Summer in Sorrento (8 page)

            
 “
So what did you do
?”
Hal asked.

            
 “
We went on a picnic
,”
Maia laughed.
 “
We walked down the hillside and spent the entire day basking in the sunshine eating bread and cheese, and drinking wine.  It was a perfect day
.
”
 
Maia paused recalling the day, reliving the memory.
 “
And Jim was right.  I ca
n’
t believe it took us leaving Dublin and the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives to realise that sometimes you need to just stop and connect with the person you love.  Jim said one time, it was after we finished renovating one room in this place
,‘
Well this looks great, but
I’
ve had enough for one day
,’
and I was so intent on just admiring our work, looking at the new paint, and walking around on the floors we had put down and all thi
s
stuf
f
, that Jim finally had to pull me from the room.  He said
,‘
I love what we did, but it wo
n’
t keep me warm at nigh
t—
you will
.’
I guess my point is, this place allowed him and I, even for a short time, to find balance in our lives. I realise you and Lori are
n’
t moving in
,”
she smiled
,“
but maybe it can work its magic on you two while you are here. If you let it
.
”

              Hal smiled.
 “
So how do I get started on some of thi
s‘
magi
c’?
”

              Laughing, Maia got up from where she sat and reached for a vase of flowers.
 “
I thought you would never as
k—
okay, her
e’
s what you do firs
t
…”

When Lori opened her eyes, she felt momentarily discombobulated, like she had forgotten where she was.  As her mind snapped into motion, she remembered where she wa
s—
the Italian farmhouse. But what confused her more was the bouquet of fresh azaleas that had suddenly appeared on her bedside table.  That had
n’
t been there the night before, when she had gone to bed angry next to Ha
l—
the two of them sleeping with their backs turned to each other.

              It had been far from romantic, she thought. Some vacation!

              She sat up and edged closer to the side of the bed, dipping her face into the fresh blooms, their fragrance at once centering her, calming her.  Lori looked behind her to Ha
l’
s side of the bed only to find it empty.

              Hal is an early riser, she thought, could he have put the bouquet on her nightstand?  Without considering the thought for another moment, she decided no, it had to be Maia, or Camilla.

              Getting up from bed and putting her robe on, she opened the door and padded down the hallway with bare feet.  Entering the kitchen, she found it empty, but smelling of fresh coffee and hot bread.  The sound of voices outside trickled into the house and she followed her ears.

              Opening the kitchen door, she was immediately met with a cool summe
r’
s morning.  The heat of the day had not yet found its way up the side of the mountain to the farmhouse.  She was also welcomed by her husband and Maia, who were both sitting and chatting happily in the wooden lounge chairs that peppered the courtyard.

              Feeling immediately annoyed, primarily that her husband could get up and carry on with the landlady, talking and relaxing happily and he could
n’
t do it with her, she was about to offer her displeasure, when Hal cut her off, speaking first.

            
 “
There you are
,”
he smiled.
 “
Good morning.  I hope you liked your flowers
.
”

              Momentarily stunned, Lori opened and closed her mout
h—
and then opened it again.
 “
Those were from you
?
”

              Hal nodded and Maia nudged him with her elbow.
 “
Yes I was up this morning and found Maia cutting them. 
I…
helped.  And I put those in you
r…
ou
r…
room
.
”

              Lori tilted her head out of confusion.
 “
You helped Maia cut flowers
?”
She could
n’
t believe her ears.

              Hal shrugged, as if looking for a way to diminish his role, but Maia spoke before he could say a word
,“
He did help me.  And he also did something else.  Hal why do
n’
t you tell her?  Lori, would you like some coffee?  I just brewed another pot,
I’
m afraid that Hal and I drank the first
.
”
 
Lori nodded her assent and Maia got up to go into the house.

              Lori plopped down in the chair next to Hal.
 “
What else did you do this morning
?”
she inquired, all of the vitriol was gone from her voice and absent from her mind.  She was curious to know what her husband had been up to while she had been sleeping.

              Hal shifted in his seat.
 “
Well, I um, cleaned off the bikes that Maia mentioned yesterday.  And I thought that maybe, we could go on a picnic.  Maia said ther
e’
s a spot that she and her husband used to go to, and we are on holiday after all.  I mean, unless you want to go to that trattoria first?  We can save the picnic for another da
y…
o
r….
”

              But Lori was smiling, a grin so genuine she resembled a child on Christmas morning.

            
 “
You want to go on
a
picni
c
?  Wit
h
m
e
?
”

              Ha
l’
s face reddened and Maia smiled with certain pleasure at the couple.  Quietly, she excused herself from the scene, wanting to give them some privacy.

              But as she tiptoed away she heard Hal respond earnestly.

            
 “
Yes, Lori.  You.  I want to go on a picnic wit
h
yo
u
.
”

Later that morning, Maia was doing some more work on the roadside stand when Jacob joined her, asking if she minded the company. The pair chatted amicably for a while, avoiding mention of their conversation the night before, and bypassing the subject of his father, until Amelia also made her way outside.

            
 “
Maia, I was wondering if you knew where Hotel De La Syrene is?  How far it is from here, I mean
.
”
 
The girl was holding a piece of paper in her hand, which Maia assumed was the wedding invitation. 

              She nodded
,“
I know where it is.  Down the coast that way.  Actually not very far.  But too far to walk, and a bit strenuous to
o—
up and down hills the whole way there.  Probably would be murder in high heels
.
”

            
 “
I thought as much.  So
I’
ll need a taxi
?
”

              Maia nodded.
 “
I think that would be best. I can call one for yo
u—
get them to arrange to pick you up at a certain time too, if you like
.
”
 
Though Amelia did
n’
t look too happy with that situation, likely Maia thought because if she the day went south, she would be at the mercy of waiting to be picked up by a cab.

              Amelia shrugged, as if accepting her fate.
 “
I wondered if I should have rented a car when I got here.  Too late now, I suppose
.
”

              Jacob, who had been quiet until this point, suddenly spoke.
 “
I
t’
s a wedding, right?  Tha
t’
s where you are going
?
”
 
He had overheard snippets of conversation about Amelia and why she was here.

              Amelia smiled.
 “
Yes. But not jus
t
an
y
wedding
,”
she added.
 “
The wedding of my ex-fian
cé.
”

            
 “
Hmm, I see
,”
said Jacob shooting a glance at maybe.
 “
Tha
t’
s an interesting situatio
n….”
Then he smiled.
 “
You know, I might be able to help
.
”

              Maia and Amelia both immediately looked interested.

            
 “
And just how would you help Jacob
?”
Maia inquired of her handsome lodger.

            
 “
Well
,”
he said, shoving his hands in his pockets.
 “
I have a car
.
”
 
He extracted a set of car keys from one of his pockets and beeped the alarm on the Mercedes rental parked in front of the farmhouse.
 “
If you are allowed to bring a plus one, I think your issue might be solved
.
”

              Maia raised her eyebrows and looked at Amelia, wondering what the young woman would say about such a proposal. 

              Amelia looked unsettled
.“
It might be rude of me to bring someone though? I do
n’
t want to mess up their seating plan
s
…”
 
She bit her lip.

              But Jacob laughed alou
d—
he clearly did
n’
t care.
 “
Yeah well, a messed up seating plan is
n’
t nearly as horrible as inviting your ex-fian
cé
e to your wedding.  Just sayi
n’,”
he said bluntly, his New York accent coming out full force.

              This made Amelia erupt with laughter.
 “
Do you know, yo
u’
re absolutely right. To hell with their seating plan
.
”

            
 “
Tha
t’
s the spirit.  Every wedding needs a crasher
,”
Jacob said.
 “
What time do I have to be ready
?
”

              Amelia provided him instructions and looked more cheered than she had since her arrival.
 “
This is going to be fun.  But Jacob, just so you know, this is
n’
t a date or anything OK
?
”

Maia smiled but said nothing and Jacob raised his eyebrows mischievousl
y“
If you say so
.
”

            
 “
No, I mean it
,”
Amelia insisted.
 “I’
ve seen the way Camilla looks at you.  And in an effort of solidarity and sisterhood, I would
n’
t dream of stepping on her toes
.
”

              Jacob appeared thoughtful, as if he had
n’
t notice Camill
a’
s attention, and was just now putting the pieces together.
 “
Right, got it.  Not a date.  And Camilla, huh
?”
He smiled.
 “
Well, tha
t
i
s
interesting
.
”