The Heart of Tuscany

The tour

Paolo opened the door to his cottage with a smile on his face.  Cecilia Faciano was the reason for that smile.  He knew she was pretty by the pictures the Negri’s had up around the house, but seeing her in person, those pictures didn’t do her any justice.  Flawless olive skin, long dark black shiny hair that fell down her back almost to her waist, big innocent brown eyes and the cutest little nose.  She favored her mother in the looks department.  There was just more definition in Cece’s features than in her mothers.  From what Paolo’s father had told him, Livia was the most beautiful woman from Follonica to Rome.  Livia didn’t hold nearly as much beauty as her daughter Cece did though.  Cece was a tiny thing too, she couldn’t be much more than 5 foot tall.  He could see himself holding her tiny curvy body up against him. 

Paolo went upstairs to his bedroom to grab another shirt.  Stella wouldn’t have liked him showing up to dinner in a t-shirt smeared in motor oil.  Paolo had spent most of the day working on one of the trucks that had broken down last week.  He decided to take a quick shower before changing and heading back over for dinner. He hoped he could get to know Cece a bit more.  She was only here for a month, and considering his first impression, he hoped he would see a lot more over her.  A no strings attached little fling is what he needed right now.  Paolo smiled as he finished his shower, got dressed and headed back over to the Negri’s, his eyes set on Cecilia Faciano.

Stella Negri, Cece’s grandmother, was standing on the front steps of the villa.  She had her hand up over her eyes blocking the evening sun, she wore a yellow dress with a floral apron tied around it.  Her silver and black hair was pulled back into a bun with small wisps of hair falling out around her face.  Stella was a tiny woman, the same height as Cece, with big brown eyes, high cheek bones and laugh lines around her eyes.  Stella was a beauty even in her old age and had the same ‘glow’ Cece’s father had said Livia had.

“Nipotina? Is that you?” Stella asked.

“Si Nonna, it’s me!” Cece waved.  “ok guys, let’s go.”

“Thank goodness your grandparents speak English.”  Eryka said.  “You think they will mind translating?”

Cece laughed.  “You won’t need a translator Eryka, everyone here speaks English fluently, well my family does, I’m not sure about the staff but I’m sure it will be ok.  Even if you go shopping in town, most people speak English fluently.”

“Well that’s a relief.” Eryka said.

              When Cece had reached arm’s length from her grandmother Stella wrapped her arms around Cece and hugged her tight.  When Stella released her, she held Cece’s arms out to the side of her as if to survey how much she had grown.

“Cecilia Grace! You’ve lost weight!” Stella smoothed her hands over Cece’s hair.  “Not to worry, Nonna will get you better and put some weight on you.” Stella turned to Jack.  “Jack, its good to see you again.” She wrapped him into a tight hug and then hugged Eryka, held her arms out as she did Cece and made a tsk sound.  “Eryka, you are far too skinny, don’t you eat?”

“Nonna, Eryka could eat the biggest plate of pasta and not gain a single ounce.” Cece laughed

“Its true.” Eryka agreed.  “Believe me, I LOVE food.”

“Very well then, but none of you will go hungry in my home.  Come inside, I’ll give you the grand tour before dinner is ready.”  Stella said ushering them inside.

Jack and Eryka stopped as they entered the foyer and their mouths dropped open.  “Wow.” They both said in unison.  The foyer was extremely large with a cathedral ceiling, a large chandelier hung down from the center of the room.  Two staircases were on opposite sides of the room leading up to a long hallway.  A balcony overlooked the foyer.  On either side of the room were large doorways, each of them opened to a large room.  Cece remembered that the one on the left was a large living room with two very large sectional couches that made a half circle around a long oblong coffee table and two recliners facing the sectionals.  The wall across from the entryway was a big stone fireplace.  The mantle was filled with family pictures.  The walls of the room were a beige color, decorated with paintings of the vineyard and several big green plants were placed in the corners of the room.  The living room opened to a large dining room that was set up buffet style.  Along one of the walls was a long stainless-steel buffet with wells of water steaming hot, ready for what ever meal was prepared for that day, a cold bar was at the end, with salad and fresh fruit. Plates were stacked next to the buffet, along with silverware rolled up with a linen napkin.  Two long mahogany tables were placed end to end in the center of the room.  Opposite of the buffet, and on the other side of the tables against the wall was the bar area.  At breakfast there were carafes of juices and milk, at lunch water and tea, and at dinner time there was wine, water and tea. 

Cece inhaled the smells of her grandparents’ home.  They had arrived close to dinner time and the house smelled of garlic, bread and herbs, making Cece’s stomach rumble.

“Where is everyone?” Cece asked.

“On the back porch, I told them to let me get you settled before the chaos of dinner.” Stella laughed

“Please don’t wait to have dinner on account of us Nonna.”  Cece replied

“Nonsense!  Dinner is ready when I say its ready, besides we need the extra time.  I’ve made your favorite dessert to welcome you home.” Stella smiled and kissed Cece’s cheek.

“Zuppa Inglese?” Cece asked excitedly. 

“Si, and it still needs time to set and since I rarely make a dessert, I’m sure everyone will be fine waiting.” Stella said

“It smells so good in here Stella.”  Jack said.

They all followed Stella through the living room into the dining room.  A few of the kitchen staff were in the dining room getting it ready for dinner. 

“How many people do you feed Stella?  This room is huge.” Eryka asked wide eyed

“That all depends on the season, there aren’t that many of us today.  Only about 25 of us for dinner tonight.” Stella replied.  “Come let me give you a quick tour.”

              Cece, Eryka and Jack followed Stella back into the Foyer and across to the adjacent room. The room was the same beige color as the living room with a small sitting area when you first walked in consisting of a love seat and 2 arm chairs that sat around a small coffee table with a chess board on it that looked like a game was still in the works.   Along the wall across from the entryway was a big screen TV and several gaming systems sitting in their own cubbies on a gaming shelf.  4 gaming chairs were arranged around it in a semi-circle.  Towards the back of the room were several small round wood tables and chairs, and a pool table.  On the wall behind the pool table was a large mahogany cue rack and a dart board. 

“This is the family/gaming room.”  Said Stella

“Didn’t this used to be the office?” Cece asked.

“Si, but since Emily married Matteo, he now handles most of the paperwork from home.  Your grandfather just doesn’t have the patience or time.  Plus, Matteo has always been so good with numbers and the legal things.”  Stella said.  “Let me show you upstairs.” 

              At the top of the stairs was a balcony that went around 3 walls overlooking the foyer.  There were 2 bedrooms on both sides each with a connecting bathroom.  Each room what a different color blue, green, yellow, and pink.  Each room had a king-sized bed, mahogany dresser and vanity, and several paintings on the walls.  Each room was simple but stood out at the same time.  The closest room was the blue room and Cece noticed that the paintings on the walls were all hers. 

“Are these….my paintings?”  She asked.

“Si, your mother and I were very proud of your drawings and paintings.  She was always sending me your artwork.  I have them displayed in all of the bedrooms.”  Stella said.

              Tears started to sting Cece’s eyes.  She had no idea that her mother had sent so many pieces of her work to her grandmother, or that her grandparents would display it so proudly.  Cece had always been told by her art teachers and her friends and family that her work was beautiful, but she had just pushed it off as everyone just being nice.  Some of her work could be a little too abstract for some people and some of it a bit too dark. Most of it was landscaping and scenery.  Cece loved to take a day trip out to the middle of nowhere and just start drawing or painting what she saw, it always relaxed her and cleared her mind.

“I had started putting several up in the cottages as well.” Stella said.

“Stella?” a small young woman with an apron on came into the room.  “Dinner will be ready in 5 minutes.”

“Thank you, Antonia.” Stella said.  “Well, I hope you all are hungry, come make your plates before I let the herd in to eat.  Once they get in the dining room, I’m afraid its every man, woman and child for themselves.”

They all laughed and headed downstairs to the dining room.