What Happens in Tuscany... (33 page)

‘Hot in there?'

The bear nodded.

‘Not going to take the head off?'

The bear shook its head.

‘Just shy, or is there some other reason?'

The bear made no response. She stared at it for a while. It had to be him. She had, after all, been speaking in English.

‘Is that you, Paul?'

The bear made no response. Katie was getting fed up by this time.

‘For Christ's sake stop playing games, would you?'

There was a pause, and then the bear reached up and pulled off its head. The face that appeared wasn't the face Katie was expecting.

‘Loretta!' Her long dark hair was soaked with sweat and plastered against her head. Her eyes were red and tears were running down her face. Katie was genuinely surprised. ‘I'm sorry, Loretta, I had no idea it was you in there. What's wrong?'

‘Excuse me, Katie, but I just can't stop crying.' Loretta rubbed a big hairy paw across her face. ‘I've been doing this with Marco for years and years. And every year my mother would come to watch. This year she's not here.' She swallowed hard. ‘She's gone and I miss her so terribly.'

Katie leant across and found herself in the slightly bizarre situation of hugging a headless black bear. She did her best to comfort Loretta and after a while, she suggested a drink of beer. Loretta shook her head and pointed to the mineral water. ‘If you could pour me a glass of water I'd be very grateful.'

Katie tipped the last of the water into a plastic beaker and held it up to Loretta's lips. ‘I don't suppose you bears find it easy to grip glasses in your claws.'

Loretta gave a weak smile and Katie was pleased to see her looking less sad. Loretta drank gratefully and finished the glass. ‘Whew, that's good. If there's a better way of losing weight in a hurry, I haven't come across it.' She sat back and looked across at Katie. ‘Not dancing?'

Katie shook her head. ‘Like you, I'm resting and recuperating. My tummy's still feeling a bit sore.'

‘Of course. Paul told me all about your appendix trouble. That must have been scary.'

Mention of Paul Taylor's name caused Katie to sit up and glance around. Loretta gave her another little smile. ‘He's here somewhere. He told me he was coming.' She caught Katie's eye, now more serious. ‘He's a fine man, Katie. I know. I loved him deeply; in fact, I still do.'

‘He told me he's the nearest thing to a brother that you've got.'

‘And he's right.' She held Katie's eye. ‘He makes a wonderful brother, even if that's maybe not all I would like him to be.' She still looked sad, but at least she had stopped crying by now. Before Katie could respond, Loretta looked across at the dance floor. ‘There he is now. And there's somebody with him who's also going to find out pretty soon that he makes a good brother.'

Katie followed her gaze. Paul Taylor was standing at the side of the dance floor with Vicky, his arm around her waist, his lips to her ear. He was clearly deep in conversation with her. From what Loretta had just said, it looked as though he was finally telling her all about the relationship between her father and his mother. Katie felt a sudden twinge of pity for Vicky who was about to discover the truth about yet another poor decision made by her father.

‘He talks about you all the time, you know.' Loretta was looking more serious. ‘You do know he thinks the world of you, don't you?'

‘Well, he's got a bloody funny way of showing it.' Katie felt her cheeks redden.

‘He told me he'd said some stuff to you that he regretted.'

‘Listen, Loretta, you know him. You say you love him. He's a great guy and I'd be lying if I didn't say I felt something for him from the very first time I saw him. But then I saw you and him together.'

‘Me and him?' Loretta sounded bemused. ‘Where? When?'

Katie did her best to explain. ‘I saw you and him together in Florence, the afternoon your mum died. It was sheer chance. I was picking up a hire car, and you were walking home from the hospital with him. You were right in front of me. You were wrapped around him and he was hugging you.' She looked up, her expression apologetic. ‘I'm sorry. I put two and two together and I got five.'

‘You thought we were back together? That'll never happen.' Loretta's tone was rueful.

‘I'm afraid that's the conclusion I jumped to. As soon as I saw you two together, I knew I had to back off.' She caught Loretta's eye. ‘For what it's worth, I didn't want to, but I knew it was the right thing to do.'

‘Are you going to introduce me to the bear?' Martin reappeared, red in the face and sweating. The evening temperature was still high.

‘Martin, this is Loretta, aka the dancing bear. Loretta, this is Martin.'

‘Hi, Loretta. That's one hell of a costume you're wearing. You look pretty hot in there. Can I get you a drink? I'm dying for a cold beer.'

‘Some more water would be great, please.'

Martin looked across at Katie. ‘A drink for you? Another beer maybe?'

She shook her head. ‘No, thanks. I think I'll stay off the alcohol now. I'm still a bit tender down in the tummy department. Get a big bottle of mineral water and I'll have some with Loretta.' He disappeared into the crowd.

‘Is that your boyfriend? Are things serious between you?'

‘No, Martin's just a friend.' She shook her head. ‘He's going back to Britain tomorrow to start a new job in London.'

‘That sounds exciting. I lived in London for four years while I was studying. It's an amazing place.'

‘But so's Florence.'

Loretta smiled at her, a happier expression on her face now. ‘That's why I came back. So, if you stay here, what will you do? From what Paul was telling me, Victoria's thinking of going to university in the UK, isn't she?'

Katie nodded. ‘That seems to be the plan. I reckon we'll be here for the month of August and then it'll be time to head back home. If I stay here, I thought I could look for a job in TEFL; you know, teaching English as a foreign language. You see, I used to be a teacher in the UK until recently.'

A thought occurred to Loretta. ‘Now that my mum's gone, I was thinking of looking for somebody to share the flat. You might like to bear that in mind.'

Before Katie could reply, Martin returned with the drinks and squeezed in beside the bear. ‘Paul and Vicky are doing a lot of talking.' Katie followed his eyes and saw the two of them now sitting together on the side of the stage, deep in conversation. The band had stopped for a well-earned rest which appeared to consist of swallowing staggering quantities of red wine. How this would affect their performance when they picked up again was anybody's guess. In consequence, the dance floor had emptied for the moment.

Katie poured two glasses of water and held one up to Loretta, who shook her head.

‘Hang on, I really need to get out of this.' She wriggled about until she managed to extricate herself from the top half of the bear suit and let it fall around her waist. She was only wearing a bikini, but she was running with sweat all the same. Katie sensed Martin's interest. It was a very small bikini and Loretta's glistening body amply filled it.

‘That's better.' Loretta, her hands freed from the bear claws, reached for the glass of water and drained it. ‘So, Martin, you're starting a new job.'

He told her all about it while Katie sat back and let her mind wander. Martin and Loretta chatted about London and the myriad things to do there. It really did sound appealing. But then, so was this place with its wonderful weather, incredible atmosphere and amazing sense of history. And, of course, there were the people. Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of Vicky. Alongside her was Paul Taylor. Katie dropped her eyes, uncertain what to say to him, concentrating on Vicky. To her relief, she was looking happy, her face flushed. She settled onto the bench beside Katie and pulled Paul down on the other side of her. This way, at least, Katie didn't need to worry about talking to him.

Vicky leant towards Katie and whispered in her ear. ‘Paul's just told me all about my father and his mother. I feel so terribly sorry for her.' She took a long drink from her glass. ‘But some good has come out of it. I've got a brother now!' She sat back upright again and a smile spread across her face. She looked across the table.

‘Hi, Loretta. You must be glad to get out of that bear costume.'

‘You bet.' Loretta picked up a handful of paper napkins and wiped her brow. ‘I was just telling Katie that I've been doing this every year for ages. I think it might well be time to pass the baton. I tell you what, Victoria, if you're here this time next year, you can take over from me.' Her face broke into a smile. ‘Don't worry, I'll get the suit cleaned first!'

Vicky had no hesitation. ‘Definitely. I'd love that.' She turned towards Katie. ‘So that's a date, then. This time next year we'll all be here. All right?'

‘Count me in.' Martin avoided looking at Katie.

‘Absolutely.' Katie nodded. From the other side of Vicky, Paul Taylor's face appeared and they made eye contact for the first time. Katie hastily refocused on Vicky. ‘No doubt about it. It's a date.'

When she looked again, Paul Taylor's face was once more hidden by Vicky's shoulder. As for Vicky, she sounded bubbly.

‘I've been telling Paul about my plan to go to university in London.'

‘To do what?' Loretta sounded interested.

‘Law. Martin's been telling me all about it and I've decided to try to get a place in London.' She turned towards Katie. ‘And hopefully Katie will be coming with me. What do you say, Katie?'

Katie suddenly felt herself the centre of attention. She searched desperately for a response. While she was still flailing desperately round for something suitable to say, it was Paul Taylor who came to her rescue.

‘Loretta,
carissima
, I think break's over for you. Time to get back into the bear suit. Look, Marco's waving.'

They all turned and looked. The musicians were resuming their places on the stage and Marco was strutting up and down in front of it, cracking his whip and calling for the bear. Soon his call was taken up by the crowd.

‘
Orso, orso, orso!
'

‘It's show time, folks.' Loretta wriggled back into her costume and replaced the head. As she did so, she met Katie's eye and smiled. The band struck up a tune that could have been anything, but it had a rhythmic beat and soon got the audience on its feet.

Martin looked across at Katie. ‘Dance?'

She shook her head. ‘No, thanks, Martin.'

He nodded and transferred his attention to Vicky. ‘Dance?'

She leapt to her feet and took his hand, leading him onto the dance floor.

Katie and Paul Taylor were left together. After a pause, he turned towards her. Seeing the expression on his face, she reached out her hand and took hold of his.

‘Paul, I'm sorry. I didn't know…'

‘No, Katie, I've behaved very badly. I'm the one who should apologise. I let my emotions get the better of me and I was rude and unkind, specially as you had just come out of surgery.' He sounded subdued.

She didn't raise her eyes to look at him, but concentrated her gaze on their linked hands. ‘Loretta's been telling me about her mum, and how she thinks of you like a big brother.' Steeling herself, she finally looked up. His face was only a few inches away. ‘I think any apology should come from me for following you and for jumping to the wrong conclusion.'

She saw his face relax a fraction, although the apprehension was still there.

‘That doesn't excuse me for upsetting you. Do you think you can forgive me for what I said?'

She had no hesitation. ‘Of course I forgive you. And you need to know that Martin's arrival was as big a surprise to me as it was to you. And there's nothing between him and me.'

She saw him smile and felt his fingers tighten against hers.

‘Marco's told me all about what happened last night. I'm sorry.' He hastened to change the subject. ‘I've spoken to Victoria. She's taken the news about her father really well. You know, Katie?' He caught her eye. ‘I really do believe I've got a sister now.' He raised her fingers to his lips, a nervous smile on his face. ‘So, what about your plans for the future? Am I really going to lose you to London or is there a chance you might want to stay?'

She didn't answer at first. She looked past him, down across the crowded square. Vicky and Martin were dancing happily together. Paul followed the direction of her eyes.

‘They look good together, don't they?'

Katie didn't answer at first. At that moment, the song finished and the band launched into a slow number. She saw Vicky's arms reach up and catch Martin around the neck. He pulled her towards him and her face nuzzled against his chest. Katie had to admit that they did look good together. For a moment she felt a surge of resentment, but no sooner had it surfaced than it left her again. She looked back at Paul Taylor.

‘Yes, they do.' She paused for a moment. ‘Actually, they really do.' She took a deep breath and let it out very slowly. ‘Well, one thing's for sure. I think Vicky definitely won't need me to guide her much longer. Tom's waiting for her back in England and, by the looks of it, Martin will look after her in London. No doubt about that.' She smiled up at Paul Taylor. ‘And there will be others, I am quite sure of that, too. Somehow, I think Vicky's only just started and she's got a lot of making up to do.'

She glanced back to the dance floor. Martin and Vicky had almost disappeared into the crowd by this time. Alongside them Marco, Franco and Giuseppe were prancing around the black bear. They were surrounded by a mass of people, among whom Katie recognised Nando and Rosina and the faces of a number of neighbours. Night had fallen and the square was illuminated by the old street lights that picked out the ancient façades of the medieval buildings all around. It was a beautiful and a romantic scene. Katie turned back towards Paul Taylor and gave him a gentle smile.