Summer in Sorrento (9 page)

Maia found herself with a quiet house that evening. After some gratuitous flirting with Camilla, Jacob left with Amelia for the wedding at Hotel De La Syrene, and Maia felt accomplished knowing that two of her gues
t’
s evenings were accounted for that night.  She had to admit that she felt gratified knowing that Amelia had some very handsome backup in Jaco
b—
a fact that she was sure would not be lost on her ex-fian
cé
.  She hoped that the younger girl got through the evening unscathed, and maybe with even a little fun. 

She had not yet seen Hal and Lori return from their outing and assumed that the couple was having a good time and enjoying each othe
r’
s company.  At least she hoped that was what was happening.  She had no worry that they still loved each other very muc
h—
they just needed an escape to remembe
r
wh
y
they were together.

              However, with a silent house, Maia also had little for Camilla to d
o—
so she sent her home for an evening off.  She could cook her own dinne
r—
and she believed that a person of Camill
a’
s age needed to get out and kick up her heels every now and then, especially during the Italian summertime.  This was the kind of weather to drink prosecco, dance, laugh, and fall in love.

              Sighing, Maia walked toward the cliff side.  The dark indigo waters of the Bay sparkled in the moonlight. To the left, and down the shore, someone set off a firewor
k—
and the explosion boomed in the distance.  Maia looked in the direction of the sound toward Sorrento and where the wedding was being hel
d—
and saw a tiny sprinkle of light like wishes from a fair
y’
s wand, fall toward the water. 

            
 “
What a perfect night to get married
,”
she said to the air, thinking of her own wedding.  It was true that she often communed with Jim in this spot, but for a moment, she wondered if she would ever have the chance to fall in love again, get married. 

            
 “
It seems hard to fathom
,”
she said quietly.
 “
But I know you would approve
.
”
 
She smiled to the sky.
 “
Thanks for encouraging me to do this.  I think I might be enjoying myself
.
”

              At that moment, Maia heard some noise from behind where she stood.  She turned around to find Lori and Hal, pushing the bikes they had borrowed back up the hill, headed in her direction.  The gravel of the road crunched under the tires and Maia knew for a fact that it was easier going down than it was coming up.  However, the pair looked happily flushed, which made her feel pleased.  Lori called a greeting.

            
 “
This hill, i
t’
s a bit steep, yeah
?”
Lori laughed.

              Maia went to meet the pair.
 “
Here, let me help you.  You both must be exhausted.  Yo
u’
ve been gone all day.  I trust you had fun
.
”

              Lori was glowing like a new bride.
 “
It wa
s…
how do I put this
?”
She grinned heartily.
 “
A
n
incredibl
e
day.  Just wonderful.  I think we covered the entire boot on these bikes
,”
she said, referencing Ital
y’
s shape on the map.
 “
I do
n’
t think you can have the same experience, driving in a car
.
”

              Maia looked at Hal.  The look of worry that had lined his face earlier that day was gon
e—
in its place, a kiss from the sun and a smile.

            
 “
Thanks for letting us borrow these
.”
He motioned to the bikes as he handed Maia the picnic basket they had borrowed earlier in the day.
 “
Lor
i’
s righ
t—
having these at our disposal, we saw so much, and when we wanted to stop and have a glass of wine or explore, we did.  Thank you for, um, encouraging m
e…
u
s
,”
he smiled as Lori nudged him with her hip.
 “
It was a nice break from the norm
.
”

              Parking the bikes near the shed, Maia immediately went into hostess mode.
 “
Well,
I’
m sure that you must be hungry.  Here, let me get something going for yo
u
…”

              But Lori put her hand up.
 “
No, you relax.  Yo
u’
ve done so much for us since we arrived
,”
she said, and Maia got the distinct impression that Lori was referring to more than simply providing a place to stay and food to eat.
 “
We actually accumulated some stuff throughout the day.  Some wine, cheese, other little yummies, we thought that maybe we could get back here and share it with everyone
.
”

              Feeling touched by the gesture, Maia murmured her thanks.
 “
Tha
t’
s great.  Yes, please.  Although,
I’
m all alone at the moment actually.  Amelia went off to her wedding, and Jacob offered to be her escort. With Camill
a’
s blessing of sorts
.
”
 
Lori raised her eyebrows, and her husband looked at her inquisitively. 

            
 “I’
ll tell you later
,”
Lori smiled, wrapping an arm around Ha
l’
s waist.
 “
Well then, you chill out here,
I’
ll get you some wine, and we will get everything set up inside. You relax
.
”

              Maia was about to protest, but then she gave in to Lor
i’
s request. The couple went into the house wrapped in each othe
r’
s arms like besotted teenagers and with their bag of Italian goodies in tow.  Maia sat down after she watched a light turn on in the kitchen.

            
 “
Maybe I will just relax for a second
,”
she sighed, feeling at once appreciated and blissfully happy that her guests did
n’
t just seem to be lodgers, but that they were gradually turning into friends.

“
Are you sure yo
u’
re OK
?”
Amelia asked Jacob as she parked the car in front of the farmhouse.  She took a glance at her watch, almost three in the morning.  She hoped that Maia had
n’
t stayed up to wait for them.  She had no idea that they would be out this late.  She also had
n’
t realised that she would be the one driving them home.

              She turned in her seat to look at Jacob, he was a bit slumped, but it was
n’
t from drinking too muc
h—
tha
t’
s not why she was driving.  Their night had taken an unexpected turn.

              Amelia was proud of hersel
f—
she had successfully made it through Aaro
n’
s wedding.  Had wished him well, had even complimented his bride and had smugly introduced Jacob to everyone she met. 

              Jacob, for his part, had been the perfect date.  He had flirted with her, he had pulled out her chair, he had escorted her gallantly on his arm and had danced with her.  He had made her the envy of every woman at the part
y—
and Amelia could
n’
t help but feel pleased when she saw Aaro
n’
s new wife nudge him in the ribs with a scowl on her face as Jacob artfully dipped her on the dance floor and returning her to her seat, planted a kiss her hand before placing a glass of champagne in it.

              But then, around eleven
o’
clock, Jacob had received a phone call from his sister. She thought that he needed to get to the hospital, right away. It was time.

              Jacob, at first, had offered to go alone, but Amelia insisted on going with him.  After all, there was no reason for her to stay at the wedding at this point, and he had been there for he
r—
the least she could do was also be there for him.

              So they had said their goodbyes and left.  Amelia realized as they were pulling away that it was likely that she would never lay eyes on Aaron again in her lif
e—
and it dawned on her that it was okay, tha
t
sh
e
was fine with that.  That the goodbye that she had just shared had been fina
l—
and the good luck that she had said to the newlyweds had been genuine.  All in all, she knew that she would be fine, better than fine actuall
y—
she was going to b
e
grea
t
.

              But first, she had to help Jaco
b—
she had gathered that he was
n’
t fond of his father, but she also instinctually knew that he was experiencing some sort of internal crisis. 

              They had made it to the hospital in Naples in no time.  And Jacob had been stoic.  He had greeted his sister, introduced Amelia and issued an abbreviated hello to what appeared to be his extended family.  Then he had asked his sister if he could have a few minutes alone with their father, and had told Amelia that he would return shortly.

              Jacob was
n’
t gone long.  It was within twenty minutes that he returned, and she saw that his eyes were red, she was
n’
t sure if it was because he had shed tears, or if he was simply tired.  Regardless, he looked emotionally spent.  He sat down next to her and she had patted his hand, trying to comfort him.

              Within the hour Jaco
b’
s father died.  The family members who had been with him at the time were visibly emotional.  Jaco
b’
s sister Adriana approached and asked him to come with her.  But Jacob declined.

            
 “
I said what I need to
,”
he said, not unkindly.
 “
I think Amelia and I are going to go
.
”

              Then they took their leave and headed back to the farmhouse.

              Now back in the car, Amelia asked the question again.
 “
W
e’
re here Jacob.  Are you okay?  Le
t’
s get you out of here and get you to bed.  You look like you need to sleep
.
”

              She exited the car and headed around to Jaco
b’
s side, opening his door and wondering how she was going to get him out and into the house. 

            
 “
Yo
u’
re going to have to help me
,”
she smiled sympathetically.
 “
You look like you weigh a ton of bricks
.
”

              Jacob shook his head and sighed.
 “
Sorry, I zoned out
.
”
 
He hoisted himself from the car and Amelia put her arm around his waist, helping guide him toward the house.

            
 “
Lean on me.  I do
n’
t mind
,”
she said, giving him a squeeze.
 “
You let me lean on you earlie
r—
I can return the favour
.
”

              Jacob put an arm around his new friend and it was then in the darkness that she heard a choked sob.  She pretended not to hear it.  She did
n’
t know what had happened in that hospital roo
m—
but whatever it was, she knew that the man beside her had changed in some way.