Chapter 1
MOLLY
I'm waiting for Miss T in her office. She said she had something important to discuss with me.
She’s ‘Miss Turlington’ to everyone else. I’d never dream of calling her Miss T to her face. She's disappeared somewhere and now I'm sitting here with butterflies flying around in my stomach.
I think I know what this is about.
I should never have let the children drop wet water balloons from the window of a first floor classroom in the name of science.
I love Oakleigh. I've only been here for four months, and I'm still on probation, but I felt like I belonged here from the first day. There's something about this place that makes me feel safe. Steady. Like I've finally landed somewhere I could stay.
It has a large proportion of children from low-income families, foster care, unstable homes and single-parent households. I think I can make a difference here. I can create an environment which nurtures them and shows them that they are loved, that they matter.
The school itself is a lovely red-brick building with ivy creeping up its walls.
It has crazy high ceilings and huge, arched windows.
It’s old, but not falling apart. Luckily, we have a generous bank of donors, or so Miss T is always telling me.
Oakleigh is a magical place. I’m lucky to be able to teach here.
I pick at the loose thread of wool dangling from the sleeve of my purple cardigan,. I tug it and a hole appears.
“Oh my days,” I moan, and try to push the loose yarn through the hole, out of sight. A clanging sound comes from one of the old radiators behind Miss T’s chair. I look up and wonder where she is. It's morning recess, but I need to get back before recess is over.
Miss T suddenly appears, carrying a steaming cup of something which she sets on the desk. She’s in her late fifties and has been at the school for almost thirty years, first as a kindergarten teacher and, for the last eleven, as the headmistress.
She’s tall and sturdily built, and has the type of presence that can easily quiet a room without her even needing to say a word. Her short hair, peppered black and white, is full and softly rounded around her face.
Most people when they first meet her are slightly intimidated by her, but I find her to be all softness and warmth.
She’s been especially good to me since I started here.
More than good. She took me under her wing when I was new, always checking in, always seeming to know when I needed a kind word or a cup of coffee more than I needed advice.
“Sorry about that.” She sits down and blows her nose. “Honey, lemon and hot water; it’s supposed to work.” She looks at me. I smile back.
“I see you’re nice and bright, as always.”
“I like to spread color everywhere, especially when it’s so gray and dull outside.”
She nods, then pulls out something from a cream-colored envelope. She stares at it for the longest time.
“One of our biggest donors to the school is hosting a …” She pauses again, her eyes fixated on whatever she’s reading.
Relief washes over me. At least I’m not here for the water balloons.
“A what, Miss Turlington?”
“A masked ball at the Doge’s Palace in Venice. It’s next week, but I can't go to this, Molly.”
She holds it out for me to see. It’s a classy invite with its embossed gold lettering on cream-colored paper.
By Invitation Only
Luca Valizar
requests the pleasure of your company
for
An Evening of Masks
at
Doge's Palace, Venice
“I would like you to go in my place.”
“To Venice, Illinois?”
“Venice, Italy, Molly.”
I hear her words, but my imagination is running riot. I see Venice, its canals and gondolas, and cobbled streets and old buildings. I see the sunsets and the Grand Canal. Whatever I’ve picked up from watching films. I’ve never set foot outside Chicago.
It takes a few moments to sink in. I pick up the invite. A few moments ago I was putting up the children's artwork all around the classroom and now I'm staring at this.
“The Doggy’s Palace?”
“The Doh-j Palace.” She enunciates clearly.
I’m speechless. Miss T has always been wonderful to me.
When I first started and was so nervous, and hesitated before stepping into the classroom, Miss T walked in with me, and told the children that I was a wonderful teacher.
Right then and there she made me feel as if she had complete faith in me.
I laugh nervously. “I've never even travelled outside of Chicago.”
But the idea ignites my imagination and Venice turns into a 3D experience inside my head. Suddenly I see myself sitting in a gondola, gliding along the Grand Canal, looking chic and elegant. Or walking along the cobbled streets and admiring the architecture and sights.
My insides turn all loose and light, like I’ve won a million dollars and am struggling to grasp the amount. Miss T coughs into a handkerchief before giving me an apologetic smile.
“I don't want to take a transatlantic flight feeling like this. It's such a wonderful opportunity and it would be a shame to turn it down. Besides, Mr. Valizar has always been extremely generous to us.”
“Who is he?”
“A very generous benefactor. However, going to something like this … I’m hardly of an age to appreciate dressing up and being there, as much as someone like you.”
“Why has he invited us?”
“He used to be a pupil here many, many years ago. He has always been extraordinarily good to Oakleigh. He’s a good man.” Something in her expression softens. “But I have to admit, this invite surprised me.”
And it continues to surprise me.
A masked ball in Venice. At a palace. And I’m going. I pinch myself because this seems surreal. I have some crazy dreams. Some crazy thoughts, but the words which just came out of Miss T’s mouth have trumped them all.
“I've never even been on a plane.”
“Well, now you get to. The flights are booked, but I insisted on booking the accommodation myself. I told Mr. Valizar that was the only condition on which I would go. He's been far too generous to the school and I didn’t want to take too much advantage of his good nature.”
“Of course not,” I say, vaguely, trying to process everything.
I’m still sitting in a gondola, but Miss T’s mention of flights and hotels has me panicked.
I can’t afford this. I won’t even be able to contribute a little.
I clasp my hands together, then unclasp them.
Then shift in my chair which suddenly feels too hard, and too uncomfortable.
Beads of sweat pop up around the back of my neck.
“You won’t have to pay me for the accommodation, Molly. It's on me, but it is rather frugal, be warned. You know how I am.” She always seems to know of my worries.
“I … I would like to contribute something, and I can pay in small instalments if that’s—”
“No. I’m asking you to go, at short notice, and I appreciate that.”
But panic still grips me. I know nothing about Venice, or how to get about there. I don’t speak the language and I won’t know what to wear.
But Kiki will know. She’s super smart about these things. She’s a beauty influencer, and is desperate to get out of teaching so that she can do that full time.
“It’s next week, did you say?”
“Next Saturday.” Miss T coughs again.
“Can I get you something?” I offer, feeling concerned for her. “Lozenges or something?”
“I'm fine, dear. Really.” She lifts her cup and takes a sip, but she’s not fine. And her cough sounds worse today.
“But why me?” I ask.
She smiles. “Because I think you can handle it. The others would struggle.” She taps the invitation against the desk. “It's a masked ball.”
“An actual ball? Like the one Cinderella went to?”
“If you want to think of it like that, dear.”
I pick up the invitation again and hold it between nervous fingers.
I can't let Miss T down. She thinks I'm the only one who can handle this. She believes in me. I have to prove that I can rise to the occasion.
“I've only ever seen Venice in films. The canals, the bridges, the sunsets, the romance...”
“Romance?” Miss T raises a brow.
My cheeks heat up. “I didn't mean... not for me, obviously.”
“Obviously?”
“I don't even have anything suitable to wear.”
“A nice dress will be appropriate. I’d caution you against turning up in your flared trousers and brightly colored cardigans.”
“I won't let you down, Miss Turlington,” I promise. “I'll make sure I represent the school and make you proud.”
“I hope so, dear. I hope so. Don’t forget to get a mask. Something pretty with sequins and glitter. All the things you seem to like so much.”
Now she’s talking. Sequins and glitter are my friends.
“I'll transfer the flight ticket to you, and send you the accommodation details. You'll be there for two nights only, I’m afraid. You’ll arrive late on Friday evening, and the ball is on the Saturday. You fly back the next day.” She makes an apologetic face.
“Sorry it’s so short. I couldn’t justify giving you two days off school. ”
“It’s fine. It’s wonderful,” I quickly reassure her. I get to have two nights in Venice. “Thank you for this opportunity, Miss Turlington. This sounds like a whirlwind.”
Just like the one spinning inside my head.
“It does indeed.”
“It all sounds very...”
“Grand?” Miss Turlington offers. “I’m sure it will be. Think you're ready for the adventure?”
“I am always ready for an adventure!”
But Kiki will be annoyed that Miss T is sending me and not her. I’m nervous about what the other teachers might say. I’ve only been here for a few months, but I already care too much about this place to do anything that might upset things.
“What is it?” Miss T senses my hesitation.
“I’m nervous about what the other teachers might say.”
“You’ve worked incredibly hard ever since you got here, Molly.
You’re the first to volunteer for after-school clubs, you helped with the winter fundraiser, and when we needed someone for the Saturday family day, you were here before I was.
” She gives me a pointed look. “The children adore you, and so do their parents. You deserve this.”
“Why, thank you Miss Turlington.” Her words sink into my heart and snuggle up inside it.
“You make people feel comfortable, but also, you've never been intimidated by anyone. Children, parents, governors... you speak to everyone exactly the same way.”
I open my mouth, feeling all warm and fuzzy inside, but can’t find the words to describe how grateful I am for this. Me, out of everyone else. Kiki would probably fit in perfectly at a masked ball in a palace. She'd look glamorous and fit right in.
Me?
I'll look as out of place as a lobster, but I'll be fine. I don't care too much about things like that. I'm looking forward to the adventure.
“It’s such a shame you're missing it.”
She coughs again. “I'm thrilled that you're going in my place, and Molly … I'm not sending you because you're replacing me. I'm sending you because if anyone should experience something magical ... it's you.”
Tears well up in my eyes, and I don't know if it's because I'm ridiculously happy, or if I'm deeply touched by Miss T's kindness.
I don't get chances like this.
Not ever.
I've never won anything, not a lottery, or even a bag of candy floss from the fair. I can't believe that this lovely woman has given me this once-in-a-lifetime chance. The bell announcing that recess is over rings.
I stand up. “T-thank you, Miss T, I mean, Miss Turlington. I'll make you proud.”
“I don't doubt that you will.”