Page 20 of A Chance in a Million
Jane had to stop and think for a moment. Her memory had been so clouded by the way her army career had come to an end that she had forgotten the good times – and there had been a lot of them. Realising as she spoke that this was just about the first time she had talked about this sort of thing for several years, she felt pleased to be able to reply in even tones.
‘Overall, yes. I made many very good friends and I got to see a lot of different places.’
Veronica then intervened to change the subject and Jane was relieved. Even so, the fact that she had started talking about her former life felt like a massive step in the right direction.
Chapter 11
On Saturday, Jane volunteered to drive down to Venice airport to pick up Diana. This was partly to save Alvise the trouble, but also so she could go to a big shopping mall she had located in the outskirts of Mestre to do some shopping. She had only brought one old pair of shorts from England and she got the feeling she would be wearing shorts most of the summer up here in the hills, so she knew she needed more. The shops had a good range of clothing and she bought two more pairs, deliberately choosing those that were long enough to cover the jagged white scar on her thigh. As well as shorts, she bought a lightweight rain jacket, a little backpack, new walking boots and thick socks to go in them. For old time’s sake she bought herself a compass, a Swiss army knife and a detailed map of the Euganean Hills. If she was going to do some serious exploring, she knew she would feel happier with the right equipment.
Suitably kitted out, she drove on to the airport, left the car in the short-term parking area, and was waiting in the Arrivals section by five p.m. Veronica had shown her a photo of her daughter so Jane was expecting a twenty-five-year-old girl with long brown hair and probably wearing outlandish clothes. Just to be on the safe side she had also made a sign with Diana’s name on it and, as it turned out, it was just as well she did.
She had been standing there for some time, studying the new arrivals emerging through the automatic doors, when she felt a tap on her arm and heard a voice at her ear.
‘Hi, I’m Diana. You must be Jane.’
Jane swung round to find herself confronted by a young woman with short blonde hair in a pixie cut, wearing jeans and a red T-shirt advertising Woodstock Music and Art Fair, August 1969. Apart from the T-shirt being twice as old she was, she looked remarkably normal; not in the least bit wacky.
‘Hi, Diana. I’m sorry I didn’t recognise you. Your mum showed me a photo but you’ve changed a bit.’ She held out her hand but was slightly taken aback as Diana leant over and gave her a hug and kisses on the cheeks.
‘Hi, Jane. It’s really good of you to come and pick me up. Sorry about changing my hair. I do it every now and then. It was getting too long so I got it chopped off.’ She grinned and Jane took an instant liking to this chirpy girl. ‘You’re lucky – last month it was green.’
‘Green hair?’
‘So as to go with my spring collection. The colours are predominantly oranges and greens so I thought I’d better look the part. I modelled most of it myself.’
‘Was this as part of your course?’
‘Yes, and I got a commendation. I’ve brought photos to show everybody.’
Jane led her over to the short-term car park and together they lifted the remarkably large suitcase – with an advisoryHeavylabel stuck on it by the airline – into the cavernous boot. She had toyed with the idea of driving down today in the little Fiat but Veronica had warned her that her daughter didn’t travel light. Jane pressed the button to bring down the tailgate, reflecting it was just as well she had heeded that advice. Trying to get this beast into the back of a 500 would have been a real challenge.
On the way back to the villa Diana chatted almost non-stop and Jane learned all about her life in New York and her course at what sounded like a very exclusive fashion and design school there. Although Jane’s military service had taken her to a lot of different countries, she had never visited the US, and New York sounded like a fun city. Diana was both friendly and approachable – not in the least bit stuck up. In return Jane told her how she was hoping to become a writer and how pleased she was to be working for such a famous author. For now at least, she didn’t mention her time in the army, but she went on to provide a positive update on Diana’s mother.
‘I can honestly say I’ve noticed an improvement in your mum since I arrived less than a month ago. She seems more animated and Maria was gobsmacked when she heard that we were taking a trip to the Costume Museum in Mantua the other week. Apparently it was one of the first times your mum’s been out of the house since your father passed away. Since Mantua I’ve even managed to get her to come for a few walks with me around Venice as well.’
‘That’s amazing. I’m so glad. It’s hard for me being thousands of miles away and knowing that there’s little or nothing I can do. What did you think of the Costume Museum? I’ve read about it but I’ve never been.’
Jane gave her a brief description of the museum and the collection of costumes but decided not to mention that the curator might have taken a fancy to her. Inside her head she repeated her regular mantra that she wasn’t interested in any man for the foreseeable future.
She delivered Diana to the villa and helped her carry the suitcase up the steps where Alvise appeared and hoisted it easily onto his shoulder. Jane then headed back to the summer house so as to give mother and daughter some time alone together. Half an hour later she was just beginning to think about making herself something to eat when there was a tap at the door. She opened it to find Diana with an invitation. At her side was the dog who came trotting across to greet her.
‘Mum asks if you’d like to come to dinner. Maria’s roasted a whole goose and there’s enough food to feed an army.’
‘Well, only if you’re sure. You and your mum must have all sorts of stuff to talk about.’
‘Please come. By the way, you’re right, I can see it as well. Mum’s definitely looking and sounding brighter than when I last saw her.’ She reached out a hand and squeezed Jane’s arm. ‘Maria told me it’s all down to you. Thank you so much.’
‘If I’ve helped, that’s great but, as far as I can see, she’s pretty much done it all herself.’
Together they walked over to the villa where she found Veronica in the massive living room looking happy. Tall French windows were open wide and faint mooing in the distance was the only sound to be heard. It was pastoral, it was peaceful and it couldn’t have been any more different from the dust and destruction of Iraq.
‘Help yourselves to some Prosecco and come and join me outside. I told Maria we’ll eat in a few minutes’ time but it’s just such a delightful evening, it’s too good to miss.’
Jane took this as another very good sign. Clearly the arrival of her daughter had been a welcome boost to her employer’s morale. Diana filled two glasses with Prosecco, handed one to Jane, and they all went out onto the impressive terrace where comfortable wicker armchairs had been arranged.
‘Take a seat and breathe deeply. Much as I love Venice, you can’t beat a bit of clean country air.’ Veronica sat down alongside Diana, while Jane took a seat nearby and admired the view down the valley, over the village, to the plains beyond almost hidden by the heat haze.
‘Cheers.’ Veronica held up her glass. ‘Diana, darling, it’s so lovely to have you back home, and Jane, thank you for fitting in here so beautifully.’
