by J. A. Low
I did mess around on Rob, once. I met a hot Canadian peace keeper, I was his escort around the villages. There was a storm and it was too treacherous for us to return to the camp, so we had to wait it out in a tiny hotel room in the city, one too many drinks led to a night I will never forget.
“You bastard,” Lauren screams down the phone, pulling me from my memories. “You fucking bastard, how could you cheat on her.” I can hear Rob trying to defend himself from Lauren’s onslaught.
“Lolly. Lolly. Stop. Lol.” I try and catch her attention but it’s as if she’s dropped the phone.
“Lil.” Alistair picks up the phone.
“She’s making a scene, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, and to be fair, Rob is acting like a pussy, telling her he doesn’t know what she is talking about. That he never cheated.” This makes me huff, damn coward. “But, Lolly isn’t backing down. Oh, shit, I think security is coming. Gotta go. Will call you if we don’t get arrested.” And with that, he hangs up the phone. I stare up at the wooden ceiling of the cottage, hundreds of years’ worth of structure, and laugh. I laugh and laugh, until my stomach hurts. I can just imagine my little pocket rocket of a sister, slapping and hitting Rob, where she can reach that is, and him trying to protect himself from her. I love my sister. The fact that she has flown halfway across the world to surprise me means everything, but even more she is defending my honor.
Moments later, my phone rings again.
“Lolly. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I am. But Rob isn’t.” She sniggers. “I kind of caused a scene, and, well, told everyone he works with he is a cheating scumbag. That my sister was way too good for him.” This makes me laugh. “Least everyone knows now. They were all sad to see you had left, you were very much loved here.” I begin to tear up.
“I know; I miss them all so much, as well.” I’m thinking about the amazing villagers that became my family while I was there.
“Hey, where are you?” Lauren asks.
“Glencoe,” I tell her.
“Shit. Um…”
“Yes, I have already met the person renting out the house, I kind of stumbled in on him naked.”
“Oh, my God, did you have to bleach your eyes?”
“The total opposite, I couldn’t stop staring. He’s hot!” Lauren squeals down the phone.
“This is fate, Lil. Fate.” My sister is the complete opposite to me, she believes in fate, and soul mates and happiness. She’s a hairdresser, and spends her days dressed in bright colorful clothes, and colorful rainbow hair. She’s dating Alistair, a farmer here in Glencoe. They have been dating for a long while, but he still hasn’t put a ring on it. Not that Lolly minds.
“You know I don’t believe in fate.”
“Well, tell me this. Why the hell am I here in Kenya and you are there in Glencoe? Both of us surprising the other for Christmas.” I love her enthusiasm for fate, but I’m a doctor, I think in logic and science.
“Miscommunication, not fate.” She scoffs at me.
“No, something is happening, fate is up to something. She has sent a hot guy to our cottage and you turn up after getting your heart broken.”
“Hot Italian guy,” I add.
“Oh, my God. See, fate, you speak Italian, it’s fate, Lilly. Fate.”
“Let’s forget about fate for the moment. What the hell are we going to do now that we are both on opposite sides of the world.”
“Well, Alistair’s never been overseas, so I would love to show him around.”
“I’m going to miss you, but you need to explore that beautiful continent. I’ll see you when you get home.”
“I’ll miss you so much. Kenya is beautiful, can’t wait to see the rest of it.”
“I’ll email you where to go and what to see, in the morning.”
“Thanks, babe. I’m so bummed that we missed you. But, I’m glad I kicked Rob’s ass, I never liked him.” This makes me laugh, because it’s true. Lauren’s always thought he was this rich, entitled snob, who thought he was so much better than everyone else. Looking back, she was right.
“Okay, well, have fun, send me loads of pics and I love you.”
“Love you, too, sis, and jump that Italian Stallion.”
“Bye, Lolly.” I fall back asleep quickly, jet lag taking over and my heart a little less broken.
3
Luca
The smell of bacon and eggs pulls me from my sleep. Last night’s unexpected visitor comes back into my memory, the way she hungrily looked at me, not going to lie, it was a shock but also a major turn on. I liked that she was confident enough in herself to ogle me. She had a beautiful, makeup free face, total opposite from the women I’m used to. Her cheeks were pink from the cold, and bright blue eyes, so expressive, they drew you in. Well, she did until she threatened to call the police on me, and that is not what I need at this moment. Once they run my name through the system, my safe little sanctuary will be ruined. I’m not ready to face anyone just yet.
“Morning.” Lilly, I think that is what she said last night, greets me. She’s dressed in a white shirt and leggings as she moves around the small kitchen. “I just wanted to say how sorry I am for last night. I was really jet lagged and I don’t normally act like that.” She seems flustered as she talks about it. Does she like what she sees? Of course she does, she stared at it long enough. “Please accept a hot breakfast as my apology.” I give her a genuine smile, because I don’t know if a woman has ever made me breakfast before, I mean, besides one of my chefs.
“Grazie,” I say, taking the plate from her hand. It is filled with bacon, eggs, mushrooms, tomato, some spinach and a couple slices of toast. Was all this in my fridge? It was stocked when I arrived but I have been drowning myself in some Scottish whisky instead of food. She follows behind me, placing a bottle of water and juice in the middle of the dining table.
“Would you like a coffee?”
“Oh no, no. No.” That was a mistake I made when I arrived, tasting the horrendous instant coffee sitting on the shelf. I could kill for some real Italian coffee but I don’t think I am going to find any in this place. She laughs.
“Of course, Italian’s would never drink instant.” Does she recognize me?
“How do you know I am Italian?”
“My nanny was Italian, she spoke to us mainly in Italian, so I’ve picked up on some of the words you use.” She takes a seat far away from me with her breakfast.
“So you speak Italian?”
“I used to be fluent, but it’s been awhile since I’ve used it.” She smiles through a mouthful of toast. We both fall into silence as we eat our breakfast. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I started eating. It doesn’t take me long to finish it. “There’s more in the pan.” She flicks her head into the direction of the kitchen. I stare at her for a couple of beats, then I realize she means I have to get it myself, welcome to the real world, Luca. I’m so used to people looking after me that I’ve never really been self-sufficient. I grab some more bacon and make some more toast. “I’m just going to grab my bag and get out of your hair,” she tells me, placing her plate in the sink. She’s going so soon? Now she’s in my space I’m not sure if I want her to go. Not because I think she’s cute, which I do. I certainly don’t need a cute complication in my life at the moment, but, honestly, I don’t think I am going to enjoy my own company. I had most of yesterday by myself, and it sucked. I had to get drunk to hang out with myself. The next month, my only companion is probably going to be my whisky bottle and I think I like the one standing in front of me much better; she’s cuter.
“I heard there’s a snow storm coming, is it safe for you to go?” Her eyes widen.
“Shit, is there?” She grabs her phone and furiously types away on it. “Bugger, you’re right, they have issued a weather warning. I better go.”
“Don’t,” I say, stilling her. “I couldn’t forgive myself if something happened to you.” She frowns at me.
“I can’t
crash your holiday.”
“I can’t let a woman go out into a snow storm.” Her hands come up to her hips and she looks a little pissed.
“But, you’d let a man?” Huh, what?
“I…just …” I stumble over my words.
“Exactly…Thank you, but I must be going.” She looks like she can’t wait to get away from me, the exact opposite of how she looked at me last night. Maybe I was drunk and dreamt the whole situation, that could be a distinct possibility. I watch as she grabs her bag and hauls it to the front door, she stops to put on her coat and scarf. “Well, I hope you enjoy your stay here…” Her words trail off.
“Luke, my name is Luke.” Technically, that is true, but she doesn’t need to know any more, it’s not like I’ll be seeing her again.
“Luke.” She smiles saying my name, and I like it falling across her lips. “Well, I hope you enjoy the cottage, it’s truly a beautiful place.” And then with that, she is gone.
A couple moments later, the door suddenly opens and I’m caught still staring at the space she just left. “Sorry, I left the breakfast cleaning up for you but, you know, the storm and all.” She gives me a wave and then closes the door again. Maybe it’s for the best, cuddling up to a cute girl is not what I need. The distraction would be nice, but I need to focus on the complete shit show that is my life at the moment. Away from everyone who wants to influence it.
A couple hours later, there is a knock at the door. Who on earth could it be? I open it and swirls of snow hit me in the face, the wind is fierce out there. Bright yellow lights on a tow truck flash through the white abyss.
“Hi.” Lilly moves from the side, into my view. “Guess, you were right. You shouldn’t have let a woman go out in the storm.” My heart stops, is she hurt?
“Aye, he was, Lilly. Ye know not to go out in weather like this,” a hulking giant says, placing her bag on the doorstep. His eyes narrow onto me and he doesn’t look happy. “Who’s that, Lassie?” the man asks.
“This is Luke, a family friend.” The man eyes me suspiciously. “He’s Contessa’s nephew over from Rome.” This seems to relax the old man, whoever Contessa is.
“God rest her soul.” Lilly looks sad at his condolence; she must have been close with this Contessa.
“Say hi to your wife for me.” Lilly pulls herself back into her bouncy self. He nods and disappears into the white. Lilly lets out a heavy sigh, grabs her bag, and walks back into the cottage.
“I’m sorry to be crashing your holiday, again.”
“Are you okay?” She shrugs.
“Just a bruised ego more than anything, slid off into a snow bank. That was Broden, he owns the mechanics in the village. Won’t take long for the village grapevine to kick in and know that I’m back.” She shucks off her jacket, and hangs her scarf up and rubs her hands together. “I promise I won’t be in your way. I’ll lock myself up into my sister’s room and let you holiday in peace.”
“It’s fine. Honestly, one day of my own company and it was sending me crazy.” This makes her laugh.
“Not used to your own company, then?” I shake my head.
“I come from a big family, they like to get into my business a lot.”
“Sounds very Italian.”
“It is.” This makes me smile, thinking about my family for the first time since… shaking my head, I’m not going to think about it. I’ve messaged my brother to tell him I’m okay, but I’m requesting time by myself to sort through it all. I just hope they understand. “But, they mean well.” Lilly smiles.
“I only have my sister who cares, and she’s enough trouble as it is.”
“Lolly?” She smiles.
“Yeah, and I’m Lilly.” She holds out her hand to me. “I’ve forgotten to introduce myself in the chaos.” I take her hand and shake it. Surprise hits me, I wasn’t expecting the zap of electricity between us, it catches us both off guard.
“Come sit, you are probably frozen.” I usher her to one of the arm chairs by the fire.
“Thank you.” I head into the kitchen, grab the bottle of whisky and two glasses, setting them down in front of the fire on the side table.
“That’s a Macallan whisky.” She looks at me with shock.
“It’s nice,” I respond, as I start pouring it into the glasses.
“But…that is an expensive bottle.” I hand her the glass; she just stares at me. I shrug. Shit, maybe I just gave myself away with the whisky. I could just be some busy executive needing time away to decompress. Yes, that is what I will say.
“It was a Christmas present, from work,” I add.
“Wow, work must really like you, this is a $400 bottle of whisky.”
“Yes, they do. I’m a hard worker.” It’s all true, I do work hard, it never stops until now, when I have to hide away in the Scottish Highlands.
“Well, cheers to you and hard work.” She raises her glass, we clink the crystal together, and take a sip. “This is so smooth.” Lilly licks her lips and the action is distracting.
“Hhhmm,” I say.
4
Lilly
This whisky is delicious, I haven’t had alcohol in such a long time, it is going straight to my head. My body feels warm, I pull my feet up underneath me and rest my head back against the chair, listening to the crackling of the fire.
“So you were in Africa?” Luke asks me.
“Yeah, I’m a doctor or, was a doctor. I kind of just left.”
“Why?” I watch as he takes another sip of his whisky, his plump lips pressing against the glass. Holy shit, I am horny. I guess six months of forced celibacy sends you boy crazy. Should I tell this stranger about my messed up relationship or will that be off putting? Seriously, Lilly, you're not going to sleep with this man, it’s probably unethical or something seeing as he’s paid your sister to stay at your home. “It’s a long story,” I reply, wrapping my arms around myself defensively.
“I’m not going anywhere. We are kind of stuck in a snow storm.” Luke smiles but it quickly fades when he sees my face. “But it’s not any of my business, you don’t have to tell me.”
“I think I’m going to need more liquor for this story.” I crack a sad laugh.
“Oh, it’s one of those. Hold on.” He jumps up, runs to the kitchen and looks through the cupboards. There is a lot of clanging and banging going on until he appears with a beautiful cheese platter and a bottle of bubbly.
“Wow, this is awesome.”
“We should probably line our stomachs first.”
“Good idea,” I say, as he pops the bottle.
“This is from a friend’s vineyard. It’s a Trentodoc, Italian sparkling wine, like a prosecco but this is found in the vineyards of the Trentino region. That’s where Dolomites are; the mountains are part of the Italian Alps.”
“Sounds like here with our mountains.”
“Si, I have not had a chance to look around yet, maybe when the storm has settled, you could show me. Be my guide.” My cheeks warm at his invitation.
“Sure, if you’re not sick of me by then.” He smiles, handing me my glass.
“I think your company might be better than my own.” This makes me laugh. “The reason this wine is called Trentodoc is because the capital of the region is called Trento, and Doc is the name of the official Italian wine naming system.”
“Impressive. You seem to know a lot about your friend’s vineyard.” He moves nervously in his chair.
“I have listened to him so many times talking about it, I guess it has sunk in.”
“I think having a friend who owns a vineyard would be a great friend to have, because this wine is delicious.” The bubbles tickle my nose as I take a sip.
“I will pass on your critique when I see him next, he will be very happy a beautiful woman likes his wine.” Did he just call me beautiful? Luke obviously understands his mistake and quickly covers his words. “So, tell me what happened in Africa, that made you want to surprise your sister.” I take a big sip of win
e to calm my nerves.
“My fiancé thought sleeping with the nurses in the camp was a good idea.” Luke chokes on his drink. “Yep, and, stupidly, I let him. Never said a word.”
“What! Why?” He seems outraged by this.
“Because I was stuck in the African desert. I had signed a contract, I couldn't leave. I…I felt trapped and a long way from home. I didn’t know what to do. I thought it would be just easier if I ignored it.”
“But? How could you forgive him?” Luke seems shocked by my actions.
“Just because I ignored it doesn’t mean I forgave him. After the first time, I stopped sleeping with him. I changed my shifts, made sure I was always busy, pushed him away. He didn’t care, he never once questioned me why we were never together, why we never slept with each other.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, so am I. Wasted years with someone that just wasn’t interested in me. Honestly, I don’t think I ever loved him and he me.” Twirling the glass in my hand, a 24-hour flight gives you some perspective about your life when all you have to do is think about it. “Our parents were friends through work, all great surgeons in their fields. They pushed us together, hinted that the merging of the two families’ practices would be beneficial, that we could take it over once we got back from Africa. They had our lives all mapped out for us.”