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“Great. Thank you, so much,” I say looking out at the wet fields and trees flashing past behind streams of water running diagonally down the window.
“No. Thank you for being available to bring the painting for Mrs Peabody. I am most grateful to you for coming. It is a good solution for getting her painting safely to her, I think.”
“She was very… persuasive. I felt as if I didn’t have a choice.”
We drive on and talk about the gallery. It’s the first time we have had this kind of conversation. I have been hiding from Gianni since day one at the gallery. Then, when I realized he was my first love, I hid from him more. But it is as if he is a different person from the younger version, I was in love with all those years ago. And I am a different person too. I face forward and look directly ahead through the rhythmic sweeps of the windshield wipers.
“And is Luisa enjoying school?” I ask, making polite conversation.
“Yes. She loves it. She loves her teachers and everything. This makes me happy.”
“She is a special girl. I mean, she is so confident and self-assured. Nothing seems to faze her.”
Gianni laughs. “You’re right. She has always been like that. I think she is typical of the women in our family.”
“Headstrong? Determined? Ambitious?”
Gianni turns to me briefly and laughs, which surprises me. “A whole lot of trouble.”
I haven’t seen Gianni this relaxed before. The warmth in his laughter is in stark contrast to the cool, business-like person I knew in New York. He has lost the uptight arrogance. His open friendliness allows me to let down my guard. I laugh with him and feel more at ease as the miles click by. We talk about Luisa, and he casually tells me how he came to adopt her. My interest in Gianni’s papa status takes over from mere employee politeness.
“That was brave of you,” I say genuinely interested in his story. “Courageous.” Then before I can check myself, I ask, “And your wife? Girlfriend?”
“No. I’m not married and no, I don’t have a girlfriend. My family supported me in my decision to be a father. It wasn’t even a conscious decision, in the end. I couldn’t imagine my life without Luisa. I think it’s easier for a guy to be a single dad these days. And my mother, after the shock, she accepted the idea and was always helpful. She loves Luisa as much as I do, I think.”
“Wow. So, you adopted a daughter and a thriving art dealership. Anything else?”
“Well, the art business was kind of an accident.” Gianni smiles and steers the Ferrari off the main freeway, following signs to Firenze. “I fell into it because of an injury.” He laughs. “An accident because of an accident. I was a soccer player for the Florence team. Playing football was my dream. Then I got hurt and the doctors said I was not fit to play competitively.” The rain stops as we drive through the suburbs of Firenze. “It broke my heart. I was very young. Not in control of my emotions. But because of Luisa, I had a focus and a responsibility to her not to lose it completely.”
The Hotel Grande is located by the river. Gianni pulls to a stop outside.
“Here we are. I’ll get your bag.”
We stand facing each other on the sidewalk, then Gianni extends his hand.
“Welcome to Florence, Olivia.” He leans in and kisses my cheeks, one side and then the other.
“Grazie, Mr Moretti.”
“Call me Gianni. We are in my country now. Okay, it is still work, but no. We can be friends, I think. Ciao, Olivia.”
Chapter 18
Gianni
Atasmallvillagein the hills called Monterenzio, close to Bologna, I heard about some paintings that were coming up for sale from a private collector. So, I was here having a look around, art shopping, but also enjoying a drive in the Ferrari. What better way to spend a day? I found a local trattoria for lunch and even took some time for a walk up a trail to the ruins of a castle. It is so picturesque I thought about staying the night somewhere. And then I received Olivia’s message that her flight had been rerouted.
I could have arranged a car to meet her. That would have been easy, but I thought it would be hospitable to drive to the airport in person. It wasn’t too far away. I ended up buying two of the paintings from the collector. They are not by famous artists, but they are good enough to sell after a clean and some minor restorations, which justified a day of driving around enjoying myself.
Olivia is waiting for me in the arrivals hall. She looks upset. It could be just the effects of flying. She may not be used to it. She looks smaller than I remember. In New York, I didn’t pay much attention. She is just an employee. Although, when I saw her in the restaurant of The New Amsterdam Hotel with Luisa, she was almost pretty. But that could have been down to the atmospheric lighting. Anyway, in the cold hard marble concourse of the arrivals hall, she is plain and dowdy and puffy around the eyes.
The paintings I purchased are on the back seat, so I put her case in the trunk. It’s raining when we set off from the airport parking lot.
I’m not sure why, but on the drive to Firenze I tell Olivia about Luisa. I realize that we hadn’t really had a conversation before now. We are not in New York, at work, so I feel I can let down my guard a little and not be so much ‘the boss’. And Olivia is not so timid now that we are driving. I would even go as far as to say I’m enjoying her company. By the time we arrive in the center of Florence, the sky has cleared. The city looks washed and clean. It’s a beautiful evening.
“Ciao, Olivia.” I kiss her on both cheeks. Her skin is smooth and warm. There’s something so familiar about her. I can’t place what it is, exactly. I leave Olivia at the hotel but still have to take the paintings to the conservator. It is too late now. I will take them in the morning.
Chapter 19
