As Ariana and Gia chatted, Ruby relaxed. Life was good, and she’d been through enough to appreciate it now.
When Ruby was a girl on the ranch, a life like this had existed only in her dreams. As she took inventory of her life, she thought not of what she’d accumulated, but of the people whose lives she had touched and improved. The promising young directors and writers who’d simply needed the right introduction or a check to start filming a great script. Her life as an actress had been a hard climb, but in retrospect, what mattered most were the people she could bring together. They were the pillars of her success.
All she wanted now was one more try. And this time, it was personal.
* * *
Later that day at the villa, as Ariana and Gia made their way from room to room, envisioning each one, a knock sounded on the door. Ruby excused herself to answer it.
A woman stood at the door. “Gia called and asked me to come. I am Livia.”
“Do come in,” Ruby said, opening the door wide. At first, with Livia’s dark-blue uniform and sensible shoes, Ruby thought the woman looked like she’d been sent from Central Casting. But when Livia took off her broad sun hat, she revealed a short crop of purple hair.
Ruby smiled. “I love your hair.”
“I’m also an artist,” Livia said shyly.
Ruby liked her better already.
Since Ariana and Gia were busy determining bedding and other necessities, Ruby showed Livia through the house before leading her to an attached caretaker’s cottage. The woman asked few questions, but she seemed efficient and ready to work. Ruby liked that. Gia had told her that the older man Livia worked for had passed away, and the home was up for sale.
“I can live here,” Livia said, glancing around. “And my husband. He will take care of the garden and bring fish from the lake, too.”
This arrangement might work out even better than Ruby had hoped. “Do you have children?”
“All grown and married. We have a cat. It’s okay?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I’ll start now,” Livia said, patting her bag. “I have some supplies, and tomorrow I will bring more.”
Ruby discussed terms and rate of pay, and when they’d both agreed, Ruby handed her an extra key. “Welcome to Villa Fiori.”
Leaving Livia to her work, Ruby found a chair on the terrace to catch her breath. Taking in the view of the lake, she made a mental list of what she needed to do here, which had little to do with cleaning or furnishing the house.
A pair of small passerines—golden orioles marked with sunny yellow and inky black feathers—sang to her from a nearby tree while she relaxed. The little birds reminded her of when she and her sister would lay under the shade of a tree on a hot summer day on the ranch, watching the sparrows.
If only Patricia were here with her now. Although the two sisters hadn’t always agreed, Ruby had always known that she could count on Patricia.
Ruby sighed. She had been living a lie for most of her life now. If only her sister hadn’t left the final decision to her. The safety deposit key nestled in her purse could be a key to disaster.
The closer Ruby drew to her decision, the more nervous she became. As the orioles twittered their song against the rustling palm trees overhead, she considered her dilemma.
It wasn’t too late to change her mind. But could she live with that?
Chapter 9
Lago di Como, 2010
* * *
When Ariana stepped inside Villa Fiori, she couldn’t believe the transformation that had taken place over just a few days. As she walked through the house, she saw that the cobwebs and dust were gone, banished by the industrious Livia and her husband, Emilio.
She made her way into the kitchen. The musty smell that made Ariana feel so nauseated had been scrubbed away with a lemony scent, which was fresh and appealing. Ruby was arranging colorful, handmade ceramics decorated with fanciful swirls, lemons, and grapevines.
Since they’d arrived, Ruby seemed revived, as if she’d discovered an untapped reservoir of energy. Even the well-earned lines on her face seemed to have softened,
“Good morning,” Ariana said. “What beautiful pottery. Did you find that here?”
“Livia did.” Ruby pointed to an open door. “In the china closet. I can’t imagine how long all this was locked up. Decades perhaps.” She arranged a grouping of platters and jugs, which bore vibrant lemons and green leaves, in the center of a rustic wooden table worn smooth from years of use.
“This is majolica pottery,” Ruby said. “Regions produced different motifs. This lemon design is probably from Amalfi, which is known for growing the finest lemons.” She stepped back to admire her handiwork. Brushing her hands, she asked, “How are you and Gia doing?”
“Very well,” Ariana said, easing onto a stool. “I couldn’t have done this without her. It would have taken months to do what she did in a few days. She should be here soon because she said an early delivery is arriving today. I think she wants to take me to a factory of some sort, too.” She glanced around the kitchen.
“Livia wasted no time in stocking the refrigerator with fresh fruits and vegetables,” Ruby said. “What a treasure she is.”
Ariana opened the refrigerator and discovered a bunch of grapes. Bringing out the bowl, she placed it on the table to share with her aunt. She plopped a grape in her mouth, marveling at the flavor. “I still can’t believe I’m here. I was supposed to be on my honeymoon right now.”
“Life is full of interesting twists,” Ruby said. “Are you happy with your decision now?”
“So happy that I feel guilty. Was I misleading Phillip?”
“I don’t think so,” Ruby said. “You were just caught up in his plan rather than having your own.”
Ariana plucked another grape and thought about that. “Our relationship was convenient.” She’d never liked change. It had seemed more trouble to break up and date new people than to carry on with their relationship. “As I sat waiting for him at the church, I finally realized that my happiness would always be secondary to his.”
“Time to start fresh,” Ruby said, touching Ariana’s hand. “In many ways. Decide what you want to do and approach it with purpose.”
“You mean, as in my work?”
Ruby nodded. “Just because you loved it once, doesn’t mean you have to keep on with it. Maybe you’ve outgrown your position.”
“I’ve definitely outgrown my boss. Kingsley would go ballistic if he knew I’d called off the wedding and took a vacation instead.”
Ruby gave her an enigmatic smile. “You’re welcome to stay here and explore your options.”
The thought of that was intriguing, though far-fetched. “I can’t imagine that I won’t be on a plane back to L.A. at the end of the month.” Besides, she had to support herself. And soon, a new baby.
After landing her first job after college, Ariana had never asked for money from her mother or Ruby. Her mother would have lectured her on the importance of responsibility and self-reliance. As if self-reliance hadn’t been forced upon her when her mother had shipped her off to boarding school as a child.