Chapter 9
Hanna
I adjust the grasses of the wildflower bouquet in my hand and then knock on the door of the modern bungalow. Vico's invitation to dinner came as a surprise. After barely smiling the whole time, I was sure he wouldn't want to spend the evening with me. He's peculiar, yet I'm excited.
And who knows, maybe the dinner will turn out to be enjoyable?
The door opens, but it's not Vico who greets me; instead, a stranger with very short dark hair stands before me. "Ciao, you must be Hanna. I'm Pietro, welcome," he says. I return his greeting, and he waves me inside. "Just go straight ahead. Follow your nose."
I step inside, slip off my sneakers, and venture farther into the unfamiliar house.
A delightful aroma of roasted onions, tomato sauce, and a whole herb garden surrounds me even before I enter the large open-plan kitchen at the end of the hallway. A woman with buttock-length corkscrew curls stands with her back to me, stirring a massive pot with a wooden spoon. She chatters excitedly with another woman who takes a stack of plates froma hanging cupboard. When she turns around to face me, I instantly know that she must be Camilla.
As Vico hinted yesterday, she is heavily pregnant. Curiously, I continue to look around, but Vico seems to be absent. A hint of disappointment creeps in.
"Hey, this is Hanna," Pietro says from behind me, and immediately, both women greet me warmly.
"Hello, everyone," I say, setting down my bouquet and hurrying toward Camilla.
She extends her hand to me. "It’s nice to meet you."
"Take a seat in your chair, sister," the curly-haired woman at the stove turns around and grins at me. "I'm Alessia," she says, and I don't even have to ask. Despite their different hairstyles, I can tell right away that they are sisters.
While Camilla settles into the cozy armchair with the help of Pietro, I stand awkwardly in the kitchen. I observe how Camilla and Pietro nuzzle their noses together, locking eyes deeply. He whispers something to her, almost pleadingly. His hand rests on her cheek, and a slim gold ring glistens on his finger.
As if drawn by an invisible force, my gaze searches for Camilla's right hand. There, I find—albeit on her little finger—the same ring. They are married. And soon, they will have a baby and be a perfect family. Immediately, a longing stirs inside me, as I haven't had a real family in a long time. It's just Noah and me, and even that bond has weakened lately. He and Elina are now a unit, but at least I still have Florian, and I hope that soon we'll be able to afford to start a family of our own.
To dispel the rising longing, I ask Alessia for a vase, arrange my bouquet in it, and place it on the dining table. The violet blossoms form a beautiful contrast to the bright yellow broom flowers. "Can I help with the preparations?"
Pietro immediately jumps up. "You are our guest," he says, signaling me to take a seat on the sofa next to Camilla's chair. "I'll take care of it."
Alessia's warm laughter drifts over from the kitchenette. "As if you knew how to use the stove."
All three burst into laughter. It's so contagious that I no longer want to be skeptical. Florian's concern was unfounded; the Olivettas are a warmhearted family. Only Vico is strange. Will he still come? It would be a chance to find out what lies behind his impenetrable facade.
Before I take a seat on the sofa, I notice a row of photos on a shelf. Curiously, I step closer and give Camilla a questioning look. "May I?"
She nods, so I study the pictures more closely. My attention is immediately drawn to a slightly younger version of Vico in a photo, with his arms around Camilla and Alessia. But another woman is there. Her wavy hair, styled in an ombre fashion, falls over her shoulders. With her bright red lips and high cheekbones, she looks like a model.
I tap the photo. "Is that Vico's girlfriend?" I ask, wondering at the same time why I want to know.
"That's Aurora. She's the star of the family." A warm smile crosses Camilla's face. "My sister wanted to become a dancer, but…"
So she's not Vico's girlfriend. Interesting.
"She's currently working as a server. In France," Camilla says with a wistful tone.
"Mm-hmm," I reply absentmindedly. Is Vico single?
"I miss her a lot…family is family." She sighs, but I barely register it because I can't help but take another look at the picture.
Vico smiles at me, but his eyes are so sad that suddenly, I wish I could comfort him. Maybe …
"Dinner is ready," Alessia's call interrupts my thoughts.
I whirl around and see her placing a steaming ceramic pot on the wooden table. Pietro invites me to sit down with the others at the well-set table.
"This is Ribollita," Camilla explains, beaming, as she passes me a plate. "A true Tuscan specialty."
