One Summer in Rome: a deliciously uplifting summer romance!. Samantha Tonge

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СКАЧАТЬ in Rome. It is an important accolade that brings in lots of business from tourists. For five years we have featured, but last time had dropped to number ten. Alfonso sees this new place as the strongest competitor that could knock us out and that would be disastrous for our income. So Dante, he went to …’

      ‘Spy?’

      ‘Your word, not mine,’ she said and they both grinned.

      ‘But why should just one new pizzeria make a difference – there must be hundreds of such restaurants in Rome?’

      ‘It’s really grown in popularity and has some quirky unique selling points, apparently. We’re on friendly terms with some of the other pizzerias featured on the winning list and they’ve told us how they feel this new place threatens their ranking as well.’

      ‘So, was his bad mood because they really did make great pizza?’

      ‘He didn’t say much. Probably. The local paper did a piece on the place last week and raved. Dante is very protective of Pizzeria Dolce Vita.’

      ‘Okay. Now I feel stupid – thinking, as usual, that I was the cause of his upset and that the universe revolves around me.’

      Natale laughed. ‘I think we all feel that sometimes – Lucia more than most! Whereas Dante, less than anyone I know. He’s always helping other people and rarely makes a fuss about his situation.’ Her tone softened. ‘It is almost two years since … since he went blind and he’s worked so hard not to be treated differently, and his condition has become normal to us now.’ Her eyes shone. ‘Once he’d set his mind to it, my brother learnt Braille faster than any student ever recorded at the local institute for the blind. Then he built up confidence walking around outside, with his cane. Finally he decided to get a guide dog, passed all the checks, and has had Oro for almost eight months now.’

      ‘Why wouldn’t he get a dog?’ Mary asked and blushed. ‘Sorry – showing my ignorance.’

      ‘Nessun problema. I didn’t know either, before Dante lost his sight. It is a big decision. You have to pay for food and vet bills – and the guide dog is a living, breathing animal that needs time and attention, like any pet, and a degree of routine. It wouldn’t suit certain lifestyles. Take one of his friends who travels the country doing computer training …’

      ‘For the blind?’

      ‘Si. There is a lot of great computer software out there, for the visually impaired, like text-to-speech applications that read out emails. And that’s the sort of lifestyle, moving around, that just wouldn’t suit a dog. Whereas our family set-up and Dante working from just one place, well, it is pretty much perfetto – although he still needs his cane if he is going somewhere unsuitable for a dog and if Oro is ill, like she was with a stomach upset a couple of months ago.’

      ‘It’s so brave. Venturing out of the house with just a stick. I can’t imagine having to do that.’

      ‘We are so proud, how he has turned things around – although my single brother says he only wanted a dog because they are great for attracting the attention of signorinas.’ She rolled her eyes.

      Mary smiled. ‘Oro is beautiful so I’m surprised his plan hasn’t worked.’

      Natale’s shoulders dropped. ‘To be honest, he isn’t looking for love. There’s been no one since that terrible night that …’ she gulped ‘… destroyed his heart as well as his sight.’ Her hands covered her face. ‘I never thought he would get over the shock. Dante’s so lucky to be here, you see …’ Her voice broke, as her hands fell away. She took a few moments. Straightened up. Wiped her eyes with her arm. ‘To be honest, we try not to dwell on bad memories. For Dante’s sake, it is important to just think ahead.’

      Mary squeezed Natale’s hand. She should never have brought the subject up. So, hard as it was, as the day passed, Mary resolved to quell her curiosity, which nevertheless grew, hour by hour. What on earth could have happened? How could an accident have affected his heart? As a policeman, had he been injured whilst walking the beat? Yet the Rossi family’s past was none of her business. Privacy kept wounds closed. If anyone understood that, Mary did.

      ‘Service!’ called Dante for what seemed like the hundredth time and Mary hurried to the silver kitchen hatch. She’d started her shift at four and was slowly getting used to the restaurant’s bustle. The hubbub of customer chat. Rocco’s unfriendly stares over his glasses. She swallowed as Dante’s face remained expressionless. Mary needed to prove that having an English waitress really was an asset. Honestly, this wasn’t quite the start she’d expected, alienating two of the people she had to work with.

      Oh, Dante had been polite enough. That first night he’d shown her around the house. Her bedroom was on the third – top – floor with his. From what Natale said, he must have been determined to prove he didn’t need the lowest one just because he couldn’t see. He made sure she was happy with everything in her room and then patiently explained the restaurant’s routine. However, he seemed to reserve his hot-chocolate voice for Oro or the family and smiles were few and far between.

      No one else would have noticed something was amiss, as he’d patiently explained the menu and complimented her waitressing skills yesterday, but Mary could tell some sort of defence system had been put in place. She’d done it often enough herself, when being introduced to potential foster parents.

      And Rocco … where had Mary gone wrong? Perhaps he had some prejudice against people from England. From the first moment she’d started work he’d fired out instructions at her and tutted if he had to explain anything more than once. He was super efficient and, against gender stereotype, multi-tasked liked no one she’d ever seen. He could chat to one customer whilst, with a nod, reassuring another their food was coming, and at the same time clear a table and take an order for coffee. Thank goodness for Alfonso and Natale. She gave a small smile as the friendly pair rushed past.

      Natale grinned. ‘You’re doing great,’ she whispered and, balancing two coffees, headed past the bar.

      Alfonso stopped to pat her arm. ‘You improve minute by minute, Maria. Just remember, not to ask if they want to order dessert as soon as their main is finished. Give them time to build up an appetite for one of Chef’s delights – then their answer will certainly be si! Wednesday is one of the quieter nights so we must encourage as much spending as possible.’ He winked before pushing open the swing door that led into the kitchen. He shouted something about the seafood tortellini going down well. At least Mary thought that was what he said. Her Italian was rustier than a shipwreck’s anchor. She squinted and saw Chef’s perspiring face become even redder. Enzo was in charge of all dishes other than pizza.

      Rocco had made it quite clear she was taking dessert orders too quickly. His business strategy was the opposite to landlady Brenda, whose aim had been to keep a healthy turnover of “bums on seats”.

      ‘Piano, piano!’ the Italian word for slowly, he had practically shouted at her, yesterday. A sense of unease had shifted inside her. Was she already letting Rocco treat her harshly like Brenda had, back in England, or was this just a rough period until Mary could do her job properly? How could she assert herself with him? Mary had only been here a matter of days. Yet she so wanted this job to work out and if Rocco kept badmouthing her, perhaps Alfonso would change his mind and …

      Deep breaths. She fingered her solid, steady haematite bracelet. She’d resolved never to be patronised at work again, and would achieve that – but all in good time.

      Mary СКАЧАТЬ