoying another amazing coffee and pastry, checked out the local shops, seen the fortress. But when they got back to their car they found a parking ticket on their windscreen. That was universal at least.

  ‘Can’t say our trip has been boring,’ said Toni with a chuckle as they headed back to Montone.

  ‘No, not at all. I’m having the best time. I guess I do miss home, but I can see why you really wanted me to travel.’

  Toni smiled but it wasn’t an ‘I told you so’ one. Instead it was sincere and relieved. ‘All I ever wanted was to show you was that there were more things in life than the farm. You can still go back, but I just wanted you to know you had options. I never had that.’

  ‘I know, Mum. And I’m grateful. I really am. Are you having fun?’

  ‘Yes, of course!’ Toni stared out her window. ‘I mean, finding Rocco is surreal, and meeting Francesca . . . I don’t really know if I’m processing it properly yet, but I’m certainly enjoying the travelling. I’m just starting to realise that this was once all I ever wanted but now, many years later, my dreams have changed. Now I see how much the farm means to me and how much I appreciate it. I miss the landscape, the work and even the bloody sheep. Somewhere over the years, I’ve changed. I used to think I was forced back onto the farm but now I think fate knew it was for me all along.’

  For the first time in a long time, the smile Toni gave Flick seemed liberated. Her face lost its harshness, and instead r
adiated contentment and self-awareness.

  ‘Well, I’ve always known that you belong on the land, Mum. I could have told you that!’

  Flick parked the car outside the village wall while her mum nudged her playfully on the arm.

  ‘Well, if you’re so wise, then tell me what I should do about Jimmy?’

  ‘You don’t need me for that, Mum. You already know in your heart what you want; you just have to let yourself be happy. I know it’s been hard finding out about Rocco, but Jimmy will always be there for you. So will I and so will Nan.’

  Maggie’s face appeared in her mind and Toni realised how much she was missing her mum. Her whole life they’d worked side by side, living together and helping each other. It’s why the lie had been such a shock and why she’d felt so betrayed. But she still loved her dearly, and life wasn’t the same without her nearby.

  ‘Are you going to meet up with Stefano later?’ Toni asked as they headed to their building.

  ‘Do you think I should?

  ‘Would you like to?’

  Flick didn’t hesitate. ‘Yes.’ She sighed. ‘But . . . what if it’s too soon after Chad?’

  ‘Are you happy? Does it feel right? Have you really been missing Chad?’ Toni asked seriously.

  ‘Yes, yes and no.’ Flick frowned. ‘Does that make me an awful person?’

  ‘Of course not! Don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re not marry­ing him. You’re young – and you’re in Italy! Go and live it up.’

  ‘I will if you will,’ Flick said with a chuckle. She never thought she’d see the day when they were giving each other dating advice.

  For dinner, they tried another restaurant, called Erba Luna. It was set in the walls of Montone, which had once been ancient stables. It was gorgeous, with rock walls mixed with bricks, and high ceilings that arched up above them like in a chapel. The glow of the lighting off the rock wall was romantic and soft.

  ‘I’m loving all this fancy eating out,’ said Toni. They opted for a set menu, which started with a traditional sharing platter of fresh duck, porcini mushrooms and locally sourced truffles, all presented so beautifully. Next came three types of pasta, followed by steak sliced and spiced on a bed of rocket and paired with a red wine, which their chef, Claudio, chose to complement the meal. They finished with crepes filled with ice-cream alongside crushed-almond and marzipan pyramids.

  ‘Just a little bit more exciting than the pub and club, hey? I’m not knocking pie and sauce or chips but it’s nice to branch out,’ said Flick as she scraped her dessert plate clean.

  On their way home they walked back through the Piazza Fortebraccio, and Flick didn’t have to wait long for Stefano to finish up. When he joined them, Toni said goodnight and pressed the door key into Flick’s hand.

  ‘Come this way,’ said Stefano, reaching for her hand. ‘It is a good place to see the lights of Umbertide.’

  His hand entwined with hers, he led her to a lookout with a bench seat, the sounds of the night echoing around them.

  ‘Do you bring all the Aussie tourists here?’ she asked curiously.

  Stefano looked at her seriously. ‘No, but I have never met someone like you before.’

  ‘Sure,’ said Flick, a little embarrassed.

  ‘It’s true. I don’t normally give up my work to help out tourists. But your smile and laugh is beautiful.’ His eyes dropped to her lips and moved back to her eyes before he faced the lights of Umbertide.

  Flick wasn’t sure what was more enticing: the lights or Stefano’s profile.

  ‘Shall we sit?’ He gestured to the bench seat.

  Flick sat close to Stefano, wanting to feel his warmth as the night air cooled.

  ‘It’s so pretty. We don’t get any lights at home, except at seeding time when I’m up on the hill and I can see all the other tractor lights all around me, like ground-level stars. It’s long hours but I love it. Freshly turned earth is one of my favourite smells. In the morning, real early, it just makes all your senses come alive.’

  ‘I love hearing you talk about your farm. It sounds amazing.’

  ‘It is. It’s nothing like here, but in its own raw natural way it’s heaven.’

  Stefano put his arm along the back of the chair and Flick found herself almost snuggling into his shoulder.

  ‘I really miss my boys, though. I’ve never been gone from them so long before.’

  ‘Boys?’

  His worried tone made Flick laugh. ‘Yes, Fella is my dog and Contractor is my horse. They’re my boys.’

  ‘Ah, I see.’

  By the light of the nearby lamp she could see his relieved smile. He watched her carefully as she went into detail about her pets – how she had trained Fella, and how Contractor was clever and cheeky.

  ‘I had a little dog, Goose. We went everywhere together,’ he said. ‘He was my best truffle-finding dog.’

  ‘Goose?’

  Stefano laughed. ‘From that movie, Top Gun?’

  ‘I loved that movie. What happened to Goose?’

  ‘He died of old age.’

  ‘Aw, but I’m sure he had a good life.’ Flick reached for his hand. She didn’t even think about it, didn’t second-guess it. Touching Stefano just seemed right.

  He moved his thumb across her hand in gentle strokes. She was so lost in the moment and was surprised when his other arm encircled her properly. And that’s how they stayed for the next three hours while they talked about their lives. It was only when she shivered that he suggested it was time go home.

  Flick was stiff with the cold when she tried to stand. Being beside Stefano and lost in their conversation, she hadn’t registered the weather or time. She decided it must be close to midnight.

  A true gentleman, he walked her back to her door, their bodies close together, hands still tangled.

  Montone was quiet. Even their breathing seemed loud, so they whispered as they walked. They stopped at her door, and Flick struggled to see his face in the darkness. Stefano bent down and whispered some Italian words in her ear.

  His words sent electric pulses throughout her body. ‘What did that mean? Actually, you still haven’t told me what you said last time.’ They were toe to toe, so close she could feel his heat.

  ‘I said you had a beautiful smile.’

  ‘Really? Thanks.’

  ‘I just speak the truth.’

  All Flick could think about was how close his lips were. ‘And what did you just say then?’

  ‘You want to know?’

  She nodded as his hand rested on her shoulder. Slowly it moved upwards until he was caressing her face.

  ‘I said, “Can I kiss you?”’

  Thud, thud, thud, went her heart. ‘Yes,’ she squeaked. She had hardly finished getting her word out when his lips found hers. It was soft, sweet, and as thrilling as racing Contractor flat out across the paddock.

  All too soon, Stefano pulled away. ‘It is time for me to go. Thank you for a wonderful night, Felicity. I’ll see you tomorrow, si?’

  ‘Si,’ she croaked.

  ‘Buonanotte, Felicity.’ Their hands broke apart and he sauntered away, leaving her alone, touching her lips in the narrow street by their door. A sweet, perfect kiss.

  Fishing out the key from her pocket, she tried to open the door in the dark. With her body still buzzing and her mind still on the kiss it took several minutes for her to finally get inside.

  ‘Have a good night?’ came her mum’s voice from her room.

  Flick smiled. Toni was such a light sleeper, and she always made sure her daughter was home safe and sound.

  ‘It was, Mum. Night.’

  Flick climbed the stairs to her room and instead of going straight to bed she opened her window, sat on the sill and watched the twinkling lights of Umbertide, while her mind relived the best night of her life.

  27

  MAGGIE stood in her vegie garden as the sun rose, staring across the land between the swaying gum tree branches. She kept expecting to see Flick come
riding along on Contractor, or Toni whizzing past in the ute. But it was unusually quiet and had been the five days since they left. Did she regret not going with them? She wasn’t sure. Part of her longed to find Rocco and ask him the questions burning inside, some that had been lingering since he left.

  But Italy was a long way from home, from everything she knew, and if she was being honest with herself, she was afraid. Afraid of finding him and afraid of not finding him. There were too many variables, and she wasn’t sure if her old ticker was up to all that. Staying on Sunnyvale with Jimmy had seemed like the safest option, even if she missed her girls madly. With a bit of luck, Toni and Flick would be enjoying their time together, and hopefully they had found some information. Had they already found Rocco? Her pulse started to race and tingles shimmered across her body at just the thought of the possibilities.

  With one international call she could ask them, but she’d decided she wouldn’t want to hear bad news over the phone. It hadn’t stopped her stalking past it every day or looking at Italy on the map Flick had left her with their itinerary.

  ‘There you are, Maggie.’ Jimmy stepped over the fence and came into the vegie garden, leaving Gypsy on the other side. ‘Thinking of the girls?’

  Maggie turned to the strapping man and smiled. ‘Yes. It’s only been five days but it feels like a month. It’s not the same without them, is it?’

  Jimmy scratched at the stubble on his chin. ‘No.’ He cleared his throat.

  Maggie studied his profile. He was looking a little worse for wear – had done since Toni had left. She wasn’t sure what had transpired between them but it had certainly upset him. He’d been working himself to the bone ever since. ‘You look like a dog’s breakfast, Jimmy. Why don’t you come and have a cuppa with me? I have some caramel slice. You look like you could do with a break.’ She put her hand on his shoulder and gave him a gentle squeeze. If she’d ever had a son, she would have liked him to be a lot like Jimmy.

  The weariness she saw in his jade eyes cleared for the moment as he grinned. ‘Sure, when can I ever say no to you?’ He winked, tucked her hand into his arm and escorted her back to the house.