Chapter Eleven #2
Ferdinando and Sheenagh set to without further comment, removing tablecloths, wiping kitchen surfaces, loading the dishwashers, tying the waste sack and throwing it in the industrial bin outside.
Jade felt guilty at having to answer the ding of the reception bell three times, and once the phone, leaving her friends to restore order to the kitchen and breakfast room without her. Old stagers, they’d almost finished when Jade returned the final time.
‘I’m so sorry.’ She was mortified that the stainless-steel kitchen gleamed and they’d accomplished it without her. ‘If only Vittoria and Carlotta hadn’t had to be off at the same time. Though I’m sorry for Vittoria’s poor sister, of course.’
Sheenagh pulled her into a warm hug, which now smelled strongly of bleach. ‘Your staffing problems are not your fault. Now show us what needs doing to the guestrooms and you can stay on Reception.’
Jade pulled away to stare at the older woman. ‘You can’t mean that.’
Sheenagh gave her a severe look. ‘We can and we do.’ Her Scottish accent grew stronger. ‘Tell us what needs doing and where everything is.’
It turned out that Sheenagh meant every word. She also turned up on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, while Ferdinando remained at Villa Panorama and Leo just sent a text.
Glad Mum can help as everything’s kicked off with the hotel at Riva x
Jade decided not to read too much into the x on the end. It wasn’t like it was a real kiss.
Sheenagh even supervised the charity workers who collected those of Gran’s things to be donated, after Jade had given them a final, emotional check over. A long, wordless hug, and then they both returned to work.
It kept Gran uppermost in Jade’s mind, though.
On Friday evening she remembered that, regardless of Italian law, it had been Gran’s wish that her other granddaughters inherit their share of Pensione Three Sisters.
The words of the letter floated back to her as she relaxed over a solitary salad of chicken, parmesan and crisp lettuce in the kitchen they’d shared for so long.
I have a dear wish that you’ll form attachments to each other and not be isolated, any of you .
. . I’m grieved that I’ll never meet Erin and Rosalie, but I hope that perhaps a little of my huge love for you will somehow filter through to them.
Sighing, she picked up her phone and posted on the Joey’s kids group.
Thought you might like to know that the charity picked the stuff up as scheduled today. Three Sisters has been understaffed for several days, so haven’t done anything about buying the beds yet, but I will. J
Rosalie replied immediately.
Hope it wasn’t too tough on you.
Erin was a couple of hours later, when Jade was thinking about falling into bed.
Thanks, Jade. I could look for beds online, if helpful. Mary Smith says we’re not far off completing formalities now. Quick in Italy, isn’t it? Don’t know about England, but takes longer in Scotland.
An unpleasant surge of adrenalin zinged through Jade – the fear of her sisters encroaching on what she saw as hers. She had to take several slow, deep breaths to calm her system and remind herself of Gran’s wishes all over again before she could react calmly and rationally. She posted:
Thanks, Erin, but it will be easier if I do it.
There was no need to go to the expense of the heavy, carved wooden bed frames that they used in their guestrooms. She went on to the Mondo Convenienza website and bought twin beds with grey padded headboards, for delivery.
They could be made up with the pensione’s store of bed linen, which Erin and Rosalie could replace with something less white and hotel-like, should they wish.
Then she called Vittoria, to check she was OK.
‘Of course,’ Vittoria said breezily, with her usual dependability. ‘And my sister’s improving. We’ll soon be back to normal.’
‘Phew.’ But Jade knew that her life, at least, was a long way from normal.
On Saturday, Ferdinando returned. ‘Leo has gone to see the hotel in Riva.’ He tied an apron around his well-rounded belly.
Jade answered lightly, her eyes on her task as she rinsed plates ready for the dishwasher. ‘I hope his trip’s successful. You must be delighted he’s thinking of returning to Italy.’
‘His mother is,’ the older man said, as if unwilling to admit to such emotions himself. Jade’s feelings were mixed, but she was missing Leo. She’d just got used to him being around and now he was planning to move away.
On Sunday, Jade had no help with the breakfasts or the rooms. She managed somehow, working like a whirlwind and pulling Yara off Reception to help with the guestrooms, though Yara did it with bad grace. ‘Sorry,’ Jade said. ‘I know you don’t like helping with the guestrooms, but I’m in a spot.’
Still, Yara worked mainly in silence and every time the reception bell dinged, she abandoned the bedrooms and bathrooms like Usain Bolt hearing a starting pistol.
Jade sighed and worked faster.
But then Monday saw Vittoria returned from her mercy mission, blowing back into Three Sisters full of hugs and apologies.
‘Scusa, cara. But family . . . My sister came out of hospital yesterday and the children’s father is there while she recovers.
The womb is gone,’ she added, illustrating her sister’s hysterectomy with a shooing motion in the region of her own abdomen.
Jade returned her enthusiastic hug. ‘I hope Azzurra can rest and recover. It’s fantastic to have you back! I’ve been lucky to have help from the Sartoris, but you know what to do without being told.’
Then Carlotta’s family holiday ended three days later and the next day she too arrived back to work. By Friday, Pensione Three Sisters was running with its usual small-staff clockwork efficiency and Jade could thank the Sartoris for their help, and relax.
Other than when her thoughts strayed to Leo, wondering how long it would be before he moved to Garda.