by Fiona Grace
At this moment, caught up in the beauty of the island and the warmth of present company, Audrey didn’t really care.
Truthfully, Audrey had been fully focused on her career most of her young life. She never even dated, except for some casual hangouts with losers who were never worth a second date. And yes, she was getting older. Maybe that would soon pass her by. She wanted a family, and kids, and all that good stuff. But she’d never even gotten close.
In fact, this? With G? As innocent as it was, it was probably as close as she’d ever gotten.
Maybe as much as she wanted it, love wouldn’t be in the cards for her.
She cringed, thinking of how she’d been with Michael a couple months ago, back in Boston. Michael had been her first big crush from high school. He’d barely looked at her, all through school, and yet he sent her one Facebook message, and she’d nearly started picking out wedding invitations.
That is, until she showed up at her high school reunion to find out he was already married. Not to mention, a drunk. All he’d wanted her for was a tumble in the coat closet.
That was a perfect example of her usual luck with men.
But this was different. G was here, in the flesh, gazing at her adoringly. It could be different this time.
Doesn’t matter, Audrey. You always put the cart way before the horse. It’s just a date, not a marriage proposal. Don’t read too much into it. Have fun.
After lunch, their bellies full of something called caponata, a dish of eggplant, tomatoes, raisins, capers, and pine nuts that came in a close second to G’s famous ciambotta, he bought her a creamy, delicious strawberry gelato from a stand, then took her hand and guided her down the street. At the top of the street, she had a perfect view of the looming, white-capped Mt. Etna. “It’s active, right? When was the last time it erupted?” she asked him.
He laughed. “I think we are safe for today,” he said, leading her past ruins of a small Roman theater. She climbed through the crumbling remains, admiring the old marble statues and ornate columned architecture.
When they emerged from the ruins, she blinked in the bright sunlight. “That was fascinating.”
He called her attention to a gorgeous baroque-style cathedral, and a square with a magnificent fountain with an elephant atop it, a large obelisk protruding from its back. Considering all the baroque architecture surrounding it, the Egyptian- and Asian-inspired creature looked a bit out of place.
“Piazza Del Duomo,” he said, waving his arms about dramatically. He pointed to the ornate cathedral, with its double spires stretching into the sky. “Very famous. That there is the Basilica Cattedrale Sant’Agata. You like?”
She nodded. “It’s nice, but… that fountain. It’s strange, with the elephant, isn’t it? What does it mean?”
He swung his head around to look at it. “Not everything has to mean something. Some things can bring joy just by existing. Si?”
Indeed, it was beautiful, and it did make her happy, for some odd reason. It was clearly very famous, from the number of tourists that were swarming around it. She loved being among them, having nothing else to do but take in the history and sights. “You’re making me not want to go back,” she said to him, only half-joking.
G laughed at her. “Ah, but Mussomeli has its own charm, no?”
“It does,” she admitted. It also has its own problems. And a to-do list a thousand items long.
He must’ve noticed the crease on her brow, because he said, “Ah, Audrey. You cannot escape your problems by running from them. But you can press pause on them for a bit. Take them on when you are in a better frame of mind.”
Right. If moving halfway across the world had told her anything, it was that. She’d left Boston mostly to escape her humdrum, monotonous life. But she’d only found different problems in Sicily. Life was messy. It had ups and downs. The best she could do was weather the downs so she could enjoy the ups.
Like this. Instead of dwelling on what was waiting for her at home, she needed to be more in the moment for times like these, so she could fully enjoy them.
She stood at the base of the fountain, gazing up at it. “Why an elephant?” she asked. “What’s the story on that?”
“Ha, Audrey, you are always thinking. Okay, I will tell you. There are many theories on that. But my favorite is the simplest. The elefante with its trunk up is good luck.” G presented her with a coin to drop in. “For luck!”
She smiled, took the coin, and dropped it into the clear water among hundreds of other coins sparkling in the abundant Mediterranean sunshine. As she did, she wished what she always wished for, on birthdays, at wishing wells, everywhere… health and happiness.
And when G took her hand again, she also added another wish.
This one, for love.
CHAPTER FIVE
“I’m going to throw up, I think,” Audrey said to Brina as she clutched the phone and headed toward the vet center on opening day.
“What are you worried about?” Brina yawned. It was two in the morning in Boston, but luckily Brina was up doing a middle-of-the-night feeding. “You’re a doctor, remember? You know your stuff. People are coming to you because you’re the woman with the answers. And you have a bit fat degree and student loans out the butt to prove it.”
“I know,” she said, though at that moment, she had trouble remembering where the vet center she’d been fixing up was. When she got onto Via Barcellona, she was momentarily distracted by a rather large crowd gathered in the vicinity of her new office.
Weird, who’s giving what away, I wonder?
As she approached, people turned to look at her, and the chatter died down. When she caught sight of a cute little terrier in the arms of an older woman, a cold breeze gripped her and sent a shiver down her spine, and it suddenly hit her.
“Oh, God,” she mumbled into the phone. “I’ve got to go.”
One thing she’d learned while living in Sicily was that the town didn’t really get moving until late morning. Most people didn’t start their day until ten, at least, and lunch hours lasted two. And yet that didn’t stop nearly, oh, what looked like most of the town from lining up for her opening day at just before nine in the morning.
She ended the call as she crossed the street and spotted Orlando in the doors, waving to her. He seemed a lot more thrilled than she felt, that stupid, white smile plastered on his politician’s face. “Nice turnout, eh?”
“Um …” She paused and looked at the faces of all the pets and their hopeful owners, then asked a stupid question: “Is this all for me?”
“Si, it’s exciting! Everyone in town wants to meet the famous new veterinarian. I told you that you would be a welcome addition,” he said, leading her up to the front stoop. He’d actually unrolled some tape across the front of the building. He handed her some scissors. “Let’s get it going so you can get started!”
She took the scissors and opened them, now thoroughly discombobulated. Didn’t these people know anything about appointments? She couldn’t possibly see all of them at once. It would be like… havoc. Insanity. “I didn’t realize… I mean, I won’t be able to see everyone… I can set them up for appointments …” Or at least, her receptionist could. If she had one.
“Of course, of course. We’ll get it all settled when we get inside.”
Oh, God. Could all these people fit inside? Weren’t there occupancy limits? A horrible thought flashed through her imagination, some of them hastily constructed walls collapsing in a giant cloud of dust, and all the resulting lawsuits, as she brought the scissors to the tape, preparing to cut it.
As she did, she thought of her father. Her father always told her she’d make something of herself, that she had it in her to do great things. And now, here she was, opening her own clinic, with her very own name on it. Tears pricked at her eyes. If only he was here to see this…
“One moment!” Falco said, laying a hand over hers. He produced a bullhorn and began to give a long, winding speech in Italia
n, sounding rather like a car salesman. Occasionally, he’d point to Audrey and say Dottore Audrey Smart! and people would clap politely.
“… il miraculo!” he said with great gusto.
Wait. Did he just call her a miracle? She knew she was needed, but she wouldn’t go that far.
“… santo della nostra piccola città!”
And now it sounded like he was calling her a saint. Way to sell them, Orlando, but you might want to tone it down a smidge? She smiled at the crowd, growing redder and redder by the second.
Most of them looked back at her with sad, puppy-dog eyes, similar to the creatures they held, as if Audrey held the key to their very livelihood. She shrunk back, scanning over their heads until she saw G heading her way, smiling and shaking hands with just about everyone he came across. He gave some man a big bear hug, nearly lifting him up off the pavement.
Well, thank goodness for G. At least maybe she’d have help.
People clapped mildly, and Falco said a couple more Italian words and looked at her. “Okay. Now.”
“Now? Are you sure?” He nodded. She lifted the giant, unwieldy pair of scissors and cut, and someone in the front of the crowd snapped a picture. Falco went ahead and opened the door. When she stepped in, inhaling the smell of the freshly painted walls and newly waxed floors, she realized someone had set out a buffet of treats and beverages for both the animals and the adults. “Oh! You did this?”
He nodded. “Yes, it was in the advertisement. You must have food for these things.”
“Oh.” She wondered what else was in the advertisement she hadn’t been able to read. Was she going to be expected to give a speech? Walk around, greeting the guests? Check out all these animals?
People came in and began to help themselves to the treats. She smiled at them all as Falco motioned them to the waiting room and greeted everyone warmly, like a true politician.
“Well, Dottore,” he said, “looks like a success, eh?”
“I don’t know. It’s going to take a while to get through all these—”
G approached them then, smiling. “Principessa! Or should I say Dottore here?” He kissed her on both cheeks. “You are the star of the city today! Everyone who is anyone is here right now.”
“I’m glad you’re here, G,” she said hurriedly, glancing around as the crowds began to pack the place. “I need someone to log all these customers in so I can start seeing them.”
Falco shook his head. “No. No appointments today. Just free tours and refreshments. But they should be able to make appointments for a future date.”
Audrey sighed with relief. “Oh, good. Tours? I can handle that.”
“I am happy to book the appointments,” G said with a smile. “Do you have an appointment book?”
“Yes. Thank you. It’s at the receptionist’s desk. At my old place, I tried to keep my Fridays free for house calls.”
“All right. I will get to it right now!” he said with great excitement, making his way to the desk.
“Audrey, if you’d like, I’ll give the tours. And if you stay in the reception area, if anyone has questions or would like to meet you, G can help translate.” Falco suggested.
Another sigh of relief. Maybe this wouldn’t be so terrible after all. “Yes! That’s great!”
More relaxed now, Audrey went to the reception area, greeting customers and their pets. As she finished petting a little white kitten, she stepped to the desk to see a woman with dark hair, severely pulled off her face in a tight bun, and pointy-toed heels, standing there, watching her. She was one of the few people who was not smiling. Her lips, rimmed in bright red, were a perfectly straight line.
“Hello,” Audrey said, smiling and offering a hand to shake. “Welcome.”
“Dottore Smart, I presume?” She was so busy eyeballing every corner of the room with a critical eye that she didn’t notice Audrey’s outstretched hand.
“Yes. Hi. That’s me. Nice to meet you.” She motioned to the buffet. “Have you had one of those yummy sfio, um, svia—”
“Sfogliatelle,” she corrected, rolling her eyes.
“Right. They’re delicious. Flaky and melt in your mouth. From a bakery over on—”
“No. I don’t much care for sweets. Give me a tour, please,” she said brusquely.
Audrey dropped her hand and looked to G. She would’ve loved some affirmation that this woman wasn’t as witchy as she seemed, but G was too busy negotiating another appointment for an old lady’s pet rabbit. Then she looked for Falco, but he was nowhere in sight, probably leading another tour.
“Well, I can take you around, if you’d like,” she said with a shrug. This woman seemed to speak English fairly well, so it wouldn’t be a problem. “Come on back.”
The woman’s heels tapped loudly on the new tile floor, over the steady rumble of conversation, as she followed Audrey through the waiting room. Though in front of her, Audrey couldn’t help feeling like the woman’s eyeballs were mentally ripping apart everything they settled on.
“Here, obviously, is the reception area,” Audrey said, motioning with her hands. “And this is the waiting area.”
The woman ran a disinterested eye over it all and let out a snort. “Hmph.”
“Do you have any pets?” Audrey asked the woman.
“No,” the woman said simply.
Okay, then it makes a lot of sense why you’re here, Audrey thought. She’d asked the question because it would’ve given her a better idea of how to direct the tour. But she decided she’d just give a more general tour. Maybe the woman was just interested in local businesses. “Okay, come this way. Are you from around here?”
“Yes, I’ve lived here all my life.”
“Oh. Great. I’m from the United States. Don’t really speak Italian yet. I’ve only been in Mussomeli a couple months. But I love it. The people have been so wonderful and welcoming, really making me feel at home. It’s a lovely town.”
The woman didn’t offer any response to Audrey’s word vomit. The creases in her face only seemed to deepen, making her even scarier.
All right, Audrey thought, turning toward the hall. Tough crowd.
She led the woman down the narrow hall, past the pictures of adorable puppies and kittens she’d hung just the other day. She smiled at them. Any pet lover would, because they were so darn adorable. But when she looked back at her guest, the woman didn’t even seem to notice them. Her eyes were fastened on the floor, a pronounced wrinkle on the bridge of her nose. “What is that smell?”
Audrey inhaled. The scent of the wax and paint had dissipated; now it smelled like the animals that were in the reception area. Not like roses and fresh air and sunshine, but not terrible, either. “Oh, probably the pets.”
“Is the ventilation in here up to code?”
“Yes. I’m sure it is. We had all of our inspections done last week.” At the first door, she stopped. “This here is one of our exam—”
“I should hope so. It’s a violation to house animals if the building isn’t up to code. What was it originally?”
“A vacuum store. But—”
“Much different, a vacuum store from an animal clinic. You made all this progress in how long? Two—”
“One week, actually. I know, it was crazy. But I do have the paperwork from the inspection,” she said. “We passed with flying colors. Anyway, here’s the exam room. We have only one right now, but we’ll be getting more, hopefully, as we grow.”
When Audrey opened the door, the woman peered in. Her lips twisted, showing the pronounced lines in them that made her look older. This is a woman not easily impressed, Audrey thought, wondering what else she could do to gain her favor. “Prior to this, I was on staff at one of the premier veterinary centers in Boston, catering to all types of animals in the city, so I have several years of experience in managing city pets on a much broader scale than this, but I think it makes me well suited to—”
“Mussomeli has unique problems, though, compared to Am
erica,” she spat out. “We are not rich like you Americans. We have different values.”
“Yes… I suppose, but we all want the best for our animals. Don’t we?”
The woman was silent, refusing to concede that point.
Okay, of course Falco does twenty tours and gets all the easy customers. I get the nudge from hell.
“Unlike America, we have many strays. Too many strays. And you help with that?”
“Yes, I do. I plan to. I haven’t started yet, but—”
Impatiently, the woman ushered her on. “Go on with the tour.”
“Okay. Sorry. And over here is the surgery.” Audrey crossed to the other side of the hallway and opened the door, frowning when she noticed the garbage can in the corner was overflowing. She’d meant to take that out last night. Of course, she’d forgotten.
The woman’s eyes seem to narrow in on it. She let out a small but significant cluck of her tongue.
“I know everything’s a little haphazard. Like I said, I only started on this place last week, so we were under a time crunch to get everything done,” Audrey explained, leading her farther down the hall. “So it’s very much a work in progress. But it’s operational, at least. And we’ll address the issues as we go. We have separate kennel areas for the cats, dogs, and small animals, but unless they’re ill, rather than caging them in kennels, we like to give them room to explore and interact. And of course, there’s a little area outside in the back where they can get fresh ai—”
She frowned. “You’re taking in the strays?”
Audrey nodded. “We plan to, yes.”
“And where do you keep those?”
“Well, once they get a clean bill of health, they’ll be in the kennels with the other dogs and cats, too. We’ll have special hours and events for adoption in the coming weeks, with hopes that we can find them all good homes. But—”
“And if they’re not adopted?”
“Well, we’ll hope that they are. But in the event—”
“This is a poor village. People don’t have the money to feed themselves, much less another mouth. Many of the strays once belonged to loving homes which had to let them go. So if they are not adopted? What do you do then?”
