Chapter 27
When race day came, the pier by the boathouse was busier than Beth had ever seen it.
Families of the local rowers had pitched up with chairs and picnics and were welcoming the people from Giudecca.
All Cesca’s family were there, including her nieces and nephews who were running around, waving little flags and holding balloons.
Everyone had come out for the event. Beth watched before approaching, her eyes scanning the crowd for Marco.
When she couldn’t see him, a mix of both relief and sadness sent her early breakfast roiling around her stomach.
Cesca stood by Emilio, cuddled into his side, and they beckoned Beth over. Cesca’s parents bustled over as soon as they saw her and wrapped Beth in an enormous hug as though she were still part of the family. Paola immediately apologised for Marco’s behaviour, tutting and rolling her eyes.
‘He’s closing himself off from everyone again,’ she said regretfully. ‘He did this after the accident and after his business failed. I wish he wouldn’t. Family should rely on each other, but when his friend left him with all that debt, it was very hard for him.’
‘He should have come back to the family business and given all the rest of it up,’ Elio replied.
Paola flung her arms in the air, speaking in Italian. ‘That’s what you said then and look how that helped matters.’
To stop them having an argument, Beth turned to Emilio. ‘Cesca said you go away again after this?’
His grip on Francesca tightened as sorrow washed his usually cheerful features. ‘Yes. I wish I didn’t have to, but there are regionals coming up.’
‘He needs to prove he should keep his place in the national team,’ Cesca added.
‘That seems like a lot of pressure.’
‘It is, but mostly I will miss Cesca. She is my good luck charm. We’re figuring out how we can make it all work and be together as much as possible.’
Beth smiled at the love so evident between them and wished Marco was there to see it too. It might have changed his mind if he had.
Cesca and Emilio both stiffened and she could tell as they looked over her shoulder that Marco had arrived and was walking towards them.
Beth thought about scurrying away and getting ready for the race, knowing seeing him again would only hurt, but she didn’t want to look like she was avoiding him, even though that was exactly what she would be doing.
‘Son!’ Paola said to Marco, as his nieces and nephews swarmed around him. Marco smiled and hugged them, then his mum. When his eyes landed on Beth, his face retained its softness, and she found herself smiling, just as he did.
‘Beth,’ he said, throwing her off by speaking to her first. ‘I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve arranged Signor Zambelli and Riccardo to be at your grand opening. They’re very excited.’
That he’d done that for her without asking warmed her broken heart. ‘Thank you. I appreciate it.’
‘Also, there is something I need to say.’
‘Yes?’ She held her breath, waiting for him to speak, her body tingling with anticipation.
‘Beth, I—’
‘We have to go!’ Cesca shouted as their race was called. She began tugging on Beth’s arm, but there was no way Beth could move now. Something was different: she could see it in Marco’s eyes, in the set of his mouth and the tilt of his head. She had to hear what he had to say.
‘Yes?’ she asked Marco imploringly.
‘I—’
The announcer called the race again and Beth glanced at Cesca.
‘Come on, Beth, or we’ll be disqualified.’
‘I’ll still be here when you get back,’ Marco said softly, and she almost melted at the need in his expression.
Cesca pulled her away and before she knew it, she was following Marco’s sister to their boat. As she looked over her shoulder it was to see Marco watching them. He held up his hand, two fingers crossed, wishing her luck, and the love that had been growing for him rushed back stronger than ever.
Focusing on the race, Beth climbed into their boat and took her position on the water.
They’d had a few training rows but nerves still sprung up into her throat and she took a moment to breathe deeply and fill her body with oxygen.
The water was calm, the day clear and bright.
It was perfect spring weather, perfect for her first race.
‘We can win this,’ Cesca said, pumped with excitement and anticipation. She was in front of Beth, so all Beth saw was the back of her head, her ponytail bobbing as she nodded to her own words. ‘We can do this.’
The countdown started and before she knew it they were off, rowing in time, breathing hard, lungs burning, legs aching.
Beth gripped the oar and concentrated on breathing in and out with each stroke, pushing on her exhalations, relaxing on her inhalations.
They were in the lead, but another boat was creeping up.
Beth glanced at it from the corner of her eye.
They were falling behind and needed to up their pace.
‘Let’s go!’ Beth cried and though speaking seemed to suck all the air from her lungs, she felt her body move up a gear and find the extra push they needed as exhilaration took over.
She struggled to breathe rhythmically, but soon they were moving quicker, edging past the leader by nothing more than an inch.
Cheers resounded as they crossed the finish line, Cesca’s family the loudest of all while other members of the rowing club clapped and whooped. They’d done it. They’d won.
Beth’s eyes were drawn to Marco who was joining in with the celebrations.
Their eyes met as she stepped out of the boat, and she and Cesca made their way towards them.
Though she was red and sweaty, with hair plastered to her head and perspiration falling down her cheeks, it was clear there was something between them once more – that same affection in his gaze she’d seen just before he’d kissed her.
Cesca high-fived her without speaking. Unable to talk as their heart rates dropped and their breathing returned to normal. Beth felt on top of the world, like she could solve any problem, outlast any difficult patch. She was strong, determined, undefeatable.
Cesca’s family swamped them as soon as they came close enough. Emilio pulled Cesca into his arms and Marco’s nieces and nephews were all hopping up and down, eager to get the next high five from their auntie.
All the while Marco smiled on.
Had his thoughts changed? Did he see now what everyone else saw?
‘I’d better go get changed,’ Beth said.
‘I’ll get you a drink for when you’re back.’
‘Thanks. I won’t be long.’
Beth showered and changed quickly, putting on a nice pair of jeans and top she’d recently bought, enjoying the change from the boring tailored trousers and jumpers she normally wore.
Her uniform of unflattering black and grey had been replaced by dark blue denim jeans that hugged her hips while the top was a pale pink.
Her cheeks were still rosy from the race, and she tied her still slightly damp dark brown hair up in a ponytail.
‘Ready?’ she asked Cesca who had changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a large, floppy jumper.
Cesca nodded and they made their way back outside as Emilio’s race was called.
They hurried out and he kissed Cesca on the cheek before running to the pier.
Marco scowled, but didn’t speak, smiling at Beth as she stopped beside him.
She noticed his slight double take as he took in her changed appearance.
‘I bought some new clothes,’ she said shyly. ‘Thought I could do with something less … grey.’
‘You look beautiful. But you have always looked beautiful. Always.’
As the second always floated in the air between them, the starter pistol fired, shocking her out of the moment, and the race began.
Cesca immediately began calling Emilio’s name and Marco clapped and mumbled words of encouragement for his friend.
Beth smiled, glad that despite everything he still wanted to support him and was growing more hopeful his views on Cesca and Emilio had changed.
In fact, as the race continued, he couldn’t help himself, and shouted for Emilio to row, calling the pace, encouraging him to move quicker as he fell behind.
They all edged further and further to the water, standing on the edge of the pier.
Suddenly, Beth was aware of Marco tensing, stepping forwards and shouting in Italian.
She wasn’t sure what he was saying at first, but the worried look on his face and the change in his tone told her something was wrong.
She followed his gaze and saw for herself his concern: Emilio’s was about to collide with someone else.
The rower from Giudecca was slipping further and further into the line of Emilio’s boat, but they were moving so quickly, and Emilio had nowhere to go, no way to correct his course.
The shouts changed from those of encouragement to warning, Marco bellowing louder than everyone.
And then, as if in horrifying slow motion, it happened.
The boats crashed together.
Beth’s hands flew to her mouth, pressing hard against her lips.
Cesca was screaming as loudly as Marco at her side.
The rower from Giudecca’s boat hit the side of Emilio’s.
Oars collided and thrashed in the water, Emilio’s boat rocked, and he toppled into the water.
Suddenly, like a domino effect, boats were everywhere as chaos ensued.
Beth waited for Emilio’s head to pop up, for him to float to the surface and gulp the air. But his head didn’t break through the water.
The waters of Venice were such a part of the city and its beauty, it was easy to forget how treacherous they could be.
It was a horrible reminder that behind the picturesque place were the same dangers that existed anywhere.
The idea sent a shiver down her spine and she instinctively wrapped her arm around Cesca.
They waited what felt like minutes but couldn’t have been more than twenty seconds, but still Emilio hadn’t appeared.