Kate Fitzroy - Dreams Of Tuscany

Zoe slammed down the phone and blinked away unexpected tears from her eyes. Fidele rose from his rug and stretched, then ambled over to Zoe and rested his head in her lap. Zoe smiled down at the dog and stroked him for several minutes. Hadn’t she read somewhere that stroking pets was good for relieving stress? She allowed herself a wobbly smile before standing up and going over to the mirror above the stone fireplace. She looked at her reflection.

‘What a mess!’ she said aloud. Her eyes were pink-rimmed and her mouth looked a blur of misery and self-pity.

‘This won’t do at all – come on, Fidele, let’s go for a walk before we find something for dinner!’

Fidele leapt into activity, circling Zoe excitedly as she grabbed his lead and her door key.

She flung open the front door and the evening sun shone directly into her eyes, so it was a moment before she realised that she was standing face to face with Massimo. In fact, as he was on the lower step of the entrance she was almost staring straight over the top of his dark glistening hair. Not only that, he was practically hidden behind a vast bunch of dark red roses. In her surprise she said abruptly, ‘What are you doing?’

Massimo lowered the bouquet and hastily stepped up to her level. Now they really were eye to eye as he answered soulfully, ‘I had to see you, carissima !’ His dark brown eyes looked wistful as he offered her the flowers.

Zoe took them from him automatically and then hastily gave them back.

‘I’m sorry, Massimo, I can’t take your flowers…thank you, I am very flattered but…’ She faltered to a stop, words failing her as she tried to come up with an excuse. There he stood, the ridiculously perfect example of any girl’s dream. Not tall but muscled and handsome as a film star – an Italian film star. Impeccably dressed, Ferrari keys in hand and ready to love her. Why, why couldn’t she just fall in love with him and be done with it? At that moment Fidele pushed between them and Massimo bent down and impatiently brushed his trouser leg and inspected it for dog hairs. Now why should that annoy her so much?

‘I was just going to take Fidele for a walk – would you like to join us?’ Zoe asked politely enough, although she was fairly confident of his giving a negative answer.

‘I didn’t come here to walk a dog, Zoe. I came to tell you that I love you and want to marry you. Aren’t you going to ask me in?’

‘Sorry, Massimo, but I have promised Fidele a walk and a promise to a dog just can’t be broken!’ Zoe gave a wide smile and pushed past the flowers, down the steps and into the street. Fidele gave an enthusiastic bound past Massimo and stood by her side, gently chewing on his lead and anxious to be off.

‘But, Zoe…’

‘Sorry, Massimo…I really am…about everything…but you know it just wouldn’t work between us.’ Zoe looked back up at Massimo as he looked down at her, his eyes now screwed up against the setting sunlight. For one awful moment she thought he was going to cry. Then he jumped down the steps and stood beside her again.

‘OK, I’ll walk with you. You will see that I don’t give up easily. When I really want something, I have to have it.’

Zoe walked off at a brisk pace, heading towards the rampart walls of the town. It didn’t seem to occur to Massimo that sometimes life didn’t work out quite like that. Zoe marched on, trying to quell the annoyance she felt at Massimo’s intrusion into her life. Fidele trotted between them and the pace quickened as though they had entered in some ridiculous walking race. Massimo tossed the huge bouquet of roses onto the bonnet of a parked car as they strode on, shoulder to shoulder. Zoe was now walking as fast as she could without breaking into an undignified run. Massimo was slowly pulling ahead and Zoe watched his athletic shoulders and strong legs with grudging admiration. Massimo might be a mother’s boy but he was no wimp. When he was several metres ahead of her he suddenly turned and laughed, throwing his head back and stretching his arms wide.

‘It’s no good, Zoe! I love you and that’s that. I love you even more when you are angry!’

Zoe stopped in her tracks and bent over, holding her sides as she regained her breath. She laughed reluctantly and looked up at him.

‘Massimo, I do so wish I could fall in love with you but…’

Massimo interrupted her.

‘Don’t say another word – especially “but”. It’s the worst word in any language. I have enough love for both of us for now and I can be very, very patient. Let’s be friends, amici !’

He held out his hand and she took it. They walked on again, slower now and side by side. When Zoe gently removed her hand from his grasp, he made no comment but sighed quietly. Zoe smiled and admitted to herself that Massimo was very persuasive. No wonder he was a top lawyer at such a young age. They reached the outskirts of the town and Zoe took the path that circled the ancient town walls. The last rays of the hot sun shone on them as they walked. Massimo talked fluently in English and was an amusing companion. It was undeniably good to have someone to be with. Zoe began to enjoy herself just as she had at the party in Florence. Massimo was relaxed too and played with Fidele, running along the dusty path and throwing bits of wood for the dog to retrieve. He now didn’t seem at all worried about his impeccable clothes. Maybe she had reacted too quickly before. As dusk fell across the town roofs they were wending their way through the narrow alleys back towards Zoe’s house.

‘Dare I ask you to join me for dinner, Zoe?’ Massimo asked, his dark eyebrows raised in amused query.

‘I don’t know…’ Zoe hesitated.

At that moment they arrived in the little piazza where she had lunched with Alex Knight at da Luigi . Before she could say anything, Massimo was half way across the piazza heading for the restaurant. He stopped outside and looked at the menu displayed in the window. He turned back to Zoe who was following him reluctantly.

'Zoe, do you know this little old place? It looks interesting – the menu reads well.’

She was surprised that he would be interested in eating anywhere so ordinary and said, ‘Actually, I eat here quite often – it is very good…well, I think so anyway.’

‘Excellent, then shall we go in and see if they have a table?’

Massimo moved ahead of her and Zoe followed, only briefly thinking that she didn’t remember agreeing to eat with Massimo at all. Then, Luigi was greeting her enthusiastically and showing them to a table for two. The very same table she had shared with Alex. Massimo held her chair as she sat down and Fidele curled himself into a ball at her feet. Massimo excused himself and disappeared. Zoe looked at the familiar menu and tried to dispel the memories of the meal she had shared with Alex. Why did she keep going over and over the short time she had spent with him? Why was she so fascinated, even obsessed with the idea of seeing him again? Massimo returned to the table, freshly washed and brushed and leading Luigi who carried a tray with glasses and an ice bucket holding a bottle of champagne.

‘This place is amazing!’ he said enthusiastically. ‘There’s a great wine list and a choice of several excellent French champagnes. Luigi was born in the hills near Rome – not far from my mother’s home town of Frascati. Amazing!’

Zoe smiled and accepted the tall, chilled glass of golden champagne. Oh yes, the mother. She had quite forgotten Massimo’s Mamma, but she was sure she would hear plenty more about her now.

Massimo raised his glass to her and said, ‘ Cin cin ! Let’s drink to friendship and a beautiful walk in the sunset.’ They clinked glasses and Zoe was relieved that Massimo seemed to have given up on romance. She in her turn went to wash the dust from her hands before the food arrived. She looked in the dark old mirror hanging above the wash basin and caught a smile playing around her lips. Maybe friendship with Massimo was not such a bad idea. Better than looking in a mirror that reflected a tear-stained face. She ran her damp fingers through her long hair in an attempt to smooth it down. Her cheeks were flushed from the energetic walk in the evening sun and she returned to the table ready to enjoy the rest of the evening in Massimo’s company. Massimo stood up as she reached the table and held her chair again. Zoe thanked him and sat down. There was a lot to be said for a young man well brought up by his mother. She reached for her napkin and found a dark red rose lying across it. She looked at Massimo in surprise.