Page 65 of My Lemon Grove Summer
‘Your . . . Il Nonno should be pleased that people want to come here and bring new life to the area.’
‘He says you’ll be gone by the end of the month. He still hopes Uncle Luca will marry Cousin Enrico’s daughter.’
‘Does he now?’
We reach the shop and I stop briefly.
‘Don’t worry, Sophie, we’re not going anywhere,’ I tell her firmly, then I smile and say goodbye.
Whatever Il Nonno says, I tell myself, there will be a wedding. I have a dress, and a fiancé, and no matter what chemistry there might have been with Luca during that fitting, we will be getting married in four weeks’ time. One thing I do know: I have to stay as far away from Luca as I can.
And with that, I run all the way home to Lennie and the safety of Il Limoneto, where all those chaotic thoughts will disappear.
Chapter Thirty-one
I go earlier to the lemon grove the following day, and the day after and the day after that, so I can get the lemons picked and packed into the crates before Luca arrives at the lemon grove after checking in at the restaurant, like he does every day, just to see if there are any bookings or tourists around. I check his clipboard and see how many crates he needs and then get to work so that they’re all there, waiting for him in the cool of the barn, ready to be shipped out through the tunnels.
It’s hot, really hot.
No wonder people don’t work at lunchtimes here. But I have plenty of water, sunscreen, and a hat, a large straw one I found in the boxes of clothes, with a big floppy brim.
Today, I pat Rocca and make sure she’s got plenty of water too, then get to work under the blazing Sicilian sun, trying to stay in the shade and focus on getting the lemons harvested. I carry a box to the barn. One down. How many to go? I swig from my water bottle and take a moment in the cool of the barn.
‘Hey! Zelda! Where have you been? I’ve been looking everywhere for you.’
My heart jumps into my mouth and my stomach flips over and then squeezes very tightly at the sound of his voice. It’s Luca. And I look a mess, I suddenly think, sweating in the heat of the day. That’s a good thing, I chide myself. This way I won’t be worried about feeling attracted to him.
He runs over to me and holds me gently by the top of my arms, his skin on mine making me tingle as he kisses me on both cheeks. My stomach turns once again to molten lava and I step back quickly.
‘Is everything okay? I haven’t seen you. What are you doing working here at this time of day? I’ve been coming back and finding all the lemons picked and packed. Is everything all right? If you have another job somewhere else, you don’t have to do this. I’ll manage.’
‘No, it’s fine. I just . . . I have things on my mind. I wanted the peace and quiet,’ and I turn to look out to sea. It is the most beautiful place in the world, I think.
‘You come in, work and leave without me even seeing you?’
‘I needed to think,’ I say, and swallow. ‘It’s not looking good for us at the farmhouse. The others just can’t get work. We have hardly any Airbnb bookings. No one wants to come and stay in Città d’Oro and there’s practically no money left in the kitty.’
I don’t tell him that I’m avoiding him because every time I’m around him I feel like I’m about to explode and I can’t think straight about anything.
‘The kitty? The cat ate the money?’
‘No.’ I manage to laugh, and it brings a strange release. ‘Our money. It’s nearly gone. And unless we come up with some ideas soon, well, we’re going to have to leave.’
‘Leave? What? Leave here? No wedding?’
I shrug, and feel my eyes fill to the brim with unshed tears.
‘No one can get any work, Luca. We can’t get business ideas off the ground and no one will give us a job. This town is dying and I don’t think anything can save it. If only it was all like this.’ I wave a hand around. And then I think back to the farmhouse. Actually, most of them are doing something. Billy has his chickens and is busy making bird boxes and chicken houses. Ralph has taken to sketching; apparently he always wanted to go to art college before the army and then the City sucked him in. Barry loves going out on his bike and cooking in the kitchen. Sherise and Tabitha have taken up yoga. Valerie talks nothing but weddings. It’s just Lennie who is lost really. ‘If only we had a project or a business that we could all help out with. We could do with some good news.’
‘That’s what I’ve been trying to tell you.’ Luca grins. ‘It’s Emily!’
‘Emily?’
‘My British agent,’ he reminds me.
Ah, Emily, I think. Is this why he’s so happy? He has good news? Have he and Emily finally got together? Despite feeling pleased for him, I feel like someone has put a pin in my birthday balloon. But that’s okay. Because not every day is a birthday. You have to go back to real life sometime. No wonder he looks so happy.
‘I’m delighted for you. Thought there was something there when she came here before. Thought it might be . . . that you might—’
