Chapter Sixteen
On Monday morning, Jade awoke in her own bed feeling renewed and re-energised. Things had changed between her and Leo. On her side it was probably more than lust, but instead of worrying about whether he’d stay and what it would mean if he did, she chose to acknowledge only hope.
She’d taken a taxi home after midnight and fallen into bed with the delicious, heavy-limbed languor that follows hot, awesome sex.
But, as she rolled out of bed to face another day, it was as if orgasm hormones had not only wiped out stress, but had made her mind sharp and capable.
The changes in her life might be out of her control, but she could prepare to meet them.
Whizzing through a shower and then putting up her hair, she planned how to untangle her knotted life.
Today would almost certainly be Vittoria’s last at Pensione Three Sisters, but Jade would not cry over that again.
OK, she probably would, but not today. Today she’d be happy that her friends were opening fabulous new chapters of their lives, and invite Vittoria and Carlotta to dinner to say thank you for their long service and their love.
Gran-like, she’d celebrate what they’d had rather than grieve its loss.
She hurried into the catering kitchen and tied her apron over her black dress.
After breakfast, she’d register two vacancies with the employment agency.
Or maybe three, so they had cover in reserve – she was still undecided.
Soon the pensione would enter new ownership and should do so on a proper footing.
This summer, she hadn’t found a moment even to swim in the lake or take the ferry somewhere.
What little leisure she’d grabbed had been snatched hours in busy days.
Vittoria and Carlotta arrived, wearing matching apprehensive expressions. ‘Buongiorno.’ Jade issued the dinner invitation she’d planned.
‘Perhaps in a couple of weeks? Angelo and I must pack this evening.’ Vittoria gave Jade yet another consoling hug.
Carlotta took her turn in the hug-queue. ‘Ludovica’s mamma wants to speak to us.’
Jade maintained her cheery smile, though deflated that her invitation had met no enthusiasm. ‘I sprang that on you, without thinking how busy you’d be. We’ll do it before Vittoria leaves Como altogether.’ Soon she was scrambling eggs and making coffee.
Later, in the office, she completed a submission form on a job-search site and then paid the fee.
She emailed the temp agency in case they had an experienced worker available short term, but might as well have searched the breakfast pastries for diamonds.
From tomorrow, Leo would come to Pensione Three Sisters to help, but it was a tricky time for him.
He wouldn’t remain in his bank-induced limbo for ever and at any moment might have to deal with what eventuated.
For a minute, she stared out of the window at the people milling past. A week ago, she’d watched Geneva Gallo pass on the other side of the glass after she’d asked Jade for a job.
Though she’d clearly been down-at-heel and down on her luck, Jade reared back from the idea that Geneva might be the temporary worker the pensione needed.
So what had made her advertise for two employees, not three?
Gran and Nonno were the only blood relations to whom she’d ever owed anything.
But now she’d met her birth mother and half-sisters . . . However she felt about them, they existed. Facts of her life. Humans, with feelings, needs and wants. Shared blood. Slowly, she reached for her phone and navigated to the Joey’s kids group. Do you know your travel plans yet? she asked.
Erin answered first, probably at a computer, rather than inside an animal costume as Rosalie might be.
I have to work till Sunday August 30th. It’s a public holiday Monday 31st so thought I might try to fly that day, if Mary the solicitor can arrange things for that week, and it suits you. Any good for you, Rosalie?
Five minutes later, Rosalie chipped in.
I can do those dates. Not my turn to work Bank Holiday Monday, but would have to fly back Sunday 6 Sept latest.
Then, in a separate bubble:
You OK with it, Jade?
She had to be, so Jade returned: Yes. Have staffing probs so might put you to work. She added a smiley.
Rosalie returned: Do it.
And Erin added: Yes, do.
Making an effort, Jade added: How’s everything with you two?
Erin replied: Contract extended with pay rise and promotion! C-suite here I come!
Rosalie: Dressed as a dancing ice-cream cone. At least it’s chocolate.
Jade answered: Congrats to you both, with another smiley. Then, What’s the C-suite?
Chief Information Officer, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operations Officer, etc., Erin responded. Known by initials like CIO, CEO, COO. I guess you haven’t had to know.
Then, while Jade was glaring at the screen, Erin came back. SORRY! That came out wrong, like I was giving you shit. I just meant you’ve always known your role.
It was followed by a hiding-face-in-hands emoji, plus a single-tear-on-a-sad-face emoji.
Jade smiled grimly. I know those titles, but not C-suite as a collective term. Also wrongLY, not wrong. It’s an adverb. Gran had attended something called a ‘grammar school’, so presumably had been correct in the grammar she’d passed to Jade. She added a laughing emoji.
Erin replied with a row of sobbing emojis and Rosalie with a crying-with-laughter one.
Feeling as if she’d struck the right notes, Jade posted a waving hand as her exit from the banter.
The accountant had sent a list of queries about the year-end that would occupy her for a while.
The insurance documents from the new company had to be read before being filed in the appropriate computer folder.
And yet, rather than begin either of those tasks, she found herself once again staring through the window as if seeing Geneva trudging past with an air of .
. . what? Resignation, at best. Disappointment, definitely. Worry?
You’ve always known your role.
Erin had been correct. Jade had never needed to – or wanted to – attend university or any courses other than for food hygiene and kitchen safety.
Right from the child who’d polished spoons or swept up, she’d learnt about Three Sisters from Gran, never having to worry about rent money or her credit card being refused at a supermarket.
Never had she even had to apply for a job.
Pushing away from the desk, she left the office, crossing Reception with a smile for Yara, who was frowning over her computer screen.
Sucking in a bolstering breath, Jade strode into the apartment and then to her bedroom.
Gran’s wooden jewellery box sat on the dressing table, dusted each week but otherwise undisturbed.
Heart bumping uncomfortably, she opened it and retrieved the scrap of paper with Geneva’s number in unfamiliar handwriting that she’d shoved inside.
Typing the number into her phone, she wondered whether she was crazy. Until the moment that Geneva had stepped into the pensione, Jade had rarely spared her a thought.
Still, whether she was acting out of curiosity or conscience, she listened to the bzz . . . bzz . . . bzz of the ringtone, then a woman’s voice answering guardedly. ‘Pronto.’
‘This is Jade Beretta.’ She spoke calmly, though her heart took a giant leap and seemed to bounce off her tonsils. ‘Are you interested in meeting for coffee?’
After a pause: ‘Sì.’ Geneva sounded dubious, even suspicious.
‘How about Bar Maria in Via Gallio?’ It was a broad, tree-lined street that led towards San Giovanni station, affordable, but pleasant.
‘Sì.’ This time, Geneva sounded astonished. They arranged to meet at three. Ending the call, Jade grabbed water and an apple to sustain her when she returned to the office. Then her phone vibrated with a call from Leo.
‘Pronto.’ She hoped she didn’t sound as breathless as she suddenly felt.
‘Ciao, bellezza,’ he replied, warm and intimate, continuing in Italian. ‘I don’t know contemporary Italian dating etiquette. Am I calling too soon or too late?’
‘Too late,’ she answered promptly, teasingly, because one thing that never changed about Italian dating culture was including jokes in the flirting. ‘It’s a bad mark against you.’
He laughed. ‘I didn’t want to interrupt your busy morning. But I did want to hear your voice. Do you have time to meet for coffee?’
She blew out a breath. ‘I’m meeting Geneva.’ It was weird to hear herself say it out loud.
Suddenly, he sounded completely British. ‘Bloody hell! Seriously?’
‘Do you think I’m mad?’ She gazed at her round, red apple, and wondered whether she really wanted it.
Slowly, he answered, ‘No.’ Then he added, ‘Of course not.’ And, finally, ‘But maybe buckle on some armour around your heart . . . with Vittoria leaving today, as well.’
Glumly, she agreed. ‘That’s hanging over me like a cloud.
But I must say bye with a smile and let her leave with a light heart.
’ She hoped she sounded more convincing than she felt.
The knowledge that if Vittoria went to live in Milan, Jade would only see her on visits hung heavy on her heart.
And, despite some cautious ‘as long as we like Milano’ provisos, she was sure Vittoria and her Angelo had made up their minds to go.
When two o’clock arrived, Jade met Vittoria in the apartment. Both of them shed tears and Jade couldn’t find a single smile. ‘Be happy, Vittoria, amica mia.’ She sniffed.
‘I will,’ Vittoria said through noisy sobs. They hugged goodbye for a full minute, rocking each other and wiping their eyes.
Finally, Jade freed her friend with a watery smile. ‘Guess what? I’m going to meet Geneva soon. This summer’s like a book of firsts.’ And no matter how often she posted an entry, there was always something else coming at her.
Vittoria widened her eyes. ‘Mamma mia. Buona fortuna.’