A Holiday to Remember: An absolutely hilarious romantic comedy set under the Italian sun

by Susanne O’Leary

  ‘Oh,’ Leanne said, completely taken aback. ‘Never thought of it that way. I’ve been thinking about my blogging, you see. It might turn into something more than just a bit of fun.’

  Maddy nodded. ‘It could. You’re so good at it. Those posts have shown your talent for writing. So you might take that into account too. But hey, is this really such a big deal? Couldn’t you just wear those things now and then in those Insta pictures and do a few hashtags? Not make it into something big, just a casual thing. Add a few jokes, see what happens.’

  Leanne brightened. ‘Oh yes, that’s a great idea! That way it’ll be a little less important and nobody will really notice.’

  ‘Except those who like the concept.’ Maddy pushed at Leanne. ‘Go on, tell that hunk you’re doing it your way or not at all. Show you have a bit of that famous Irish chutzpa.’

  ‘That’s not Irish.’

  ‘I know but it’s such a great expression.’ Maddy fixed Leanne with her eyes. ‘Are we agreed?’

  Leanne laughed and gave Maddy a shove. ‘Sure we are, girl.’

  ‘That’s the spirit. See you later, and then I want to see a smile on your face.’

  ‘I promise,’ Leanne said, walking down the street to meet Carlo, vowing to show him who was boss.

  Eight

  Maddy arrived back at Lucilla’s spectacular apartment, where she found Claudia on the terrace having a drink and looking out over the floodlit city. She looked up when Maddy stepped through the open French doors.

  ‘Buona sera. I’m having a Campari and orange. Help yourself. The drinks are on the table over there.’

  ‘Thank you. I’ve never tried Campari before. But it looks nice.’ Maddy poured a little of the bright red liquor into a tall glass, topping it with orange juice and a few ice cubes. She sat down on the bench beside Claudia and sipped the drink. ‘Mm, this is really gorgeous. So refreshing, sweet and sour at the same time. Lovely.’

  ‘One of my favourite evening drinks,’ Claudia said. ‘Much nicer than champagne.’

  ‘Especially in hot weather.’ Maddy gazed out across the moonlit city which had taken on a fairy-tale quality, with the old stones of the buildings bathed in a golden light, and the dark velvety sky dotted with stars.

  ‘The city is lovely, don’t you think?’ Claudia said after a moment’s silence.

  ‘Fabulous,’ Maddy breathed. ‘It’s like a dream to be sitting here on this terrace.’

  ‘I love it too. I always missed it during my years in New York.’

  ‘Ah, but you must have had an amazing life there, too.’

  ‘Of course.’ Claudia passed Maddy a bowl of big, juicy green olives. ‘It was fun. Most of it anyway. My first husband was very wealthy. We had an apartment in Park Avenue, and a summer house in the Hamptons. We spent January and February in Palm Beach.’

  ‘Wow, really?’ Maddy said, confused by the flat tone in Claudia’s voice. ‘Must have been wonderful.’

  ‘Yes. For about three months.’ Claudia laughed. ‘Don’t look so shocked. I was joking. I was quite happy for many years with my first husband. He was property developer, much older than me. I was his third wife.’

  ‘How did you meet him?’ Maddy asked, intrigued.

  Claudia drained her glass. ‘We met here in Florence nearly forty years ago. I was working as a tour guide during the summer. He was here on holiday just after his divorce from wife number two. He was rich, handsome and very sad. I cheered him up and then we fell in love.’

  ‘Sounds like a fairy tale.’

  Claudia laughed and shook her head. ‘If I was to tell it like a story from a book it would go like this: Once upon a time there was a young Italian girl called Claudia who met a handsome, rich, heartbroken man. They got married and he brought her to New York to live in his beautiful ten-room apartment. Claudia was very happy at first, but then she met her two nasty step-daughters who did everything to make her leave. Claudia carried on regardless and gave her husband the one thing his other wives hadn’t; a son.’

  ‘How lovely,’ Maddy said, sighing. ‘Apart from the nasty step-daughters.’

  Claudia got up to make herself another drink. ‘It would have been if that was the end, but it wasn’t. The step-daughters won in the end by telling their dad Claudia was carrying on with other men and that she was just a tart. The handsome husband believed their lies and left the lovely Italian wife. Divorce proceedings started and there was even a custody battle for the son, who was now a teenager. But… Fate – or our Lord in heaven – intervened and the husband died suddenly of a heart attack in a hotel room in Florida while, ahem, cavorting with a girl from an escort service.’

  ‘Oh, no!’ Maddy exclaimed. ‘How awful.’

  Claudia grinned. ‘Yes. Of course. Horrible. But what happened next was truly amazing.’

  Maddy stared at her. ‘And…? Come on, Claudia, I’m dying to know.’

  Claudia sat down again with her drink. ‘As we had signed a prenup, I thought I would end up with only the clothes on my back. But a newly written will was found in the safe of his lawyer. He left me the Park Avenue apartment and ten million dollars. The step-daughters got the rest. And there was a codicil saying anyone who contested the will would end up with nothing. All signed by witnesses so the whole thing was airtight. The end.’

  ‘Fantastic,’ Maddy laughed.

  ‘That story was,’ Claudia remarked. ‘The next one wasn’t quite as lovely. More like a horror story really. Not something you’d like to hear on a beautiful evening like this.’

  ‘Maybe not,’ Maddy agreed, sensing it was a touchy subject, but disappointed she couldn’t find out what had happened next.

  ‘Enough about me.’ Claudia stood up and put her glass on the table. ‘Ah, Florence. What magical city this is. I’m so happy to be back.’

  ‘It’s truly wonderful.’ Maddy checked her watch. ‘It’s nearly nine. Where are Leanne and Carlo?’

  ‘Probably gone straight to the restaurant. We’re all meeting at this new Neapolitan pizzeria later. I’m really looking forward to it. Rome and Naples are the only two places in Italy where you get a decent pizza. And now, like Mohammed and the mountain, a little bit of Naples has arrived here in Florence.’

  ‘Sounds great.’ Maddy got up. I’d better change, then. What does one wear to a pizzeria?’

  Claudia shrugged. ‘Anything, really. It’ll be casual but chic. That kind of thing.’

  Maddy laughed. ‘That’s the hardest look to achieve.’

  ‘We’ll just have to do our best. Let’s walk to the restaurant together. It’s only a few blocks, as they say in New York.’

  ‘Okay. I’ll meet you in the hall in about twenty minutes?’

  ‘Perfect,’ Claudia said, disappearing into the cavernous living room.

  Maddy stood on the terrace for a moment, staring out at the glittering city, worrying about Leanne. She felt Leanne needed a guiding hand, someone to look out for her. Leanne was rough and tough on the outside but inside there was a hurt little girl who had to put up with a lot of heartache as she grew up. And now she seemed to be attracted to a man she had only just met and agreeing to something that might ruin her chances of developing her blogging into a career… Not that Carlo was in any way bad, but he was probably spoilt and used to women throwing themselves at him. And then there was Lucilla, a lovely bubbly woman who might turn into a tigress if someone threatened to steal the man she loved, even if they were no longer a couple. Maddy suspected there was a lot going on below the surface. She just hoped it wouldn’t ruin their holiday…

  * * *

  Leanne found Carlo at a table outside the bar in the quiet little square just a street away from the museum. It was a peaceful oasis, away from noise of traffic and crowds of tourists, with planters full of roses and a lime tree in the middle, where a dove was cooing softly. Piano music could be heard streaming from an open window.

  He rose as she approached and pulled out a chair. ‘Buona sera,’ he said, kissing her o
n both cheeks in the Italian way. ‘Did you have a nice afternoon?’

  ‘Wonderful.’ Leanne sank down on the chair. ‘My feet are sore though. We only managed the Duomo and the Uffizi. So much to see and so little time.’

  ‘That’s true.’ Carlo sat down and snapped his fingers at a waiter. ‘What do you want?’

  ‘I have no idea. A cold beer, maybe.’

  ‘Good choice. Is Peroni all right? It’s an Italian beer.’

  ‘Lovely.’ Leanne eased her sandals off under the table. ‘The Uffizi is amazing. I never knew renaissance art could be so fabulous.’

  ‘What kind of art do you like?’ Carlo asked, looking intently at her.

  ‘I could say Picasso but that would be a lie. In fact,’ Leanne confessed, ‘I don’t know much about art. This is the first time I’ve been in museums and seen paintings in real life. I mean, the paintings in their original…’ She stopped and laughed. ‘Oh shite, I don’t know what I’m saying. Hey, I wasn’t brought up to appreciate art and music and things like that. The nearest I ever came to a concert was an Irish music session in a pub. And art? Well, we had a few framed prints of hunting scenes because my mam thought it was posh.’ Leanne laughed again, feeling both excited and flustered as he directed his luminous green eyes at her. Why did he have to be so bloody gorgeous?

  Their beers arrived and Leanne took a huge gulp from her bottle to cover her nervousness. The cool liquid slid down her throat like an ice-cold stream. She burped discreetly and smiled at Carlo, blushing. ‘Lovely’.

  ‘Cold beer on a hot day is always nice.’ Carlo took a few sips from his bottle, wiped his mouth and smiled. ‘So… you have seen the clothes?’

  Leanne coughed. ‘Clothes? I wouldn’t call them that. More like… weird garments. Are you sure there isn’t a mistake and those things were meant to be costumes for a zombie movie?’

  Carlo threw his head back and laughed. ‘I know what you mean. The designs are a little unusual. I was shocked myself when I saw them. But it’s very new and very daring.’

  ‘You can say that again.’ Leanne took another, more careful sip of her beer.

  ‘I know it’s not like anything you’d wear,’ Carlo said. ‘But I think we can do a great job marketing them on your blog. The photos would be eye-catching and…’

  ‘Not the blog though,’ Leanne interrupted. ‘Maddy doesn’t want us to post the photos there. It’ll have to be on my own Instagram account. I already have fifty thousand followers, and I’m sure it’ll grow if…’ She stopped. ‘Honestly, I don’t think your idea will work. I’ve thought of a different approach that’ll be less work and more fun and won’t make us look stupid if it fails.’

  He looked intrigued. ‘Go on.’

  ‘Marketing by stealth,’ Leanne said. ‘Like product placement in movies.’

  ‘Oh.’ He thought for a moment. ‘You mean we’ll wear some of the items in fun photos and then just mention the brand here and there?’

  Leanne beamed at him. ‘Exactly! And this way, we’ll have covered our behinds in case the stuff doesn’t attract any attention. Or we could say we wore the stuff for a bet.’

  Carlo nodded while he considered her idea. ‘I like it. You’re a very smart woman.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Leanne said, smiling. ‘I’m glad you like it.’

  ‘It’s perfect. I’m so glad you’ve agreed to help me with this. Thank you, cara mia.’

  She sighed, unable resist his lovely green eyes. ‘You’re welcome. But I’m only doing it because of the planet, you understand.’

  ‘The planet? Which one?’

  ‘The one we’re on, of course!’ Leanne drank the rest of her beer. ‘The clothes are all biodegradable. The manufacturing is done without harming the environment, unlike most of the clothes we wear today. It’s sheer genius. If it takes off, that fashion brand will probably be the hottest thing in clothing.’ She wiped the foam from her lips with a napkin. ‘So that’s the deal. My way or no way, okay?’

  Carlo’s face broke into a brilliant smile.‘Fantastico,’ he exclaimed, his perfect teeth glimmering in the dim light. He kissed her cheek. ‘Thank you, Leanne, you’re un tesoro.’

  ‘A what?’

  ‘A treasure!’

  ‘Ah sure, I know,’ Leanne said, blushing furiously. ‘I’m so glad you agreed. No hard work, just a bit of fun and a little cheeky plugging, if you see what I mean.’

  He nodded. ‘It’s a very good start. And if you just give us a mention or two on the main blog, we’ll get more exposure. We’ll work together and put this company on the map.’

  ‘God, I hope so. Or it’ll bomb, but this way nobody will notice.’

  Carlo took her hand. ‘Nothing I’ve ever done has bombed.’ He pulled her up. ‘Come on, we have to meet the others in the pizzeria. I’ll tell Lucilla you have agreed and we have to contact the firm and get them to deliver the stuff. I’m going to ask them to send it to Trogir. That’s the harbour town near Split, where the boats are moored.’

  ‘Good idea.’

  ‘And now I’m ready for that pizza.’ Carlo kissed his fingers, his eyes gleaming. ‘Real pizza from Napoli. Delicious!’

  ‘Sounds great,’ Leanne replied, wishing he’d look at her with the same desire.

  Nine

  In the cosy little restaurant overlooking the Arno, Leanne instantly understood Carlo’s delight when she took the first bite of her Pizza Napolitano. The base, which looked thick and heavy, was the exact opposite; light as a feather and melt-in-the-mouth. The topping had a depth of flavour she had never tasted before; thick tomato sauce fragrant with oregano, anchovies with just the right amount of salt, and mozzarella, both soft and chewy and deliciously creamy. Unable to stop herself, she had soon devoured the big pizza that had been put in front of her and thought she’d be unable to finish, washing it down with a glass of a sparkling Italian red wine called Lambrusco. She wiped her mouth, feeling full, and glanced around, a little embarrassed at having wolfed down so much in such a short time. But everyone else was either still eating the last bite or sitting back looking at an empty plate with a satisfied smile on their faces.

  ‘Wonderful,’ Claudia sighed. ‘I haven’t had a pizza like that since I was a child.’ She discreetly undid the stylish Hermès belt on her designer jeans. ‘Must move the decimal point a notch. I’ll be fasting for days after this. But it was worth it.’

  ‘That wine is really good with it,’ Maddy remarked. ‘I never tasted a sparkling red before. Unusual but nice. Especially with this amazing pizza.’

  Carlo wiped his mouth and nodded. ‘Molto delizioso, I agree.’

  ‘It’s the tomato,’ Lucilla declared and dabbed his chin with her napkin. ‘You eat like a little boy.’

  Leanne smiled, pretending she found it funny, but the gesture grated on her.

  ‘What’s so special about the tomato?’ Maddy asked. ‘It had an unusually deep flavour.’

  ‘It’s the San Marzano tomatoes,’ Tony explained. ‘They are grown in the volcanic soil near Mount Vesuvius. And the mozzarella has to be Mozzarella di Bufalo Campana, or it’s not an authentic Neapolitan pizza.’

  ‘Oh,’ Leanne said, awestruck. ‘I knew it was something special. I’ll never eat any other kind of pizza again, that’s for sure.’

  ‘Better than…’ Maddy stopped. ‘I don’t know what it’s better than, to be honest.’

  ‘Please don’t say it’s better than sex,’ Claudia snapped. ‘Because that wouldn’t be true.’

  ‘Absolutely,’ Lucilla said with feeling, taking Carlo’s hand. ‘Isn’t that right, Carlo?’

  He pulled it away, throwing her an annoyed look. ‘Depends,’ he said. ‘On the pizza, I mean.’

  Leanne glanced at the two of them as they sat there, not really looking at each other. Lucilla appeared as if she felt she owned Carlo and he went along with it because it suited him. Apparently they were business partners but no longer in a relationship, even though the chemistry between them was obvious. How cou
ld that possibly work? Leanne tried to get her mind around it but failed. Italians were clearly strange about sex and love and relationships. Feeling someone looking at her, she turned her head and met Tony’s gaze. She smiled and picked up the menu. ‘Funny, after all that food I still feel like eating a little more. Is there dessert? What’s this thing called Mont Blanc?’

  ‘Oh, no,’ Claudia groaned. ‘Not Mont Blanc! It’s loaded with fat and sugar. At least five hundred calories.’

  ‘My favourite,’ Carlo declared and clicked his fingers at a passing waiter. ‘Mont Blanc per tutti,’ he ordered.

  ‘Not for me,’ Claudia protested.

  But nobody listened and before they knew it, six portions of sweet meringue topped with ice cream, whipped cream and chestnut puree appeared at the table. ‘I love this,’ Lucilla said as she dug in. ‘It’s pure sin.’

  ‘I’ve sinned enough,’ Claudia declared and pushed away her plate after taking a few bites.

  ‘Like an Italian pavlova,’ Maddy declared through a mouthful. ‘The chestnut puree is too good to be true.’ She closed her eyes. ‘I’m going to do a Leanne and say the flavour is smooth and nutty with a hint of vanilla and sugar.’

  Tony laughed. ‘Excellent. But not quite Leanne’s expertise, of course.’

  ‘I’m just a happy amateur,’ Maddy laughed.

  ‘What’s this, Leanne?’ Claudia asked.

  ‘It about my nose,’ Leanne replied. ‘Or my sense of smell, actually. I inherited it from my dad. I can smell thing other people can’t. Like you wearing Iris Nobile by Acqua di Parma.’

  ‘Oh.’ Claudia looked impressed. ‘That’s interesting. I thought your nose was a little on the big side. But very straight,’ she added.