‘Well that’s kind of you.’ Nonna folded her hands in front of her.
‘Will that be all right with you? Obviously it means I’ll be busy for a few days.’
‘Of course it’s okay. Besides, I think I’m going to be a bit busy myself.’
‘You are?’ Sophia tilted her head. ‘Have you been crying?’
Her nonna raised a hand to her face and smoothed the puffy skin beneath her eyes. ‘A little bit. Well, a lot. I… spoke to your mother.’
‘Right…’
‘And told her.’
Sophia’s heart skipped a beat.
She covered her chest with her hands.
‘How did she take it?’
Nonna shook her head. ‘Not very well. I mean… how did I expect her to take it? I couldn’t leave it any longer. Now that you know, it was wrong that she didn’t, so I plucked up the courage this morning and phoned her first thing. I explained that you knew but only because you’d found the letter and that you’d asked me to tell her as soon as possible. So she doesn’t blame you at all, Sophia. She agreed that it was my secret to share and said that it was actually admirable that you didn’t divulge it to her before I had a chance.’ Nonna held out her hands and stared at them as if they belonged to a stranger. ‘She’s coming out here.’
‘Mum’s coming here? When?’
‘Tomorrow, I think. If she can get a flight.’
‘How was she?’
‘She seemed a bit relieved. As if something that hadn’t made sense for a long time suddenly became clear. So I hope she’ll be all right and that we’ll be able to find a way forward.’
‘Hey…’ Sophia took hold of her grandmother’s hands and squeezed them. ‘It will be fine. Mum loves you. I know you’ve had some disagreements over things but isn’t that natural between mother and daughter? And whatever you say, you are her mother, just like you’re my grandmother. We both love you so much.’
Nonna raised watery eyes to meet Sophia’s. ‘I hope you’re right, Sophia. I couldn’t bear it if she hated me. Although having said that, I don’t think she’s been my biggest fan for quite some time.’
Sophie opened her arms then and hugged her tight. ‘It will all be all right, I promise.’
But as she rubbed her grandmother’s bony back, she thought of how her mother must be feeling right now. Imagine finding out at fifty-three that your mother wasn’t your biological mother. It would be dreadful. The only consolation was that Sophia knew her nonna loved her mother and the fact that they were related – that Stella had known her real mother (even if it was as her aunt) – had to count for something. And Nonna had done what she’d done to help her sister out. She’d taken her sister’s baby and brought it up as her own. In Italy, and at a very different time. Sometimes people did things they thought for the best and it didn’t always turn out to be the case, but that didn’t make them bad people. Nonna had just tried to be a good sister and then a good mother.
Sophia had to hope that her promise to her nonna wouldn’t be broken when her mother did arrive.
*
Sophia checked her phone. It was just after one. She’d been torn about leaving but Nonna had insisted that Sophia go and help Phoebe out, so she’d left it until the last minute before hurrying back down to the office.
‘Thank you so much for coming! I am so grateful, Sophia.’ Phoebe got up from behind a desk and pushed her glasses up onto her head. ‘For some reason it’s been manic since I left you earlier. I’m afraid to leave the phone ringing in case it’s a potential customer or a wedding emergency.’
‘Where do you want me?’ Sophia shrugged out of her blue cardigan and folded it over her arm.
‘You can take that desk by the window.’
‘Lovely.’
‘I’ll make us a coffee then explain how everything works.’
Half an hour later, Sophia knew how to answer the phone with an appropriate Italian greeting. She already knew how to say in Italian that she didn’t speak much Italian, although Phoebe had reassured her that most of the phone calls would be from English speakers. She’d also shown Sophia how to enter information into the spreadsheets and given her a notebook and pen in case she got at all flustered. She must have noticed Sophia’s colour seeping from her face because then she’d said, ‘Just tell them I’ll call them back as soon as I can. Unless it’s an emergency, in which case I’ll call them back straight away.’
Phoebe was soon busy making calls herself and Sophia was doodling on the notepad, when her mobile buzzed in her bag. She took it out and checked the screen. It was Joe asking what she was doing, a smiley face appearing after the question mark. So she replied : I’m at the wedding planning office in town helping out. I’ll explain later.
Sophia was about to put her phone away when it buzzed again. It was her mother with details of her flight and arrival time at Verona airport. Sophia offered to head into Verona to meet her but she declined and said she’d catch the bus. After speaking to her nonna earlier, Sophia had sent a text message to her mother, but her reply had been that they’d talk face-to-face and not to worry, and Sophia hadn’t wanted to get into it right before going to help Phoebe out anyway.
‘Phew! That’s that sorted.’ Phoebe fanned her face as she put the phone down. ‘No one come through on your line yet then?’
‘Nope. Is there anything else you want me to do? I might not have any experience in this business but I’m a fast learner.’
‘You’re a lifesaver is what you are. Tell you what, why don’t you have a look through our online brochure and familiarise yourself with the packages we offer. You might enjoy that. It’s on the desktop.’
Phoebe came over to Sophia and pointed at a yellow file on the computer screen.
‘Okay, will do.’
‘I need to try to sort out a photographer for Saturday now. I don’t suppose you’re any good with a camera?’
‘Don’t know the first thing about them. Except for point and click.’
‘That might be the best we can do.’ Phoebe pulled her hair back into a ponytail. ‘God, I could use a glass of wine. Terrible, right?’
‘Not at all. This is pretty stressful for you. Any news on your business partner?’
‘Nothing yet. They’re running the tests this afternoon, then we’ll know more.’
‘I do hope it’s nothing serious.’
‘Me too.’
‘I found out earlier that my mother is coming over tomorrow.’
‘How lovely! So you’ll have three generations of Spinoli women together then?’
Sophia nodded.
‘And you look miserable about that because…’
‘Oh it’s just family stuff. Too much to go into now but it’s not going to be an easy visit.’
‘Then I can’t possibly expect you to help me out here.’
‘Yes you can. Please don’t send me away. If sparks start to fly, I do not want to be stuck in the house with them.’
Phoebe smiled. ‘But if you need to go, you go!’
‘Absolutely. And thanks.’
The door to the office swung open and a familiar blond head appeared.
‘Joe…’ Sophia stood up. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘Just came to see what you’re up to. I didn’t know until I read your text that you’d got yourself a job.’
Sophia glanced at Phoebe, who was currently appraising Joe.
‘Hmmm… hmmm.’ Phoebe cleared her throat.
‘Oh… Uh… Phoebe, this is Joe. Joe, this is Phoebe. I’m helping out for a few days while her business partner is off.’
‘Pleased to meet you.’ Joe shook Phoebe’s hand. ‘I don’t know, Sophia, I leave you alone for five minutes and you find employment.’
Sophia came around the desk and accepted a kiss on the cheek from Joe. His fresh citrus scent washed over her, and goose bumps rose on her skin as she caught that other heady aroma that was all him: warm, delicious male.
‘I hope your partner r
ecovers soon.’
‘Thank you. So do I,’ Phoebe replied. ‘Can I get you a coffee or anything?’
‘No thanks, I’m not stopping. I have to get back to work but I wanted to see if Sophia has plans tomorrow evening?’
Sophia thought of her mother and Nonna and being trapped between them. ‘Not that I can think of.’
‘Fancy heading into Verona with me in the afternoon, then catching the opera?’
Sophia looked at Phoebe. ‘I’ll be busy in the afternoon.’
‘No you won’t!’ Phoebe frowned. ‘If you can help me out until two-ish that’ll be fabulous. I’ll be fine then.’
‘I guess I’m free from two then.’
‘Great. We can look around the shops, grab a bite to eat, then I’ll take you to the amphitheatre to see Aida.’
‘Wonderful!’
‘Okay then.’ Joe tucked his hands in his pockets, then pulled them out again.
‘Okay then.’
Joe glanced at Phoebe, then at Sophia.
‘You want me to step outside for a moment?’ Phoebe grinned at them.
‘No, no…’ Joe’s eyebrows shot up his forehead. ‘Sophia, I’ll pick you up at your grandmother’s at two-thirty tomorrow?’
‘I’ll look forward to it.’
He leaned forwards and Sophia realized that he wanted to kiss her cheek again but they both went the same way and ended up bumping noses.
‘Ooops!’Joe said.
Sophia rubbed her nose. ‘Will you ever be able to come near me without giving me a bruise?’
‘Sorry,’ he said, colour rising in his cheeks.
‘I’m teasing.’ Sophia said. She put her hand on his shoulder and rose up on her tiptoes, then kissed his cheek. He slid his hand around her waist and she felt its heat through her linen top. Her whole body was suddenly tense and tingling.
‘I’m already looking forward to tomorrow,’ Joe whispered, then he released her and went to the door. ‘Thanks, Phoebe. No doubt we’ll meet again.’
‘I’m sure we will.’
When the door closed behind Joe, Sophia turned to Phoebe to find her grinning broadly.
‘Who was that?’
‘That’s Joe.’
‘I know his name, silly. What I meant was WHO is that! And… phwoar! How’d you meet him?’
‘He’s the man who knocked me over at the airport.’
‘It looks like there’s something going on between you for sure.’
‘Does it?’
‘He just came here to ask you to the opera. And he wants to take you shopping. No man offers to do that unless he likes you – a lot!’
Sophia went back to her desk and sat in the comfortable chair. ‘I don’t know if he does. I don’t really know that much about him other than his uncle owns one of the hotels here and he’s very nice and sweet and… accident prone.’
And I tingle all over whenever he touches me.
‘And evidently has eyes only for you.’
‘I do like him but I’m not looking for a relationship, you know?’
‘I know. But it won’t hurt you to enjoy his company either. Hell, if I wasn’t happily married, I’d be delighted to go to the opera with Chris Hemsworth’s double.’
‘Who’s Chris Hemsworth?’
‘You really don’t get out much, do you?’
‘I didn’t, no. And talking of going out, what the hell am I going to wear to the opera?’
‘Now that is something I can help you with.’
And just then, the phone started to ring, so Sophia was dragged from musing about whether or not Joe liked her and what she’d wear to the opera, and instead she became immersed in guiding a bride-to-be through the online wedding brochure and enjoying helping the excited young woman to consider her options for her summer wedding.
*
As Sophia went to bed that night, she had a whole range of emotions whizzing around inside her. On one hand, she was apprehensive about her mother’s arrival and what that would mean for her nonna and their family life, and on the other she was excited about going to Verona with Joe. But also a teeny bit nervous. After all, what did she know about opera? She’d done a quick bit of research about Verona that afternoon on Phoebe’s computer, so she knew what places she could suggest they visit, and what to expect in terms of where was good to eat and shop, but she’d never seen an opera. Some of her colleagues in London had gone from time to time, but on a few occasions when Sophia had agreed to go, something had come up at work and she’d ended up working late and missing out. Come to think of it, she’d missed out on a lot because of her commitment to work.
The next morning, she felt less anxious and she wasn’t due at the office until eleven, which meant that she had some time to take a nice shower and perhaps put a face pack on, then she could spend some time with Nonna. Her mother’s flight would land late morning but as she’d insisted on finding her own way to Malcesine, Sophia wouldn’t see her until she popped back after work to change.
In the kitchen, Nonna was banging pots and pans and making quite a mess.
‘Nonna, what are you doing?’
‘I need to clean up, Sophia, your mother will think it’s a pigsty here.’
‘No she won’t. It’s clean and tidy, Grandma.’
‘No! No! Stella was always a fussy one for a tidy house and I don’t want her to think I’ve let things go.’
‘But you haven’t.’
‘But what if she thinks I have?’
‘Nonna, please.’ Sophia enveloped her in a hug and squeezed her tight. ‘You don’t need to do this. Mum is coming to see you, to talk to you and to try to understand what happened all those years ago. She doesn’t care about what cupboard your plates are in or whether there’s a speck of dust on the dresser.’
Sophia hoped that wouldn’t be her mother’s priority anyway.
‘Where is the dust?’ Nonna’s eyes darted around the kitchen.
‘There’s no dust. I was just giving you an example. It’s spotless here. Lovely and homely and it always smells so good.’
‘Really?’
‘Yes. It smells like garlic and cakes and bread and lavender and… well… it smells like home.’
‘You are sure?’
‘I am absolutely one hundred per cent sure. Now, let’s sit down and have a coffee. You’re stressing me out and it’s not even seven o’clock.’
Sophia made the older woman take a seat at the table, then she poured coffee and handed her a cup. She helped herself to a crusty roll that she smothered in butter and jam and when she sat down, she sighed. It was going to be a busy day but right here in this moment, the kitchen was warm with the heat from the oven and the early morning sunrays that streamed across the tiled floor, the coffee was hot and strong, and the delicious aroma of freshly baked rolls was making her belly grumble.
It wasn’t going to be an easy day for Nonna or for her mum, but it was time to clear the air, set the record straight and to move forwards. Granted, the future might look slightly different than it had six weeks ago, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
*
‘Good morning, Sophia!’ Phoebe waved at Sophia as she entered the office. ‘You’re looking very well today.’
‘Thank you.’ Sophia smiled. She knew that the swelling of her lip had gone right down now and that she’d done a good job of covering the fading bruise on her forehead with concealer. She’d paired her black linen trousers with a sheer white blouse over a camisole and popped on her Chloé sandals to come to work, but aimed to change into something dressy later on – before she left for Verona with Joe.
‘Is that excitement in your eyes?’
‘Partly, but I’m also a bit nervous. My mother flies in today and I’m not sure how things will go with her and Grandma.’
Phoebe nodded. ‘I’m sure it will be fine. Families go through all sorts of ups and downs but, at the end of the day, if you love someone, then you do your damnedest to work things out.’
> ‘They’ve always had a difficult relationship because my nonna didn’t want Mum to marry Dad. It created a lot of tension between them, which was only made worse by my parents’ decision to move to the UK. And now… with this latest crisis, I’m not sure what that’s going to do to them.’
Phoebe got up and came around from behind her desk. ‘I’m sure that they’ll find a way forwards.’
‘I hope so.’
‘Well I’m here any time you want to chat. Now… how about I put the kettle on and you can tell me how you’re feeling about your date.’
‘Okay.’ Thinking about Joe always made her feel better.
Phoebe held up two boxes of herbal tea. ‘Mint or raspberry?’
‘Mint please.’
‘You must be excited! Who knows where this could lead?’
‘I am excited but I don’t think it will lead anywhere. We’ve agreed to keep things casual.’
Phoebe laughed as she poured boiling water over the teabags, then shook her head. ‘You’re so funny, Sophia. A sexy man has the hots for you and you’re still downplaying it.’
Just then the phone at Sophia’s desk started ringing, so she answered it, turning her back on Phoebe for a moment so her new friend couldn’t see the smile that was brightening her own face.
*
‘Are you absolutely sure that it suits me? It’s not too much?’ Sophia asked Phoebe for the hundredth time.
‘I promise you, hand on heart, that it is just perfect.’
They strolled arm in arm along the street. Phoebe had closed the office at one-thirty so she could take Sophia to a little boutique that she said would have appropriate outfits for the opera. It had been like a cave of treasures in there with clothing from the past five decades, along with discounted designer labels and one-off garments designed by the owner’s seamstress wife. Phoebe had encouraged Sophia to let her usual inhibitions go and the resulting outfit had surprised her. As the trip to Verona would involve some walking and the day was already quite warm, Sophia had accepted the shopkeeper’s advice about layering, comfort and style.
She held the bag holding her new clothes tight, along with another one holding a pair of shoes that Phoebe had insisted were just perfect to accompany the outfit. She really was starting to get into this shopping for pleasure lark. Once the sale of the apartment went through, she’d have to be careful she didn’t spend all the profits on more clothes.
Love at the Italian Lake Page 14
