Page 30 of Change of Heart
‘He said that he’s got a thriving business for people to come along, rent an alpaca for an hour or two, and take it for a walk in the country around where they are.’
‘When you say a walk, do you mean that they ride them? They aren’t that big.’
‘No, apparently people are just happy to wander around the paths and fields with an alpaca on a lead.’ His voice made clear his scepticism. ‘I suppose it’s city folk mainly, getting away from all that big business stress and the like. But I thought as you’re opening the castle to the public, you could add alpaca walks as an extra attraction.’
‘Amazing. We live and learn. Sounds like a good idea, Dad, thanks a lot.’
Alice learnt something else a couple of hours later. Around mid-morning she was just sitting down with a cup of coffee after planting courgette and tomato seedlings in her little piece of garden, when there was the sound of a vehicle outside and she saw that it was the Land Rover. She opened the door and gave Simonetta a wave.
‘Feel like a coffee, or tea, or something else?’
‘Hi, Alice, coffee would be great.’ Simonetta came in and sat down at the kitchen table. As Alice made the coffee, she shot a couple of glances at Simonetta, but was unable to identify the expression on her face. Her mouth was smiling but her eyes were serious. Alice couldn’t wait to find out what she had on her mind. She didn’t have long to wait.
‘I finally drummed up the courage to tell my father about Tommi this morning. I had to come and tell you.’
‘I’ve been wondering when you’d get round to it. And how did he take the news?’
‘Remarkably well. In fact, suspiciously well. I’ve been thinking about it on my way down here now and I have a feeling that Nonna might have got to him first. She may not have told him the full story, but I definitely sensed that he’d been primed. Somehow, I don’t think it came as a complete surprise to him.’
‘When you say, “remarkably well,” how well? Did he try to talk you out of it or did he give you his blessing straight off?’
Simonetta took a sip of coffee before replying. ‘I wouldn’t say he tried to talk me out of it, but he did query whether I was sure I was doing the right thing. When I told him we loved each other and hoped to get married before too long, he actually got quite emotional. It was very sweet, really.’
‘That’s terrific news. I’m so happy for you both. I went riding with Luca yesterday and he was telling me about the way his father used to mistreat him and his brother. Thank goodness your father’s a much gentler, more understanding sort of man.’
Simonetta looked up and there was a hint of a smile on her face. ‘Getting Luca to open up about his private life is impressive. It’s more than I’ve ever been able to do. I’ve been watching you two and I thought there might be something there. Are you seeing him again?’
Alice nodded. ‘He’s actually taking me out for dinner tonight.’
Simonetta’s eyes opened wider and her smile broadened. ‘So he’s taking you on a date, that’s terrific. Tommi tells me he hasn’t seen him with a woman for ages. He just works and works and works.’ Her expression became more serious. ‘Do you see it going anywhere?’
‘You sound like my mum.’ Alice grinned to rob her words of any offence. ‘To be honest, I like him a lot, but tonight will be our first real date – if that’s what it is. I know the way I feel about him and hopefully I’ll find out over the next few days and weeks how he feels about me.’
‘It’s such a pity that the shadow of his father hangs over him just like it does over Tommi. The referendum’s coming up a week on Friday and after yesterday’s newspaper article I’ve a feeling Cesare Montorso might be going to try some of his dirty tricks.’
‘Well, just remember what you said to your father: you live in a castle and there’s not much the mayor of a little town can do against a fortress with walls three metres thick.’
‘Here’s hoping.’ Simonetta raised her cup in a little toast. ‘And here’s wishing you well on your date tonight.’
When Luca arrived to pick Alice up that evening she surreptitiously checked him out on the doorstep and was relieved to see him wearing jeans, so evidently he wasn’t taking her to a dressy kind of place, which had been her main concern. As ever, she was wearing jeans – clean, smart and white, but still jeans. She hadn’t worn a skirt or shorts since the accident. Luca’s hair was freshly washed; he was looking good, and he even smelt good. While she petted the dog – who didn’t smell quite as good – she felt Luca’s eyes on her.
‘You’re looking great.’ He sounded as if he meant it.
‘And you’re looking good too.’
A slightly awkward pause then ensued before he pointed at the car. ‘Shall we go? By the way, the place I’ve chosen is happy to accept dogs, so our four-legged friend’s coming with us.’
There was a narrow space behind the seats of the Porsche where Frank perched happily, and for the duration of the journey she and Luca had to put up with the excited dog breathing down their necks and nuzzling their hair, but she didn’t mind. She and the Labrador were fast becoming bosom buddies – and hopefully soon the same could be said about his master.
As Luca drove back down the hill they chatted, and she asked him where he lived.
‘Just outside Parma. I have a top-floor apartment in an old building. It’s not huge but it’s comfortable and it has a loggia.’
‘How wonderful.’ Alice had heard about loggias. These were covered terraces where people could take shelter from the sun but still get the benefit of the breeze in the oppressively hot summer months. ‘With your Porsche, I had you pegged for a slick penthouse somewhere with bright lights and a bit of excitement.’
She heard him laugh. ‘No, give me the quiet life any time. I’m a country boy at heart.’ She saw his face turn towards her for a second. ‘Parma’s not the biggest city in the world but it’s still too big for me. If it wasn’t for my father I’d be back here like a shot. As far as this car’s concerned, it was a gift from Mario, a guy I used to work for.’
‘Wow, he sounds like quite some employer if he was giving out Porsches to his employees.’
