They stood back against the bank to let the smiling man and his dog go by.
“Thank you,” the man said. “Enjoy your day.”
They thanked him and hurried up to the car.
Her legs were a little wobbly after the surprise of being kissed. They got into the car without speaking. It took a few minutes to make it to the top of the lane, having reversed several times to let other vehicles go past.
“You really shouldn’t do that, you know,” she said, mortified to have to confront him about his kiss.
“What?”
Sacha couldn’t look at him. “You shouldn’t kiss me.”
“No?
“No.”
“You do not like me, Sacha?”
How could she answer without either lying, or embarrassing herself? “It’s not that I don’t like you, Alessandro. It’s just…”
“What is it? You have something to say to me, please, say it.”
She drove for a few more minutes, trying to find the right words, not wanting to spoil their afternoon.
“My aunt, she told me about your fiancée.”
“Livia.” His voice cracked with emotion as he said the three syllables. That one word spoke volumes to Sacha about his continued love for the woman he’d lost so tragically.
Neither spoke again for the next few minutes.
Forcing herself to focus on something else, she said, “Finally, we’re on our way to La Hougue Bie, or Hougue Bie, as we know it here. This is a much more impressive place than the one I’ve just shown you. At Easter, there’s an Easter egg hunt for the children, which I think is rather nice.” Desperate to keep talking, away from a subject that still obviously hurt him so much, Sacha tried to concentrate on what she’d read about the place. “I think it’s about 6,000 years old and is one of the largest and best-preserved passage graves in Europe. They’ve found human remains here, as well as the usual pottery, tools and that sort of thing.” He didn’t respond.
They arrived and Sacha parked the car. “There,” she said, pointing up at the hill with the stone chapel on top of it, but Alessandro had already spotted it. “Impressive, isn’t it?”
He looked miserable. “Sacha, I need to tell you—”
“It’s fine,” she said, not wanting to have to hear about the exquisite woman he’d lost. She held up her hand to stop him saying anything further. “Another time, if that’s okay? Please let’s just enjoy our day out.”
He looked about to say something, then changed his mind. “Yes, of course.”
She cleared her throat, hating that she’d been rude, but she wanted to make the most of these days out with him before he had to return to Italy. “So, what do you think of this place then?”
He didn’t say anything, but stared up at the stone chapel for a few moments, before they walked over to have a proper look.
“I don’t know much about it,” she said, struggling to think of what to say next. She couldn’t miss how sad he looked and wondered if he would ever recover from what had happened to Livia. “Did you know that when the Nazi’s occupied the island during the Second World War, the German forces built a command bunker on the site?”
“My father told me about The Occupation. It was the same for many people in Italy at that time. Here too, there is much history that people should not forget,” he whispered.
They arrived back at the café, after Sacha had parked in the small car park nearby. He looked happier than he had done earlier, and she was relieved that she’d managed to make his afternoon as interesting for him as he had done for her in Rome.
“The Gents is through there if you want to go and freshen up,” she said, pointing to a pale blue door with a small, driftwood handle. “I’ll do the same, and then I can make you one of my special summer sundaes.”
He didn’t respond.
Leaving him in the café and ran up to her flat. After washing her hands and face, she quickly brushed her hair and went back downstairs to join him.
“Right, you’re in for a treat now,” she laughed, cringing as it came out a little too forced. “Or at least I hope you’ll think it a treat. We did sample some incredibly tasty ice creams in Rome and I want to show you how delicious ours can be.”
“I’m looking forward to watching you create these sundaes.”
“Good.” She tied on her apron and stared at him for a moment, trying to gauge which particular sundae would suit his personality. “I’m going to make the first one specifically for you.”
He smiled. “This, I will enjoy.”
Deciding that he would enjoy something sweet, having seen the flavours of gelato he’d chosen in Italy, she took out a few raspberries, blueberries and strawberries out of the fridge placing them into a bowl. Then taking some pistachios, she ground them up in her smaller blender. Bending down to take two scoops of her father’s famous vanilla ice-cream – her favourite, made with fresh vanilla pods - she dropped them into a tall sundae glass, alternating them with two scoops of strawberry ice-cream and layers of fresh fruit. She smiled at him as she whipped up some fresh Jersey Cream, dolloped it on the top, and scattered it with the roughly ground pistachios. Finally, she picked a fresh, dark red cherry from the cooler and popped it on top, adding a wafer.
“Okay, so far?” she asked, happy with the display in front of her.
“Of course,” he said, laughing. “I am enjoying learning from you.”
Taking a long spoon, Sacha stuck it into the sundae and pushed the elaborate concoction towards him. “Okay, let me know what you think.”
Alessandro stared at it in awe. “This looks very impressive,” he said, studying the tall colourful creation.
Sacha waited silently as he dipped the spoon deep into the sundae and took a mouthful of strawberry ice cream and fruit. He savoured the mouthful, then went back for another, this time vanilla and blueberries with a little of the cream and nuts.
She wished he’d give his verdict, but waited patiently for him to consider what he’d just eaten.
“It is delicious,” he said, his mouth pulling back into a wide smile. “Like you said in Italy of the gelato - heaven in a bowl.”
She clapped her hands. “I’ll make myself something a little less excessive and come and join you over at that table by the window.” She handed him a napkin and turned to put a couple of scoops of vanilla into a bowl, showering it with grated dark chocolate.
She arrived at the table and watched Alessandro trying to find the right words to describe what he was tasting.
Sacha ate her ice cream and enjoyed the silent companionship with this lovely man. She could imagine how delighted Aunt Rosie would be to discover the two of them spending time together like this, and decided to give her a call later that evening. After all, it was thanks to her aunt’s insistence that she had got to meet Alessandro in the first place.
“Very good,” he murmured, looking across and giving her a smile. He held up the cherry by its stalk. “For you,” he said, smiling.
Happy to oblige, Sacha took the cherry from the stalk with her teeth, careful to chew slowly, and discreetly dropped the stone into her palm. “I’m glad you enjoyed it so much,” she said, happier than she could remember being in years.
She finished her ice cream and glanced at him, noticing a brief, sad expression cross his face before vanishing.
“Is everything all right?” she asked, concerned that maybe something had reminded him of Livia. She hoped it wasn’t something she’d said.
He shook his head and took her hand. “It is nothing. I have enjoyed this afternoon with you very much, Sacha. I hope we will be able to do this again?”
He sounded so unsure. “I’m sure we can,” she said, trying to cheer him up, wishing they could be more than just friends. “I enjoy spending time with you. We can go out any time I’m not working. Just let me know when you’re free and where you’d like to go next and I’ll be happy to take you.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and opening her palm,
kissed it lightly. “You are a special woman.”
She felt as if her heart would burst. She was at risk of falling in love with Alessandro, but considering he was still caught up with his past, she was going to have to be very careful that her own emotions didn’t get carried away.
“Thank you. And you’re a very special man,” she said, smiling at him.
Alessandro leant forward just as the door crashed open and Jack marched into the café.
“Jack, I wish you wouldn’t do that,” she snapped, getting a fright. “One of these days you’re going to smash that door, or the wall behind it. Anyway, what are you doing?” She glared at him, furious at the noisy interruption.
Jack glared at Alessandro. “I’d like a word with my sister, please.” His eyes narrowed. “In private.”
Alessandro seemed confused and stepped away from the counter. He nodded at Sacha. “I will come and see you tomorrow?”
“That would be lovely,” she said, watching as he gave Jack a brief glance and then left the café.
As soon as he’d closed the door behind him, Sacha rounded on her brother.
“What the hell was that all about?” she asked, not waiting for an answer. “I presume it must be something that couldn’t wait? You pretty much threw Alessandro out. It was rude, Jack.”
He scowled at her. “Yes, well, sorry about that, but I needed to speak to you.”
She folded her arms and waited. “Go on then.”
He seemed a little deflated. Then it dawned on her that he had something to share with her and was nervous about telling her what it was.
“Stop pacing and tell me what’s happened. Hurry up, you’re making me nervous.”
“Have you been to look at the new shop that’s opening up where Mrs Le Breton’s wool shop used to be?”
“Yes, last night, but it was boarded up and I couldn’t see inside. Why?”
He took a deep breath. “Did you notice the sign above the shop?”
“No, it was covered up.” She wished he’d just tell her what was bothering him.
He opened the door and peered out, first right then left, along the boardwalk. “Right, it’s quiet out here for the moment. Grab your keys and come with me.”
She didn’t argue and quickly locking the front door ran after him. “I really don’t know what’s got in to you tonight.”
Jack didn’t speak for the short walk to the nearby shop, but when he reached it he stopped, stepped back and pointed up at the bright sign. “Gelateria di Isola” he said.
She said the words aloud too, her heart sinking as she realised what it meant noticing a smaller name on the bottom left hand corner. Salvatore. The name was familiar, but she couldn’t place it for a moment. Then it hit her. Alessandro’s last name was Salvatore. He’d said he was being sent here for his father, but she hadn’t considered he would be on the island to set up a business that would be in direct competition to her own.
Stunned, she opened her mouth to speak. Looking up at Jack, she cleared her throat and said, “I’ve been talking to him about Dad’s ice creams all afternoon.” She recalled them both laughing over the sundaes she’d made only minutes before. “I’ve just made him one of my favourite speciality sundaes.” She swallowed the lump forming in her throat as the enormity of his betrayal filtered into her brain. “He’s been lying to me.”
Jack put his right arm around her shoulders. “He never said anything to you, nothing at all?”
She shook her head, trying to hold back the tears that were doing their best to make an appearance. Why hadn’t he said something? He’d had more than enough opportunity to be honest with her. She felt stupid for chattering on and on about her café and the summer sundaes she specialised in. Now he could copy everything she was doing and only a few doors down.
Her business might be local, and somewhere people enjoyed visiting, but his was new and different. It was human nature to want to try out new things. She thought back to the delicious gelatos she’d enjoyed in Rome and it all began to make sense. Where she’d assumed he was just another ice cream lover, he’d known the business, and had probably been trying out the wares of his father’s competitors. She’d been such a fool.
She gently pushed away from her brother. “Thanks for telling me, Jack,” she said, motioning for him to follow her back to the café.
Once back inside and certain they couldn’t be overheard, she said, “I can’t believe I didn’t realise his connection before.” She still couldn’t quite take it in that Alessandro hadn’t told her. “He took me out for gelato in Italy, but I didn’t think for a second it was what his family did. I never actually asked him why he was coming to the island, either. I assumed it was to see the historical sites, as he’s an archaeologist.”
“He’s played you for a fool, sis.”
She cringed. “Don’t say that,” she said, suspecting he might be right. “What am I going to do now?”
“I know what I’m going to do,” Jack said, the muscle in his jaw working frantically. “No one does something like this to my sister and gets away with it.”
He pulled open the door, but Sacha grabbed hold of his arm to stop him. “No. Leave it.”
He shrugged. “Why shouldn’t I give him a piece of my mind?”
She thought quickly. She knew how hot-headed Jack could be, but wanted to sort this out her own way. “Because you’re both staying in Bella’s home and it’s not fair on her if you two have a go at each other.”
“He can leave then,” he said, shrugging her arm off and stepping outside.
“No, Jack,” she said, smiling at an elderly couple who happened to be passing by and looked rather shocked by the argument they were witnessing. Sacha lowered her voice. “She needs the money. We’ll have to think of something else. I won’t have our issues affecting Bella, none of this is her fault.”
Jack’s shoulders slumped. “Fine, but he’s not getting away with what he’s done. What if he puts you out of business?”
That’s all she needed to hear. “I’d rather not think about that happening, if you don’t mind. You go back to the cottage. I need time to work things out.”
He considered her suggestion. “Fine, I’ll keep my mouth shut, for Bella’s sake, but I’m warning you Sach, that creep isn’t going to get away with this.”
No, he wasn’t, Sacha decided.
Chapter Six
Sacha was furious with Alessandro, but wasn’t ready to confront him. She was disappointed in him for not bothering to confide in her about his real reason for coming to the island. She had seen him in the street a couple of times, and once he had popped into the café, but she had managed to avoid speaking to him for almost a week hoping to calm down first.
At three fifteen one morning, having spent another night with her mind working in overdrive, Sacha gave up trying to sleep. She thought she heard a noise out on the boardwalk, different to the usual sound of waves. She switched on her bedside lamp and got up to have a look.
Peering through the gap in her window, she couldn’t see anything but a cat ambling along the boardwalk. Nothing else seemed to be going on. She half turned away from the window and something caught her attention. Sacha looked back, but by the time her eyes had acclimatised to the darkness again there was nothing to see.
“Strange,” she murmured, lying back down on her bed and switching off the light.
She lay in the darkness, trying to get back to sleep, but her mind was racing too much She stared at the shadows cast by the moonlight onto her bedroom wall, thinking about Alessandro. Disappointment oozed from every pore and she felt more miserable than she could ever remember.
She reasoned that maybe he hadn’t been given any choice but to come here and start up a business for his father. After all, wasn’t she doing the same thing? No, she argued. Her family had been established here since 1855. Alessandro’s family had no connection to the area and anyway, if he felt the need to set up a business in competition with her he had the entire i
sland on which to do it.
Fed up with fretting, Sacha got up and pulled on her favourite shorts, a T-shirt and a light cotton jacket and went down to the beach. The sun was peeking over the horizon, casting a silvery glow on the sea as she walked down the steps and onto the sand. Apart from one other person at the opposite end of the beach, standing at the water’s edge, staring out to sea, she was the only one there. She liked it that way.
She kept to her end of the beach and savoured the peace and the cool, wet sand on her bare feet. She took a deep breath, drawing in the salty, fresh air and filling her lungs before slowly exhaling. It helped, a little. Spotting a worn piece of pale green glass on the sand she picked it up, wondering where it might have come from and how old it could be.
“I thought it was you,” Alessandro said, surprising her so that she dropped the piece of glass.
“I couldn’t sleep,” she said, her heart pounding as she thought about what he had done. He retrieved the glass, cleaning the sand off it with his thumb before passing it back to her. She noticed that his faded jeans and T-shirt were creased as if he’d slept in them. His hair, usually neat, was messy.
“No. I wanted to come here for some air.” His voice was sorrowful and she suspected that despite Jack’s assurances to the contrary, he’d found a time to get Alessandro on his own and give him a piece of his mind. She didn’t blame him, she’d have done the same if it was the other way around. They always stood up for each other, even if they had their own disagreements. She would have been surprised if Jack hadn’t said something. He took his role as the bigger twin seriously.
“Sacha?”
She was at a loss as to what to say to Alessandro and kept staring at the small piece of opaque glass in her hand, rubbing it between her thumb and fingers.
“You saw the sign about the gelateria.” It was a statement rather than a question and despite the words sounding like music when he spoke them, she was angry.
The Boardwalk by the Sea Page 10