Dreaming of Verona: An enchanting, feel-good holiday romance

by T A Williams

  Just before three o’clock, she climbed into her new wetsuit and went down to the boatshed. She rigged up a medium-sized sail and took it out to the lakeside. There, chatting to James and Tommy, was a familiar figure and she felt herself smiling as she went over to him. His face broke into a wide smile in return as he saw her and she felt a charge of optimism.

  ‘Hi, Suzie. New wetsuit?’

  She went over and kissed him on the cheeks, doing her best not to dwell upon the little thrill the contact with him produced in her. ‘Hi, Michael, yes, I got it the other day. It might be a bit hot for today, but I wanted something warm for the winter.’

  They carried on a brief conversation together with the other two, but it was only about windsurfing. There was no opportunity for anything more personal, but Michael showed no sign of wanting to get more personal anyway, so she choked back her regret and joined in with the sailing chat. As they talked, she compared the three men. They were all good-looking in their own way and there was no question they were all fit. Michael was probably three or four years older than the other two and with his careworn face, he looked even older. In a male beauty pageant she had to admit that the points would almost certainly have gone to Tommy, but she knew deep down that Michael alone had a special something that would always draw her to him.

  It turned out to be an excellent afternoon on the water. Michael and James were probably roughly the same high standard, while she and Tommy were a few degrees below them, but they all had a great time. After about an hour, as she began to tire, Suzie spotted a black shape sitting statue-like at the end of the professor’s jetty and she broke away from the others and headed across to say hello. It took a moment for Dogberry to recognise this strange figure dressed in black, splashing about in the water, but as soon as he had worked it out, he launched himself bodily into the lake and doggy-paddled over to greet her. She dumped her board and rig in the water and waded to the shore with him, his tail wagging furiously all the way.

  She squatted in the shallows alongside the happy dog and made a fuss of him, glad her wetsuit was protecting her from the Labrador-scented water he splashed all over her. Finally, she got up and walked out along the jetty to where she had left her board and tugged it onto the woodwork. Dogberry trotted along beside her. As she straightened up, Michael swept up in a shower of spray and joined them. As soon as the dog recognised him, he repeated his trick of diving in to say hello, after which the three of them sat down on the wooden jetty and relaxed. Dogberry and Michael were clearly old friends and Michael scratched his tummy as the Labrador rolled onto his back, legs in the air, tail wagging happily from side to side.

  ‘I haven’t seen Dogberry for three years, but he still remembers me all right.’

  ‘Maybe he recognises your smell.’ Suzie grinned at him. ‘So, what’s new? How’ve you been?’

  ‘I’ve been fine. I’ve been in Zurich for a commission and I just got back yesterday. What about you? I’ve missed you, you know.’

  Suzie didn’t know that and it came as a very pleasant surprise.

  ‘Well, I’ve missed you as well.’

  She was still smiling as she went on to give him a brief outline of the professor’s job offer and how this meant she would now be staying on in Verona for the foreseeable future. He sounded happy for her, if a bit pensive, but made no reference to how this might affect his life. Realistically, she thought to herself ruefully, it would probably only mean that he would have another windsurfing buddy. Then, he said something unexpected.

  ‘He’s a good-looking guy, your boyfriend.’

  Inevitably, the colour rushed to her cheeks. ‘My boyfriend?’ Realisation dawned. ‘Tommy, you mean? He’s not my boyfriend. I barely know him. He’s James’s cousin.’

  ‘Ah, I see. Well, he’s a good-looking guy. If he’s got the same sort of money as his cousin, I reckon you could do a lot worse.’

  Suzie’s cheeks were on fire, but she took a firm grip on herself and replied with as much decisiveness as she could muster. ‘I’m not in the market for a man at the moment, thanks. I’ve got a fabulous new job to concentrate on. Hooking up with Tommy – or any man – would just be an unnecessary distraction.’ She wasn’t sure why she added the words ‘or any man’ and instantly regretted her choice, but by then Michael had changed the subject back to windsurfing.

  Fortunately, just a few moment later, they heard a shout and saw James gesticulating from his jetty for them to come across. After making a final fuss of the dog, they collected their boards and splashed over to James’s property where they were both invited in for tea. To Suzie’s disappointment, she saw Michael shake his head.

  ‘Thanks, James, but I’ve got to get off. I’ve got an appointment with the picture framer in less than an hour and I need to get changed out of my wetsuit and take a shower first.’ He shook hands with the two men and kissed Suzie on the cheeks. For a moment it looked as though he was going to say something to her, but then he just stepped onto his board and sailed elegantly away, leaving her with that same sense of disappointment, now complicated by the fact that she had somehow inadvertently just told him she wasn’t interested in any man. She growled to herself as she carried her board and rig into the boathouse. How stupid could she be?

  * * *

  That evening James suggested going dancing at the same nightclub he and his friends had been to before. Suzie would happily have gone back to the hotel in Verona for a quiet evening but found herself coerced into joining them – mainly by Tommy. In fact it turned out to be a lot of fun, although by the time she and Alex were dropped off at their hotel at just before two o’clock, her ears were ringing and she was feeling decidedly weary after dancing virtually without stopping. Tommy had monopolised her most of the time and on those rare occasions when he decided to step back, Rafe had stepped in. As a result, she was exhausted. One thing, however, had been hard to miss. On the occasions when the music had slowed and she had felt Tommy’s arms around her, pulling her to him, it had been pretty clear that he liked her a lot. She liked him, too, but just not as much as she did her artist – but, alas, she felt sure she was on a hiding to nothing there. It was very frustrating.

  However, the frustration didn’t last too long. When she surfaced, later than usual, the following morning back in the hotel in Verona, she found she had a message.

  Sorry we didn’t have much time to chat. How about dinner tonight? Michael.

  She didn’t have to think too hard. The idea had considerable appeal.

  Great. Where? Beppe’s? S

  The answer was almost immediate.

  See you there at 8. Okay? M

  Suzie sent a one-word answer and then wandered out onto the balcony in her pyjamas. The French windows to Alex’s room were wide open and she found her sorting through piles of clothes heaped on her bed.

  ‘Hi Alex. Packing?’ Tonight would be their final night in this luxurious hotel.

  ‘Sort of. I’m separating out the stuff I’m going to sell from the stuff I’m going to keep.’ She smiled wistfully. ‘It’s harder than I thought it would be.’

  ‘No regrets, I hope?’

  ‘Well, it’s tough to say goodbye to some of these gorgeous things, but no, no real regrets. I know I’ve made the right decision and I’ll be forever in your debt for throwing me a lifeline.’

  Suzie smiled back. ‘You’re very welcome, but it’s no big deal. The flat’s big enough for two, it’s free and I’d like the company.’

  ‘Yes, but you were fully prepared to stay on here even before you got the offer of the professor’s job. That means a lot.’

  Suzie shrugged off her thanks. ‘Like I say, you’re welcome. I’m just glad you’re happy. Now all that’s needed is for Rafe and his girlfriend to get themselves sorted out. By the way, what’s that all about?’

  ‘It’s complicated.’ Alex went on to tell Suzie all about it. Apparently, this girl, Melanie, and Rafe had been seeing each other on and off for some years now and it was definit
ely getting very serious. There was just one problem and Suzie guessed what – or rather who – that was even before Alex told her.

  ‘She’s from an ordinary family and Father doesn’t approve.’

  ‘For crying out loud…’ Suzie snorted in disbelief. ‘You know, people sometimes say that Shakespeare’s plays are no longer so relevant to the modern day.’ She shook her head slowly. ‘Your family are the living proof that that’s wrong.’

  Alex nodded in response. ‘You aren’t joking. But, like I’ve been telling him all day, he’s got to stand up for himself, just like I’ve done. I’ve said he should take a leaf out of your book.’

  ‘My book?’

  ‘You’re the one who got me to stand up for myself and I have absolutely no regrets – give or take an Armani dress or a pair of Jimmy Choo sandals. That’s what he’s got to do.’

  ‘And do you think he will?’

  ‘I hope so. I tell you what, Suzie. Would you talk to him this weekend? Make him see sense? James wants us both to stay over at the villa.’

  Suzie hesitated. ‘I’m not sure, Alex. Maybe I’ve interfered with your family enough already.’

  ‘Not at all. It hasn’t been interference. It’s been massively helpful. Please talk to him? For me?’

  Suzie nodded slowly. ‘All right, if you say so, but I can’t promise any miracles.’ She decided to change the subject. ‘By the way, seeing as this is our last night here, have you got plans?’

  ‘Rafe and Tommy said they were going off to Padua for the day today and James has asked me out for dinner with him. To be honest, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s told the other two to disappear so he can be alone with me. He wanted me to go to the villa for an intimate dinner, just the two of us, but I said I’d prefer somewhere neutral and he didn’t put up much of a fight. Do you want to come along? That would suit me fine. Safety in numbers and all that…’

  Suzie shook her head and told her about Michael’s invitation. Alex was predictably upbeat.

  ‘Great news. The more time you get to spend with him the better. Sooner or later he’s going to have to begin thinking about starting over and you need to be by his side when that moment arrives.’

  Suzie didn’t reply. The question was when – or indeed if – he ever would be ready?

  * * *

  Suzie turned up at Beppe’s restaurant just after eight feeling unexpectedly nervous. She had dithered all afternoon before deciding not to dress up too much for Michael. If he preferred them to be just friends, it was probably best to keep the swanky new dress and the high heels for another occasion. Predictably, Alex had objected, insisting that she should go out of her way to beguile him, but beguiling had never been Suzie’s way and she wasn’t about to start now. Instead, she went with jeans and trainers – not least as it had started to pour with rain by the time the evening approached. She did, however, select her favourite soft grey V-neck jumper. Rob had bought it for her a couple of years ago in a pricey boutique in Lanzarote and she had always liked it.

  As she pushed the door open, she felt it taken out of her grip as Beppe did the honours.

  ‘Good evening, madam. Welcome to my restaurant. How are you tonight?’ His English pronunciation could have done with a bit of spit and polish, but she was impressed at the result of his first English lesson at the hands of Alex.

  ‘Good evening, sir. I’m fine, thank you. How are you?’

  A smile spread across his face as he returned to Italian. ‘That’s about as far as it goes for now, but I’m getting there.’ He relieved her of her dripping umbrella, kissed her on the cheeks and pointed across the room to a table in the corner. ‘He’s been here for fifteen minutes, nervously looking at his watch.’ He winked mischievously. ‘Maybe he was afraid you’d stand him up.’

  Suzie went across to Michael’s side and tapped him on the shoulder. ‘Ciao, bello. Come stai?’

  His head jerked up and there was no mistaking the pleasure on his face as he saw her.

  ‘And ciao bella to you too. You’re looking amazing as usual.’

  He jumped to his feet, stretched out his arms and pulled her gently towards him, depositing a light kiss on each cheek. As she felt the touch of his lips, the usual frisson of pleasure went through her and, of course, her cheeks coloured. Doing her best to look unruffled, she took a seat opposite him.

  ‘This was a very good idea. It’s my final night in the lap of luxury before moving into the flat and I wanted to celebrate.’

  ‘And Alex?’

  Suzie went on to tell him that Alex and James had gone off in the Rolls-Royce to some Michelin-starred restaurant on the lakeside and she saw him smile.

  ‘Moving into an attic and becoming a penniless art student’s going to be quite a shock to the system for her, isn’t it?’

  ‘She’ll be fine. Really… I mean it.’ Suzie told him about Alex’s plans to sell her designer wardrobe to generate funds and he nodded approvingly.

  ‘Good for her. So tell me about you, Suzie. I’m delighted you’ve managed to land yourself what sounds like the perfect job. You must be very pleased.’

  After ordering their meal, she gave him more details of the proposed research centre and he listened intently. The conversation then broadened as they ate and she found herself telling him about her previous job at the charity, her parents and, finally, Rob and his job in Canada.

  ‘And was it sad for you to see him go?’ He took a mouthful of wine and sat back. ‘Had you been together long?’

  ‘Almost three years. And no, it wasn’t really tragic, but it was tough all the same. You know, you get used to being with someone, having them there and then, suddenly, they aren’t there any more.’ As she spoke, she instantly registered the impact of her words on him and she could have kicked herself. Rather lamely, she added a muttered addendum. ‘I’m sorry. You know all about that, of course.’

  He didn’t respond immediately and she, too, took a big mouthful of wine. Tonight they were eating trout and had opted for a carafe of local white wine, and it was very good. She ate the final pieces of fish slowly before setting her knife and fork down, deliberately giving him time. Finally, he replied in a low voice.

  ‘I certainly do.’

  That was all he said and she was relieved. She had feared she might have tipped him into depression. To be on the safe side, she hastily changed the subject to windsurfing and the conversation became more animated once again. From windsurfing she got him talking about his childhood in the Cotswolds and his career, and he became more cheerful as he recounted some of the experiences he had had at art college. Suzie was glad Alex’s father wasn’t listening in. Many of the stories, while hilarious, would have confirmed Lord Tedburn’s worst fears about art school being a den of iniquity. By the end of the meal she had learnt quite a bit about Michael and she had definitely got the impression that he had loosened up and appeared to be genuinely happy in her company. She left the restaurant feeling more optimistic about the future.

  However, as they were walking back to her hotel afterwards, that all changed.

  The rain hadn’t abated at all and they both shared her umbrella. Michael held it while she gripped his arm with her hand, enjoying the feel of his bicep beneath his coat, her shoulder rubbing up against his, as they made their way through the near-deserted streets. The only sound was the drumming of the rain on the umbrella and the splashing of their feet through the puddles. In spite of the weather, here in these historic streets it was a pleasant and potentially romantic experience – if there had been any romance to be had from him. As usual, she sensed nothing on his part. But then, as they came out into the wide open expanse of Piazza delle Erbe, he slowed and turned towards her.

  ‘Come and shelter here under this awning for a moment, would you? There’s something I’ve got to tell you.’

  He disengaged his arm from her grip and set the umbrella down on a damp tabletop. This outdoor part of the restaurant, which would normally have still been busy on a warm a
utumn night, was completely deserted tonight and the square itself unusually empty. She could see the reflection of the orange street lights on the flagstones and in his eyes and she had a sudden premonition that the news she was going to receive was not going to be good.

  It wasn’t.

  ‘It’s like this, Suzie… I’m leaving.’ She could tell that he was struggling to find the right words.

  ‘Leaving? What, Verona?’

  ‘Italy. I’ve decided to go back to the UK, for good. My mother still lives in the Cotswolds, so I’ll stay with her until I find somewhere suitable with space for my studio. And then I’ll try to make a fresh start.’

  Suzie felt crushed. She had more or less come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t ready for a new relationship just yet, but she had imagined that she would continue to see him on a regular basis, even if it was only on a sailboard. She was suddenly very conscious of the silence around them, only broken by the incessant drumming of the rain on the canvas over their heads and the drips all around them. She didn’t know what to say, how to respond. The most she could manage was an inarticulate ‘Oh…’

  Finally, after a long silence, he continued.

  ‘I love the house at Bardolino, but everywhere I look, I see her… Grazia, my wife. It’s like you were saying earlier, you get used to having them there and then, suddenly, they’re gone and it hurts.’ The light caught his eyes again and this time she could see the tears in them. ‘It hurts an awful lot. It’s no good. I have to go.’

  ‘And when are you planning on leaving? Presumably the house’ll take time to sell.’ As she said it, she reflected that this would probably mean a good few months before their separation. She was wrong.