As the sun was setting, Johnny appeared with a telescope under one arm and a big food basket in the other, packed with help from Mr. De Luca.
He held out his elbow for Kate to loop her arm through. “M’lady,” he said with a slight bow.
Nessa, who had been hovering, grinned and waved as they left the villa.
“I can’t believe we’ve finally found time to be alone,” Johnny said. “What with my dad and work and those girls pulling you in different directions, I never thought it would happen. We owe Mr. De Luca. He’s promised to keep my dad busy and his mind off the movie for the night. Did you enjoy your trip to Sora?”
“I did. The town pulls you in with its cheery buildings. They’re these lovely shades of white and yellow and rust, and the Italian gardeners have decorated them with flowerpots filled with red geraniums. When you go, bring your sketchbook. We stood on the bridge and watched the Liri River. The water flows by in sheets, deceptively slow, but when you throw a stick in, you can see how fast it is truly moving. And then we went inside the cathedral. I’d been to Catholic church once with Josie, but their building was nothing like this.”
“I had a rush trip into Sora yesterday to pick up some supplies. You’re right. Next time I’ll have to bring my sketchbook and take my time.”
He led her out to the hilltop overlooking the valley where they could watch the sunset shine on the fields, turning them golden. Kate spread out a gray wool blanket, while Johnny set up the tripod and telescope.
“Movie still ahead of schedule?” She tugged at the corners of the blanket so they were smooth.
“We ran into a snag yesterday. Something to do with the costumes, but they’re working on it. We’re having to swap out our scenes—hence my quick trip to town.” He yawned. “We started early, and even though we finished early, it was still a long day.” He stood with hands on hips, watching her straighten the blanket.
“But you’re smiling, so it must have been a good day.” She sat back on her heels.
“It was a good day, but that’s not why I’m smiling.”
“Oh?”
He held out a hand to help her up. “I’m smiling because I’m out with my girl.”
“Oh.” Kate lost her breath as Johnny pulled her in for a hug. “Smooth move,” she said.
“I picked it up on set. You’ll recognize the move when you see it on film. I understand it was effective, Miss Allen?”
Kate laughed as she pulled away. “Yes. Now let me finish laying out this basket of goodies while I still have some light.”
Mr. De Luca had sent along a cheese plate, a fruit plate, and some crackers. A carafe of lemonade and two glasses completed the picnic snack. Johnny waited for her to arrange everything before sitting beside her and digging in. “They do know how to eat here,” he said between bites. “You know this is just the appetizer—they’re expecting us back at the villa for a late dinner. Now, tell me how things have been going at the villa. Do they have you sweeping out the chimney yet?”
“Stop. You know they sent me out to sightsee with Lidka today.”
“Yes. And you told me all about the town. Did you two get along?”
Kate twisted her lips while she thought. “She was surprisingly open with me.”
“Blunt, you mean?”
“Yes, that’s her way. But the big news is that I think she might be the one to help me.”
“Lidka?” Johnny ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t know about her. She seems a little, I don’t know. Hard. Do you think you can trust her?”
“I don’t have to tell her about the Cinderella connection. She knows of a family member named Malwinka in Poland and is going to ask if the woman can help me find my dad. She doesn’t have to know how. Besides, she’s got street smarts we don’t. Connections that she made during the war.” Kate lowered her voice. “She used to trade in black market goods.”
Johnny’s eyes opened wide in mock fear. He pushed up his glasses. “All the more reason to be cautious. You don’t know the types of people she’s involved with.” He reached for her hand. “I don’t want you getting hurt.” He helped her to her feet. “The stars are coming out. Let’s see what I can find with this telescope.”
Kate wasn’t finished talking. “Nessa doesn’t want me to do anything with Lidka. Today, we had a perfectly fine day, but Nessa was in fits that I would go out without her, and especially with Lidka. You saw her hovering back at the house? She hasn’t left me alone since I got back. She was sure Lidka wanted to get me by myself so she could ask about the diamond we found in the castle wall.”
Johnny turned away from the telescope. “You found another diamond? It’s like they grow on trees in Italy.”
“Didn’t I tell you? A blue diamond was wedged in the fresco at the castle.” She shook her head. “We really haven’t had any time alone, have we?”
He slid his fingers down her arm until he was holding her hand. “Forces have been conspiring against us, but Mr. De Luca, our very own Fairy Godfather, has intervened. Let’s forget about everyone else for now and just look at the stars.” He pulled her to the telescope.
But Kate’s mind was still churning. “Funny thing is, the diamond never came up. Lidka didn’t even hint for me to tell her more.”
“I wouldn’t worry about it. They have some sort of rivalry going on. You don’t need to get pulled into it.”
“You still think I let Nessa tell me what to do, don’t you?”
“A little.” He took off his glasses and squinted into the eyepiece.
“I’m only trying to figure out where I fit in this fairy tale. What I’m supposed to do. How much I’m supposed to push back when she does something I don’t agree with. And I suppose it’s the same for her. But I don’t think she realizes what she’s saying sometimes. She’s not mean about it, but she’s used to getting her way.”
“I thought that was a girl trait. Seems like all the females in my life get what they want.” He pulled her in for a kiss.
She pushed him back. “I’m serious. She even tried to keep the dresses in her room.”
Johnny shrugged. “That’s logical. They are her dresses.” He went back to adjusting the telescope. “I can’t find a star. Let me aim for a bigger target.”
Kate’s frustration continued to build. “But that’s not the way it’s supposed to work. I’m supposed to keep them for her. Otherwise, what’s the point in my being the Keeper?”
He stepped back from the telescope, his expression hard to read in the dark. “Frankly, I don’t know the point either. Those dresses cause more trouble than they’re worth.”
Kate was stunned. “Is that how you really feel?”
“Yes. Yes, that’s how I really feel right now.” He raised his voice. “I brought you up here to get away from everyone. The dresses. Away from your problems. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m trying to have some fun with you.” He lifted his hands in exasperation and then let them fall, hitting his thighs.
Kate bit her lip and stared at her feet. This didn’t feel like fun.
“You can’t let this legacy consume your life or you’ll end up pushing everyone away.”
“I’m not trying to push you away,” she said, looking up. Why couldn’t he understand?
“You might not be trying to, but you are.”
“Look, can we just start over?” There was still time to rescue the date. She forced a smile and pointed to the telescope. “Did you find anything?”
He took in a deep breath, then pushed it out. “Sure.” He cracked his knuckles like he was trying to ease the tension. “Come look at this. See if viewing the craters on the moon doesn’t change your perspective of life on earth.”
She put her eye to the eyepiece. Johnny slipped up behind her and put his hands on her waist.
“Tell me what you see,” he said.
“Incoming!” Nessa called from down the hill.
Kate stood, and Johnny buried his forehead in her shoulder. “She has the worst timing.”
Nessa marched over the rise with Lidka at her heels. “Babcia sent us up here to bring you a light to find your way home, but really, she’s making sure you have chaperones. Dziadek made us wait before letting us go. He said young people need time to fall in love under the Mediterranean stars.”
“I like the way he thinks,” Johnny said, draping his arm around Kate.
“At what are you looking?” Lidka asked before she put her eye to the telescope.
“The moon. It was the easiest to find,” Johnny answered. “The light that rules the night.”
“Lidka doesn’t like rules,” Nessa said. “Or rulers.”
“Do not be petty, Nessa. The peoples are in charge now. Like the stars scattered. Everyone is equal.”
“But they’re not,” Nessa said. “That’s the problem. Everyone is equally oppressed.”
Kate and Johnny exchanged a look.
“You only think so because the rich have been brought down. You have never felt poverty before and you not like it.”
“People like you made sure we did. We were targeted.”
“It made things right. Restored the balance.” When she noticed Kate’s expression, she added, “You are not knowing. You were not there.”
Nessa looked into the telescope. “And you don’t want to know what she was involved with.”
“At least I do something. You ran away. Your whole family ran away.”
“Yes, and you ran to us and we took you in. You endangered us all with your activities. We still had children to protect.”
“Anyone hungry?” Johnny interrupted. He started to pack up the telescope, and Kate folded the blanket.
“Starving,” Nessa said, glaring in the lamplight at Lidka. “Just like the people in Poland.”