Dreaming of Tuscany

by T A Williams

  Mimi shook her head.

  ‘Believe it or not, the two months on set in Siena and now these few weeks at the villa are almost my only experience of Italy. I’d only been to Rome before, but that was for an award ceremony and I just flew in and out in a day.’ She glanced across at Bee ruefully. ‘You wouldn’t believe how often that’s happened to me. The places I’ve visited would rival, or outdo, almost anybody’s bucket list, but most of the time all I ever see is the airport and the inside of a limo or a helicopter.’ Bee saw her grin. ‘Poor little rich girl, right?’

  Bee grinned back. ‘What about when you were younger? Before you became famous? Didn’t your parents take you anywhere nice on holiday?’

  Mimi’s face became more serious again, not just because a tractor and trailer had suddenly appeared from a side turning, forcing them to slow almost to a standstill.

  ‘My parents took me and my sister on holiday most years, but it was always package holidays to seaside resorts, mainly in Spain. Of course, that was for financial reasons. Dad didn’t make an awful lot of money working for the council and we were always struggling to make ends meet. As kids, Meg, my sister, and I were perfectly happy with beach holidays but, looking back on it now, I wish we’d been a bit more adventurous.’

  ‘I didn’t know you had a sister. What does she do? Is she in movies as well?’

  Mimi shook her head. ‘She used to be a professional tennis player, but now she’s a full-time mum. She’s got three lovely kids and a husband who adores her.’

  Bee couldn’t miss the note of envy in Mimi’s voice. She did her best to offer encouragement.

  ‘Good for her, Mimi, if that’s what she wants. Personally, I’ve been concentrating on my career.’

  ‘You wouldn’t like to settle down? Start a family?’

  ‘I suppose I will do one day, but not yet. I mean, Jamie and I got on pretty well and we lived together for a couple of years, but the idea of kids never occurred to me.’ She glanced across. ‘And you, Mimi? I imagine your career is all-important to you, isn’t it?’

  Mimi didn’t answer immediately. This gave Bee time to check the map and point out a turning ahead.

  ‘See that sign? Take a left there and we should be at San Galgano in a couple of minutes.’

  Mimi did as instructed and they soon saw another turning to the left, signposted to the abbey. They found themselves on a straight road, lined with cypress trees, with cars parked on the verge on both sides.

  ‘Shall we stop here? I don’t like the look of that.’

  Mimi pointed along the road ahead to where a small bus was attempting to do what looked like a thirty-three point turn across the road and a queue of traffic had already formed either side of it.

  ‘Good idea.’

  Mimi pulled off the road and they bumped to a halt. Bee checked her wig in the mirror. She had worked out by now that if she put it on slightly squint, the hair on her left side did a pretty reasonable job of hiding her damaged cheek. The cheek itself was looking better day by day as the scars healed and the colour changed back from angry red to a normal pink. She had been told to avoid the sun, so she stuck her sun hat on top as usual. As a result, her face was substantially paler than her arms and legs, but all in all she didn’t look too bad, at least to a casual passer-by.

  Mimi’s sunhat and dark glasses, coupled with the same foundation she had applied for dinner the other night with Joey, almost completely hid her remaining scarring. All considered, the two of them, dressed down in baggy tops, sensible shorts and trainers, would hopefully not attract attention.

  As they climbed out of the car, Mimi finally answered Bee’s question, but she prefaced her answer with a request.

  ‘I enjoy talking to you, Bee. I really do. I don’t have many close friends and it’s a real joy to be able to talk about all this stuff. Just promise me one thing, will you, please?’

  Bee smiled at her. ‘I know what you’re going to say and I promise. I’m enjoying spending time with you, too, and you can be sure I’ll never betray your confidence. What happens in Tuscany stays in Tuscany.’

  Mimi reached across and squeezed her hand.

  ‘You’re a sweetie, Bee, you know that? I really mean it. Anyway, the answer to your question is that the idea of a family and kids really, really appeals to me. The problem has been finding the right man and, I suppose, finding the time.’ She released Bee’s hand and smiled conspiratorially. ‘Besides, I’m forty-two and if I’m going to do it, it had better be sooner, rather than later.’

  They walked along the tree-lined avenue past a No Entry sign that a number of cars had ignored, either by accident or design, towards the abbey itself. Although Bee knew what to expect, the sight of the building came as a considerable surprise to Mimi, who turned towards her in amazement.

  ‘But there’s no roof.’

  The huge abbey church was now just four walls open to the sky. The façade with its three arched doorways and two simple windows above looked like something left over from a bombing raid, bleak and bare. It was a very big building and in its heyday it must have been a site of serious importance. But now, as they got closer, all they could see of its former magnificence were the sculpted lintels over the doorways, featuring flowers and plants. Slipping into her role of guide, Bee added a few words of explanation.

  ‘The abbey was built by the Cistercians in the thirteenth century. Cistercians always sited their abbeys in valleys with flowing water and good agricultural land nearby. They weren’t rich, ostentatious monks like some of the other religious orders. They believed in the simple life with no frills and they worked the land, trying to be as self-sufficient as possible. It must have been a pretty Spartan lifestyle.’

  Mimi smiled across at her. ‘I know where they were coming from. Since coming to Montegrifone, I’ve been finding that it’s really good to get away from all the glitz.’

  Buying tickets to enter the ruined church produced the first test of their precious anonymity. While Mimi lurked in the background and studied the vaulted ceiling of the Scriptorium, Bee went over to the desk and bought two tickets from the friendly girl behind the counter. She kept her battered cheek slightly averted and she noticed nothing untoward on the other girl’s face. Returning to Mimi, she whispered in her ear.

  ‘So far so good. The disguise seems to be working.’

  As they walked around the inside of the eerie, empty church, Bee explained how famine first and then the Black Death in 1348 had driven the monks out, leaving the magnificent abbey to fall into rack and ruin. It was an impressive but rather gloomy place, and they were both glad when they got back out again and began the short walk up the hill to see the sword in the stone.

  The sword in the stone, allegedly planted there by Saint Galgano himself, occupied the very centre of an ancient stone and brick construction on the top of a hillock. The original building was an early medieval chapel, totally circular, formed of alternating rows of light grey local stone and red brick. Over the years, other bits of building had been added, along with a parking area and little garden. A very chatty old couple looked after the place and the gift shop alongside it. Bee led Mimi into the chapel and pointed to the sword in the stone. Protected beneath a clear plastic cover, all that was visible was the rusty handle, protruding from a boulder. Alas, the effect was somewhat spoilt by a lingering stink of cat pee.

  ‘Saint Galgano is supposed to have stuck his sword in here to symbolise his renunciation of his former life as a nobleman and soldier. It’s claimed to have been here ever since the twelfth century.’

  Mimi stared at it in fascination. They were alone in the little chapel, but she kept her voice down all the same.

  ‘Maybe I should do something similar, the day I give up acting and settle down, assuming that ever happens.’

  ‘You’d never give up acting, would you? Loads of actresses have children and keep on going.’

  Mimi looked across at Bee. ‘You’re probably right. Besides, I don’t have
a sword to plant in the ground, anyway. And the way my agent keeps getting me to sign contracts, I’ll probably still be acting on my deathbed.’

  Outside, they surveyed the view over the fields to the hills beyond, most of which were capped by fortified villages, and to one side of the building they came upon the source of the cat pee: a group of feral-looking cats were stretched out on window ledges and flower beds, fast asleep, no doubt after a busy night dealing with the local rodent population. Bee clicked her tongue in an attempt to wake them, but didn’t get so much as a twitch out of them. She glanced across at Mimi.

  ‘All right for some.’

  ‘I don’t blame them. It’s really, really hot today.’ And it was.

  From there, they drove up the very steep hill to Chiusdino and walked around the tortuous, narrow medieval streets, hugging the shade wherever possible. As anticipated, the view from up here was panoramic, all the way across to the peaks of the Apennines in the far distance. Although there was a restaurant aptly named Caffé Panoramico, they decided not to risk sitting down in close proximity to other guests for fear of recognition, so they settled for a bottle of water and a banana each from a local shop.

  By the time they got back to the villa, it was late afternoon and both of them were feeling weary, but as they pulled up outside the villa, Bee was suddenly roused from her somnolent state. A familiar dusty pickup was parked there and, leaning against the bonnet, chatting to Umberto, was Luke. As he saw her, Bee for a moment thought his eyes lit up, but it was only a fleeting second and she couldn’t be sure. What she was sure about, however, was that her own eyes definitely did.

  ‘How does a glass of fresh lemonade in the garden with the man of your dreams sound?’ Bee could tell from Mimi’s tone that she was teasing, but she blushed all the same.

  ‘It sounds wonderful, but I bet he says no.’

  ‘We’ll see.’ Mimi was still grinning as they climbed out of the car.

  ‘Good afternoon, gentlemen.’ Mimi went over and shook hands with both men. ‘Bee and I were wondering if you felt like joining us for a glass of cold lemonade, Luke.’

  Bee came across to join her, feeling unexpectedly shy, almost like a teenager again. More for something to say than any other reason, she translated for Umberto’s benefit, and saw him nod emphatically.

  ‘An excellent idea. Ines has just made a new batch this afternoon.’ The old man turned towards Luke. ‘You will join us, won’t you, Luca?’

  To her surprise, Bee heard Luke reply immediately.

  ‘I’d love a glass of lemonade. Thank you, ladies. Have you had an interesting day?’

  Mimi nodded enthusiastically as they followed Umberto towards the front door, watched by the peacocks who had very sensibly taken up position in the shade of a big clump of oleanders. ‘Very. I’ve had a fascinating tour of historical Tuscany with my very own guide.’

  ‘And nobody recognised you?’

  ‘No. It all went well, didn’t it, Bee?’

  By now, Bee had collected herself and she was able to respond in a normal voice.

  ‘We went to San Galgano and Chiusdino and then stopped off to view a number of other tiny little places on the way back. And nobody so much as raised an eyebrow at us.’

  They walked in through the lobby, along the corridor and out into the back garden, heading for the rattan armchairs set in the shade. As they did so, a black shadow emerged from the flower border and came trotting across to greet them.

  Luke nodded towards him. ‘The coolest place for Romeo is underneath the thickest bushes. Either there or in the river.’

  Mimi crouched down to make a fuss of the dog and glanced towards Luke as she did so.

  ‘You know, that’s one thing that’s missing in this lovely villa – a swimming pool.’

  Luke nodded. ‘That’s in the plans for next year. You’ll have to come back again.’

  Mimi grinned at him as she straightened up and the dog transferred his affections to Bee. ‘I’ll definitely be back next year. You can be sure of that.’

  ‘But in the meantime there’s always the pool in the river. The water’s clean and at this time of year it’s not too cold.’ Luke turned to Bee. ‘Just go down to the river, turn right and keep going upstream until it gets really steep. There’s a lovely little pool there. I often used to swim there.’

  ‘I know exactly where you mean, Luke. That’s where I went for my very first picnic shortly after getting here. Do you realise that’s almost a month ago already? I was tempted to go for a swim, but it was just after the accident and I was told to avoid risks of infection, so I didn’t go in.’

  ‘Well, your cuts have all healed up really well now, haven’t they? Presumably there would be no problem for you to go for a swim.’

  She could feel his eyes on her and she struggled unsuccessfully to stop herself from blushing.

  ‘You’re really looking heaps better, Bee.’ Mimi joined in, a mischievous smile on her face. ‘Although your cheeks are a bit red at the moment.’

  Bee saw her wink and felt her cheeks glow all the more. Fortunately, Umberto chose that moment to emerge from the kitchen with glasses of ice-cold lemonade. By the time he had distributed these, Bee had regained her composure.

  ‘Thanks a lot. My cheek is definitely getting better. I’m sure there’s no reason why I shouldn’t go for a swim now. I’m seeing the doctor in a week or two and I hope he’s going to tell me that I’m going to come out of it looking okay.’

  ‘You already do, Bee.’

  Luke’s voice was low and it sounded sincere. No sooner had he spoken than he dropped his eyes and crouched down to scratch Romeo’s tummy. Mimi’s caught Bee’s eye and grinned.

  ‘We must give this natural pool a go, Bee.’

  Bee nodded back at her.

  ‘I’ll take you up there one of these days, Mimi. It’s a super place.’

  Mimi, however, still hadn’t finished matchmaking. ‘And you should join us, Luke.’

  Bee spluttered into her lemonade at the thought of Luke with his shirt off.

  He looked up, but now, the sparkle had gone out of his eyes.

  ‘I haven’t been there for ages. I really should.’

  His tone was sombre, in spite of his words, and Bee wondered if it had been a special place for him and his fiancée. Seeing his solemn expression at least served to shake her out of her state of teenage embarrassment and she found herself smiling encouragingly at him.

  ‘Maybe we’ll see you there one of these days.’

  He didn’t answer.

  * * *

  That evening, after a shower and a change of clothes, Bee walked down to Luke’s father’s house and found him sitting outside underneath the olive tree once more. To her surprise, she noticed that the garden was looking a lot tidier than the last time she had been there. The tallest weeds had for the most part been removed and somebody had clearly been busy with secateurs. She was quick to comment.

  ‘Hello, Riccardo, have you been working in the garden?’

  ‘Yes. And about time, too.’ He waved her in. ‘Come and have a drink, Bee. There’s wine in the kitchen or I’ve got cold mineral water and a bucket of ice out here if you prefer.’

  This was Bee’s second surprise of the evening. She had been expecting to find her neighbour with his usual glass of wine in his hand. To see him with just plain water was remarkable, and commendable. She decided to add a bit of positive reinforcement.

  ‘It’s so hot, I’d love a drop of cold water. I’ll go and get myself a glass.’

  She went into the house, glancing into the studio as she walked past. There was yet another new canvas on the easel, clearly still in its embryonic early stages. This, too, was commendable progress, if what he had told her about having done virtually no painting for ages was true. Maybe Riccardo was getting his painting mojo back.

  She grabbed a water glass and returned to the garden. This time she sat down on the bench alongside him and the two of them sipped their wa
ter and admired the view in silence for some minutes, but it wasn’t an uncomfortable silence and it wasn’t totally silent. Above them the swallows were circling noisily as usual and somewhere in the distance the peacocks were screaming at each other. For the first time she heard what had to be a goat. Maybe this meant that Berlusconi was out on the prowl once more and she was glad she didn’t have any washing on the line. Other than that, it was calm and peaceful. She wondered wistfully if there was any way this peace might be made to extend into the relationship of the father and the son.

  ‘So, what about sitting for me, Bee? I’m keen to get on with your portrait.’

  ‘That’s what I came to see you about, Riccardo. Whenever you like this week. Tomorrow or the day after maybe? You tell me what you prefer.’

  Riccardo nodded gratefully. ‘Thank you so much. I’ve got to go to the doctor’s tomorrow. How about the day after tomorrow some time in the morning?’

  ‘That sounds great. I’ll see you, say around ten, and I won’t forget to wear something that shows off a bit more skin than usual.’ She grinned at him. ‘But don’t get your hopes up. Just like Mimi, I’ve got a no-nudity clause in my contract.’

  She was delighted to see him smile back, a real, uncomplicated smile this time.

  ‘In that case, I’d better review my plan to cast you in the role of Venus emerging from her shell in my next painting after all.’

  ‘I haven’t got the hair for it.’ She ran her fingers through her hair and definitely it felt a bit softer. Rather than the kind of cut favoured by the US Marine Corps, it was now, just over six weeks since the accident, beginning to resemble a fairly radical urchin cut. Also, the stitches on the main head wound were feeling less and less prominent and no longer tender to the touch. Maybe, she told herself, it wouldn’t be too long before she would be able to leave here and restart her life. If that was what she wanted to do.

  ‘I noticed you’ve started a new canvas, Riccardo. It looked like a series of figures sitting round a table. Is that going to have a Renaissance flavour as well?’