Page 53 of A Place in the Sun
‘So sad to be left with no one,’ I muse, glancing at the bags of photographs no one wants and the Sunday-bestclothes that won’t see another Sunday. ‘Sad that their happy memories of life growing up will be gone.’
The house is starting to shape up. The walls are newly plastered and the stairs mended. Everything feels fresh and clean, like a blank canvas, a new beginning for the house. ‘This is looking great, Giovanni. I’m going to call the estate agent. Get an appointment to have the place valued and on the market. I’m just sorry I couldn’t repay you by pulling off the cookery school.’
‘It wasn’t your fault. You honoured your side of the bargain and helped keep La Tavola running while I was working here.’ And then he looks at me with gentle concern in his eyes and says, ‘Tell me, have you taken some time to talk with Stella yet? I mean, it would be good, before you put this place on the market.’
‘Why, Giovanni? Why should I talk to her?’
He says softly, ‘She said she was a friend of Marco’s. Did he ever mention her?’
I sigh. ‘Marco had been out a few times to see the house and oversee the paperwork. The day it was finalized, he was in great spirits. He came home with stories of the house and the village. The dreams he had for our quieter life here. The following day was Aimee’s birthday. He said the house was the best present he could give her. A place to run free in the summer.’ Just as she and Luca are now, I think. ‘A place where we could be family.’ And then, having kissed the three of us, he left for work. ‘He’d promised to make his lasagne thatafternoon for her birthday dinner. But, he didn’t come home. The washer-up rang me to say an ambulance had been called. But he was pronounced dead before I got to the restaurant.’
‘I’m so sorry.’ Giovanni is looking at the floor.
‘Giovanni, is there something I should know about Stella and Marco? Please, tell me if there is.’
I swallow and he looks slowly up at me.
‘Giovanni! Giovanni!’ We swing round to the door. Nonna Lucia is bright red in the face and out of breath.
‘Lucia!’ He runs over to her. ‘Are you okay? Come and sit!’
‘What’s happened?’ I join him and take her other arm to support her.
‘It’s Rosa. She climbed on a chair to push Teresa’s washing back, claiming it was on her side. Now she has fallen. Stupid woman. All over some undergarments.’
‘I’m coming,’ says Giovanni, grabbing his phone and dialling for help as he runs out of the door.
‘I’ll come too!’ I say.
‘The medics are on their way,’ Giovanni says, as we arrive at the house where Nonna Teresa is sitting by Nonna Rosa’s head, stroking it.
‘Not so hard. I’ll have to put my rollers back in at this rate!’
‘Well, sounds like she’s still angry so that’s a good sign!’ Giovanni whispers, relieved.
‘I’ll go down to the road and point the medics this way,’ I say. ‘I know how hard it can be to get here …’
And to leave.I hear a small voice in my head and wonder if it’s Marco. What was Giovanni going to tell me about Marco and Stella? Please, God, not an affair. Anything but that. Or was it something she did? Something he hasn’t told me. If only you were here to tell me yourself, Marco, I think, as I stomp crossly towards the main road.
‘Well, madam, from where I’m standing you’re not going to be doing much cooking or looking after yourself.’
The medics have patched up Nonna Rosa’s ankle, telling her to keep it raised and to keep her weight off it. They’ve also given her some painkillers.
I’ve been back to La Tavola to check on things there and returned to the house to find Giovanni, with Nonnas Teresa and Lucia, in Nonna Rosa’s kitchen. She is sitting on one chair, her foot raised on another.
‘I’ve been looking after myself for as many years as I can remember. I shan’t stop now,’ she snaps.
No one says anything. I can almost smell the sunshine on the warm cobbles outside.
‘You have to keep your foot up,’ says Giovanni.
‘The weight off it,’ Nonna Teresa says.
And then Nonna Lucia says quietly, ‘So it’s help from us or nothing.’
‘I’ll take nothing!’
‘Very well,’ says Nonna Teresa, and turns to leave.
