Page 73 of A Place in the Sun
Our hands collide and there might almost have been streak of lightning, though not in the sky. We stand still, holding the bottle, rain pounding down on us, our breath fast and furious, the water seeping into our clothes, which are clinging to our bodies. I can feel apull like I haven’t felt in a long time, dragging my body, thrusting me against him, and we’re there, alone, in the courtyard, the rain hammering down on us. The only thing I can see is him. The only thing I can feel is his closeness. The only thing I can hear is his heavy breathing and the sound of my heart pounding in my chest.
There’s another clap of thunder and more lightning.
‘Mamma!Hurry!’ It’s Luca, calling me in.
‘I have to go,’ I say, my feet not moving. I see him nod. One hand brushing the water from his face, the other grabbing my free hand and holding it as we run together into La Tavola’s dining room where the candles have been lit. Everyone is wet, but laughing.
‘Gelato!’ calls Nonna Lucia to cheers.
I look at Giovanni, rivulets of water running down his face, both of us breathing heavily, then laughing. All threenonnas are staring at us, and I feel I’ve taken a very different direction from the one I was travelling in hardly any time ago.
Someone puts on some music, bowls of homemadegelatoare passed around, and now the tables, under Stella’s guidance, are being pushed back and there is dancing while the storm whips around outside. Giovanni grabs me for a dance, before he’s hijacked by Glenda, to his surprise and my amusement, and Sebastian steps in to dance with me. It’s fun, but it’s not magnetic. It’s not how I felt with Giovanni, and I’m not sure I could settle for living without that sensation.
By the time the minibus comes to take the students back to their villa, the storm has passed, and everywhere outside is soggy and wet. We hear the toot from the driver on the square and show the students out.
Sebastian is beside me as we step out of the gates and walk up towards the main square. ‘We were interrupted, before the storm came,’ he says. ‘You were about to tell me what you thought of my suggestion. Hopefully what I’d like to hear.’
I open my mouth to speak when Nonna Lucia is suddenly between the two of us.
‘It has been a wonderful day,’ she says, linking arms with Sebastian. ‘I am so looking forward to tomorrow. We have so much to prepare for Sunday’s lunch. Promise you’ll be on my team, Sebastian,’ she says, flirting outrageously.
‘I saw him first! I have seen how he can stir sauce. I will have him for my team,’ says Nonna Rosa.
‘We should take it in turns,’ says Nonna Teresa, coming up the hill. ‘He can choose whose team he wants to be on.’
Sebastian is evidently bemused, almost scared. I can’t help laughing as they escort him to the minibus waiting there.
‘Grazie,Leonardo!’ I wave to the driver. ‘Join us for lunch tomorrow.’
He waves and nods.
‘See you tomorrow,’ I say to Sebastian, as he’s escorted to the steps by thenonnas.
He attempts to kiss my cheek but misses and kisses my ear.
‘Oh, sorry, sorry,’ I say, embarrassed. ‘We’ll see you tomorrow.’ I step back, flanked by thenonnas and wave as everyone pours onto the minibus.
As it leaves, we turn and wander down the hill towards La Tavola.
‘Would anyone like a drink? I think you deserve one. A limoncello, perhaps, ladies?’
‘That sounds lovely,’ I say. The children are playing with the kitten and Stella in the courtyard, in and around the puddles left there from the storm.
‘No, no. I’m very tired,’ says Nonna Teresa, stretching and yawning.
‘I would love some limoncello!’ says Nonna Lucia.
‘No, we have a big day tomorrow. You need your beauty sleep!’
‘But—’
‘Believe me, you need it!’ says Nonna Rosa, nudging her.
Nonna Lucia looks from her to Nonna Teresa. ‘Ah, yes … of course. My beauty sleep!’
‘You two, enjoy!’ says Nonna Rosa. She stops and turns back. ‘It was a very good day,’ she says, and a brief smile illumines her usually stern, lined face.
‘Can I walk you home?’ Giovanni calls after her.
