Page 28 of My Lemon Grove Summer
‘Absolutely!’ says Sherise.
‘And Billy, perhaps some tidying up around the farmyard?’
‘Oh yes, give me a broom and I’m happy!’ He finally smiles.
‘We can work out a menu. Make it all-inclusive and . . . well, get in the punters!’ I smile, and suddenly everyone seems to brighten up.
‘Just one thing,’ says Lennie quietly. ‘I’m in one of those outside rooms. Where am I going to sleep?’
‘You can bunk in with me,’ says Barry, taking a bite of an overstuffed sandwich he’s made from the leftovers in the fridge, and giving a little burp at the same time.
‘Er . . .’ Lennie looks at me.
Sherise laughs. ‘Oh, you two can share a room – none of this waiting-till-we’re-married malarkey. No need for any pretence on our behalf.’
‘Okay,’ says Lennie.
I swallow. ‘Yes, put your stuff in my room,’ I tell him. It’s not like we haven’t shared before, I think, although granted, we were a lot younger then.
‘Looks like Etna had the right idea,’ says Sherise. ‘Doesn’t seem right, a young couple like you not being together.’
‘Well, between you and me, Sherise, we didn’t know how people would feel about it, what with this being a good Catholic country!’ says Lennie, winking. Sherise giggles, and I swear her cheeks turn pink.
‘Get in there with your lovely woman,’ she says, and nudges him. ‘Enjoy life. Nice young couple like you shouldn’t be staying apart.’
I swallow again. So, looks like things just moved on in our relationship whether we were expecting it or not. We’re not waiting for the wedding night after all; Lennie is moving in with me, into my room and my bed, and I wish the butterflies would come.
I take a deep breath. ‘Okay, let’s get these rooms cleared out and put Il Limoneto up on Airbnb. People will need somewhere to stay asap.’ I’m feeling as though I’m back in some sort of control of my life now. ‘Tabitha, can you write a few words describing the place?’
‘Sure thing. Words is what I do.’
‘Maybe don’t mention the electric fencing around the lemon grove. Make it sound lovely and . . . lemony,’ I instruct.
‘What amIgoing to do?’ asks Barry.
‘Well, you can help clear any heavy stuff to start with, and then . . .’ The idea hits me. ‘You could make signs, Barry, and go and put them up. People new to the area will never find us. They need proper signposting.’
‘On it!’ says Barry with a smile.
‘Do you think you’ll be able to find your way around okay?’
‘I’m a postie. I’ll find my way around no problem, and if not, I’ll ask!’
I laugh.
‘And Ralph, could you work out what would be a good price to charge that will still make us a bit of profit? And what we can spend on food to make an evening meal if they want one.’
‘Absolutely.’
Everyone starts cracking on with their jobs. Giuseppe, looking all watery-eyed, hugs me.
‘Grazie, Zelda,’ he says.
‘No problem, Giuseppe,’ I tell him, and he climbs into his battered Fiat, still dabbing his tired eyes, and bumps and sways down the potholed drive.
Sherise pulls out a scarf from her pocket and tries to tie it like mine.
‘Here, let me,’ I say, and do it for her. ‘And this,’ I tell her, and hand her a red lipstick. She giggles. We look like matching fifties housewives.
