‘Bristol originally but I went travelling for a few years before settling here. My husband is from Verona and we’ve just bought an old house there. It needs renovating but he’s a builder so he knows what he’s doing, thankfully.’
‘It sounds perfect.’
‘I’m lucky, I know.’ She grinned. ‘Anyway, Sophia, there doesn’t seem to be much in the way of potential clientele here today, so do you fancy getting some lunch? I haven’t had a break yet and I could use one. Any excuse…’
‘That sounds lovely.’
‘Come on then. I’ll take you to have the best pizza ever.’
*
Phoebe took Sophia to a small cafe that opened out onto a cobbled square. In front of the square were steps that led down into the lake. Phoebe gestured at a table underneath the cream awning.
‘This is very pleasant,’ Sophia said. ‘I love being able to spend so much time outdoors. Back at home, with the unreliable weather, and the fact that I’m always cooped up in an office, I often fail to even see daylight.’
Phoebe nodded. ‘That’s what I love about Italy and why I’d never want to go back to Bristol. Not that the weather is always like this here, of course. We do get some dramatic thunderstorms, as you’ll know, but I love being out and about and there’s just more opportunity for it here.’
They browsed the menus.
‘So what are you ordering?’
‘You have to try one of their pizzas. They are delicious! Nothing like the frozen ones from the supermarket at all.’
A waitress took their order then soon returned with some drinks. As they sat gazing out at the lake, Sophia felt the calm seeping through her again.
‘What do you do, Sophia?’
‘Me?’ How to answer this one? ‘I’m currently… between jobs. I was working up until recently in investment banking. But I quit my job.’
Phoebe shook her head. ‘And what was that like?’
Sophia tilted her head. ‘Good question. It was full-on. The hours were long, the pay was good but the job itself… it wasn’t exactly fulfilling.’
‘No?’
Sophia shook her head.
‘Many of my colleagues thrived on the adrenaline rush they got from striking multi-million-pound deals and I guess I did for a while. It’s a lot of money to handle. But I think I got to the point where I was just going through the motions.’
‘Do you have a degree then?’
‘In Economics from Cambridge. I’ve always been good with numbers.’
‘Wow! I am full of admiration for anyone who gets into Cambridge.’
Sophia smiled. ‘I was always focused. I knew I wanted to be successful and to earn a decent wage. My father, in particular, always stressed the importance of pursuing a career and his message was that hard work was the only way to secure a good job. So I worked very hard.’
‘How do you feel about leaving your job?’
‘I was shocked at first that I’d quit. But I’m getting used to it and a holiday in the sun is just what I need to make the transition.’ She pressed her lips together.
‘Transition?’
Sophia shrugged. ‘To whatever it is that I’m going to do next. Of course, another reason why I upped and left was because of L… … ’
‘L… ?’ Phoebe asked, her eyebrows lifting. ‘There was a man involved, am I right?’
‘Yes.’ Sophia nodded. ‘My boyfriend of three years. He cheated. I caught him. I left and now he’s probably already shacked up with Jessica – the erotic model – eating cream off her flawless body.’
‘Oh no!’ Phoebe grimaced. ‘Caught in the act. How awful for you. Are you okay?’
‘Surprisingly, yes. I should be devastated but I realized I’d never really loved him and I just went along with what he wanted; which, as it turned out, was mainly to take selfies while I funded our nice apartment and everything else.’
‘I don’t want to pry but he didn’t do that to you, did he?’
Sophia frowned. ‘Do what?’
‘Well… I can’t help noticing your forehead and your lip.’
Sophia touched them automatically. ‘Oh no! No, that wasn’t Lee. It was a man who ran into me at the airport. He knocked me off my feet.’
‘I hope you gave as good as you got.’
‘Something like that.’ She paused, her heart flipping as she thought of the irritation she’d seen on Joe’s face earlier on. ‘But Lee never physically hurt me and, to be honest, we were more like roommates than a couple towards the end. Well, for a long time actually.’
‘I know what that’s like.’
‘You do? But you’re married to a hot Italian… or at least you said he’s Italian and the way your eyes misted over made me think he must be hot.’ Sophia’s cheeks warmed at her own assumption.
‘Oh yes, Alex is hot all right.’ She smiled. ‘But before him, before I went travelling, there was another man. We’d been together since school and it was more habit and a fear of change than anything else. We broke up after he let another woman fawn all over him in front of me in a pub. I was only twenty-three and recently home from university. I studied English and Media at Cardiff. I loved the three years there but made the mistake of going with my boyfriend from home. We lived together and I never really got to open my wings and fly.’ She flapped her hands, then let one drift up into the air before bringing it down to the table with a slap. ‘What a mistake that was. He didn’t treat me very well.’
‘I’m sorry.’
Phoebe shrugged. ‘What can you do? It’s all in the past and I’ve been with Alex for… gosh, over six years now and married for four. He’s kind, caring, attentive and makes me feel like there are no other women in the world. That is what you need from a man, Sophia.’
The waitress arrived with two pizzas and cutlery, and Sophia waited until she’d gone before speaking.
‘These smell incredible.’
‘Tell me about it. Anyway, you’re away from that knobhead Lee, now, so you can start to enjoy yourself. Have some fun, Sophia, because that’s what life is all about. Who knows… perhaps you’ll find yourself a handsome Italian too.’
Sophia’s mind flickered to Joe as she took a bite of her pizza. ‘Mmmm. This is so good.’
‘It’s the mozzarella and sundried tomatoes.’
‘Not forgetting the olives. Heavenly!’
They ate in a companionable silence, as if they’d been friends for years, and Sophia thought about what Phoebe had said. She was surely joking about finding an Italian boyfriend. Just because it had happened for her, didn’t mean it would happen for everyone and, besides, Sophia was here to find herself, not another man.
She couldn’t help being surprised at how easy she felt with both Phoebe and Joe, though. She’d hardly had any friends growing up and here she was, a few days into her stay in Malcesine, and already she’d had heart to hearts with Joe and with Phoebe. Of course, Joe had not been quite as friendly when she’d seen him earlier, but she would not forget how kind he had been the previous evening. Even if he had seemed to regret it.
‘I can’t believe I ate the whole thing,’ Sophia said, staring at her empty plate. She patted her belly. ‘And I don’t even feel that full.’
‘Room for gelato then?’ Phoebe waggled her eyebrows.
‘Oh I couldn’t.’
‘Sure you could. Come on, I’ll treat you then we can go and sit in the sunshine.’
When the bill had been paid, they went to sit on the stone steps in front of the restaurant. Sophia licked the mango gelato that she’d ordered in a waffle cone and sighed with pleasure. ‘This is the best ice cream ever.’
The sun was warm on her back and the view in front of her was breathtaking. The water that gently lapped over the bottom step was clear and inviting and she could imagine sinking into it and allowing it to caress her skin. Just when she thought it couldn’t get any better, two swans with pure white feathers and bright orange beaks floated around the corner and came up to t
he steps where they bobbed on the water.
‘Couldn’t you just stay here for ever?’ Phoebe asked, a dreamy smile on her pretty face.
‘I think I could,’ Sophia replied. ‘Or at least for a while. Although I would miss my parents.’
‘Lucky you.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Having parents you’d miss. Not many adults are that close to theirs.’
‘No, so it seems.’
Sophia thought of her mum and her nonna, and the secret she’d recently discovered, and her heart ached. She loved her parents deeply and the idea of either of them suffering was terrible. She knew she’d need to be there for her mum when she found out the truth, and she also knew that she wouldn’t want to be far away from her long term. If only there was a way to experience this life regularly and be at home, while enjoying a fabulous career. Preferably like Phoebe did, working for herself.
But that would probably be too much to hope for.
Chapter 11
Joe couldn’t sleep. He’d been for a swim, for a run and worked his evening shift at the hotel, but even though he was exhausted, he couldn’t switch off.
There were two things playing on his mind.
One was the telephone call with his very distressed mother and the second was the way he’d treated Sophia when she’d approached him in the square. He had no right to be so rude to her but she’d come to speak to him just as he was trying to process the phone call and he’d basically given her the cold shoulder.
And he couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Neither could he stop thinking about his mother’s voice, sounding so small and distressed as she’d called him from their bungalow in Oxford. It was as if her usual strength was slipping away with each day that his father’s health declined. This morning, she’d caught him tearing old photographs of James from an album and throwing them into the outside bin. When she’d questioned him about it, he’d stared at her blankly then tried to carry on.
But again, when Joe had suggested he return home to help her, she’d cut him off and told him that she would be fine.
To try to stop the worry he felt when he thought of his mother’s tone, he turned his thoughts to Sophia. With her pretty eyes framed by long black lashes and that thick, dark hair, she was stunning. He’d kept away from relationships for so long that he never allowed himself to entertain thoughts of becoming involved with anyone, or caring about anyone other than his parents and Charlotte. Yet there was something about Sophia, something more than her external beauty – although those curves were hard to ignore – and she had got to him. He hated to admit it but she really had. She’d looked hurt when he’d turned on her earlier and he hated that he’d done that. He’d given her a bruised forehead and lip, which he was furious with himself over, but she’d been gracious enough to allow him to try to make that up to her. But to turn her away, after he’d worked so hard the evening before to get her to trust him and with a secret that had shocked her to her core, was unforgivable.
And this scared him, because he shouldn’t care. He’d become skilled at not caring about women, at not letting anything with them move beyond a few dates or nights together. He never stayed all night at a date’s house, often making excuses to leave as soon as he could, and never allowed them to penetrate his heart. Sometimes it was difficult, because some of the women he’d dated were lovely, but he always made it clear from the outset that he wasn’t after anything serious. Strangely, that seemed to spur some of them on, as if they thought they’d be the one to ‘tame’ him, the one to win him over, but they were always disappointed. There were those women who were happy to have a one-night stand, or to enjoy his company, women like him who’d been hurt or who were too busy with their careers to get involved, and that was always easier for him. But now he’d come across a woman who had touched something inside him and he hadn’t even kissed her properly, let alone slept with her.
So it would probably be very wise not to sleep with her. And she might not want to sleep with him.
Yet…
Unless Sophia was actually interested in having some fun this summer. He hated to use that euphemism, even to himself, but surely it would be fun? They were both adults, both escaping their lives back in England and, as far as he knew, neither of them would be in Malcesine long term. So there would be no harm in enjoying her company, in getting to know her better, if she felt the same. He doubted she’d want anything serious as she had her own dramas to deal with and had recently escaped from what sounded like a terribly draining relationship, so as long as she was also happy to keep things casual, Joe could be her way to move on.
He certainly didn’t want to leave things the way they’d been that morning. That wouldn’t be right and he didn’t need the added weight on his conscience. Besides, with the way things were at home, he clearly wouldn’t be able to spend the whole summer in Malcesine. If his father continued to deteriorate so rapidly, he’d go back as he’d need to be there to help. His mother had insisted that he stay with her brother for a few more weeks but he could tell that things were getting tougher. This morning she’d finally admitted that she might well need him more in coming months, so he should enjoy himself while he could, because it would be a long, hard winter.
He sighed and flopped onto his pillow.
Why did everything have to be so difficult? He looked at other people and their lives seemed so easy from where he was standing, far less complicated. But then he remembered Sophia and he knew it wasn’t true. Everyone had things to deal with and no one’s life was easy. You just had to cling to the good times while you could and brace yourself for the challenges that came your way.
*
Sophia tilted her face towards the morning sun. By the time Nonna had arrived home last night, it had been too late for a frank conversation and she had, in all honesty, chickened out. Instead, they’d eaten a light supper then headed to bed, both of them weary after a busy day.
Then this morning, after a rather restless night, Sophia had plodded down to the kitchen bleary-eyed and with a pounding headache, to find her nonna looking tired too. So when Nonna had suggested a trip on the ferry to Limone that day, Sophia was relieved. It would be lovely to have a day out as well as to have a good reason to avoid asking her about the letter she’d found.
They had boarded the ferry at the wooden dock and were being whisked across the water on the sturdy white boat. It was a clear morning and the mountains reached up into the cobalt blue sky where there wasn’t a cloud to be seen. The water splashed against the sides of the ferry and all around her people chatted about their time in Malcesine and about what Limone had to offer. Nonna was quiet, gazing out at the scenery, so Sophia just sat back and let the wind toy with her hair and fill her lungs, cleansing her from the inside out.
Smaller boats rocked gently as they passed, caught on the waves created by the ferry and windsurfers sped across the indigo surface of the lake, occasionally losing their balance and falling into the depths only to resurface, buoyant in their lifejackets. Sophia wondered if the water would be cold today and shivered as she imagined falling in.
The ferry soon reached the shores of Limone and sailed along adjacent to the harbour, where people sat soaking up the sunshine or dangling fishing rods into the water. Anchored boats and buoys bobbed nearby and Sophia eyed up the terracotta roofs of the town. The mountains behind rose up steep and craggy, with the odd green tree or bush sticking out at precarious angles, creating a dramatic backdrop. As the captain pulled in to moor the ferry, Sophia peered over the edge, down into the shallows at the rocks and sandy lakebed. They disembarked then watched as the ferry pulled away, heading for Riva del Garde, leaving a trailing veil of white foam in its wake. The quayside was busy and Sophia took hold of her grandmother’s arm to ensure that she didn’t lose her in the crowd of tourists.
As they shuffled along, Sophia looked up at the buildings and sheer rockface. High up the mountain she could make out a road that was carved
through the rock itself. The front of the harbour was lined with restaurants with trees and brightly coloured flower pots lined up before them, adding to the prettiness of the scene.
‘Shall we walk for a while?’ Nonna asked. ‘So you can see the town?’
‘I’d like that.’
They wandered along narrow lanes lined with small shops selling tourist souvenirs. As they passed by the town’s many restaurants, delicious aromas of freshly cooked meals filled with plenty of fresh garlic and herbs permeated the air. North of the harbour, the streets became quieter, and Sophia admired the peaceful cafe terraces, abandoned lemon groves and small swimming beaches.
‘Very pretty, isn’t it?’ Nonna asked.
‘It’s lovely.’
‘Shall we stop for a drink?’
‘That sounds like a wonderful idea.’
They took seats at a small cafe in the shade of the rockface and Nonna sighed as they sat down.
‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes, just a few aches and pains today… All my own fault.’ Nonna nodded, then stretched out her legs, lifted her cotton skirt and allowed the sun to warm her skin.
‘What were you doing to end up aching?’
The older woman smiled. ‘Helping a friend… Donatella.’
‘With what?’
‘She has family coming today, so I helped her to clean, peg out washing and to prepare food. Her back yard was a bit disordinato – a mess – too, so we pulled out weeds and swept it, then set out her garden furniture.’
‘You shouldn’t be moving furniture around.’
‘Why not? I’m fitter than lots of younger people, Sophia. And a friend needed help. Since her husband died she has struggled. I am able to help, so I do.’
Sophia smiled. She suspected that Nonna helped out more than one friend and that Donatella was not the only widow enjoying her grandmother’s kindness and compassion.
A waitress arrived and took their orders. It appeared to be a family-run business with three generations of Limone residents rushing around serving customers. The atmosphere was warm and friendly and, again, Sophia wondered how it would be to live in a small Italian town.
Love at the Italian Lake Page 9