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CHAPTER FIVE

In a village by the sea

Stephany and Max had ordered a taxi to take them across London and up the motorway to Stansted Airport.

‘I love this building!’ said Max. He was talking about the airport building. Stephany didn’t say anything. It was something she didn’t understand. To her, a building was a building.

However, she enjoyed being inside the airport with its shops that sold holiday things - everything from perfume to underwear and expensive clothes. She liked to watch the people too, lots of businesswomen on their way to Milan to fashion shows, and wealthy men on their way to expensive holiday places. She hoped that one day she would fly about the world earning lots of money.

Soon they were sitting on the plane. Stephany’s stomach gave a jump as the plane took off, and she had her usual moment of feeling afraid as it rose into the sky. Soon, up above the clouds, she began to relax. The sun came into the plane. Max bought a bottle of champagne and they drank to ‘our first holiday together’.

Then they were coming down, and the colours below them had changed from the grey and green of England to the gold and brown of Italy - the light was soft. Stephany had forgotten this about Italy. She came out of the airport feeling happy from the champagne, but also because she was back in her favourite country.

From Genoa they took a train down the coast. ‘How do I ask for a sandwich?’ asked Max. A man selling drinks had slopped beside them.

‘Just ask for a panino’ said Stephany. She spoke good Italian and for some reason she thought it was strange that Max couldn’t speak any!

They drank coffee and ate sandwiches as the train went in and out of tunnels and past views of beautiful houses, green trees and a bright blue sea.

‘It’s the next stop, I think,’ said Stephany. They picked up their bags and got ready to get off the train. A smell Stephany knew welcomed them as they climbed down from the train, a smell of the sea and of pizza.

They had to walk back a little way to reach the village itself. The colours that met them when they arrived were bright; pink and orange houses, red flowers and blue and green boats.

‘Great!’ Max shouted, and Stephany knew she had made the right choice for their holiday.

To get the key for the flat, they had to knock on Carlo’s parents’ door. The flat Max and Stephany were staying in was next door.

Carlo’s mother, a small woman, stood looking at Stephany for a moment.

‘Stephany,’ she cried in Italian. ‘You haven’t changed at all. In fact, I think you are even more beautiful than you were before!’ Stephany smiled and introduced Max. The old woman was quiet as she looked at Max. ‘Welcome,’ she said after a minute, and then she disappeared into the flat and returned with a key.

‘My husband has put a bottle of wine and some tomatoes and salad from his garden in the flat,’ she said. ‘Make yourselves at home.’

‘Thank you so much Signora,’ Stephany said.

‘I hope you will eat dinner with us one evening,’ the old woman continued.

‘Oh Signora, that would be lovely,’ said Stephany.

Max watched. He didn’t understand what they were saying, but he thought Stephany was agreeing to eat with the old couple. He didn’t like the idea very much. He wanted to have Stephany to himself this holiday.

Stephany continued to talk to Carlo’s mother as if she were the most important person in the world to her.

‘Has Carlo been here lately?’ asked Stephany.

‘He was here at the weekend and told me you were coming,’ said the Signora. ‘He asked Ruth to prepare the flat for you.’

‘And how is Ruth?’ asked Stephany quietly.

‘So-so,’ she said. It was clear from her face that she did not have much time for her daughter-in-law. ‘She is always busy. I never see my grandchildren anymore.’

‘Oh dear,’ said Stephany. ‘I’m sure they love seeing you.’

The old woman smiled at Stephany.

Stephany then thanked the Signora, and led Max to the door of their flat.

‘She likes you,’ Max said, giving Stephany a kiss. ‘I expect she hoped Carlo would marry you, instead of Ruth.’

‘Don’t be silly, Max,’ said Stephany. ‘She likes me because I was Carlo’s teacher. Look, this is our bedroom.’

‘It looks very nice,’ said Max. ‘Who did all this work?

Look, they have even put flowers on the table.’

‘It was Ruth,’ said Stephany.

‘She’s very kind,’ said Max. ‘She doesn’t know us. And we are staying in her flat for nothing.’

‘Carlo’s flat,’ Stephany said quickly. ‘Yes, but as they’re married, it’s her flat as well. It’s very kind of both of them, I’m sure we should offer to pay for it.’

‘I wouldn’t worry about that,’ said Stephany. ‘As I said, Carlo and I have always had this agreement.’

Max felt a little uncomfortable about being given a beautiful holiday flat for nothing. Stephany opened the windows and they looked out at a view across roofs to the Mediterranean.

‘Wonderful!’ said Max.

And we have a balcony,’ said Stephany, opening the doors onto a little balcony, where she shut her eyes and look a deep breath of sea air.

Oh, the smells here are so good!’ Stephany said. ‘I already feel better. Let’s unpack and go and get an ice cream from the Gelateria, and see if anyone’s swimming down on the beach.’

‘Good idea,’ said Max, looking at Stephany in the Italian light. She looked beautiful and he thought that he really was in love this time.