Romance In The Tuscan Hills: A New Beginning (3 page)

“Mr. Zanutti,  I have brought you Danielle Vierra.  Ms. Vierra, I would like you to meet Mr. Zanutti.”

Dani held out her hand to shake.  “Please, call me Dani.”

“A pleasure, Dani.”  Zanutti shook her offered hand.  “I am Lorenzo.  I just wish we met under different circumstances.  Your grandmother was a very fine woman and very astute as well.  I am not sure if you are aware that she bought an estate in one of the most sought after areas in all of Italy.  It is bordering the Tuscany region and surrounded by beautiful hills and vineyards as far as the eye can see.   It is worth two million US dollars.”

Dani's mouth dropped open.  “Two million dollars?  Why didn't Nonna tell me?”

“Perhaps for the same reason she did not tell you she was ill,” Lorenzo said.  “Mrs. Vierra was a fiercely independent woman who had no wish to upset or worry you.  She did want to make sure you were well taken care of, though.  The estate is her final gift to you.”

“I just....I mean,  I want...I thought...”  Dani trailed off.  She shook her head to try to clear the thoughts bouncing around vying for attention.   “A two million dollar estate?  It's too much.  I can't accept it.”

“Mrs. Vierra wanted you to have it.”  Lorenzo said.  “All you need to do is sign a transfer paper and it's yours.  What you do with it after that is up to you.”

Lorenzo, pulled out the papers, and Dani began signing here and initialing there in order to take possession of the estate.  It only took a few minutes to change her life completely. 

9. Chapter Five

They traversed the rolling hills of green lush countryside and vineyards full of plump ripe grapes, both green and red.   Dani thought it was paradise on Earth.  It was easy to see why Nonna never wanted to leave this place.  It was so beautiful, there was almost a spiritual quality about it. Dani wasn't immune to the land's charms either.   For the first time in maybe, well, ever she felt like she found home.   Home wasn't her tastefully decorated but cold and clinical townhome or the battle oa subway commute or even the job she did so well, though was slowly beginning to resent.  Home was the rolling hills of Italy....and she would never have known that if Nonna hadn't passed and left everything to her.   Not that she wanted to be completely alone in the world, but it somehow didn't seem so bad when faced with the beauty of the Italian countryside.  She could heal here,  Dani realized.  She could become the person she wanted to be.  Nonna must have known and planned for that.  Nonna planned for everything.  

Each mile along the journey was even more breathtaking than the previous mile. The sun was low on the horizon and the shadows draped the hills in a shimmering blanket of light when Vincenzo slowed the car.

“Do you see the house on the hill up there?  You're home!”

7. Chapter Five

Upon entering the house, Dani walked around from room to room, soaking up everything. Her grandmother had pictures of both her and her mother displayed all over the home. Many of the pictures were new to her.   Usually looking at pictures of her Mom and Grandmother filled Dani with regret and pain of all the 'what could have beens' if they were still alive.  Yet, somehow, seeing the bright smiles grinning at her from the pictures now made her feel as if they were embarking on this adventure with her instead of watching from Heaven. 

“I can do anything thanks to you,” Dani said.  “I still wish you were here with me, but I know you've made me stronger just by being near you.”  “I promise to make you both proud.  “Until we meet again, Mom and Nonna.”  “Until we meet again.”

All the travel and emotions of the trip finally caught up to Dani.  She laid down for a nap and dreamed of happier times.  She was a little girl again running around Nonna's house with Mom laughing about all her pent up energy in one breath and warning her to not get out of sight with the next.  Mom's greatest fear was losing Dani but, in the end, it was Dani who lost her...and now she lost Nonna. 

Dani laid in bed trying to remember the happy parts of the dream once she woke up.   The memories slipped away like smoke on water.  Wispy fingers of memories reached for her, only to withdraw and curl to nothingness when she tried to hold on to them.  Instead of trying to grab onto the happiness she briefly found in her dreams, Dani decided to make lunch and explore the villa more. 

After she ate a light lunch,  Dani checked out the tool shed in back for some gardening supplies. It looked as if some of the plants in the garden were ready to be harvested. Green peppers, tomatoes and lettuce. She had everything for a salad growing right in her own backyard.  Dani tinkered around, enjoying the feel of the sun on her back and the smooth, cool dirt in her hands.  This was living.  Not that go-go-go lifestyle she was used to back in the States.   That wasn't living.  That was passing time. 
This!  This
was living!

Dani stood and wiped her hands down her pants when she heard the approaching put-put-put of a tractor.  She walked through the garden toward the vineyard to follow the sound.  Sure enough. A white haired old man sat atop a tractor parked in the small field between the villa and vineyard.  He grinned when he saw her before hopping down.

“Buongiorno,” the exuberant old gentleman called.  “My name is Alberto.  You must be the young Miss Vierra.”

“Please, call me Dani.”

Alberto nodded.  “As you wish.”  He pulled a box off the back of the tractor which held a bottle of wine, some local cheese, and fresh baked bread.  “I brought you a welcome package.  The wine is one of our finest vintages.”  Alberto motioned at the vineyards as far as the eye could see and another villa just barely visible from where they stood.  “All this is mine.  Your grandfather and grandmother were my school chums growing up.   Of course back then there were only a dozen children in the whole school and only one teacher!  We always remained very good friends.” Alberto carried the basket of goodies over to a small wrought iron patio set near the garden.  He set it on the table before arranging the cheese and bread on a plate from the basket.  He cut a slab of cheese off and sawed off a couple of slices from the loaf for he and Dani to share. He poured two glasses of wine and held up his glass to toast Dani.

“To new friends and new doors opening, even when another closes on an old friend.”

“To new friends and new doors,” Dani repeated.  She took a long drink of the wine.  It tasted amazing – a million times better than anything she could get back in the states.  As they snacked on the bread and cheese, Alberto told her more about the country and his long time friendship with Nonna.

“It seemed a very natural thing for Catalina to live here even after your Nonno passed.  She loved the land so much.  I kept watch over her, though, so don't you worry.   Your Nonna was like family.  She always has been and always will be.  And now you are like family too.”

“Thank you, Alberto.”  Dani smiled before taking another drink of wine.  “That means a lot to me.”

Alberto glanced at his watch.  “Unfortunately, I must go.  I shall see you tomorrow at your Nonna's funeral.  I only wish it was under better circumstances, Dani.”

She nodded.  “So do I, Alberto.  So do I.”

8. Chapter Six

Lorenzo had arranged everything for Nonna's funeral.  It hadn't quite sunk in for Dani that Nonna was actually gone – let alone plan a funeral in a short amount of time.  That's where Lorenzo came in.  He made the calls that needed to be made,  placed the notice of the service in a local paper to invite everyone who wanted to celebrate Nonna's life and legacy,  and even bought a modest black dress for Dani to wear at the funeral.  She didn't want to wear a business suit.  It seemed so cold and impersonal as if to say 'work means more to me than you do, Nonna.'   Nothing meant more to her than Nonna.  

The service was held at a small chapel at the top of winding hill.  The vineyards and hills created a picturesque backdrop.  It would have been breath-takingly beautiful, except there was another reason Dani was having trouble breathing.  Today was the day she would need to say her final good bye to Nonna. 

Alberto was one of the first to arrive.  He had a group of family members with him.  Dani tried to put on a brave face and focus on what he was saying as he introduced the people with him.  “Dani, this is my wife Isabella, my daughter in law Anna, and my grandson Carlo.”

“Pleased to meet you,”  Dani said absently.   It was almost time to start.  She already felt a tightness in her chest as the realization that this was it – this was the final good bye – fully set in.