temptation in florence 04 - expected in death Page 6

  “Not now.” Aunt Violetta held up a hand and concentrated on Olga again. “Olga Ottima.” She stretched out her gnarled hand and crooked one finger. “Olga Ottima.” The words sounded like a curse now, spoken by the booming voice.

  The family held their collective breaths.

  Suddenly, Aunt Violetta barked in a voice that had them all jump in their seats: “Omar!”

  Without a sound, he got up and stood next to her, one hand on her shoulder.

  “Look at that woman, Omar.” Aunt Violetta narrowed her eyes as she surveyed Olga from top to toe. “She made my dear Fabbiola's life pure hell when Fabbiola was only a young girl. All because of a young man. She haunted that man until he left his home and his family. I knew his mother well. She never got over it.” She leaned forward, her mouth gaping open for an instant, before she closed it with a snap. “Listen, Olga Ottima. If you dare to make trouble for my family, I will set Omar onto you. You don't know Omar yet.” A dry chuckle. “Omar is my son. He'll do anything to protect our family. Anything, you hear?”

  Carlina shook her head to dispel the feeling of being in a bad dream. She had the impression of having strayed into an opera play with too much pathos. Surely, this was pure comedy? When would they start to laugh and realize this was all a joke? She looked at the faces around her. A few were pretending to focus on their plates, embarrassed by Aunt Violetta's antics, but most showed open admiration for Violetta's theater production and were clearly impatient to see the next act. She willed herself to look at Garini. At times like these, she wondered how long he would stick to her and her unpredictable family.

  He was surveying the action without twitching a muscle. His face looked as if it were carved of stone and didn't give anything away.

  Oh, Madonna. Carlina sighed. She went to her mother, took the parcel Aunt Violetta had not deemed worthy of attention, and held it out once again to the ancient lady. “You should really try on these shoes, Aunt Violetta. You'll like the color. I know Mama chose the wool especially for you. It's violet.”

  A withering glance reduced her to silence. “Don't take me for a fool, Carlina. And I never liked violet. I prefer black. Besides, I'm not trying on shoes in the middle of eating my dinner.”

  As nobody had started to eat yet, it was a gross exaggeration, but nobody pointed that out. Aunt Violetta turned her head like a turtle and addressed Uncle Teo. “They say there's no fool like an old fool, Teo. How can you fall for a scheming woman like that Olga? Don't you remember her history? Besides, she's much too young for you.”

  Uncle Teo pulled his bushy eyebrows together and returned her stare with dignity. “That history is quite old, my dear. I think we should let the past go and concentrate on the future.”

  “You can't forget the past!” Aunt Violetta's voice filled the room without the slightest difficulty, though by now, it was quiet as a grave because the family hardly dared to breathe for fear of missing a single word of this highly entertaining dispute. “The past is the base of everything that happens today! People don't change drastically, believe me. Their characters are done when they're born, and you just apply a thin layer of civilization with all that education and stuff--” she made a dismissive movement with her hand, “-- but after the age of sixty-five, most of that thin layer falls off again,--”

  “--as amply proven by yourself.” Olga's words cut into her speech and fell into a silence that turned from appreciative to stunned. All eyes were on her. She lifted her chin and eyed the assembled Mantoni family with an hauteur that was fit for a Queen. “As I'm obviously not welcome here, I will leave.”

  She started to leave the room, but before she could reach the door, Uncle Teo addressed them all. “I'm ashamed of all of you. You should rethink your position.” He followed Olga, and the last thing they saw was his arm, draped comfortingly over her thin shoulders.

  Aunt Violetta snorted like an old horse. “Men. He's infatuated. It's obvious that we need to help him. He won't get out of the snares of that one all on his own. I'll think of something.” She looked around the table. “But let's eat first. There is no reason to overcook the pasta.”

  Chapter 6

  I

  Carlina's heart hammered in her chest as she stood at Uncle Teo's door the next evening. She didn't usually meddle in other's people businesses, but she had the feeling that now was the right time to make an exception. Still, she felt ill at ease and wished she were somewhere else. Anywhere, in fact, but in front of Uncle Teo's door. She knocked and waited.

  Nothing. In the distance, she heard the bells of Santa Croce chime the hour. Seven o'clock. Her throat closed. How she loved this house. She would miss the bells. She cocked her head. Still nothing. What if something had happened to Uncle Teo? Was Olga with him? She rang again.

  Finally, just as she was considering using her own key to get into the apartment, she heard Uncle Teo's shuffling steps. He opened the door in slow motion.

  “Uncle Teo! Are you all right?”

  He looked tired, and his usually impeccable hair was slightly ruffled. For some reason, he seemed much older and more vulnerable than ever before. “I'm all right, Carlina.” His voice was flat.

  “Where's Olga?” Carlina looked over his shoulder into the apartment.

  “She's gone out.” He took a step back. “Do you want to come in?”

  “Yes, please.” Carlina was grateful for the chance to speak to him without anybody else present. She had been willing to ask Olga point-blank to leave them alone for a confidential talk, but was happy to reach the same result without confrontation. She followed him to the living room, her fingers twisted around each other. She was nervous. It was incredible, but she was nervous to face her trusted great-uncle about his love affair.

  “Was there anything you wanted to discuss with me?” Uncle Teo took a careful seat on the sofa and pulled at the crease in his trousers so they wouldn't be stretched out of form.

  “Yes.” Carlina lowered herself onto the edge of Uncle Teo's old sofa and aligned her feet. This isn't going to be easy. She took a deep breath. “It's about Olga.”

  “I thought as much.” His voice was dry.

  “Recently, a friend of mine came to Temptation. Her name's Francesca. I'm not sure if you remember her? She's a glass-blower. Tiny woman.”

  Uncle Teo shook his head.

  “Well, anyway, she came to Temptation, and we got to talk about-- things. I happened to mention Olga's name, and she told me that she's works for the Finanza.” She kept her gaze fixed on Uncle Teo, to see his reaction to that most dreaded institution.

  He only inclined his head. “I'm aware of that.”

  Madonna. I'll have to be brutal. “Francesca also said that Olga more or less ruined her family by reporting income from a holiday home they had kept secret. As a result, Francesca's family had to pay more taxes than ever before and had to sell the holiday home.”

  Uncle Teo looked at her, his face wooden.

  Carlina labored on. “It appeared that she insinuated herself into the family by becoming a friend of Francesca's mother. She only disclosed her true nature after she had found proof enough – and after she had reported them.”

  Uncle Teo met her gaze with chilling hauteur. “What are you saying, Carlina?”

  She gulped. “I'm . . . I'm afraid that Olga is using you only to sniff around.”

  His mouth hardened. “Is it so unbelievable that she should be interested in me as a person?”

  “Oh, no!” Carlina jumped from the sofa and went onto her knees, her hand on Uncle Teo's arm. “Of course not. And if it were anybody but Olga, I would be so happy for you. In fact, I was happy when I first saw you dancing with her. But everything I've learned in the meantime repels me. She's . . .mean. I mean, really nasty. She says things to hurt, and she knows where to hit.”

  “She's never said a nasty thing in my hearing.”

  “I know!” Carlina shook his arm. “I know. She's very clever. But you can't have failed to notice everybody's rea
ction to her. Even Benedetta doesn't like her, and you know that Benedetta is the sweetest woman in this house.”

  “You all begrudge me my happiness.” His voice sounded brittle, and it was obvious that he was quoting Olga.

  “Oh, no, we don't!” Carlina shook her head so hard that one curl slid into her eye. She pushed her hair away. “We want you to be happy! But Olga isn't the right person to make you happy.”

  He looked at her. “How do you know? Why don't you give her a chance? I don't understand this fierce opposition at all.”

  Carlina shrugged. “How can we give her a chance if she spits nails every time we see her? She's doing her utmost to hurt us.”

  Uncle Teo pulled his bushy eyebrows together. “How so?”

  Carlina took a deep breath, trying to bring across Olga's exact words. “She's . . . it's as if she were possessed. She doesn't even try to get along. Instead, she constantly says nasty things, right into our faces. It's malicious. I don't understand why she's being the way she is.” She slanted Uncle Teo a glance. “And you know, she ignores Mama completely. Refuses to talk to her.”

  Uncle Teo snorted. “That's a very old story. It's high time they got over it. Silly.”

  “I agree, but you won't get them to see that point of view. She made Benedetta and Leo incredibly uneasy by insinuating that Leo disinfected her whole apartment because he couldn't stand to live with her 'germs'. She fanned Lucio's jealousy until he looked ready to kill her and Emma too, then she said Annalisa was too stupid to live and--”

  Olga's voice interrupted her from the door. “How very clever of you to slip into your great-uncle's apartment the second I turn my back.” She sounded sweet and completely in control but a pulse beat on her neck.

  Carlina flinched and closed her eyes for a second. Damn. If only Olga had returned half an hour later. She got up in slow motion, turned to face Olga, and pulled back her shoulders. “I would appreciate if you could give me a little privacy with Uncle Teo.”

  Olga's mouth stretched into one thin line. “Why should I do that? So you can invent lies about me and tell them to him with all the time in the world?”

  Carlina clenched one fist. “I'm not inventing any lies at all. I'm telling Uncle Teo exactly what you said to the family in the last few days.”

  Olga laughed. “No doubt. Obviously, you expect me to believe that you're painting a very fair picture, aren't you? I'm not the fool you think me to be.”

  Carlina's mouth turned dry. “Why do you hate us so much?”

  One eyebrow of Olga went up. “Who said I hate you?”

  “You did. Indirectly. With every word and look and action.”

  Olga snorted. “Phew. You're quite eloquent. However, I'm only reacting to you. You hate me; you don't want me here. You begrudge your Uncle Teo a little happiness.”

  Carlina felt heat rising into her face. “No, we don't! He can have as many girlfriends as he wants, but the thing we won't accept is that he's being alienated from us all in the process. Because that's what you're doing!”

  “Nonsense. I'm being perfectly fair and open, but you're totally set against me.”

  “That's not true! In fact--”

  “In fact,” Olga interrupted her with a malicious little smile, “you would be delighted if I moved in tomorrow?”

  Carlina couldn't hide the sudden dismay that overwhelmed her. “You're planning to move in?”

  “Yes, I am.” Olga smiled, and for a moment, she looked like an innocent porcelain doll again. “Oh, not into Teo's apartment, that wouldn't feel right. But he offered the apartment next door now that Leo has moved in with Benedetta, and I'm happy to accept. After all, he gives special rates to family and friends, doesn't he?”

  Carlina gulped and looked at Uncle Teo who had gotten up from the sofa, polite as he was, and was watching the verbal match without trying to squeeze in a word. “Is that true, Uncle Teo? Did you offer Olga the apartment?”

  He inclined his head. “I did.”

  A warning bell rang inside Carlina's head. She was sure that Uncle Teo did not report the house's earnings correctly. Where would it lead? Would they all be thrown out? Sudden fear clenched her stomach. They had been in danger of losing the house before, and it had led to murder. “I advise you to think twice before moving in.” She made sure she looked Olga squarely in the eye. “You're playing with fire.”

  Olga tittered. “Oh, my. Is that a threat?”

  Carlina's temper took over. “Possibly.”

  “Well, in that case it's a good thing that you're soon going to move out.” Olga smoothed the sleeve of her thin, light-blue sweater as if it were the most important thing in the world. “I have to say that it's quite providential because we're looking for a new place for Ugo to stay, and I've been wanting to ask Teo if Ugo could move into your apartment.” She turned to Uncle Teo. “What do you say, darling? You see, Ugo has to get out of his apartment by next month, and it would be great if he could take Carlina's apartment. I know it's a bit small for a man like Ugo, but he has--”

  “I haven't moved out yet.” Carlina's voice was like ice. “And I'll thank you to wait for that to happen before you give my apartment away.”

  “Oh, my, now I've upset you.” The words sounded soft, but Olga's eyes were hard like quartz. “But I thought it's up to Teo to decide who stays where. It's his house, isn't it? Actually, I doubt that you are an official tenant. Probably your agreement is only based on some informal arrangement, isn't it?”

  Carlina gasped. She looked at Uncle Teo, waiting for him to jump in, to defend her, to say that she could stay as long as she wanted. But he was studying the tips of his elegant shoes as if he had never seen them before. What on earth was going on here? Had Olga insinuated that they were only using him, were sucking him dry, were all profiting from him without offering anything in return? “Uncle Teo? What do you say?”

  “You needn't appeal to your Uncle Teo. He knows very well that the family is only exploiting him and living at his expense.”

  Uncle Teo didn't look up from his shoes.

  Carlina choked. “Now listen, you scheming little witch.” She heard her voice full of hate and was taken aback by the sheer venom in it. Was that really her? She tempered it somewhat. “I advise you to rethink your strategy. Think of Uncle Teo. He won't be happy if you alienate him from everyone he holds dear.”

  Olga met Carlina's fiery gaze squarely. “I'll make him happy.”

  “Oh, no, you won't.” Carlina narrowed her eyes. “You can't make up for a whole family. You can't erase decades of emotions and caring. Nobody can.”

  Olga lifted an arrogant eyebrow. “Don't underestimate me.”

  “Don't underestimate us,” Carlina shot back. “Or you'll be dead before you know it.” She turned on her heels and stormed out of the apartment. She was upstairs before she knew how she'd gotten there and rushed into her apartment, almost falling over Garini's long legs. He had been sitting on her comfortable armchair with the leopard print cover, but jumped up when she charged through the door. “Carlina, what happened?”

  She balled both her fists and shook them. “I'm going to kill Olga with my bare hands.”

  “Whoa. Easy.” He looked behind her, closed the door, and turned around. “Now tell me.”

  The whole conversation poured out of Carlina. She walked in circles while beating her right fist into her left palm. Her heart beat so hard that she at first thought she could hear it outside, but then she realized that it had started to rain and that a fierce wind was throwing gusts of rain against the window.

  When she had told him everything, she dropped onto the sofa, exhausted. “I'm stumped,” she said. “I have to idea how to save us. Olga will destroy this family unless someone kills her first.”

  Garini looked at her with a bemused expression on his face and said, “I've never seen you like this.”

  The next days passed as if someone had taken a big bucket of black paint and had poured it over everything. The mood was blac
k and nobody talked to Olga who made a point of joining them for dinner every night. Even the weather let them down – it started to rain in sheets during the weekend and continued until Monday morning, running in rivulets down the intricate marble patterns of Santa Croce's facade.

  Carlina unlocked the door to Temptation with a heavy heart. Something's gotta give, she thought again, just as she had thought so often in the past days. But what? And when? Where would this all end? She jumped when her cell phone started to ring and pulled it from her handbag before entering her store.

  “Carlina, it's me, Francesca!” From the tone of her voice, it sounded as if Francesca were bent on coloring all of Florence single-handedly in a golden halo.

  “Francesca! Are you still in Venice?”

  “No, I returned on Friday? Listen, I have the most wonderful news!”

  “Yes?” Carlina's heart lifted. Finally, someone was happy.

  “I met a most gorgeous man at that crafts dinner! Remember that I told you about it?”

  “Yes. You said there were two puny guys and one married.”

  “Correct. Well, this time, there was another. It was amazing, the way we hit it off right away. We spent most of the weekend together.”

  Carlina smiled and leaned against the door frame of Temptation. “Sounds great. And he's so nice that you decided to break the two-month-rule for him?”

  “What?” For a minute, Francesca sounded disoriented. ”Oh, that. Now I remember. No, don't worry. This one is a keeper. I feel so small and safe with him, it's absolutely delish! This time, it can't go wrong.”

  Carlina shivered. I hope the gods don't listen. She suppressed the thought and forced herself to make a light-hearted reply. “Sounds perfect. When will I meet him?”

  “Soon. You know, I'm a little bit crazy. I simply can't wait to see him again, and I can't stop thinking of him, and we already talked twice this morning, and I had to share my happiness with someone, so I just had to call you!”