Page 36 of The Girl from Sicily

36

JESSICA, OCTOBER 2005

Jess dropped her front door keys onto the coffee table with a yawn, kicked off her court shoes, and flopped down on her sofa. She felt like a hamster on a wheel, repeating the same actions every day: target setting, dealing with computer meltdowns, the endless paperwork, the ‘same old, same old’. But at least she felt safe.

Three months had gone by since she’d left Sicily. Every day, she looked at her digital pictures. The beautiful tenuta, the gorgeous vineyards, the temples in Agrigento, the marina at Licata, the Roman villa in Piazza Armerina. Her favourite photos were of Piero, of course. Also his kids and Cappero. She missed them with an ache that throbbed deep in her soul.

She’d put all her images of the baglio and surrounding countryside in a separate folder on her laptop. They called to her; they were a part of her heritage, after all. But she couldn’t face looking at them yet. She hadn’t even taken the ceramic trinacria she’d bought in Caltanissetta out of its box.

A feather of excitement tickled in her chest. Piero was arriving tomorrow for a long weekend and she’d arranged to have Monday off work, so she could be with him. How she longed to see him. They emailed each other practically every other day, interspersed with long phone calls. She loved hearing from him, loved learning about his life, loved hearing his voice. The wine exhibition in Agrigento had been a great success, he’d said, and the grape harvest, the vendemmia , was one of the best. She, in turn, had unburdened herself when the decree nisi for her divorce had come through.

Jess glanced at her bare finger, devoid of her wedding ring. It felt strange at first, but now the indentation had almost disappeared and she could look at her hand without thinking of her failed marriage.

Piero had helped her put things into perspective. The flat was fully hers – part of the divorce settlement – but she’d decided to put it on the market and get somewhere smaller and closer to work. Having paid off the mortgage after her parents had died and their house was sold, she could afford to stay on here with a flatmate to share the bills, but her heart wasn’t in it.

* * *

Late the next morning, she could barely contain her excitement as she waited in arrivals at Bristol airport. She scanned the faces of the people coming through the gate, and finally, there was Piero.

Her heart bloomed with love for him. He looked so handsome, dressed in beige trousers and a dark brown leather jacket. His hazel eyes lit up, and he broke into the biggest smile when she ran towards him. He put down his bag and swept her into his arms.

‘ Tesoro , I’m so happy to see you.’

They kissed, and she wanted the kiss to go on forever. People jostled past them, but she barely noticed. It was as if she and Piero were the only two people in the world. They came up for air, and Jess couldn’t stop smiling.

‘Come,’ she said, taking his arm. ‘Let’s get out of here.’

Before too long, she was driving them towards the city centre, taking a shortcut through a picturesque village on the outskirts of Bristol, where rows of slate-roofed cottages had been built with pale local stone.

‘I can’t believe you’re here at last,’ she said. ‘I feel as if I’m dreaming.’

‘I want to make the most of every second I spend with you, amore .’ Piero heaved a sigh. ‘Time will go by so quickly.’

‘I hope you don’t mind, but tomorrow at lunchtime we’re going on a double date with my cousin, Mel, and her boyfriend, Jake. I’ve told Mel so much about you, and she wants to meet you.’

‘That’ll be wonderful, darling. As long as the rest of the weekend, I have you to myself.’

‘You will, I promise,’ she said, warm tingles running through her. She couldn’t wait for them to make love.

‘How are Gigi and Teresina?’ she asked.

‘They wanted to come with me, of course.’ Piero laughed. ‘But they are well.’

‘Maybe next time?’

‘No way. I’m not sharing you with them when I don’t get to see you often enough.’

They carried on chatting about what had been going on at the winery. The food and wine tasting menu had proved popular with guests and many had made return bookings.

‘I’m glad we’ve closed now for the season,’ Piero said. ‘I relish the peace and quiet.’

‘It must be lovely at this time of the year.’

‘Come and visit.’ A smile curved his lips. ‘Come for Christmas! The entire family gets together at the tenuta. You’d be so very welcome.’

There was nothing she’d like more than Christmas with Piero. It hadn’t been the same with her Bristol cousins since her parents’ tragic death. But could she face travelling to Sicily so soon after her ordeal?

Piero was looking at her expectantly, and she didn’t want to spoil things.

‘Can we talk about it later?’

‘Of course, amore mio . No pressure.’

* * *

Time went by in a flash. When they weren’t making love, which they spent blissful hours doing, Jess showed Piero around Bristol. After going on a scenic waterbus journey through the harbour to enjoy wonderful views of the city, they visited the Clifton Suspension bridge and gazed down at the Avon Gorge. A climb to the top of Cabot Tower at the summit of Brandon Hill came next, and Jess informed Piero that it had been constructed in memory of John Cabot, who’d set sail in his ship, the Matthew , from Bristol in 1497 – and had landed in what was later to become Canada, thus becoming the first European since the Vikings to visit North America.

They met Mel and Jake for lunch in a gastropub, where Piero was introduced to the British tradition of a Sunday roast. He seemed to enjoy the beef and Yorkshire pudding, declaring it to be delicious.

When Jess retired to the ladies’ room with her cousin, Mel flicked a lock of blonde hair from her eyes and said, ‘Oh, my God, why didn’t you tell me how good-looking and charming Piero is?’ She painted her lips with a fresh coat of cherry-pink lipstick. ‘He’s a keeper. Perfect for you, my love.’

‘Problem is, we live in separate countries.’ Jess sighed as she soaped her fingers.

Mel was the only person she’d talked to about her great-uncle. After giving her a blow-by-blow account of his arrest, Jess had said she never wanted to hear him mentioned again.

‘I understand totally,’ Mel said now. ‘And I know you want to forget about what happened. But, if you don’t mind my saying, it’s the wrong approach. You need to face your demons, Jess, or you’ll be miserable the rest of your life.’

‘I suppose so. I just can’t do it yet.’ Jess sighed again while she dried her hands.

‘Don’t wait too long. Carpe diem . Seize the day. You aren’t the first person to be related to someone you’d rather not be. And organised crime doesn’t just exist in Sicily. Haven’t you heard of the Clerkenwell Crime Syndicate in London?’

Jess shook her head.

‘It’s one of the most powerful crime organisations in the UK, heavily involved in drug trafficking, extortion, security fraud, blackmail, and murder?—’

Jess glanced at her cousin. Mel had always been a know-it-all. She was the same age as her but had taken on the role of guiding her since her parents had died. Went with the territory of being a college teacher, Jess thought.

‘Did you look up organised crime in Britain specially?’ she asked.

‘So what if I did? You need someone like me to tell you what’s what. Remember the adage, “a life lived in fear is a life half lived”? Piero strikes me as the kind of man who won’t wait around forever. You need to get a grip, sweetheart.’

Mel had her best interests at heart, but even so, her words were a little harsh.

‘Let’s go back and join the men,’ Jess said. ‘Then, if you don’t mind, Piero and I will head off. We’ve only got tomorrow left before he goes back to Sicily. I don’t want to waste a minute with him.’

‘Sorry if I spoke out of turn, sweetie.’ Mel pulled her in for a hug. ‘I love you lots, you know. I just want you to be happy.’

‘It’s okay. I get it.’ Jess pecked her cousin on the cheek.

* * *

On Monday, Jess took Piero to a vast shopping mall on the outskirts of Bristol, where he bought gifts to take back to Sicily – the latest video games for Gigi and Teresina and traditional English teas for his mother and sister-in-law.

Jess couldn’t resist throwing in a rubber dog toy for Cappero, made to look like a pizza slice.

After they’d returned to the city centre for lunch in a Michelin-starred restaurant, where they enjoyed the five-course tasting menu and excellent wine, they went back to Jess’s flat to spend the rest of Piero’s last day alone.

‘I knew this holiday would go by quickly, and it has,’ Piero said as they undressed, then stretched out on Jess’s bed.

‘I’ll miss you so much, my darling.’ She gazed into his eyes.

‘Not as much as I’ll miss you.’

Tears prickled, but she wouldn’t let them fall.

‘I’d love to come to Sicily for Christmas, by the way.’ She took in a quick breath. ‘Mel talked some sense into me yesterday. She said I should seize the day.’

‘Your cousin is right. I must thank her sometime,’ Piero said, wrapping his arms around Jess.

She parted her lips, and he kissed her, his tongue playing chase with her tongue, their separate breaths becoming one. She felt his hardness and pressed herself against him. Sparks danced through her, and she reached down to touch him.

‘Make love to me,’ she said, hooking her knee over him to pull him closer.

And he did. Ardently. Magnificently.

Later, they snuggled together, holding each other as if they never wanted to let go.

‘I love you, Jess. With all my heart.’

Her own heart thudded as he cupped her face and kissed her, and she kissed him back, her pulse racing.

‘I love you too, Piero,’ she said.