by Paula Kay
“We all really want this for you. Ari wanted this for you. And it’s going to be amazing.”
Lia sat back on the sofa, staring at the ticket in her hand. She took a deep breath and let the quick flood of memories rush over her again. Arianna did want this for her. She had been so clear as they said their goodbyes to one another, and Lia remembered her huge smile as she delivered the news that she’d bought Thyme for her. She wanted Lia to make new memories there, in the restaurant and in Tuscany, the place that they’d grown so fond of while they were together.
Lia rose to her feet with what seemed like a new resolve. “Okay then. I guess we have a lot of work to do around here.” She laughed, knowing that Gigi was probably feeling relieved to be off the hook regarding all the news that she’d already delivered in one short morning.
Gigi rose too and gave Lia a big hug before they made their way back to the kitchen. “So I guess we can start packing everything in this kitchen after all.” She winked and Lia laughed, already pulling her favorite items out of the cupboards.
Chapter 4
Lia could hardly believe how fast the last few days had gone. She’d been packing and getting things done bit by bit, but now it was really getting to be crunch time. She laid her paper and pencil on the dining room table, before walking into the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. Out of habit, she poured from the bottle of Chianti, a wine she’d only really begun drinking after she met Arianna. It had been her daughter’s favorite, and like many things that Lia did these days it only served to remind her of what she’d lost.
She had to laugh as she crossed the room to turn on the CD that she knew was ready to go. It was La Boheme, Arianna’s favorite opera. Lia still found it hard to believe that her daughter had loved opera so much; it had been such a foreign thing to Lia before Arianna had introduced her to that world. She admitted to herself, that it still wasn’t her favorite, but she did find it relaxing, and of course it mostly served to bring memories of their time together which Lia was not yet ready to let go of.
Lia settled herself at the table and looked at her list. She was actually feeling a bit surprised at the things that were left. She only had to pack up the few things left in the kitchen, and her clothes that were going with her, in the bedroom. Everything else was packed away in boxes, tucked away in the storage space that she’d rented. Douglas would have everything shipped once she was settled and ready for it. Assuming that she’d stay in Italy. God, where had that thought come from? Of course she was going to stay. What else would she do, anyways?
She suddenly remembered that she did need to call the agency. They’d been so good about working with her and keeping her file up-to-date after Arianna’s death. Occasionally they would call her because a good job had come up.
The best ones, that Lia had a hard time turning down, were the ones that only needed a chef, someone to handle all of the cooking and grocery shopping for the household. Lia knew from a lot of experience that the families without housekeepers, or worse yet, the ones with children but that didn’t have nannies, could be a nightmare to work for.
The jobs all started out the same. There was a lot of cooking and everything that Lia loved, but soon other things would sneak into the job requirements. Helping to ready the whole house for guests when the regular housekeeper called in sick, watching the toddler while the mom ran downtown for a few “quick” errands. These were the jobs that made her want to rethink her chosen career path.
None of this really mattered now, of course. And even this last year when it would come up in conversation with Gigi and Douglas, they gently reminded her that she didn’t need to work anymore. Arianna had left her plenty of money to retire or do whatever she wanted. When they were alone, though, Gigi did tell her that she could understand it. It was something the two women had in common, and some days Gigi also found it difficult to not be working. So she was a silent supporter of the fact that Lia still had her file on hand at the agency. Lia didn’t really want to go back to that kind of job either, but on the roughest days, the days when she felt so emotionally drained that she could hardly get out of bed, she wondered if the work might be good for her—give her a purpose of sorts.
But she had the restaurant and a new life waiting for her in Italy now—hardly anything to complain about. She’d call the agency in the morning to tell them that they could delete her file for good.
Lia added the item to the list, and her thoughts turned to what the past year had been like. Other than Gigi and Douglas, she really didn’t have anyone else in her life to see or say goodbye to. She didn’t know whether to feel relieved or sad about that fact, if she was being honest with herself. She’d always had at least a small close-knit group of girlfriends before moving to the Bay Area, but when she’d made that move her only purpose had been to spend time with Arianna. She had cared little back then about making new friends; and since Arianna had passed, it was really the last thing that she’d thought about. She’d had Gigi and Douglas in her life, which had been a godsend. And of course Blu and Jemma, before they’d moved down to San Diego. That little group of people—Arianna’s little extended family—had become everything to Lia.
Gigi had gently tried to talk to her about her social life on different occasions, saying that maybe it would be good for Lia to get out and meet some people. She hadn’t said as much to her, but Lia guessed that Gigi worried about her. The truth was that some days Lia didn’t even really want to get out of bed. She’d toyed with the idea of seeing a therapist, but that even seemed a path that she wasn’t ready to go down.
She’d taken to going to the Catholic church by her house. She wasn’t really a religious person, even though her parents raised her in the church. But she found a certain sense of calm and peace there on particularly darker days. On occasion, she would open up to one of the priests there and his words always made her feel better, reminding her of God’s ways and a bigger purpose for everything. Lia didn’t really know how much of that she believed, but it seemed to make her feel better, nonetheless. She made another note on her list to visit the church one last time before she left.
Lia took a last sip of her wine and, satisfied with her list, walked into her bedroom to get the suitcase down from her closet. It was time to pack up the last of her clothes and the things that would be going with her in just a few days.
She slid her closet door open wide and took a deep breath as she reached for the box on the shelf overhead. Laying the wrapped object aside on her bed, she unfolded the black jacket and held it up to her face, taking in a deep breath. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine that Arianna was in the room with her. Or that the two of them were back in Florence, getting ready for the nice dinner that Arianna had organized for them.
When Gigi had invited Lia and Blu over to help her with Arianna’s closet, they’d selected one item each to keep. Gigi had suggested that they should take whatever they wanted, but they all had agreed that the clothing should go to a local charity. There was one that helped women to get back on their feet with interviews and new jobs, and Arianna’s vast wardrobe was a great donation for the organization. They knew how pleased it would have made her.
Lia had chosen the jacket that Arianna had worn in Florence during one of their first dinners out. She didn’t tell the other women this, but one of the main reasons for her selection was the fact that Arianna’s perfume had been so strong on the jacket. Lia could still smell her daughter whenever she took the item out of her closet, although the scent was so much less now than it had been a year ago. But she wasn’t ready to leave the jacket behind. It was coming to Italy with her along with the urn of Arianna’s ashes.
Before Lia could stop to wonder if it was strange to be taking the urn in her suitcase—or even worse, against some kind of law—she wrapped it up tight in another layer of tissue paper, placed it in a smaller box, and tucked it in the corner of her suitcase, among the clothing that had already been packed there. She wasn’t willing to have it shipped with the rest
of her boxes, so among her clothing was the only logical choice that she could see.
Lia sighed and continued to pack up the rest of her clothes. She smiled for a moment when she came to the black dress that Blu had made for her. It was a gorgeous piece from her new line, black with her signature dash of bright blue in the inside lining. When Blu had given it to her last week, she had joked about it being perfect for a night out with a handsome Italian man in Lia’s near future. Lia had laughed and gone along with the joke, responding that she doubted that would happen; but in any case, she should have a nice dress, more suitable than her own clothes—which weren’t anything out of a fashion magazine, for sure.
She carefully placed the dress inside the garment bag it had come in, noting Blu’s cool label inside. She made a mental note to call Blu, because she’d been wanting to talk to her more specifically about her new business. It was wonderful to see that Blu finally had the time to focus on her clothing, and Lia knew that it was just a matter of time before the young designer’s career really took off.
Lia finished up the last of her packing and took a look around her empty apartment. Maybe she’d pull just a few items back out of the kitchen boxes she’d left until the last minute; that way that she could make one last little Italian feast for herself before she added her apron to the suitcase.
Chapter 5
Lia lay her head back against the leather seat in the car that Douglas had sent for her. It was hard to believe that the last of her boxes were packed up and in storage and that she’d handed the keys over to her landlord just moments ago. She looked out the window as the car pulled away from the modest apartment complex where she’d been living for the last year or so. Gigi and Douglas and even Blu had tried to convince her to move somewhere a bit nicer, and closer to them in Marin. God knew that she had the money now, and Arianna would have loved to have seen her in a more luxurious place. But Lia hadn’t been ready for that. It felt weird—just leaping into another standard of living when she had learned to survive on the money she was making as a housekeeper and chef. It had been a struggle for sure, but one that she hadn’t really minded for the most part.
Embracing the restaurant and the move to Italy that Arianna had made possible for her was one thing; learning to live with the kind of wealth that her daughter had left her was quite another thing altogether. So far, she didn’t think she was really doing such a good job of it.
Her thoughts turned to Blu, because in some ways they were so much alike. The two women had grown close over the past year, but Lia felt that there were still so many things that Blu kept to herself. She was really a very private person, and Lia sensed a lot of struggle and heartache in her past. She never pried, but lately their conversations had been a bit more personal when it came to Blu’s life, so she felt that the time was coming. She remembered the night of the wedding, before the conversation had turned to her. It seemed that Blu had been about to share something important with her. She’d have to remember to bring that up with her when they spoke.
She sighed as she suddenly realized that she wouldn’t be seeing Blu and Jemma until their arrival in Tuscany in a few months. Perhaps a good phone conversation would have to do until then.
The car ride to Sausalito went quickly, and Lia took in the view as they crossed the bridge. She never tired of it, and this crossing made her think of Arianna once again, as it did every time she made the trip.
Minutes later the driver was helping her collect her large suitcases as she stood on the doorstep of Gigi and Douglas’s home for what she knew would be the last time in a long while. It was funny how much this house had become a second home to her. First, while she spent the time there with Arianna, and since then, all the many dinners and special occasions celebrated there with Gigi and Douglas, who had really become her very best friends.
She was jolted out of her thoughts by a high-pitched squeal of laughter and Jemma flinging herself at her in delight.
“Surprise.” Jemma giggled, holding on tight to Lia’s waist to give her the kind of big squeeze that only a seven-year-old could give.
“Jemma, be careful. You’re gonna knock poor Lia over.” Blu laughed, appearing in the doorway to give her friend a big hug. “Are you surprised?”
Lia was laughing and crying at the same time. “Yes, I’m surprised, and so delighted that you two are here. Why didn’t you tell me that you were coming?”
“We wanted to surprise you.” Jemma grinned. “And it worked.”
“Yes, it did indeed.” Lia knelt down to give the little girl a big kiss on the cheek. “You have just made my day, young lady.”
“Great,” Jemma screamed and ran off towards the kitchen.
“Jemma, don’t bother the chef now. Go play outside, okay?” Blu called out and then shrugged when she didn’t get a response. “She’s been bothering them in the kitchen to make her favorite grilled cheese sandwiches for dinner.”
The two women laughed and Lia reached out to embrace Blu. “Thank you so much for being here. It really means a lot to me.”
“Are you kidding? We had to come see you off on your adventure.” Blu’s tone suddenly turned more serious. “I’m really proud of you, Lia. I know this is a big step for you, and it’s gonna be great. I can feel it.”
“I hope you’re right, my friend,” Lia replied with just a hint of worry in her voice. “Now where are Gigi and Douglas hiding?”
“Oh, I’m sure Douglas will be around soon with the wine. They’re getting the table ready for dinner. We all thought it would be a nice idea to eat outside in the garden. It’s such a nice night.”
“That sounds absolutely perfect to me. Let’s go see about that drink. I kinda feel that I could use one.” Lia laughed and the two women headed to the kitchen.
Before they could make it inside the doorway, Douglas met them with a bottle of wine and glasses. “Sorry, I was just outside helping Gigi and a little bird flitted—well, more like rocketed by—” Douglas laughed. “—to let us know of your arrival. Come, let’s get you two situated in the living room for a drink before dinner. We have a few minutes before it will be ready. I think it will be worth the wait, as the young chef comes highly recommended by one of our dear friends.”
Lia and Blu took the wine that Douglas handed to them and sunk into the comfortable sofa.
“Won’t you sit and have a drink with us?” Lia said to Douglas, who was already halfway across the room.
He laughed. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be rude. I want to get back to Gigi and her table. You know that woman. No matter what I say, she’s always looking after everything. The chef’s team are perfectly capable of setting the table, but she wants it to be just so.”
Lia laughed. “Oh, I understand. Go on. We’ll chat later at dinner.”
Lia turned her attention back to Blu on the sofa beside her. “So, speaking of young good-looking chefs—”
“He didn’t say anything about the chef being good-looking.” Blu laughed.
Lia laughed too but didn’t want to miss the moment to find out a bit more about what was going on with Blu. “How are things with you and your chef? What’s his name again?”
She thought that Blu was blushing slightly, but she really didn’t want to let her off the hook.
“His name is Chase and, you know, things are fine. There’s nothing serious going on between us but yes, we’ve been out a few times. He’s a nice distraction from all the craziness that has become my life, and Jemma seems to like him, so that’s a good thing.”
“That is a very good thing,” Lia said. “Although honestly, is there anyone that little girl doesn’t take to?”
“Good point.” Blu laughed. “She is very charismatic and definitely not afraid to meet new people, which is actually something that drives me crazy.”
Lia thought she saw something flicker in Blu’s eyes. It was one of the moments she’d seen before, any time that the two women seemed to hit on a topic of a personal nature involving Blu and Jemma. An
d true to form, Blu was up and moving, eager to move on from the conversation.
“Let’s go find Gigi and see if we can help with anything. Well, I’ll help. You should sit and enjoy the night as the guest of honor.” Blu smiled widely and Lia made a mental note to come back to the topic of Chase and the craziness that Blu had mentioned. The girl really didn’t like to talk about herself at all.
Chapter 6
Lia followed Blu to the garden, noticing the delicious smells coming from the kitchen. “Wow, something smells divine,” she said to Gigi as she looked up from the flowers that she was arranging. Lia crossed the grass to give the woman a big hug. “As do you, lovely. And everything looks so beautiful, including yourself, as usual.”
Gigi grinned, hugging her back. “Nothing but the best for you on this special night. I’m so happy to have you here, and thrilled that you’ll all be spending the night. It’s always nice when this big home has lots of company.” She turned to wink at Douglas, who was watching her from a chair close by. “Isn’t that right, darling?”
“It is indeed,” Douglas said. “Love and laughter within these walls. That’s the goal.” He’d come up behind Gigi as he spoke, giving her a playful pat on the behind.
Gigi, looking mortified, swatted his hand away. But then she laughed as she gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “Oh, you. Watch yourself.”
Lia and Blu laughed, and Jemma looked up from where she was playing nearby. “Grown-ups. Who can understand them?” she said, appearing to be talking to herself—which made everyone laugh even harder.
“Dinner is about to be served, if you could take your seats, please.”
The young chef—who was in fact very good-looking, Lia noticed—appeared with a small wait staff right behind him.
Lia caught Blu’s attention and mouthed the word “cute”. The two laughed as they all took their seats, admiring the fancy plates of food put before them.