Page 27 of The Fall Affair

“All right.”

“I think that’s all for now. Oh, I almost forgot…” He opened the folder and took out a second envelope. Anna was written across the front. “Your grandmother would like you to take this to her sister.”

“Oh. Okay. Did she leave an address? I haven’t been to her sister’s house since I was a little girl.”

“I’m sorry, she didn’t. But I’m sure you can ask around. Montepulciano is a small town, and most people know more than they should about the locals.”

“That does sound right. I’ll figure it out.”

Antonio stood. “If you need any help, I’m only a phone call away.” He winked. “Eliza finally let me get one of those when her tin can and string broke.”

“Thank you for everything.”

“My pleasure.”

Outside, I sat in the car, looking down at the envelope with a second letter from my nonna, and debated whether I should open it now or when I got home. I wasn’t that great at driving on the winding roads here, so just in case the letter made me upset, I should probably wait. Then again, my grandmother was a hoot, so it was more likely that any tears would be from laughter, not sadness. Talking about my grandmother’s estate had left a heavy feeling in my heart, so I decided I could use a good chat with my nonna and opened the letter.

My Dearest Allegra,

Atta girl! I knew you’d come.

Soon you’ll be the proud owner of Casa di Nonna. Inheriting the place I’ve lived for eighty-odd years is a blessing, but it also comes with responsibility. And by that, I mean some secrets you need to bury for me.

Number 1: The attic

At the bottom of the stacked boxes of Christmas decorations, you’ll find one labeled Tax Records—1977–1982. Open it and dig under the old tax returns. You’ll find a letter addressed to Massimo. Put a stamp on it and drop it in the mail, please. I didn’t want to leave that one for Antonio in case he snooped. It’s too racy.; )

Number 2: The cat

If she hasn’t already, a woman named Carlina might come around asking if anyone has found a cat since my passing, a sacro di Birmania breed. You’ve never seen a blue-eyed cat, and your loving grandmother would never steal. But please drop off a few years’ worth of Purina One Tender Selects Real Chicken at my cousin Rocky’s.

Number 3: The Vespa

There’s a sexy purple Vespa under a tarp in the garage. Ask Matteo next door to give you a lesson if you’ve never driven one before. Then start that baby up and ride around town wearing my oversized Gucci sunglasses and yell Ciao! at all the strangers. There’s nothing better.

Number 4: The tea set

In the storage closet nearest the powder room in the antique shop, there’s a tea set I’ve been collecting for a couple of years. The pieces are numbered, and at this writing, I have five left to go. You’ll figure out why I got so invested in the damn thing when you look at it. It even made an old bat like me swoon. Good luck with the search!

If you need any help with the shop, ask Francesca. She owns Il Baule di Nonna—Grandma’s Trunk in English. I personally think she’d have gotten more action if she called it Grandpa’s Trunk, but getting a new sign is expensive. Her shop is about 15 km down the road. Just go down the driveway and turn left. Eventually you’ll run into it. Even if you don’t need help, maybe stop in with a bottle of Sambuca and let her tell you about the time we went skinny-dipping in the pastor’s pool when he was supposed to be away.

Lastly, enjoy your time in Montepulciano! Accept the dinner invitation, drink too much wine, and steal something from Carlina, if you get the chance. She stole my first love when I was fourteen, and I like to think you’ll be up for the challenge of carrying my grudge for a while.

With all my love,

Nonna

P.S. Don’t eat too many of the cookies in the freezer at once. They’ve got more weed in them than Carlina’s ugly garden.

***

I pulled into the driveway just as a young man walked out of Nonna’s front door. I’d totally forgotten that Matteo had said he might work on the tub while I was gone until I recognized the guy as one of the pickers from the vineyard yesterday.

“Hello.” I got out of the car and smiled. “You must be helping Matteo?”

He took my hand and lifted it to his mouth for a kiss. That would probably get a stranger a kick in the balls back in New York, but here it was somehow charming.

“Ciao, bellissima.”