Summer in Sorrento (10 page)

Like her, he had said an important goodbye tonight, but Amelia also knew that just like her, Jacob would be okay.

“
I really think we should dine al fresco and enjoy this beautiful weather.  After all, how many chances do you get to eat alongside wonderful people and with a view of Mt. Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples
?”
Lori giggled as Camilla carefully instructed Amelia in the fine art of making fresh pasta.

            
 “
I could
n’
t agree more
,”
said Hal, wrapping his arms around his wife and nuzzling her neck.
 “
But I think we need a table
.
”
 
He cast a glance toward the open courtyar
d—
it was true that they had plenty of chairs, they just needed somewhere to put the food.

            
 “
Actuall
y
…
”
Maia said, remembering a wooden table they had stowed away outside the farmhouse when she and Jim had first moved in.  It was made of weather-beaten wood, and Maia had wanted to dispose of i
t—
but Jim said that it was nothing that a coat of varnish would
n’
t be able to fix. But he had never got around to it, and Maia had barely given the table a second though
t—
until now.

              She showed Jacob and Hal where the table was and they agreed to move it to the courtyard so they could all eat outside.  Within minutes, the two men had been able to create a makeshift dining room outside.

              Hal went back inside to rejoin his wife in the kitchen with the rest of the group.  Maia had turned to follow him, but then was pulled back when Jacob called her name.

            
 “
Maia, do you have a minute
?”
the handsome New Yorker asked.  He looked tire
d—
Maia knew that he and Amelia had been out late the night before.  She also knew that they had ended their night at the hospital. But up until this point, she had
n’
t a chance to speak with Jacob about what had happened.

            
 “
Of course
,”
she responded, halting in her path.

              The young man ran a nervous hand through his hair and then smiled.
 “
So, I just wanted to say thank you
.
”

              Smiling, Maia tilted her head, she was
n’
t sure what she had done.
 “
For what
?
”

              Jacob straightened his shoulders.
 “
I took your advice, and you were right.  I had a chance to talk to my father last nigh
t—
befor
e…
and well I told him that I forgave him.  For everything
.
”

            
 “
And he wa
s…
aware of what you were saying
?”
Maia asked, wondering if the man had been conscious.

              Jacob nodded.
 “
He was.  He was luci
d—
I think he knew it was the end.  He was holding out to say goodbye to everyone.  Me included.  But
I’
m glad I did it. 
I’
m glad I did
n’
t hold a grudge. 
I’
m free of those feelings, and i
t’
s because of you.  I do
n’
t know if I would have done that without your encouragement.  I can be a bit stubborn
.
”

              Maia smiled.
 “
Probably the Italian in you
.
”

            
 “
Probably
.
”

              Maia shifted her weight from one foot to the next.
 “
So wha
t’
s next for you?  Are you going to stay on for the funeral
?
”

            
 “
I am
,”
Jacob nodded.
 “
And tha
t’
s actually what I wanted to talk to you about.  I was thinking of staying a little longer after that too.  I thought maybe I would help my sister with some stuff, you know, settling things.  And I thought I might stay and see if I ca
n’
t get to know some of my step-siblings.  I have another brother, two sisters, maybe we have something in common, outside of sharing the same father.  I figured I have vacation time that I never use, s
o
…”

            
 “
Well, tha
t’
s great.  So do you think then that you will head to your fathe
r’
s house and stay with them
?
”

              Jacob smiled.
 “
Actually, I was hoping I could extend my reservation around her
e—
for a bit.  If tha
t’
s okay of course, I do
n’
t want to intrude.  But I am also happy to help out.  I mean, I know you have been doing things on your own, trying to get this place in order.  And you have done a hell of a job, but I do
n’
t mind helping, if you could use another set of hands.  I was thinking too that if I did that, then I could take Camilla out, maybe get to know her
.
”

              Maia laughed.
 “
I think tha
t’
s an excellent idea.  You are most welcome Jacob.  I would love it if you stayed on for a bit
.
”

              Jacob looked relieved, as if he had been unsure what Mai
a’
s response would be to his query.
 “
And just for the recor
d—
I would be happy to give you any other advice you nee
d—
about this property.  I do
n’
t want to toot my own horn, but le
t’
s just say that I know a thing or two about how to make money off of an investment.  You want to make this a big business? I can help
.
”

Sitting down to dinner under the burgeoning stars, Hal and Lori shared their plans about where they were going to go next.  They had decided to extend their stay in Italy too because they were having so much fun.  But better yet, and much to Lor
i’
s delight, it was Hal who suggested they head to Venice for a few days later in the week, just t
o“
check it out
.
”

            
 “I’
m impressed
,”
Maia laughed.
 “
How ver
y
spontaneou
s
of you
.
”

              Hal grinned and wrapped an arm around his wife, pulling her closer to him.
 “
I suppose , living in the moment is a bit like riding a bike, you might not do it for a while, but the moment that you decide to, you realise that you have
n’
t forgotten how
.
”

            
 “
And of course Maia, please know that we are going to write you an absolutely wonderful review on Trip Advisor.  You have a gem of a place here, and I think everyone needs to know about it
,”
Lori said, raising her glass.
 “
Cheers to Maia.  Come on everyone
,”
she encouraged.
 “
I cannot thank you enough for opening up your home to us.  You are a wonderful hostess.  And I hope that you will also allow me to call you my friend
.
”

              Maia felt her eyes become misty as the rest of the group raised their wine glasses and toasted to her honour.

              Embarrassed though grateful for Lor
i’
s kind word
s—
Maia looked to try to take the spotlight off of her.  She turned to Amelia.

            
 “
And you sweetheart?  Wha
t’
s next for you
?
”

              The young blonde smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
 “
I do
n’
t know.  I suppose w
e’
ll see.  Head back to England.  I think I have been just existing for too long, and not living.  I need to reconnect with some friends, go dancing, drink champagne, laugh, travel, be young.  I realised that last night, with Jaco
b’
s help
,”
she looked at her new friend and winked
,“
that
I’
m going to be grea
t—
single or otherwise.  No one is going to be in charge of my happiness except m
e—I’
m going to do what you told me Maia. 
I’
m going to be happy. Lif
e’
s too short
.
”

The next day, after Lori and Hal had departed for Venice, and Jacob left with Amelia to drive her to the airport, Camilla and Maia sat in the kitchen of the farmhous
e—
falling back into their old routine.

            
 “
So are you excited that Jacob is going to stay on a while
?”
Maia smiled, as she opened her laptop in front of her, realising that she had
n’
t checked her email or even paid any heed to th
e“
compan
y”
website in days.

              Camilla looked over her shoulder from where she stood at the counter, slicing lemons.
 “
What do you think
?”
she replied a sparkle in her eyes.

            
 “
I think Jacob has no idea what h
e’
s getting into
,”
Maia laughed at the same moment her email pinged with a new message.
 “
Oh a notification from Trip Advisor.  We got our first review
!”
she said gleefully, knowing it must be from Lori and Hal.

              Clicking on the link in the email she accessed the Trip Advisor website and within seconds, was reading Lor
i’
s carefully worded, and incredibly complimentary review.

            
 “
My husband and I stayed at beautiful Villa Azalea and I cannot rave enough about this wonderful spot.  Set in an idyllic location, right above the Bay of Naples, you will not find a more beautiful private residence in Italy.  You wake every morning to the smell of lemons and azaleas, you go to bed at night under the bright stars of the Neapolitan sky and the place provides you the opportunity to explore and delight in the countrysid
e—
something you would never get staying at a big hotel.  However, what makes this spot even more wonderful, is Maia, th
e‘
hostess with the mostes
t’
who does all in her power to not only make her guests feel welcome, but like they are a member of the family.  In the few days that we spent there, Maia became our friend, and I would
n’
t hesitate to go back, just to see her. If you are a considering a stay in Sorrento, this is the place to be
.
”

            
 
Maia felt a tear escape her left eye as she finished reading Lor
i’
s words.  She wiped it away quickly, but Camilla had seen.

            
 “
What does it say
?”
she said.  Maia turned the laptop around and pushed it toward her friend.  Camilla bent down and read the words on the computer screen.  When she was done, she gave Maia a huge smile.
 “
So, tha
t’
s a great review.  And i
t’
s just our first one.  I think this should be good for business. What do you think
?
”

              Maia guessed what she was thinking and her thoughts turned to Jim as she pulled the computer close to her and began typing a web address in her browser.