Sicilian Dreams

by J. P. Kennedy

  ‘Has my spell caused you to drive erratically too?’ asked Cassie. ‘Please stop looking at me and concentrate on the roads. Liz will think you are crazy.’

  ‘Ha. She is a fast driver too, no?’ said Marco. ‘I don’t think she will mind, in fact it looks like she could overtake me unless I go faster,’ he said, laughing and putting his foot down. They are all idiot drivers here thought Cassie, gripping her armrest and gritting her teeth.

  They made it back to the estate in record time and then followed Marco as he turned off onto a small side road near the entrance gates. Past a stand of trees, they came upon an old, double story stone building with large arched doors set in its center. Marco pulled into a parking space and Liz slid the mini in neatly beside him.

  ‘Ladies first,’ said Marco, opening the heavy doors with a flourish and waving his arm in a flourish to let them go in first.

  ‘Oh, this is exciting Marco’ said Liz. ‘Is it alright if we take photos?’

  ‘No problem’ said Marco. ‘You will need your flash in the cellars as it is quite dark down there.’

  ‘No spiders I hope’ said Kat, stepping tentatively through the big doors into the cool gloom of the tasting room.

  ‘Only drunk ones’ replied Marco, grinning wickedly at her. ‘Don’t worry, it is only the hung-over ones you have to watch, and they tend hide away until they recover.’ He flipped a switch and a beautiful old cast iron chandelier with at least twelve branches cast a golden light over the dim room.

  It was simply furnished, with a large wooden table set in the center and two wine barrels off to the side. One of the barrels had in indented top made of copper.

  ‘The spittoon.’ said Marco as Cassie went over to peer into it. Cassie glanced at the old photos on the wall. It was a visual history of the winery stretching back several generations.

  ‘I bet you don’t make the wine like this anymore’ she said to Marco indicating a black and white photograph of two women in peasant clothes holding up their skirts and stomping on piles of grapes.

  ‘Unfortunately not because it looks like fun. At least initially’ he said, going across to a large open shelving area and selecting several bottles of wine, which he brought back to the table.

  ‘Okay ladies, I have several wines for you to taste today, from old to new. We start with the most special one first. He pushed forward a dusty looking bottle of uncertain vintage. Cassie thought she could see cobwebs decorating the dark cork. There was no label, just a simple chalk mark on the side of the bottle, the significance of which Marco explained.

  ‘This bottle of wine was made by my grandfather using the Nero d’avola grapes grown here in his time. You will see it has no label and no capsule over the cork. That is because when it has a capsule you have to pay tax on it. He used a simple metal corkscrew to take out the cork and pour a measure into each glass.

  ‘We don’t have many of these left but I would like you to taste the difference between the wine they used to make here and the wine we produce today. Salute.’ They touched glasses and sipped.

  ‘Mm, this is smoother than I would have thought’ said Liz, appreciatively.

  ‘I can taste plums and soil,’ said Kat, sniffing into her glass then taking a healthy swig.

  ‘Yes, it has a high tannin level,’ explained Marco. ‘It is a very good wine with hearty food, like roasted game. The style of this wine is often compared to a Syrah.’

  Cassie sipped at hers slowly. She could imagine a big wine like this being enjoyed on a cold winters day beside a roaring fire. Marco smiled and winked at her, while Kat wandered over to the shelves and starting looking through several books on wine.

  ‘Okay, ready to try the next one?’ he said. They nodded. Nobody had used the spittoon so grandpa’s wine had passed the taste test thought Cassie.

  ‘This is last year’s vintage. Notice the lighter color of the wine. You will taste the lighter flavor also.’ He handed them each a glass. We have used light oak barrels for several years because people’s tastes are changing and they prefer the lighter, less oaky, flavored wines. These are Guillet barrels, the finest light, toasted oak barrels in the world, sourced by my agent in France, M.Batley-Burton.

  ‘Oh, this is delicious,’ said Liz. ‘The first one was powerful but this seems like a wine you could drink everyday and one which would lend itself to many different types of food.’

  Kat nodded in agreement. ‘Can I take a case home with me?’

  ‘Sure’ laughed Marco. ‘We only export a small quantity but I can always send you more if you like.’ he added. Cassie felt the wine slipping down her throat easily and she watched Marco covertly as he answered Liz’s questions. He is really passionate about this thought Cassie. It is such a shame he and his father don’t get on because he seems to be in his element.

  ‘Now for the last one. This is from three years ago and I consider it our best vintage so far. It seems to combine all the essential characteristics of a modern day Nero d’avola wine.’

  He passed them each another glass of the jewel colored liquid. They sipped and agreed, Kat even moved to say that ‘it is a cheeky wine with very subtle overtones.’ in a deep, sonorous voice, which made everyone laugh.

  ‘So that is the finished wine. Would you like a barrel tasting to complete your tour?’

  ‘Absolutely’ said Liz. ‘I’ve never had an actual barrel tasting before although I have heard about them.’

  ‘Good, okay, bring your glasses. Andiamo.’

  At the back of the room was a staircase, which Marco led them down, his hand lightly touching the small of Cassie’s back as they descended. This took them into a large underground cavern with arched ceilings made of brick. There was no natural light in the cellar apart from two small high windows at the back and Marco and stopped at the bottom of the stairs turned on some dim, overhead lights. It was noticeably cooler than upstairs and felt damp. Cassie shivered involuntarily and Marco stood behind her and rubbed her arms with his hands.

  ‘This is the barrel room,’ he announced going over to a set of barrels and taking hold of a thin plastic tube protruding from the barrel. ‘This is a thief, a pipette. We use it for sampling the wine as it matures in the barrels. He took their glasses in turn and poured a small measure into each of them. ‘This wine has been fermenting in the barrels for 1 year.’ They sipped as Marco explained the aging process and then he led them over to another set of barrels. ‘These have been maturing for 18 months now. You will taste quite a difference between the two.

  ‘This one has a more finished taste,’ commented Liz.

  ‘Leave me down here, I’m happy with this one.’ said Kat and Marco laughed.

  ‘I’m glad you like it. The grapes come from the highest point on our land, the part that also catches the most sun. The grapes from the first barrel you tasted come from another part of the estate. They do not enjoy such a superior position so the quality is less than the second barrels. We will produce two labels to identify these different characteristics and also maybe make a blend of the two grapes to produce a wine with the characteristics of each.’

  ‘It definitely has a lighter finish on the palate’ said Liz, twirling her glass and holding it up to the light.

  ‘This one has a very elegant finish,’ commented Cassie. ‘I would like a case of this when it is bottled’ she added smiling at Marco.

  ‘Of course’ he said, but his smile was slight and Cassie wondered what she had done to offend him.

  They finished their wine and with pink cheeks they headed back up the stairs, thanking Marco for the wonderful experience.

  ‘It was my pleasure. It is not often I have the pleasure of the company of three such beautiful, intelligent women. I will leave you to go and relax at Villa Tramonte now.’

  He smiled at Liz and Kat and nodded to Cassie. What on earth have I done thought Cassie? He sure seems annoyed about something. She felt a little light headed from the wine and didn’t try vaulting into the mini this time; instead c
limbing sedately into the passenger seat; as Kat tried to and fell head first into the backseat, her long legs sticking up like to poles as she rolled around laughing.

  ‘Oh Kat, you are a goon.’ said Liz, laughing at her as she revved up the engine and they shot out of the winery parking area. ‘That was fun, but right now, I need a shower and then I need some dinner.’

  It felt blissful to sink into warm water of the deep oval shaped bathtub and Cassie closed her eyes in delight. She had added some lavender bath salts and lit the two large scented candles which sat on a low Japanese table and they cast a soft light over the dark brown marble tiled walls and floor. It felt womb like and Cassie sunk deeper into the tub until her chin was touching the scented water. She felt pleasantly tired after the long day and was looking forward to having dinner with the girls and then climbing into bed. Her thoughts immediately returned to Marco and his strange behavior at the winery. Whatever could be eating him she wondered, a small frown creasing her brow?

  Well, I need a night away from him anyway, she reasoned. I need some down time with my friends before having an early night. Early, being a relative concept here she thought. Before midnight was considered early. She yawned and reached for a hand made bar of soap which smelled of roses. Sliding it down into the water and over her breasts she contemplated the Marco puzzle again. He looked so gorgeous sauntering down the jetty this evening she thought, and rubbed the soap absently over her nipples, which instantly hardened. She thought about him waking her up in the morning already hard, whispering in her ear. Her hand dropped the soap and slid between her legs. She still felt tender from their lovemaking earlier and she gently flicked the water between her legs, her fingers traced a pattern around her clitoris, beginning to rub the sensitive nub, thinking about Marco driving into her, hard and demanding, licking her, tasting her. Her fingers moved faster as waves of pleasure built up in her belly, her eyes closed and her lips parted softly. She could feel herself coming, and as she did, she moaned his name out loud, slumping back against the tub in ecstasy. There was a light knocking on the bathroom door.

  ‘Cassie, are you ready to eat? We are just about ready,’ said Kat.

  ‘I’ll be right out,’ said Cassie, flushing with embarrassment. This is all Marco’s fault she thought, pettily.

  There was a delicious smell coming from the kitchen as Cassie walked down the short hallway from the bedrooms and saw Liz cooking something in a large pan.

  ‘Hmm, that smells great. What have you whipped up?’ she asked.

  ‘Not me, Marta. I opened the fridge and there was a covered dish with a note attached. It’s called Involtini di Manzo and the note explained how to cook them. Look at it, so cute.’ said Liz, pointing with her wooden spoon to the bench. Cassie leaned over to read the note as Kat pushed a glass of red wine under her nose.

  ‘Oh, thanks Kat,’ said Cassie. ‘A Boschieri vintage no less.’

  ‘Marco dropped off a couple of bottles while you were in the bath. Shame you missed him. He seemed to be looking around for you until we explained you were taking a bath. Cassie felt a slow blush make its way over her cheeks. She looked again at the note from Marta.

  ‘Cook in pan for ten minutes.’ said Cassie. ‘How sweet of her. What’s in them Liz?’

  ‘I looked them up on my iPad. They are basically elaborate veal roll-ups, but these have got extra ingredients like raisins, pine nuts, onion, and cheese rolled up in the veal. I must ask Marta to show me how to make them.’

  She had made a salad, which Kat put on the table while Liz sliced and plated the Involtini.

  Cassie topped up their wines and put a bottle of sparkling water on the outside table. It was a beautiful, still evening with a sky full of stars and they clinked glasses again before eating.

  ‘This just gets better and better’ said Liz, sitting back and sighing happily. ‘I am so relaxed, I’m almost in a coma. Of course, I miss Doug and the girls, but I will see them soon enough. I am just loving having some ‘me’ time.’

  ‘Amen to that’ agreed Kat. ‘My tan is improving by the day, I have met a hunk who is going to show me the sights tomorrow night, things are on the up and up. How about you Cassie?’

  ‘Oh, I think this is just about the best holiday ever, for me’ she said, looking at them coyly and laughing. ‘And I don’t mean just because of Marco’ she added sternly, looking at the knowing looks on their faces. ‘I mean all of us being together here in this magical place and enjoying the adventure together. Let’s not wait another eight years to be together again.’ She sounded so earnest that Kat began to laugh.

  ‘You won’t get rid of us that easily,’ she said. ‘I think we should still be doing this when we are eighty.’

  ‘Okay, it’s a deal,’ said Cassie and they all clinked glasses again.

  They stayed outside on the terrace chatting and reminiscing until the moon was high in the inky, black sky. So much for an early night, thought Cassie ruefully, as she climbed into bed around midnight. Kat had created dessert, which consisted of a scoop of Marta’s gelato with limoncello poured over the top. That liqueur is addictive, she thought. It goes down so easily. She drifted off peacefully into a deep sleep, her windows wide open again, but Marco did not arrive in the night.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Turning over in bed the next morning and squinting at the bright sunlight invading her bedroom, Cassie peered at her beside clock and was pleased to see that it was only 8am. Almost on local time, she mused, lying back and stretching in the soft bed. She heard someone up and about in the kitchen, so she pulled a tee shirt over her head and wandered down the hall.

  ‘Ciao bella’ said Liz, turning to her, coffee cup in hand. ‘Want one?’ she indicated the machine.

  ‘Yes, but I’ll make it.’

  ‘Okay, I’m going back to bed to drink mine. Love these lie-ins,’ she murmured, wandering off.

  Cassie made herself a cappuccino and carried it back to bed. She propped herself up against the big, soft pillows and gazed out the window. Even at this early hour, the heat was palpable. It was going to be very hot today she thought. I might do some lengths in the pool this morning. It’s too hot for walking around town.

  After a breakfast of fruit and crusty rolls with some of Marta’s home made raspberry jam, Liz announced that she wanted to go down into town because Marco had told her there was a weekly food market in the old town which all the local growers, and food producers brought their produce to.

  ‘Sounds good,’ said Kat. ‘When we finish there, I want to check out the lingerie shop we saw the other night. How about you Cassie?’

  ‘You guys go ahead. I think I might get out my yoga mat and do some stretching.’

  ‘That’s very ‘Om’ of you,’ said Kat.

  ‘Or maybe I might swim some lengths and work the kinks out of this old body. I’m still feeling stiff from the horse riding to tell you the truth.’

  ‘First of all, your body isn’t old, it’s glorious’ said Liz, ‘and secondly, you might be feeling stiff from things other than horse riding.’ she added archly.

  ‘Agreed’ said Cassie, laughing. ‘But either way, I need some exercise. You know what I am like.’

  ‘Yes, like a caged lion, if you don’t set your pulse to warp speed at least once a day.’ said Liz.

  ‘I’d rather conserve my heartbeats with a little retail therapy,’ said Kat.

  ‘How about we go to the beach later this afternoon and have a swim’ said Cassie. ‘I’ll shout the cocktails afterwards.’

  ‘Okay. We’ll be back around lunchtime with something scrumptious for lunch.’ said Liz.

  ‘Have a Cannoli for me’ yelled Cassie to their departing backs, as ten minutes later they left the house, a large wicker basket tucked under Liz’s arm.

  Cassie changed into her white bikini and rolled her long hair up into a knot. She had packed her goggles but had forgotten a bathing cap. Stepping back out on to the terrace she eyeballed the pool. Fifteen meters. Not perfect,
twenty or twenty-five meters would have been ideal, but she could still have a good workout. The pool was deep, at least three meters at the far end and one and a half meters at the shallow end. Cassie dove in from the deep end and swam powerfully to the end of the pool, executing a perfect somersault turn into her next length. She swam free style to warm up her graceful movements eating up the lengths and making it seem effortless. She could feel her body stretching and her mind clearing as she worked up to twenty-five lengths. Stopping once to adjust her goggles and take a swig from her water bottle, she began breaststroke, scissoring her legs and pulling ahead with her hands in a strong, measured style. Two hundred meter breaststroke had been her best race at school and she had kept up her swim training to some degree over the years since then, swimming at least three times a week at the fifty-meter pool near her office.

  Stopping again to rehydrate, she saw something in her peripheral vision and pushed up her goggles to take a closer look. It was Diavolo, looking over the low plaster wall at her with his big, soft brown eyes.

  ‘Hi gorgeous,’ she said softly, and he blinked at her. So where was his master? She turned around and found Marco hunkered down by the side of the pool, grinning at her.

  ‘My mermaid really is a fish. Good morning Cassandra, you are a beautiful swimmer.’

  ‘Well thank you kind sir. To what do we owe the pleasure of your company this morning?’

  ‘It is my pleasure that I happened to see you as I rode by. Mind if I join you? He had already slipped off his long riding boots and was disposing of the rest of his clothing in a hurry so there wasn’t much Cassie could say. Her mouth dropped open as she watched his lean muscular frame unveiled, including his sexy black briefs, before they too were discarded in a heap. He slid into the pool like an eel and was beside her and holding her before she could take the ghastly goggles off her head. Not a great look she thought, her hair a ratty messy knot, and I’ve probably got goggle marks around my eyes. He didn’t seem to notice though, taking her chin in one hand and planting a soft kiss on her lips.