Romance In The Tuscan Hills: A New Beginning (2 page)

BOOK: Romance In The Tuscan Hills: A New Beginning
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“Maybe, maybe, maybe....Always maybes and what ifs,” Dani sighed.  “I could really use your advice right now, Mom.  You taught me so much about how to get ahead in the world, but not about relationships.  I can't relate to people.  I'm too closed off.  I see the problems, but I don't know how to change it.  How do I change it, Mom?”

 

Dani frowned and grabbed the TV remote control.  Enough talking to herself.  That wasn't going to solve anything.  She was a doer, not a complainer.  It was time to start doing and stop complaining about all the maybes and what ifs....

 

Starting tomorrow, she decided.   Mom always said everything looked better in the morning with a fresh pair of eyes and clear mind.  Mom's advice had never steered her wrong.  Tomorrow wouldn't be any different.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Chapter Three

 

 

 

Morning brought a clear head and fresh perspective.   It was crazy to be down in the dumps over something she could change with a little will power and tenacity.  She had a beautiful townhome and an amazing, high paying job at one of the top firms in the city.  What was there not to love about her life?  So what if there was no romance.  Romance was over-rated.  Companionship would be okay but it wasn't the be all end all, the TV shows and romance novels wanted you to believe it was.  What was wrong with being a strong, independent career minded woman? 

 

“Absolutely nothing,” Dani said out loud and she grabbed her briefcase and headed out the door.  “There is nothing wrong with me.  My life is great.  Perfect even.  Amazing.  Wonderful.”

 

But it wasn't.  Not really.  She could rattle off all the positive-thinking clap trap she wanted, but it wouldn't change the fact that there was a hole in her life since her mom died.  That hole was love.

 

 

 

Dani sat at her desk trying to focus on the stack of reports Robert needed in an hour.  She glanced at the clock and then her desk calendar.  Nonna always called at this exact time every Tuesday.  Maybe she was running late or forgot the time different from New York to Italy – Nonna was getting up there in years – but it wasn't like her to not call.  Dani contemplated calling herself when her cellphone rang.  She clicked the green 'talk' button and unloaded before Nonna even had a chance to say 'ciao.'

 

“Oh, good, Nonna, I was starting to worry about you.  How are things?  If you need help with chores around the villa, let me find you someone.   You shouldn't worry about all that.  You're 87 years old.  You deserve a break, don't you think?”

 

There was silence on the other end before a heavily accented, unfamiliar voice said:  “I am trying to reach Miss Danielle Vierra.  May I speak to Miss Danielle Vierra?”

 

“This is Danielle,” she said.  “Forgive me for asking, but who are you and why do you have my grandmother's phone?”

 

“I am Lorenzo Zanutti, your grandmother's lawyer.   I am very sorry to inform you that your grandmother has passed.  You are her lone heir.  Everything she has is yours.  Will you be coming to Italy to settle the estate in person or shall we exchange all the information over the telephone, Miss Vierra?”

 

Dani wasn't one for rash decisions, but she knew she owed it to Nonna to settle everything in person.   A phone call wasn't enough.  This was Nonna’s legacy – not ordering a pizza. 

 

“No.   No, I'll come in person,”  Dani said.  “Just give me a few days to book a flight.”

 

Dani clicked 'end' and laid her cellphone on her desk.  She stared blankly at her desk calendar with 'Nonna' written in red ink and circled.  She always looked forward to her weekly calls from Nonna.  Now she had absolutely no one in the world but herself.

 

Unexpected tears welled up in Dani's eyes.  No, no, no, no.  Now was not the time to cry.  She needed to stay strong.  Instead of succumbing to the tears – she could save that for later – Dani scrubbed at her eyes, stood up, and walked roboticly over to Robert's office.  She lifted her hand to knock before hesitating.  What did she say?  'Hey, I'm taking off to Italy without any notice.  See you in two weeks' just didn't seem appropriate.  

 

“Just tell the truth.  He'll understand,” she whispered out loud.  “Don't think too much about Nonna and you'll get through this conversation without any tears.  No tears.  You can do this, Dani.  No tears.  Nonna would want you to be strong.”

 

“Come in!”  Robert called almost as soon as Dani knocked.  

 

“Robert, it's me.”  Dani stepped into the room and closed the door behind her.  “I'm not sure really how to say this.  I'm going to need some time off for family issues.”

 

“Family issues?”  Robert's heavy eyebrows knit into a perfect V in confusion.  “I thought you didn't have any family?  That's why you're such a good worker.  No family means no distractions.”

 

“My grandmother in Italy was the only family member I have,” Dani said.

 

“Was?”  Robert caught the word choice instantly.  “What happened?”

 

Dani spread her hands in front of her palm up in defeat.  “I don't even really know.  I got a call from her lawyer.  He said she died.  I don't know if it was sudden or if she's been hiding some illness from me or what.  All I do know is that I'm the sole heir.  I need to go to Italy.”  She stopped and shook her head.  “No.  No, it's more than that.  I need to go to Italy.  I owe it to Nonna.”

 

“When do you leave?”  Robert asked.

 

“That's it?”  Dani asked.  “No complaints?  No 'we can't get on without you'?  Just 'when do you leave?'”

 

“Dani, I'm not such a hard ass that I'd ask you to keep working when you just found out your grandmother died.  Grandmas are special.  I get that.  You're special too.  Your job will still be here when you get back so, I'll ask you again.  When do you leave?”

 

Dani took a deep breath – barely able to hold in the tears this time.  “As soon as I book a flight.”

 

 

6. Chapter Four

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As the plane made its final descent into Florence International Airport, Dani tried not to remember that, when she got off the plane,  there would be a smiling, laughing Nonna ready to greet her, but some underling from  Zanutti's law firm.   All her memories of Florence were from childhood when everything naturally seemed bright, beautiful, and carefree.  Now, whenever she thought of Florence, there would be a dark cloud over the memory.  Nonna was one of a kind.  There was no replacing her.  Her passing left a hole that would never be filled. 

 

Once she was through customs and picked up her luggage at baggage claim,  Dani looked around for the guy from Zanutti's law firm.  She scanned the row of limo and taxi drivers with their neatly printed little sign before finding what she was looking for.  A young man with a mop of curly dark hair and the whitest smile she had seen this side of a toothpaste commercial held up a small sign that read:  DANIELLE VIERRA.

 

Dani walked over to him and motioned at the sign.  “I'm Danielle Vierra.”

 

The boy's grin widened.  “Welcome, to Florence, Signorina Vierra, I am Vincenzo and I will be escorting you to Senior Zanutti’s office.  I trust you had a safe flight?  Let me take your bags.  Please, follow me.”

 

Dani followed Vincenzo to a black car with tinted black windows.  He opened the back door and motioned for her to climb in.  She got comfortable before leaning back in her seat and stretching her legs out in front of her.   It felt good to wear sandals instead of high heels and dress casual instead of in a business suit.  Maybe she needed a vacation more than she thought if jetting off to settle her grandmother's will was considered a nice relaxing day.

 

“How far is it to Mr. Zanutti's office?” she asked as Vincenzo climbed in the driver's seat,  brought the car to life with the turn of a key,  and pulled out of the airport parking lot..

 

“Not far, not far,” Vincenzo assured her.  “Only twenty minutes.  Have you been to Florence before?”

 

“Only when I was a girl,” Dani said.  “Nonna always thought it was more exciting to visit us than the other way around.  I guess when you grow up here, you take for granted the beauty all around you.”

 

“Florence is definitely a beautiful city to behold,” Vincenzo agreed. 

 

As they drove, Dani watched the historic buildings with their definite old world charm out the window.   It's funny how some things never change, and other things or people that you thought would last forever were gone in the blink of an eye.

 

“I am sorry about the news of your Nonna's passing,” Vincenzo said.  “She was a remarkable woman.  You look quite a bit like her, you know.”

 

“Everyone says that, but I don't quite see it,” Dani said. 

 

“Maybe it is more your aura or spirit that shines through to match hers.  You are ambitious, no?”

 

“You can tell all that from my aura?”

 

Vincenzo laughed.  “You would be surprised.”

 

“Nonna always said surprise meant you weren't prepared enough.   Is there anything I need to be prepared for with this estate business?”

 

“I will leave that up to Lorenzo to tell you.”

 

Lorenzo turned out to be the Mr. Zanutti she previously spoke to on the phone.  Once Vicenzo safely parked the car and led Dani upstairs, he handled the introductions. 

BOOK: Romance In The Tuscan Hills: A New Beginning
5.43Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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