‘And will my mum be joining us?’
‘To my knowledge. If that’s all I’ll show you your rooms.’
Down two flights of steps and along another low corridor Giovanni unlocked the door to a compact but lavish twin room.
‘If you’re unsure of the way back I’ll escort you shortly.’
‘We’ll find our way,’ Katherine said and Giovanni left them to freshen up.
* * *
Forty minutes later the girls walked back through the ship’s corridors.
Katherine said, ‘You seem awfully quiet Amy.’
‘I know.’
Amy didn’t feel great but couldn’t think what might be wrong other than what lay ahead for Katherine.
Back on the higher deck a waitress held the door for them. After the sailors’ whites her uniform seemed strikingly dark. She seated them at an unoccupied table bathed in the evening’s sunlight before leaving with their drink order.
‘Thanks for being such a good friend,’ Amy said.
‘My pleasure. How are you feeling?’
‘Still feeling fragile from last night and maybe a touch of motion sickness.’
‘The sea’s flat calm. Hopefully eating something will help. Can you smell freshly chopped peppers?’
‘I can and I know it smells good but I’m not fancying food.’
‘You’ll be fine. I hope my mum’s not going to be late given Giovanni’s insistence on punctuality.’
The drinks arrived but Barbara didn’t show. Instead a desperately handsome tanned man in a shiny dark blue suit appeared.
‘Good evening wonderful guests,’ he said striding to the table. Instinctively both girls stood. ‘What a pleasure this is.’
He made first for Amy and greeted her by name and kisses to both cheeks. He then faced Katherine. ‘Ah Katherine you are truly a sight to behold.’
‘Thank you,’ she said as everyone took their place at the table. ‘I’m sorry, my mum appears to be late.’
‘Not a problem,’ the captain said with a single fingered wave. ‘Barbara will be along presently.’
‘Oh,’ Katherine said and looked at Amy.
Amy looked back with a perplexed squint. ‘I can’t see your face. Oh no, I’ve got migraine. I need darkness. Quick.’
At once the captain stood and clicked his fingers.
The waitress appeared and she summoned a sailor. ‘Take Amy to her cabin see that she’s comfortable. Give her water and aspirin. Stay with her if necessary.’
Amy stood on shaky legs and took the sailor’s arm.
‘Come and find me when you need me,’ she said to Katherine.
Not understanding what she meant Katherine watched her go then turned to her host. He motioned her to sit.
Katherine estimated he’d be late forties but in spectacular health. His hair, soft and black, had neither receded nor greyed. She knew she should feel uncomfortable with this stranger but couldn’t help but relax in the company of such rare beauty.
‘I’m sure Amy will be fine,’ he said in liquid tones; his accent more American than Italian. ‘Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Lanzo Valli and I have a story for you.’
‘I’m afraid I’m wondering what I’m doing on this yacht, how you come to be facilitating my friend’s wedding and most importantly what my mum’s got to do with all of this?’
‘Of course. Perhaps I should mention that your mother and I were friends a lifetime ago. With the help of your friend John she tracked me down and it seemed we had plenty to discuss.’
‘I can’t believe my mum knows someone as rich as you.’
Lanzo laughed and Katherine relaxed.
‘My family have enjoyed a century of wealth but never so much as now. I must have been eighteen when I met Barbara. Having left school at sixteen I’d spent two years toiling on the farm.’
‘No way,’ Katherine said shaking her head.
Lanzo smiled. ‘If you’ll permit me I feel you should know some history. The Vallis have always been farmers, growing olives and tomatoes near Roma in Italy. In the 1890s the family planned to relocate in America; the first wave of Vallis landed in Philadelphia one hostile winter. Soon they headed south setting up outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. Though the olives struggled, the tomatoes thrived and every season the Vallis acquired more land.
‘The family however missed Italy and rather than a full immigration members travelled between the two countries for years at a time. My grandfather and his sons were fascinated with all things mechanical and anything to make the farming of tomatoes easier. All the sailing got them interested in ships too.’
The waitress sorted them out with more drinks as Katherine listened wondering why this man felt the need to recite history and why he thought that’d interest her. Her tummy rumbled.
‘Twenty years later the family got involved with the American company Timken and bought into it. That led them to England and David Brown tractors who were in partnership with them. They kept an eye on the company and invested heavily. Years later my father met an interesting fellow linked to the company called Edward.’
‘My grandfather by any chance?’ Katherine asked searching for relevance.
‘The very same. Every year they’d meet and together propose deals to David Brown Limited. They’d also visit farms all over England seeing what equipment they used and how they got on. In the meantime my brother and I left school but continued learning engineering and business.’
‘Whilst getting dirty on the farm.’
‘Pulling levers and grinding cogs mainly.’
‘You’re too pretty for that.’
‘Yes, well, my father thought so too and after a few years of learning the trade he put me in a suit and together we headed to England where I met your grandfather and your mother who I thought was good enough to eat; forgive me.’
‘I bet she thought the same of you.’
‘Well, your grandfather, though lovely, was a strict man. Nevertheless I looked forward to the next annual visit.’
‘So what happened?’
‘The next year was great but the year after that Barbara changed. She’d have been seventeen. When I spoke to her recently she said she was rebelling against her parents.’
‘And then some. Did she tell you they never spoke for years?’
‘Sure did. It must have been eighteen months before the next England trip. There was no sign of her. Ruined the whole trip for me. I dared to ask after Barbara and was told she’d moved to the coast and that she had rocks in her head. Your grandfather could be unbelievably stubborn I hope you don’t mind my saying.’
‘I understand. You’re right though. My mum’s just as bad.’
‘She is that and I was about to find out how. I tracked her down – all the way to her front door. If us Vallis are known for anything it’s persuasion and persistence. Anyway she was out. A neighbour told me she’d gone to the market. I headed back to the town centre and tramped up and down the market place until I found her.’
‘And?’
‘I found her pushing a pram.’
‘Was that a surprise?’
‘Big one. She looked so beautiful but I could tell the joy had drained from her. At that time the baby must only have been three or four months old.’
‘Was she happy to see you?’
‘Initially, but she didn’t want to talk. She took a lot of persuading. Eventually we walked to the harbour and along the pier where we stayed for what seemed like hours.’
‘Did you really?’ Katherine felt spooked by the coincidence having recalled her and Calvin’s rendezvous on Saint Tropez’s pier.
‘You must be hungry.’
Lanzo called the waitress and asked that Barbara be summoned. Katherine felt so hungry she guessed she’d pick the first thing on the menu. The sooner the kitchen got cooking the better.
‘All our chefs are Italian you could throw darts at the menu and I guarantee you’d not be disappointed. But tonight no menu. Allow me to
feed you.’
‘Okay, I guess I’ll trust you but I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve this kindness. I don’t know who’s paying for my accommodation here.’
Lanzo laughed unreservedly. ‘It’s good to laugh like that. Katherine, having you here is an honour. You and your friend may wine, dine and sleep at my pleasure.’
‘You’re very generous thank you and I won’t argue with you not when I’m so curious to know what happened next – after the pier or is that the end?’
‘Not really. The shock of seeing Barbara unhappy had prompted me to action. I wanted to help but couldn’t get over the first hurdle. Barbara laid it out plain and simple: she was married with a baby and that was the end of it. If she felt she didn’t need or want help what more could I do?’
‘What if she said she’d wanted help?’
‘I don’t know. I hadn’t time to put that together. I could have taken her to America with the baby. Maybe Alan too; kept him out the mines. Kept an eye out to make sure they were okay.’
‘Would have been drastic. I can see why my mum gave it to you like she did. So what did happen?’
‘I left and never saw her again; until a few months ago.’
‘Seems a shame.’
‘What could we do but get on with our lives? I never went back to England because your granddad, in his stubbornness forgive me, drew a line under the latest deal. The Valli’s persistence and persuasion had met its match. My dad reckons they could have changed the face of British farming. He was always ambitious like that.’
‘Is he still alive?’
‘He’s in his eighties but very much so. Anyway we headed back to Oklahoma and thought to turn our machines from horizontal to vertical ventures.’
‘What d’you mean?’
‘We went down. Eventually we hit oil.’
‘Blimey.’
‘Very exciting. My brother and I were right at the heart of it. It soon ran dry but the family business really changed a gear with that. Now we’ve got interests all over the place. We still produce tomatoes and olives but we buy struggling businesses and give them what they need. One of our Italian companies builds luxury yachts.’
‘This incredible vessel?’
‘Indeed.’
‘I’ve been aboard a lot of boats in the last twelve months but never anything like this. It’s in a league of its own.’
‘That’s lovely to hear. I’m particularly proud of this one. Clients charter her and crew. She’s just sailed in from Porto Cervo, Sardinia. I was extremely excited on launch day. It was the first happy day I’d had in months.’
‘Happy days thin on the ground for you too?’
‘They were for a while.’
Katherine smiled having decided she liked Lanzo but also overawed that she could be having such an easy conversation with someone so successful.
‘So what made you unhappy?’
‘Let me first say, when your mum made contact – wow.’
‘Really?’
‘Really. I thought of your mum often but the moment I landed in Oklahoma love struck.’
‘Oh.’
‘Yeah. I fell in love with a Texan lady who happened to look similar to Barbara. We married and tried for children; without luck.’ Lanzo wore a faraway expression. ‘Turned out she had ovarian cysts.’
‘That’s awful. Poor lady.’
‘It was okay we enjoyed a happy marriage and made a fuss of our nieces and nephews.’
‘But?’
‘Cancer. She eventually lost the battle.’
‘That’s awful,’ Katherine said again not knowing what else to say.
‘Twelve months later the company launched Perso Principessa; Italian for Lost Princess.’
Saying nothing Katherine nodded her understanding.
‘And, eight months after that I get a call from a John Saunders saying your mum wants to make contact. Another lost princess.’
‘Sounds as though my mum had quite an effect on you; before your wife I mean.’
‘She did.’
‘Forgive my saying but you couldn’t have known each other all that well.’
‘We had time. The trips to England lasted six weeks but Barbara and I had,’ he thought for a moment, ‘zing. That we never acted on it only served to exacerbate it.’ He looked towards the door. ‘Here she is.’
Katherine turned in her seat not believing the approaching woman could be the same one who’d raised her and her sisters.
‘Mum you look astonishing,’ she said eying the figure hugging dress; deep blue like Lanzo’s suit.
‘Thank you love. You look astonishing too – as always. And what do you think of our handsome captain?’
‘We’ve been getting along fine.’
‘That’s good to hear. Where’s Amy?’
‘Below deck with migraine.’
‘Goodness, it’s just been the two of you?’
Katherine looked back at him feeling, as she had when she’d first met Calvin, that he seemed both familiar and new.
Soon waiting staff arrived with champagne bucket, bread and olive oil with balsamic vinegar.
‘Amy’s missing out,’ Katherine said.
Lanzo agreed. A platter of various meats and cheeses arrived in the centre of the table.
‘Dig in everyone,’ he said helping himself to the meats. ‘You may never have tasted food like this before. The meats have been cured in very specific ways. A lot of Italian love goes into all food aboard Perso Principessa.’
Katherine could taste some things she recognised but plenty of new flavours from both the cheeses and meats.
The staff cleared the plates away and replaced them with new ones, more wine and plenty more fine foods. Pastas, sauces, veal and steaks arrived for them to savour.
In between a commentary of the history and preparation of the tortellini, prosciutto and parmigiano Lanzo asked questions about Katherine.
Compared to his life she felt her school days and life in general lacked colour. Katherine directed questions back to Lanzo and watched out for the zing he’d described. Her mum and Lanzo appeared largely at ease with one another but occasionally their laughter would stop, like they’d remembered they shouldn’t be laughing.
They ate and ate; the staff bringing more flavours, smells and textures to sample. After a while Katherine decided she couldn’t and wouldn’t eat another thing.
Nevertheless, crystal bowls of ice cream arrived. Katherine slurped down more wine in preparation before scooping up the frosted perfection.
After they’d finished Lanzo looked at her and asked, ‘How do you feel?’
Katherine rubbed her tummy and said, ‘So stuffed I can barely speak.’
‘That’s good. How was the wine, gone to your head?’
‘I’m alright.’
‘Okay, how about we finish with coffee?’
‘I doubt there’s room. I should check on Amy.’
‘Of course but please after coffees. Shall we?’
Lanzo stood and Barbara followed in an almost rehearsed manner. They walked to the door and Katherine fell in behind them.
Lanzo looked at one of his staff. ‘Coffee in the lounge please.’
They entered another resplendent room. Katherine sat as instructed and, picking up the vibe from her mum and Lanzo, readied herself for serious news.
‘I’m sensing tension so think I should thank you for the meal now.’
Lanzo smiled making her like him more. ‘You’re very welcome. And you’re right to detect tension. We have information to share with you. Neither of us can predict how you’ll take it.’
Katherine tried to keep an open mind guessing she’d have to wait for coffee before they’d begin. She wondered whether they’d decided to marry. Could her mum be pregnant?
The staff appeared quickly with the coffee but didn’t rush pouring it.
‘It’s fine,’ Lanzo said dismissing them.
‘It would have been nice for you to have had
a friend with you but we can’t put this off any longer,’ Lanzo said passing Katherine a coffee.
‘Okay,’ she said thinking pregnancy might be all the more likely.
‘I think I was fairly thorough with my life story earlier. God knows I’ve been over it enough times in anticipation of this moment.’ Lanzo leaned toward Katherine and spoke softly. ‘I did however omit some important details.’
‘Okay.’ That simple word seemed to take forever to say as Katherine’s mind started ruling out pregnancy.
‘I told you I dropped your mum and sister home after our afternoon on the pier.’
‘Okay.’
‘I didn’t tell you that I went into the house.’
‘Oh God,’ Katherine said twisting away from him. She caught sight of her mum who promptly welled up.
‘Can you guess where this is going?’ Lanzo asked in soft tones.
‘I think you’d better just tell me.’
Watching from the corner of her eye Katherine saw Lanzo and her mum looking at one another. Eventually he nodded.
‘We talked and then I got up to leave but before I got a hand to the door it opened and I came face to face with Alan.’
‘Oh brilliant,’ Katherine said sarcastically ruling out the first idea that had sprung to life when Lanzo said he’d been in the house.
‘He was mad to see me there.’
Katherine shot a sideways glance and imagined how it would feel for a man like her dad to find a man like Lanzo next to his wife in his own home.
‘I tried to be as honest as I could but truthfully I couldn’t say your mother and I were no more than friends. I was strong for sure but I’d seen Alan slinging hay bales and didn’t wish to tangle with him. That I’d be returning to America was the only thing that stopped him beating me to death. I only left when I was certain Barbara was safe.’
Katherine looked at her mum. ‘And were you safe?’ Barbara looked away. Katherine looked at Lanzo accusingly. ‘Of course she wasn’t safe.’
‘I’m no coward Katherine—’
‘Alan had never hit me before,’ Barbara interjected sniffing. ‘It was just a slap.’
‘Just a slap? Dad’s a horrible man. I’ve practically told you that one way or another all my life. You both should’ve known better you behaved idiotically like we did when we lifted your stuff out the house the other month. We should have been there early; watched him leave and we should have had someone on guard all the time. We were dammed lucky to have of all people Calvin with us.’
No one said anything. Lanzo took Barbara’s hand. Katherine had turned so far around in her seat only one buttock perched on it.