Second Chances in Chianti

by T A Williams

Antonia squeezed her fingers. ‘Of course I will, and you must promise to do the same for me.’

  * * *

  When they got back to the villa, Antonia went up to bed, while Alice looked for David. Although she had sent him a text to let him know where she’d been, she had received no reply, and she was beginning to get a bit worried. Finding no trace of him downstairs, she went up to their room and it was then that it all suddenly became surreal.

  There was no sign of David, and the first thing she noticed was that his bag and all his clothes had gone. The second thing she saw was a note lying on the bed.

  Dear Alice,

  Sorry to do this by letter, but maybe it’s for the best. Now that I know you’ve decided not to take the job in Hollywood, I assume you’ll be staying in the UK. The problem is that I’ve decided I want to go to Hollywood and I’m on my way there now.

  Layla’s been giving me the names of some of her contacts in LA and I really think I might be able to find myself a job over there in the movie business, doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve got almost two months’ vacation, so I’ve decided to fly over and see what emerges.

  Not sure what this means as far as you and I are concerned. If I decide not to stay in the States, maybe we can pick up again from where we left off.

  Sorry again for making this so impersonal.

  Love,

  David.

  Alice just stood and stared blankly at the sheet of paper in her hand. How on earth could he write her a message like this, effectively telling her he was dumping her in favour of some vague possibility of a job in the US, and still have the gall to insert the word love before his signature? And as for picking up again where they had left off! Suddenly, his detached air and his absences made sense. Presumably, when he had gone missing, he had been talking to Layla… or maybe doing more than talking? Yesterday afternoon he had claimed to have been stuck in the summer house because of the rain, but had he been alone? Might he and Layla have hooked up? And, of course, that would explain his unwillingness to take advantage of Alice’s offer of a bit of physical comforting when he returned.

  Whether anything had happened between Layla and him or not, one thing was now crystal clear – this letter had effectively answered the question she had been hoping to resolve over the coming weeks alone with him here in Tuscany. She felt an upsurge of anger, coupled with the bleak realisation that, after two years, it was all over between them. Her eyes started stinging, but she stubbornly refused to let the tears flow. She reminded herself that she had been having her doubts already before leaving Bristol. And, ever since setting eyes on Matt, the realisation had been taking shape in her head that what she had with David maybe wasn’t the real thing after all. The letter proved that point beyond doubt.

  At that moment her phone bleeped and she saw she had a message from none other than Layla.

  Hi Alice. I’m just getting on the flight to LA and I’m sure I saw your David in the queue. Does this mean you’ve changed your mind about Pals Forever? L xx

  Alice stared blankly at the screen for a few moments. On the one hand, she was pleased and relieved that apparently there was nothing going on between David and Layla, but on the other it was final confirmation that he was doing what he had said in his letter. It wasn’t a bluff or a cry for help. He really was going through with it. The lure of Hollywood had totally transformed him from the man she had thought she knew. She stood there for a good few minutes but then, as the initial shock diminished, she began to feel almost a sense of relief. She wasn’t happy with the callous way he had done it, but his departure from her life was for the best, and it had been achieved without any long drawn-out arguments or unpleasantness.

  Long-term, this actually made things much less complicated for her. She was now free to take a job anywhere she wanted, without having to worry about the impact it might have upon his life. And in the short term, David’s departure didn’t need to change anything either. She would leave here and go to the Mona Lisa hotel tomorrow night – on her own, but so what? – and she would move into the little house in the village on Saturday. She had her rental car and she was self-sufficient, so she could have a long, leisurely holiday in Tuscany on her own terms.

  She reached for her phone and tapped out a reply to Layla.

  Hi Layla. No, it’s just David. I’m staying here and I’m definitely out of Pals Forever. Have a good flight and hope to see you again before too long. Alice xx

  After an hour or so, as it was still relatively early, Alice went downstairs and out onto the terrace for some fresh air and a drink. She helped herself to some of Conrad Chesterfield’s champagne from an open bottle in an ice bucket and took a big mouthful, barely tasting it. There was nobody else out there so she took a seat, leant back and did her best to relax, watching the bats twisting and turning acrobatically in the purple of the evening sky. In the distance, she heard a dog bark and immediately thought of Guinness the Labrador – and his master. At least, she told herself, she could now think about Matt without feeling she was being unfaithful to David.

  After a few moments she got up, walked to the end of the terrace and leant on the balustrade, looking out over the gardens and the vines towards the dark outline of the tower on the hill, silhouetted against the last remnants of the sunset. As she did so, a little light came on, right up near the top of the tower, and she imagined Matt sitting there, with his faithful hound at his feet, maybe with a drink in his hand just like her. Of course, she reminded herself, for all she knew there was every chance that beside his dog there would also be a wife or partner.

  ‘Hi, Alice, how was your trip to Florence?’

  She spun round to find Richie standing there. Without Carrie. She pasted on a smile.

  ‘Oh hi, Richie – it was great, thanks. How about you guys? Everything settled for the new series now?’

  ‘Sort of. It’s all been handed over to the money men to fight it out, but it looks as though it’s going ahead.’ He moved a step closer to her. ‘It won’t be the same without you.’

  ‘It’ll work out. I’m sure it’ll be a great hit.’ She affected an air of confidence that she didn’t really feel. ‘You’ll be picking up awards on stage at the Emmys next year, you’ll see.’

  ‘I wish… but it won’t be with you.’

  She took another mouthful of champagne and let it slip slowly down her throat. Now that David had removed himself from the scene, had the way she felt about Richie after five years of separation changed? It only took her a few short moments to realise that the answer was no. Whether the thoughts of Matt she could now admit to harbouring in the back of her mind contributed to the decision or not, she was able to reply to him with absolute assurance.

  ‘No, it won’t, Richie – and you and I won’t be hooking up again. I’ve thought about it like I promised, but that’s just the way it is. I want us to stay friends, but that’s all.’

  ‘Are you really sure?’ He sounded deflated.

  ‘I’m sure. Besides, you’re on your way back to Hollywood and I’m staying in the UK. It would never work.’

  Light spilled out onto the terrace behind him and Carrie appeared. Alice gave her a wave.

  ‘Hi, Carrie, come and have a glass of champagne.’ As she walked towards them, Alice lowered her voice and glanced across at him. ‘Just let it go, Richie.’

  Chapter 12

  Alice didn’t sleep well and she woke up feeling drained. Last night she hadn’t mentioned David’s departure to Richie or Carrie and she got the impression they were unaware he had left. She knew she wanted to talk to Millie about it, but first she wanted to get outside into the open air, so she decided to go for a final run. She pulled on her running gear and followed the same route out of the gate and up the road, but this time there was no sign of the Land Rover or of Matt and his lovely dog. Nursing a feeling of disappointment, although it was a lovely morning and the views over the Chianti hills were as delightful as ever, she returned to the villa, showered and we
nt down to look for Millie. She found her having breakfast all alone out on the terrace. Antonia and the others were nowhere to be seen. Millie gave her a cheery wave as she spotted her and Alice did her best to respond in kind.

  ‘Hi, Mil. All on your own?’

  ‘Antonia left half an hour ago. I imagine you were out on your run. She told me to give you her love if I saw you.’

  Alice didn’t mention what Antonia had told her the previous night, as she had been asked to keep the news of her resignation to herself for now. ‘She’s a lovely lady. We had a great time at the Uffizi and then a super meal.’ Pleasantries over, she leant forward. ‘Listen, Mil, something’s happened.’ She went on to relate in detail everything about David’s departure and the note he had left on the bed. To her amazement, Millie didn’t look too surprised.

  ‘How awful for you, Al, but I was wondering how things were between you and David. Every time I looked at him, I could see he couldn’t keep his eyes off Layla. I’m surprised you didn’t notice. It was pretty clear to me he was star-struck, maybe more.’

  This made Alice pause and take stock. Now that Millie had brought it to her attention, it seemed obvious. How could she have been so blind? Clenching her fists under the table, she returned her attention to her friend.

  ‘Now that you mention it, I suppose I can see it… but it’s too late. Anyway, according to the text I got from Layla last night, she’s nothing to do with it. She sounded surprised to see him on the plane and was more concerned that this might mean I had had a change of heart about the new show.’

  ‘And have you?’ Millie was looking hopeful.

  ‘Nope. Zoë’s in, so I’m out.’ Paolo appeared and she asked for a cappuccino, before returning to the matter in hand. ‘As far as David’s concerned, like I told you back in London, this holiday was supposed to be make or break for us. When all’s said and done, he’s just accelerated the process. I should be pleased.’ She was glad to hear her voice sounding resolute.

  ‘So are you going to stay here in Tuscany for the rest of the month, even though he’s gone off?’

  ‘Yes, definitely. I love the area and it’ll be a good break.’

  ‘Is that just because of all the art and stuff or is there another reason?’ Millie gave Alice a little grin. ‘Like another man, for example?’

  ‘Why would there be another man?’

  ‘Carrie was telling me about the guy you met yesterday. She said he was ever so good-looking and she thought you were into him.’

  Alice flushed in spite of herself. ‘She said what? All I did was pet his lovely Labrador and giggle at him after the dog jumped on him.’

  Now it was Millie’s turn to giggle. ‘Yes, she told me where it landed on him. So, assuming the dog didn’t do any irreparable damage to his bits, are you interested in the man?’

  They had been close friends for ten years, so Alice told her the truth. ‘In one word, yes – although I barely know him and he seems a bit distant. Somehow, he’s made a really strong impression on me in such a short period of time. Because of David, I’ve been trying not to think about him too much. Now that I’m free, though, I’m pretty sure that nothing’s going to happen. He’s nice, he’s friendly, but there doesn’t seem to be any more to it as far as he’s concerned. I presume he’s got a wife or partner already and that’s that.’ She gave a little sigh. ‘Shame, really.’

  ‘I don’t think I’ve ever seen you like this, Al. You’ve always been the sensible one and now you sound like a lovesick teenager.’

  Alice nodded ruefully. ‘Don’t remind me. I need to try to get my head round it. Maybe it’s just because he’s one of the first men I’ve met who hasn’t tried to hit on me, and that makes me want him more. God knows what’s going on inside my brain. But, irrespective of all that, Chianti is as good a place to be as any. I love Tuscany and, with my rental car, I can get to Florence or Arezzo or Siena in less than an hour from here. In fact, if I feel like it, the coast’s not that far either – and Rome’s only three or four hours away, come to think of it. No, it’s a good location.’ She caught Millie’s eye. ‘Whether I meet up with him again or not.’

  ‘Well, you’re not the only one who’s going to be around. Paolo told me that Conrad Chesterfield himself is coming over this weekend and staying all month for a holiday. Maybe you could slip up here and poison his food or something.’

  An idea came to Alice. ‘You don’t suppose Zoë’s staying on as well? Maybe the two of them are having an affair – that would explain why he lets her get her own way, after all.’

  Millie wrinkled up her nose and lowered her voice, even though they were still alone outside. ‘He could do better… Besides, if she were to stay on, she’d find herself here along with Conrad’s wife, and at least one of his daughters and her family – Paolo told me they’re all coming. No, Zoë says she’s got business in London and she’s on the same plane as me at two o’clock. In fact, we’re sharing a limo to the airport in an hour or so.’

  ‘Damn! Bang goes another great theory. I thought I was Hercule Poirot for a moment there.’ Alice finished her coffee and stood up. ‘Well, I’d better go and pack. Have a good flight back, Mil, and I’ll be seeing you.’

  ‘I’m going to miss you, Al.’

  ‘And I’ll miss you too, but I promise I’ll see you again before too long. Good luck with everything.’

  ‘And forget about David. He’s not worth it.’

  They hugged warmly and Alice went back to her room. As she had no special plans for the day, she decided to do her best to follow Millie’s advice and forget about David by taking a little tour of the Chianti region in her car. Before leaving, she asked Paolo where he thought she should go and he suggested a number of places, including several vineyards that did tours and tastings, the fortified medieval church at Pieve di Spaltenna, and a nearby castle housing some murals by lesser-known Renaissance painters. She thanked him for the information and for looking after them all so well, and he looked pleased.

  ‘It was good practice – you’ve maybe heard that Signor Chesterfield is coming tomorrow with his family. He’s a demanding boss and it’s been good to make sure we’ve got everything running smoothly for him.’

  By now Alice had worked out that Paolo was effectively in charge of the household and she could imagine the responsibility he felt with the owner about to arrive.

  ‘I’m sure he’ll be delighted. We certainly all were.’ She had a final thought. ‘By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask: why’s this place called villa of the wasps?’

  He pointed across the hall to a little plaque on the wall that she hadn’t noticed before. ‘We think that might be the coat of arms of the original owners of this place, although it’s all a bit of a mystery. This villa was built back in the early eighteenth century, but they say it’s on far older foundations, maybe even medieval, and the shield might even date back seven, eight hundred years.’

  Alice went over and studied the battered old shield more closely. It was predominantly deep red, with a diagonal blue stripe running across it. All the way up the stripe were little gold insects. They looked more like moths at first sight, but on closer examination she could see a sting in the tail. She glanced back at Paolo.

  ‘I’m not sure I’ve even seen a single wasp since I got here. Bees, yes, but not wasps. I wonder how the villa got its name. And you don’t know the family name either?’

  He shook his head ruefully.

  * * *

  Alice had a most enjoyable day, and she was surprised to find herself feeling more cheerful as the hours went by and the shock of David’s exit from her life began to fade. She drove around the region more or less at random, stopping here and there in charming little medieval hamlets and villages, relishing just wandering about, soaking up the atmosphere of antiquity that Tuscany evoked in her. She added another couple of sketches to her collection and looked forward to trying to transform them into oil paintings once she was back home again. Although she inevitably e
ncountered cars, TV aerials, electricity pylons and other signs of the twenty-first century, the area was still remarkably untouched and steeped in history. She kept coming upon little chapels, wooded hillsides and medieval farmhouses that could have appeared in so many works of art by famous Tuscan artists from Duccio to Paolo Uccello. The fact that she was on her own didn’t bother her – in fact, not having David getting bored alongside her was a bonus, or so she told herself. As for Pals Forever, although she couldn’t say she had no regrets, she knew she was doing the right thing in refusing to work with the irascible director. She didn’t need to do it, so why put herself through all that again?

  She stopped for a focaccia sandwich at lunchtime in the stunning little town of Monteriggioni. Perched on a hilltop and surrounded by commanding stone walls punctuated by no fewer than fourteen towers, Monteriggioni was mentioned in Dante’s Divine Comedy and was justly famous. Today it was absolutely packed with visitors and Alice only just managed to squeeze her little Fiat into the last available space in the car park. She entered the town through an arched gateway and found herself in the midst of a host of other tourists. Fortunately, most of them were sitting at tables by this time, eating and drinking, hugging the shade.

  There were relatively few people inside the ancient Romanesque church of Santa Maria. Alice sat down in one of the pews for some minutes, savouring the welcome cool after the heat outside, and admired the simplicity of a construction that was now over eight hundred years old. As so often in places that had been in existence for so long, she felt an overwhelming sense of wonder at the thousands upon thousands of people who must have visited here, worshipped here, and been christened, married and, in many cases, buried here. It confirmed just how insignificant the superficial world of celebrity really was, and this just reinforced her conviction that her decision to say no to Pals Forever had been the right one. As for David, she was ever more certain that his sudden departure was a blessing in disguise, a lucky escape. The next chapter of her life was starting now, with no looking back.