Page 31 of The Girl from Sicily

31

JESSICA, JULY 2005

Butterflies danced in Jess’s stomach as Piero brought his Alfa to a stop in front of the wrought-iron gates at his parents’ villa on a hillside overlooking the Mondello beach resort near Palermo.

‘Everything will be all right,’ he said, reaching across the space between them and squeezing her hand.

Jess swallowed hard. Gaetano Sacca di Melita had known her grandmother. She still couldn’t get over the fact.

Piero jumped out of the car and spoke into the entry phone. Soon after, the electronic gates swung open, and he parked in front of the three-storey house. Piero’s parents came out to greet them, and he introduced his father and mother.

‘I’m honoured to meet you, Baron and Baroness Sacca,’ Jess said.

Piero’s father air kissed her hand and his mother aimed kisses at her cheeks.

‘Please, call us Gaetano and Valeria,’ the baroness said, smiling.

They trooped into the air-conditioned villa, and Jess’s eyes widened. The living room was gorgeous – airy, with terracotta floors and traditionally furnished with plush sofas.

‘Come, see the view,’ Piero said, taking her hand and leading her through enormous glass patio doors to an external terrace.

‘Wow! It’s so beautiful.’ She gazed down at the fine white sands, electric-blue sea, and Liberty-style villas of the town.

‘Not as beautiful as you, Jess.’ Piero touched his lips to hers. Just a small kiss, but so warm, so… ‘I think we should head indoors,’ he said with regret in his tone.

‘Probably for the best. It is rather hot out here.’ Jess fanned her face with her hand.

‘And getting hotter by the second.’ Piero grinned.

Jess giggled as he took her hand, and they hurried back to the coolness inside.

‘Let’s have a glass of wine before we eat,’ Gaetano Sacca said, uncorking a bottle of Melita Brut while Jess sat next to Valeria on the sofa. Piero brought their glasses, and they raised them in a toast to good health before taking a sip.

‘You’re the image of Lucia.’ Gaetano smiled. ‘I almost thought you were her when I first saw you, Jess.’

‘I wish I’d known her.’ She glanced at him. ‘What was she like?’

‘I only met her a few times, but I was struck by her loyalty to Gero. It was me who took her the news of his death and I could see that she truly loved him.’

‘Was he a good man?’

‘He was. One of the best. Did you know he was a major with the American army, that he worked in intelligence?’

‘I had no idea.’ Jess shook her head.

‘His commander was working undercover at the tenuta before the Allied landings, then ran the AMGOT office in Palermo before being shipped to Naples. Gero was based in Villaurora as his parents came from the village. They’d emigrated to the US shortly before he was born. In fact, he met your grandmother in New York when they were kids.’

‘My grandmother lived in America as a child?’ Jess heard the incredulity in her tone. ‘I feel such an idiot for not knowing this?—’

‘It’s not your fault,’ Piero said. ‘And you’re not the first person to have been kept in the dark about their family background.’

‘Did the baglio belong to my grandfather?’ Jess asked.

‘He signed the property over to Lucia before he was transferred to Naples.’ Gaetano Sacca nodded. ‘It was a good move.’

‘She left it to me, and I’m about to make an appointment to visit a lawyer in Palermo to go through all the paperwork and get the deeds transferred to my name.’

‘Inheritance law is far less complicated in Italy than in many countries. That shouldn’t be a problem,’ Gaetano said.

Valeria rose to her feet and said, ‘I wish we could have lunch out on the terrace, but the weather is too hot for that so I’ve prepared a selection of salads and we’ll eat in the dining room.’

They went through to a room with a picture window and views of the shore. At the table, they enjoyed pasta with homemade pesto, a salad with herrings, oranges and olives, seafood couscous, and delicious Sarde alla Beccafico – butterflied sardines stuffed with breadcrumbs, nuts, raisins, and herbs, rolled up and baked with fresh bay leaves and lemons until golden brown. They really were delicious, and Jess complimented Valeria.

‘I’m falling in love with Sicilian food,’ Jess said, catching Piero winking at her, making her cheeks burn.

‘Did you ever meet other members of my nonna’s family, Gaetano?’ Jess asked.

‘Oh, yes. I met her father and her brother.’

‘What were they like?’

‘Her pa was a farmer. One of those salt-of-the-earth characters one can’t help but admire. As for her brother?—’

‘Shall we go through to the other room for coffee?’ Valeria said. ‘You can tell Jess about him there.’

‘Good idea.’ Piero got up to clear the dishes, and Jess went to help him.

In the kitchen, Jess and Piero loaded the dishwasher, while Valeria brewed espressos. Back in the living room, Piero poured the coffee into small white porcelain cups, and Jess sat next to him on the sofa before lifting the cup to her lips.

‘Piero told me about the Cosa Nostra boss who lived in the village,’ Jess said. ‘I did wonder if my grandmother had ever met him.’

‘I know she did, but it was her brother who came completely under his influence.’

Gaetano went on to tell Jess about her great-uncle’s grain-smuggling operation, his killing of the carabiniere, how he and his cousin Francu became outlaws, and eventually how they were recruited by don Nofriu.

‘Oh, my God. How awful.’ Shock wheeled through Jess and she put down her cup with a shaky hand.

‘Perhaps Jess has heard enough about her family for one day.’ Piero glanced at her. ‘I was going to suggest a gelato in Mondello before we head back to the tenuta.’

‘ Grazie , Piero,’ she said.

* * *

After Jess had taken her leave of Piero’s parents, thanking them for lunch and for telling her about her family, Piero drove her down the winding road to the seaside town. He found a park opposite the beachside promenade, and they strolled hand in hand, the breeze from the ocean making the walk bearable in the heat.

‘I can’t believe it was only a week and a half ago that we were walking by the sea in Licata,’ she said. ‘So much has happened since then.’

‘You’ve borne the news you received today so bravely, Jess.’

‘I’m not sure bravely is the right word. It seems surreal, to be honest. I think it will take time to sink in.’

‘I expect so. But you mustn’t worry. You can look forward to turning a new page in your life, right?’

‘I hope so. When I go back to Bristol, I’ll need to finalise my divorce. Then I’ll have a long think about the future?—’

‘I won’t pressure you,’ he said. ‘Please know that I’m here for you if you need me.’

Could he be any nicer?

‘ Grazie .’ She brushed a kiss to his cheek. ‘Let’s go find a gelateria . I could murder a chocolate gelato.’

Piero laughed and, before too long, they were sitting on a bench licking the dripping ice cream from their cones.

Jess thought about that morning, when she’d woken up in Piero’s bed. They’d made love before having breakfast. He was a considerate, skilful lover and he’d made her come so hard she’d almost seen stars. Was this just a holiday fling, or was there more to it? And if there was, what could the future hold for them?

She gazed into Piero’s eyes, but there was something flitting at the back of her mind, like a moth beating its wings against an electric light. What had caused the rift between her mother and her grandmother? Jess sighed. How would she ever find out?

‘What’s wrong?’ Piero nudged her.

‘Nothing,’ she said. ‘I’m just a little tired, that’s all.’

‘No wonder. It’s been an emotional day.’

‘Thank you for giving up your Sunday for me, Piero.’

‘No need to thank me. Your family history has got me hooked. Just like you’ve got me hooked.’

‘I’ve got you hooked?’ She grinned. ‘Whatever do you mean?’

‘I’m becoming addicted to you, Jess.’

He leant in and kissed her on the lips, and she opened her mouth for him. He tasted of chocolate ice cream and the salt of the sea.

A group of boys skateboarded past, wolf whistling, causing Jess and Piero to break apart and laugh.

‘Let’s head back to the tenuta for some privacy,’ Piero said.

Soon they were in Piero’s car, listening to music as he drove out of Mondello. Jess let her thoughts wander. It must have been a tremendous culture shock for her nonna to move back to America with a young child.

However did she cope?