by Karen Aldous
Bella picked it up from the dresser and swiped it. ‘Ciao, Alberto, Bella here. Congratulations – Olivia has just told us.’ She grinned at Olivia. ‘Yes, I’ll pass you over. Ciao.’
The room fell silent as she spoke.
‘Alberto, Ciao,’ Olivia said. ‘Exciting. I’m organizing things with my new-found family. We are all together, except Landi’s wife and children, and we have formulated a plan.’
‘Yes, I’m there now. Yes, Bella and Landi.’
‘No, I came in Hugh’s car with Hugh.’
‘Hugh offered.’
‘I’m not hiding anything. Hugh is Hugh. He helps.’
‘Staying at my, er, Mamma’s. Yes.’ Olivia pulled a face. ‘Nothing. Alberto, I …’
‘We are friends, nothing more. I do, he’s been very helpful, and kind.’
Olivia sat up, her brows creased. ‘I’m sure it will be OK. Yes, drive up now. See you in a few hours. Ciao.’
‘Alberto is on his way. He wants to spend the day with me tomorrow, before I return to England. Is that OK, Mum?’
‘Of course. And call me Mamma – everyone else does. You have an Italian family now. You will have to wait up for Alberto though. I don’t think we will be awake then.’
She glanced at Hugh. ‘I’m afraid you’ll be driving back alone tomorrow.’
‘No worries. I think I’ll catch up on some sleep now. I’ll no doubt catch up with you at some time, yeah?’
She gave him a hug. ‘Yes, of course. I’ll send you a wedding invite. Text me your address. I’ll text you mine too. If you’re in London, pop in. And thanks again, for everything.’
Chapter 32
Olivia learned from Bella that Hugh had already left when she and Alberto arrived in the dining room at seven the next morning. Roz was in good spirits though, singing as she brought them both coffee. Giovanni was out on the campsite, collecting rubbish from the few occupied cabins, Bella was feeding Rosa warm milk from a bottle, and Landi was drawing plans for the villa on a pad.
Seeing Alberto, he stood and held out a hand. ‘Congratulations on your engagement,’ he said. ‘And apologies for my bad manners, the other day.’
‘I was as bad. I must apologize too.’
‘We’re really glad to have Olivia in our lives. You look after her, yeah.’
Alberto nodded. ‘I will. I can’t wait.’
‘Right, we have to go,’ Olivia said, giving them all a hug.
After saying goodbye to her family, Olivia and Alberto set off in the car and along the lakeside road. It was a clear crisp sky with just a few fluffy white clouds high above the mountains and below. Hues of turquoise stretched for miles. Olivia relayed the previous day’s events to Alberto en route, but it wasn’t long before they came to the centre of the town Olivia had clearly blindly driven through a few days before. After passing a block of buildings, Alberto turned off along a narrow road, heading directly towards the lake.
Turning the car into a parking space, he turned off the engine and took her hand.
‘So, you didn’t mind did you? I thought I’d take the day off and spend some time with you. Come, bring your coat; we’ll get the boat across the lake and have coffee in Limone, then after a walk, we will return here for lunch.’
Olivia squeezed his hand and said, ‘Exciting. As long as we’re not too late back. I’ve got things to do. I’ve an appointment at the solicitor’s at five, and I’ve yet to tidy and pack before my flight tomorrow. I don’t think the plane will wait for me.’
‘Then I get you another flight. I can’t bear for you to be away from me.’
‘Alberto, Chiara has been very understanding these last few weeks. I would never abuse her kindness. I have to go back to work.’
‘Of course, mio piccola angelo. I’ll take you home early. Don’t worry.’
Prettier than the one she had stopped at previously, the harbour was filled with colourful buildings contrasting with the white of the small moored yachts and boats. Alberto took her into a small office and within minutes they were outside again following a man called Dino along the jetty to a motorboat. Alberto helped her step on to the almost-new cruiser and they sat together on a curved bench at the stern. Dino started the engine, and Olivia felt Alberto’s arm clutching her shoulders tight.
‘I will miss you so much,’ he said.
‘I am going to miss you too,’ she told him, ‘but I’ll speak to Chiara and see what I can work out to return. We have to sort out a new member of staff anyway. Meanwhile, we will have to snatch some weekends in London or Florence. She gazed at his sad eyes. ‘I love you. We can make this work; I know we can.’
‘And, your friend, will you see him in England?’
Olivia stopped smiling and leaned back against his shoulder. Why did Alberto do this? Why did he spoil the mood by tormenting himself and jarring their relationship? It also meant she was reluctant to tell him her plans for Nonna’s antiques and furniture. But why should she feel uncomfortable when she had done nothing wrong; it was just a kiss. Now forgotten, sort of.
‘He won’t be in England. I believe he’s out here for several more weeks. Stop tormenting yourself. It’s not becoming.’
‘You are right. I am spoiling the day with you. I … Let’s talk about the wedding. Where shall we get married and when? I think early spring and I think the Castle Vincigliata. It is beautiful medieval castle. Either that or the Villa La Vedetta, which has the terrace overlooking Florence. Ha! I don’t even know your birthday. When is it?’
Scrunching her nose, she said playfully, ‘Not spring. January eighteenth. Apparently, YMCA was number one. That’s according to my gran. What about June? The days are longer, and what about Tusc …’
‘Magnifico, June at the Castle Vincigliata. First week? I will call them.’
‘Well, I’d like to see the venue before we commit. I love the Tuscan hills and vineyards so if it has the right setting, we’ll go with it. When is your birthday?’
‘Fourth of June.’
‘Oh, how funny. I must be psychic or something. So fourth of June it is, subject to venue, and of course availability.’
‘Olivia, you are just perfect in every way. My parents and family adored you. I don’t know if I can wait until June.’
‘Alberto, please. Nobody is perfect. And June will give you plenty of time to get to know me. I can assure you, you will have changed your mind by then.’
‘Never,’ he said. ‘I knew you were the one, when we were on that flight.’
After coffee overlooking the lake and Monte Baldo they strolled out to explore the ancient lemon groves before returning to the boat and travelling back across the lake. Feeling the cool autumnal breeze slice through her hair, Olivia marvelled at the lake’s beauty. It was the perfect destination for a romantic break and she vowed to return. She had thought as much when she was nearby with Hugh. Her impression of the lake improved with each town she visited, and at every turn, there was a stunning postcard view waiting to be snapped and added to a magical scenery file.
In all the years she had visited Nonna, they had rarely left the farm and Alberto seemed to know Italy like the back of his hand.
Malcesine was buzzing by the time they stepped off the boat mid-morning, and Olivia found the walk around the narrow winding streets hand in hand enchanting. To be in love and to be loved for the first time in her life was truly amazing. She thought back to her nonna and nonno’s photographs and how just picking up those few images had made such a momentous impact on her decisions and such a difference to her circumstances.
It then occurred to her that she should have some photos of Alberto to take back home with her. And, now her nonna was gone and she had discovered her new family, shouldn’t she begin creating memories for her own family album? She hadn’t even taken any of her brother and sister, nor of their engagement celebrations at Alberto’s parents’. She couldn’t recapture them now; it was too late.
Get
ting out her phone, and peering around at the background scenes she said to Alberto, ‘Come and stand here. I want to take a selfie of us together. In fact, we’ll take a few.’ From this, came a new game. As they wandered around the tiny cobbled backstreets or past a church, each time either of them spotted an interesting or scenic backdrop, they took a selfie or, better, asked a passer-by.
‘I can’t believe we overlooked photos at our family celebrations,’ Alberto said. ‘Though I’m sure my mother took a few.’
‘I know, we were so caught up in the moment. Out on the lake too. Well, I think we should make much more of an effort. If it wasn’t for Nonna’s photographs, I would never have finished with Will, which means I would never have been free to fall in love.’ She paused for a few seconds. ‘Come to think of it, neither would I have found my brother and sister.’
‘And more reasons call for another celebration,’ Alberto insisted. ‘Soon we will stop. I will find a nice table on the harbour. We’ll take some more.’
Strolling hand in hand back to the pretty harbour in the mid-day sun, Olivia gathered her hair with her free hand, pulling it to the side. Considering it was almost winter, it was warm. But she was irritable too, wishing she had thought to take photos of her brother and sister and their families. Not that any of her friends would disbelieve her, but for herself to browse at her leisure and, of course, for her own family album. She needed that reminder.
It was gradually sinking in. She pinched herself. She had a family of her own. It was so surreal and excited her more than the wedding if she was honest. Not just grandparents who were now dead, or a mother somewhere in Italy. She was now like Chiara. Chiara always had her mamma, papa, her sisters. How she’d envied her that, though would never have begrudged her. Chiara was her rock, the most stable influence and someone of her own age to share things with, but Chiara had always belonged to someone else.
Alberto belonged and she would too. His large family was always there for him, a base, somewhere to always call home, consisting of lots of people who loved and cared for him as well as supported him. To think she’d not dared to love another, in case they abandoned her. It was amazing that that particular photo of her Italian grandparents could have such an almighty influence.
***
They arrived back in Florence with just five minutes to spare before Olivia’s appointment time with Nonna’s avvocato.
‘I’ll walk back to yours,’ she told Alberto as he dropped her outside the city.
After a twenty-minute wait in a plush reception, Signorina Sagese, a female lawyer about her own age, in a plain black dress and mules, dark hair tied back, came to reception to greet her. Leading Olivia to her office, she explained she was now one of the partners and would be replacing Signor Colombo. He was apparently retiring in three months and to unload him gradually, she would be taking over the transfer.
‘So has the property already been transferred to my name?’
Signorina Sagese pointed to a chair and sat behind a modern glass desk, and began reading the file. She then hit her computer mouse and, Oliva could see, some software system with lists and notes.
The avvocato then informed her, ‘From the information I have here, we are waiting for the total valuations of assets. We have the business and property, letters from the bank with details of finance and insurance, savings. The only item outstanding is the personal possessions. Car, jewellery, art, furniture, and anything to add to the value of the estate. Once we have them, we can proceed with the transfer.’
Embarrassed, Olivia tapped her forehead. ‘I forgot to organize those, but OK, so at the moment, the beneficiary is still Rosalba Montague: my mother?’
‘Yes. The instruction by your mother, the benefactor, is for the entire estate to be transferred to your name.’
‘OK, so this is what I want to do,’ Olivia said continuing to explain.
Chapter 33
Satisfied that the solicitor had the instructions and was now dealing with the process, Olivia found the nearest coffee shop and rang her mother with the news. Olivia then called Hugh before strolling over to Alberto’s apartment.
These should have been organized two weeks ago. Had she listed everything from the lawyer’s correspondence correctly, she would have been on top of things. At the beep, she left him a message on his voicemail.
‘Hi, Hugh, it’s Liv. Sorry I missed you again. I know I only saw you yesterday but I’ve messed up and I do need your help again. I wondered if you could organize the valuations on Nonna’s furniture and ornaments et cetera. My lawyer needs them urgently to settle Nonna’s estate. As I won’t be here, would it be OK to give you a key so that you can manage them at your convenience? I will also need to leave you the money too. Is there any chance I could get a key to you tomorrow morning? Or, cheeky I know, but I’m here until eleven if you could come along in the morning. Failing that, I could leave you a key with Gabriella, the manager here. That’s if you can do it. Look forward to hearing from you. Best wishes, Liv xx’
Hugh still hadn’t rung back the following morning. With just a few hours to spare before her flight, Olivia gave Alberto a final kiss goodbye before she took her bag from the boot of his car the following morning when he dropped her back at the villa.
‘We’ll be together soon,’ Alberto told her, ‘just a few weeks.’
‘Yes, I’m going to miss you,’ she said, holding him tight and savouring the moments until they would see one another again. They’d spent their last night together having a light meal out in Florence and returning to Alberto’s home and bed, to make the most of their time together.
Back at Nonna’s she whizzed around the house, emptying bins, tidying, cleaning, cleaning out fridge, keeping her phone in her jeans pocket, still waiting to hear back from Hugh. She had no idea what she would do if he wasn’t able to help. It troubled her that he hadn’t returned her call but figured he would have a good reason. He was driving, had an appointment, gone to view an item?
Perhaps he was feeling used and she couldn’t blame him. Perhaps announcing her engagement to Alberto had affected him far more than she’d imagined. Perhaps he had fallen for her. Had she been cruel to tell him about Alberto and then show off the ring to him? That would now play on her mind. And leaving him last night, it was clear they cared for one another. Did he care more? That one kiss at the hotel revealed so much, not just from Hugh, but for her too. It was a powerful jolt.
Yes, there’d been chemistry and flirting, virtually since day one, but when the magnetism of his lips pulled her and she gave in to the temptation to have just a taste, she hadn’t prepared herself for the impact. His kiss was so passionately hungry, it was instantly highly erotic. As soon as she’d come down, alarm bells had rung in her head. If she didn’t stop it immediately, there would be no return. And now, he may never return. He was certainly on her wavelength. She would miss him.
Without realizing, thinking of a wounded Hugh, she had scrubbed one side of the fireplace over and over and the stonework now looked lopsidedly dull. She worked the other side in an attempt to match it up, but ten minutes was enough and why hadn’t he rung? When the house was, to some degree, clean and sparkling again, she jumped in the shower. Once dressed, she began packing. She was making good time and was just squeezing a pair of shoes into her case when her phone rang.
‘Hugh.’ She ran around the bed to pick up the phone. Then saw it was Signor Ricci, the estate agent she had been avoiding. ‘Buongiorno,’ she answered, disappointment echoing in her tone, but it was something she would have to deal with and not ignore.
The agent went into detail with regards to the three serious offers they had received: the offer from Signor St. James, the one from Signor and Signora Marcheschi and one from Signor and Signora Coutts.
How tempting it was to say, I will accept the one from Signor St. James, just to get him to call. The truth was, this was no longer her decision but her mother’s. They hadn’t yet discussed the
next step. Would her mother or Landi sell it?
‘Grazie mille, Signor Ricci. I’ll need time to consider the options. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can,’ she told him honestly, sitting herself down on the bed. It wasn’t a total lie. What if something did force them to sell?
Stripping off the bedclothes ready to take across to Gabriella, she realized in almost two weeks it had hardly been slept in. Throwing them down in the hall, she returned to the sitting room. Noticing some of the contents of the cassone still in a collapsed pile where she had quickly dumped them when she left, she gathered the bale of linen and lace, the photographs she was now convinced her nonna left deliberately for her to discover, and the fold of cloth Hugh had seen.
She began to unwrap them, feeling their thick oiliness slide between her fingers. There were five, which she deemed to be about the size of the cassone panels. She would never have guessed had Hugh not called her attention to them. He obviously knew what to look for in a pile of junk. As she turned them over, she let out a gasp.
The colours in the first painting were faded orange and greens. Once bright she imagined. Not religious, nor of noblemen commanding their armies, but of a central couple, in fine clothing in a rustic setting. Below them, women at a stream, cleaning clothes, bathing babies; whilst above them, women dressed in finery and their maids tying up the bows on the backs of their dresses, or fixing the collars.
One lady was holding up her fine dress and was barefoot in the water. She was laughing, even though she was showing her petticoats. She seemed carefree like she had just been set free or was it suggesting marital bliss?
The next painting was in similar shades of colour, with the couple again in the centre, their eyes fixed on one another, just like Nonna and Nonno. Above them, a lady in her fine clothes was sewing, surrounded by more ladies in a beautiful flower-filled garden: some sitting on the grass in a circle making daisy chains, others gathering wildflowers in baskets, at the bottom. Nursemaids grouped with babies rocked them in their arms under the shade of the trees.
