Escape to the Tuscan Vineyard

Chapter Fourteen

I made a couple of tweaks to my model of Sophia Loren and stood her on the dressing table. I’d fashioned her together using olive wood, and her mini bikini and headscarf were a dotty handkerchief in disguise. She needed a couple of finishing touches, but nothing Mia’s paints couldn’t help me sort out. The invisible drone was back, and I tried to follow the buzzing to see if I could find it. Were Amazon trying to deliver an emergency package? Ping. An email hit my inbox and I tapped to see if it was what I’d been waiting for.

To:[email protected]

From:[email protected]

Dear Ms Mason,

I am delighted to confirm your seats for this evening’s classic film showing of Houseboat. I attach two tickets and the film starts at 7.30 p.m. We look forward to welcoming you.

Yours sincerely,

Martina Lucenzi

Fantastic.She’d managed to fit us in. I’d been racking my brains to think of a way to thank Tony for his amazingly thoughtful day at the Uffizi, and even though this was in the little leagues in comparison – it was something. It had been Holly’s idea; one of their trainee chefs was from Siena and he’d pulled some strings to connect me with Martina; then it was down to me to hustle. The tickets were like gold dust. My phone pinged again.

Stella:Hey stranger! Thanks for the update – I’ll let you know if anything comes up. Enjoy Tuscany, you lucky cow.

Hmm, that sounded suspiciously like: Don’t call me, I’ll call you. I wandered down to the pool, which was nice and empty, and laid my stuff across two loungers – one in the sun and one in the shade. I planned to tan myself on a timer, like a rotisserie chicken, for the ultimate golden glow. Ten minutes in the shade, ten minutes in the pool, twenty minutes in the sun. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

‘Would you like a drink, Abi?’ Mia walked through, a flurry of puppies around her ankles, Nero at the front. He was still too small to jump up, so he sat at my feet and tapped me with his paw.

‘A sparkling water would be great, thanks,’ I said, picking him up and kissing his little head. Mia nodded and disappeared, leaving me with my tiny fluffball friend to contend with. He lay in my arms, while I tickled his belly.

‘Now what have you been up to? Hmm? How are you finding life on Earth? It’s a strange place, isn’t it?’ Nero smiled, his pink tongue just visible, his brown eyes sleepy.

‘He looks happy,’ Tony said from behind me, striding through to the pool in a pair of budgie smugglers, a rolled-up towel under his arm.

‘What man wouldn’t be,’ I replied, taking him in from behind my sunglasses. He looked every inch the Italian man-about-town. How was he maintaining such a firm physique while mainlining Paolo’s pancakes with syrup each morning?

‘Very true,’ he said. ‘Can I join you?’ He gestured to the sunbed next to me – step two in my rotisserie tanning system.

‘Erm… sure, go for it,’ I said, moving my book and bag as he unfurled his towel and lay down. His hair was getting fluffier by the day, and he was now sporting a Jack Grealish-style headband, which worked well with his mirrored Aviators. It was quite the transformation. ‘You’re looking very… at home,’ I said, holding my stomach in. The pancake diet was not working for me.

‘When in Rome…’ he shrugged and stretched out on the bed, making his body even more taut. It was all his swimming trunks could do to contain themselves.

Mia returned with a large bottle of sparkling water and a bowl of olives. ‘Water for you, too, Tony?’ she asked.

‘Si, grazie,’ he replied.

‘While the two of you are here – is it my ears, or is there an annoying buzz in the air in the mornings?’ I asked. ‘Is there a wasp nest somewhere I need to avoid?’

‘I hope not!’ Mia said, looking around in concern.

Tony piped up. ‘That’s my drone,’ he said. ‘I’ve been taking some aerial shots for the website. I promised Paolo I’d revamp all the footage while I’m here.’

Mia nodded. ‘He was on the phone to the bank this morning, organising the papers for signing,’ she said, pouring out the water. ‘They should all be ready next week.’

My stomach sank. Did that mean Tony would be going home? That it would just be a flying visit after all?

‘The sooner, the better for me,’ Tony said. ‘It’ll be good to get the estate finalised and everything agreed.’

I took a long drink of my water – which tasted glorious – then lay back down and put my headphones on. It felt awkward listening in on their family business and I didn’t want to be nosy. They carried on chatting as Lewis Capaldi lulled me into a half-snooze and I was warm and sleepy and content… until a slosh of ice-cold water jolted me awake. I sprang up and nearly headbutted Tony, who was shaking his wet hair all over me.

‘What the…? Get off!’ I screamed, jumping up and running away. He chased after me, until I had no choice but to jump in the pool.

‘You’re welcome. You looked far too hot,’ Tony said, laughing.

‘Well, I wasn’t!’ I replied, disgruntled, straddling a pink noodle and riding it like a seahorse. The water was freezing cold, smugly contradicting me.

‘You kind of were,’ he said, bashfully, taking the end of the noodle and slowly spinning me in the water. ‘But you always look hot – you can’t help it.’ I shuddered as my body got used to the temperature and splashed him in the face.

‘I was going to invite you to something tonight, but I’m not sure I want to now,’ I huffed.

‘To what?’ he asked.

‘It’s nothing really. There’s this outdoor cinema thing in Siena,’ I said, deliberately vague. I didn’t want him thinking I’d gone to any trouble. ‘Holly managed to get some free tickets and she’s working so I said I’d see if I could use them.’

‘You don’t mean The Siena Open Air?’

‘Mmm… yeah, something like that.’

‘That’s not nothing – that event gets booked up months in advance.’ He stopped spinning and stared at me in disbelief. ‘It’s like the local version of Glastonbury – there are no free tickets.’

‘Really? Well, it’s no big deal if you’re busy…’

‘Abi, it is a big deal. What film is it?’

‘It’s an old one. I think it’s called… Houseboat?’

‘With Sophia Loren?’

I nodded. ‘That’s it. You’ve probably already seen it.’

He gave me a strange look, then nodded. ‘Of course I have. I told you, I’ve seen all her films, hundreds of times, but that one’s my favourite. I’d love to see it in Siena. Thank you for thinking of me.’

‘As I said, it was a freebie, so…’

Tony rolled his eyes. ‘You know it’s a drive-in, right? We need a car. Or did you get free tickets for a limousine that’s picking us up, as well?’

I went pink. He had me there. ‘No, I was hoping we could borrow the Uno.’

‘That car has seen more of Italy in the past week, than in its entire previous lifetime, but I’m sure Paolo won’t mind. I’ll go and check with him now.’ Tony pulled himself out of the pool, his back glistening as the sun shone through the water.

*

I wasn’t sure if I’d gone too Sandra Dee in my yellow dress, so I wore a pair of teetering red heels and some sparkly earrings to pimp the look. Sophia Loren was now painted and pouty, zipped neatly away in my handbag. It would take us an hour to drive to Siena, so we’d have plenty of time to chat and I could choose my moment to give her to him. No big deal. Tony was waiting outside; this time wearing a cream linen suit and a navy shirt. He looked like an Italian movie star, as he leant against the car, arms folded. Man-sandals peeped out from under his trousers and his mirrored Aviators completed the look. He gave a low whistle and opened the passenger door.

‘Look at yooouuu,’ he said, in approval.

‘Oh! Really? This?’ I frowned at my dress, as if it hadn’t taken me an hour to get ready. ‘You look pretty good yourself,’ I said, looking over at him, as I put my seatbelt on.

‘To Siena m’lady?’ he asked, doffing an imaginary cap.

‘To Siena and beyond,’ I replied, laughing.

The journey flew by, and we made it to the venue with half an hour to spare. I was glad to be with a local – or at least someone who used to be a local. Tony knew exactly where he was going, navigating the twists and turns of the never-ending roads, and driving us straight there, easy breezy. The cinema was set up in a beautifully manicured field and we positioned ourselves in the middle of the middle for a clear view of the screen.

I looked around the car, feeling claustrophobic. ‘Are we allowed to get out?’ I asked, worried we’d be stuck in the Uno for two hours, our knees jammed against the dashboard, surrounded by breath.

Tony laughed. ‘Of course. It’s not a prison.’

‘I should have brought us a towel or something to sit on,’ I said, looking at the small bonnet, boiling hot from an hour’s drive and dirty enough to write my name in.

‘Fear not, fair maiden, I have come prepared,’ Tony said, opening the tiny boot and producing a picnic basket. ‘I’ve been here before, so I knew what to expect.’

He put the basket on the grass and went back for a blanket and wine glasses.

‘Oh!’ I said, taken aback. This was supposed to be my treat, but Tony was pulling out all the stops once again. Driving us here and then thinking ahead to provide all the finishing touches. He laid the blanket over the car bonnet and opened the picnic basket to reveal a charcuterie board, cake, fruit, and popcorn. A bottle of Vernaccia chilling nicely in its own cooler, and both still and sparkling water. A veritable feast.

‘I just grabbed a couple of things from the kitchen,’ Tony said, casually, opening the wine with a flourish and filling our glasses.

‘This is amazing,’ I said, caught off guard again by how thoughtful he was. I wasn’t used to someone thinking about me, and what I might want. It was… nice. ‘I feel awful that I didn’t organise any of these things. Thank you.’

‘Not at all. Thank you for asking me along when you got two no-big-deal free tickets.’ It was too late to admit the truth. I’d massively underplayed my hand and now he’d never know I’d nearly had to exchange one of my kidneys for the tickets. They were as rare as hen’s teeth.

‘Cheers,’ I said, clinking my glass with his and taking a slurp of wine. ‘Wow, this is delicious.’ I picked up the bottle and eyed the label.

‘From our vineyard,’ Tony said, proudly. ‘Hits the spot, doesn’t it? I’ve told Paolo, we need to start exporting to the U.S. There’s been such a small amount produced up to now, that it wasn’t worth going too big with it. We’ve always just kept it for ourselves and the local restaurants, but I really feel like now is the time to expand the business.’

‘Well, if you need a taste tester, I’m available,’ I said, taking a second mouthful. ‘You should get Holly’s nose in it too, actually, for a professional opinion. I can only offer a social drinker’s perspective.’

‘I’ll keep you both in mind, should a position come up,’ Tony said, with a smile.

‘Excellent. So, you said this is your favourite Sophia Loren film?’

‘Yes, it’s the most fun, and I think it’s her best. Even though she won the Oscar for Two Women,’ he said, looking around. ‘It was Mom’s favourite, too.’

He unzipped his rucksack and pulled out an old camcorder, slipping his hand through the tattered Velcro handle and switching it on.

‘Er… the eighties just called, and they want their technology back,’ I quipped.

‘Pretty cool, isn’t it?’ he said, putting his eye to the viewer as a red light blinked on.

‘It must be ancient! Does it still work? Dad had one when we were kids and used to follow us around, filming our every move. Me and Chris eating breakfast. Mum hanging out the washing. Next door’s cat wandering around the garden. Fascinating stuff.’

‘Paolo found it a few weeks ago. It was my dad’s, but I used to make short films with it as a boy and force everyone to watch them on a Friday night.’ He pointed the camera out across the cars and pressed record, the mechanics whirring loudly as he slowly took in the scene. He turned it towards me and waved. ‘Say hi, Abi!’

I shrank back, suddenly shy. ‘Hi, Abi!’ I said, plastering on a smile and holding up my wine.

The cars were filing in one by one and filling up the field. Couples unpacking bags, with platters of cheese and meat, and bottles of wine. Camping chairs, battery-run fans, and citronella candles to ward off the mosquitos. I’d literally brought my handbag and some cash and that was it. I thought there’d be a bar. The floodlights dimmed and the sound from the big screen suddenly boomed out loud, drawing attention to itself. The film was about to begin.

‘I made you a present,’ I whispered. The first few mouthfuls of wine had already gone to my head, but I may as well give it him now as later. I pulled Sophia Loren out of my bag, smoothed down her hair and adjusted her swimming costume. I couldn’t decide if it was sweet, trite, or ridiculous now that I was about to hand her over.

‘A present for what?’ Tony asked, surprised.

‘To say thank you for Florence. It’s just a silly thing, really…’ I walked her woody legs along the car bonnet towards him. ‘Crafted with my own fair hands of course, putting my degree to good use.’

Tony’s eyes lit up when he realised what it was – who she was – taking her from me, gently. He held her up and studied her closely. I’d made her hair out of Twiglets and painted her face with a red-lipped pout. She was more a creative interpretation than a miniature replica, but she had a certain je ne sais quoi about her. He smiled and propped her up next to his drink.

‘Everything you see, she owes to spaghetti,’ I said.

‘Again, that’s not a “silly thing”, Abi. It’s incredibly thoughtful,’ Tony said, earnestly, clearly touched.

‘Well, you love art and film and Sophia Loren so I thought it would be the ideal combination gift. And it was easy to make, it only took a couple of hours so…’ I was rambling and suddenly very conscious of how close we were to each other.

‘Only a couple of hours, eh?’

Tony was watching me intently. The atmosphere had hushed as the film was about to start and the air between us felt suddenly different. I took a nervous gulp of my wine, and he took my hand and kissed it, tickling my skin with his stubble. I giggled and somehow nudged myself towards him as he leant in and kissed me. I was almost expecting it, but still somehow surprised as we slowly lingered, kissing gently and then harder, eventually pulling away as we both remembered where we were.

‘Thank you, Abi. I love her,’ Tony said.

I gave him a quick smile, my heart racing. ‘And now we can watch her in the film,’ I said, nodding at the screen, as the theme tune started.

‘No rush. I’ve already seen it,’ Tony said, staring at me longingly.

*

The credits were rolling when Tony nudged me awake. We’d snuggled together, eating cheese, prosciutto and olives, and I’d finished off the wine before falling asleep on his shoulder. I couldn’t stop thinking about that kiss. I’d been dreaming about it. That one moment had given me more feels than the whole of our first night together, and I didn’t know what to do with myself. We’d been lost in each other, for just a second, and it had felt, kind of… real. I sleepily slid into the passenger seat and shuddered. The night air had gone cold.

‘Here you go.’ Tony put the picnic blanket over me and tucked it into the seatbelt as I bundled myself down and closed my eyes. Then he packed up the car, put on an Il Volo CD, and drove us home.