Though perhaps there was some advantage to that; the absence of direct sunlight and tiny windows would at least keep the place cooler in summer. With no air-conditioning in the place, that was definitely needed.
Feeling around for a light switch, Kim couldn’t find anything and proceeded further along the wall before stumbling into something. Her shin knocked hard against the side of a piece of clunky wooden furniture and she yelped as pain shot up to her knee.
She kicked at it. ‘Goddamn wreck,’ she grumbled, before a thudding sound got her attention.
Creepy …
The hair on the back of her neck stood up and she was about to retreat from the room when she located a small lamp atop the dresser and switched it on.
Yup, this room was indeed long past its prime, with worn interiors and a shabby sofa that looked like it might convert to a fold-out bed, which technically made it another bedroom, though she couldn’t imagine who would pay to actually sleep in it.
Ugh. Backpackers, probably, or travellers on a budget – like Kim was now. She gulped, reminding herself that she wasn’t in Kansas anymore. That would take some getting used to.
But she was pretty sure she could handle it; prove to her folks and herself that she didn’t need their money to get by in life.
The windows were open to let out some of the day’s heat, and tonight there was a welcome breeze. But other than that there was little else of interest in the room.
Kim reached to turn off the lamp and head upstairs to bed, when something sticking out beneath the dresser she’d knocked into caught her eye.
She kneeled down and fished it out. It was some kind of book. A journal, with some handwriting inside. Beautiful cursive script – a lot of it in Italian.
She flipped through a few more pages, recognising some words also written in English. Looked like poetry … Actually, no – they were just stand-alone sentences.
La dolce vita: good food, good drinks, good people.
Because life is meant to be lived, and lived well.
Nice. On a whim, Kim took out her phone and updated her social media caption from earlier.
Much better.
Chapter 19
Now
The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria was a famed award-winning hotel located in Sorrento, pure five-star luxury, which was why Kim had reserved it for her family’s upcoming stay, and arranged special packages for other overseas guests attending Villa Dolce Vita’s official launch.
While she’d stayed at the villa to oversee the last of the preparation of the wellness centre interiors and grounds, she’d moved the short distance to the hotel a half an hour away in advance of Gabriel and Lily’s arrival.
‘Hey, you,’ she greeted Gabe into the phone, holding it close to her ear as she stood out on the wide terrace of their two-bed family suite. ‘Where are you now?’
‘In Naples just about to take the train. Are you sure you have time to pick us up? We could just grab a cab the rest of the way.’
‘Of course I’ll pick you up. I’d have picked you up at the airport but I know Lily really wanted to take a train ride and see the views.’
‘Any view with you in it is the best one for us.’
A knot of guilt formed in her stomach. ‘Hey, I know I’ve been away a lot …’
‘This is a big deal. We both know that.’
‘It is a big deal but so are you two. I promise, when you guys get here I’m going to make time for us as a family – especially after launch night,’ she said sincerely. ‘And yeah, I know it can’t be easy having me for a wife.’
‘As if I’d want any other,’ he replied with a smile in his voice. ‘I’m so proud of you, honey. You work hard and you get the job done. But I gotta say, some downtime together will be nice.’
Kim’s head fell in shame. ‘How was Lily on the flight?’ she asked.
‘Good. She slept like a baby most of the way, but was a bit restless and sneezing when we got in. Really hope she’s not coming down with something.’
