She slept very poorly that night in spite of a photo that arrived on her phone mid-evening. This was a close-up of Boris with the most loving expression on his face and a one-line caption underneath just reading, Missing you. Unfortunately, all this achieved was to make her start crying all over again.
Next morning she went off to work in a state close to blank depression, her mind still churning. The more she thought about it, the clearer it became. Much as she loved him, her conscience just wouldn’t let her tie herself to a multi-millionaire. As the day progressed, the heart-wrenching lack of any solution to her dilemma took root and by the time she had finished her last operation of the day, she was close to tears once more.
As she changed out of her scrubs and splashed cold water in her face, she heard Virginia’s voice. She sounded a bit strange, but there was so much going on inside Lucy’s head, she didn’t really pick up on it.
‘Lucy, if you’ve finished, could you spare a few minutes to speak to my father? He says it’s important.’
Lucy nodded distractedly. ‘Of course. I’ll go straight up to him now.’
Together they climbed the stairs back up to the ground floor and walked through the corridors to the director’s office. Virginia tapped on the door and turned the handle. That was when it all started to get really weird.
As the door opened, Lucy saw not only Professor Gualtieri standing there but, beside him, none other than David, a nervous smile on his face. More unexpected than that, however, was to see her former boss, Dr Brown of Médecins Sans Frontières standing alongside them.
Professor Gualtieri beckoned them in and waved in the direction of Dr Brown.
‘Ah, Doctor Young, thank you for coming. You know my old friend Hannah Brown, don’t you? She’s come over here for a very special reason, not just to see me.’
‘Hello, Lucy. I’m very pleased to see you again.’ Dr Brown was smiling at her. ‘And you’re looking so well.’
Shell-shocked would have been a more appropriate description from Lucy’s point of view. As she shook the august doctor’s hand, she managed to blurt out a greeting, but that was about all. Professor Gualtieri continued as if unaware that his surgeon looked as though she had just stepped on a black mamba.
‘Do sit down, please, Doctor Young. I gather you’ve just come out of a long afternoon in theatre. You must be tired.’
Lucy found herself sitting on a leather sofa alongside David, while the professor and Dr Brown settled down in armchairs opposite them. Virginia took up station by the window, a little smile on her face. The professor waved in David’s direction.
‘We’ll let Mr Lorenzo do the talking. It was his idea, after all.’
‘His idea?’ As a contribution to the conversation it wasn’t exactly inspired, but Lucy was glad to get at least a couple of words out. She listened intently as David started, hesitantly, to explain.
‘Lucy, I had this idea… Well, to be honest, it sort of came from you.’
Lucy had no idea what might be coming next. She just nodded mutely and waited.
‘Over the years of my tennis career, I’ve made a lot of money. Now that the divorce settlement has been finalised, I know I’ve still got a whole heap more than I’ll ever need, and the money still coming in from sponsorship deals, merchandising and investments will be more than enough to keep me for life. Like I told you, with your help I want to become a better person. I still want to do my doctorate in history, but I also want to do something with my money. Remember we talked about a charity of some kind, something that’ll make a real difference to those who need it a hell of a lot more than I do?’
Lucy found herself reaching out to take hold of his hand. Words once more failed her, so she just nodded and gave his fingers a little squeeze.
‘The idea came to me when I was listening to you and your friends in Avignon, talking about the work of Médecins Sans Frontières. As an organisation they do amazing work and it occurred to me that I could, and should, contribute towards making sure that continues.’
Lucy looked up in surprise. When he had spoken before, it had been about maybe doing something to help underprivileged kids or injured sportspeople. Now he was talking about MSF? She was still having trouble articulating anything so she simply listened as he went on.
‘I also thought about your story of the Syrian lady back here in Siena who needed an urgent operation and that’s when the idea began to crystallise. These people don’t just need help back in their countries of origin, they still need it badly even after they make it across the Mediterranean. That’s why I called Professor Gualtieri to run my idea by him and he told me he knew Doctor Brown.’
Professor Gualtieri took up the tale. ‘I called Hannah and the three of us had a long talk, as a result of which she very kindly took the time and trouble to fly over here today to see us and to discuss things in more detail.’
Dr Brown looked across at Lucy, the smile still on her face. ‘I’m sorry it’s all coming as a big surprise to you, Lucy, but I hope it’s a good surprise. David told me he wanted to help MSF and he outlined his innovative plan to set something up here in Siena. He told me he now recognises what you and I have always known – that we live in an unfair world. In helping us, he wants to do something to try to redress the balance, and he’s been extremely generous.’
As Lucy just sat there in a state of shock, Dr Brown went on to outline what had been agreed. David was gifting an astronomical sum of millions of dollars to help Médecins Sans Frontières – aided by Professor Gualtieri – to set up a medical treatment centre for the needy here in Siena and, beside this, he was also going to use his considerable network of friends, fellow athletes and business contacts to try to obtain further sponsorship for what he saw as a wonderful charitable cause. In this way, more of these centres could be set up where needed to help the flood of humanity on the move in these turbulent times.
Dr Brown then added the icing on the cake – as far as Lucy was concerned.
‘And we can’t think of anybody better suited or better qualified to head up this new centre than you, Lucy. You have the background, the experience and the expertise to ensure that we make a success of it. Michelangelo, Professor Gualtieri, has offered to throw his weight behind the project, particularly in ensuring that we obtain all the necessary permits and support from the authorities – which won’t be an easy task. But, as you know, he’s a person of real consequence here in Italy and with his help, we see no reason why this project shouldn’t succeed and prosper.’
As this all began to sink in, Lucy gradually began to feel a wave of warmth and happiness spreading throughout her whole body and when Dr Brown reached the end of her explanation, Lucy could feel tears running down her face. Quite unable to help herself, she got to her feet and went across to kiss the professor warmly on the cheeks, no doubt surprising him, but from the expression on his face, not displeasing him. She went across to hug Dr Brown who kissed her in return and then went back to David and did the same. She still couldn’t manage to put her thoughts into words and sat there, smiling and crying for several minutes before the power of speech returned, even if what she managed to say wasn’t exactly inspiring.
‘Thank you so much for coming all the way over here to Siena, Doctor Brown.’
‘My pleasure entirely, Lucy. David was particularly keen for you to hear and approve of the donation and his plans to help set up this new MSF centre and I was very keen to meet and thank him for his generosity.’ She caught Lucy’s eye for a second or two. ‘You do approve, don’t you?’ All Lucy could do was nod mutely. ‘Excellent. I was delighted to make the trip – not least as it gave me the chance to renew my acquaintance with Michelangelo and his charming daughter. I was also very pleased to have the chance of seeing you again, Lucy, to say thank you once more for all your efforts in Mabenta.’
It was well past six o’clock by the time Lucy emerged – still in a daze – from the director’s office with David at her side. They wandered out into the garden as the sun was beginning to drop behind the hills, gradually turning the sky an enchanting rose pink. He took her hand and led her across to an old bench where they sat down side-by-side, surrounded by sweet-scented bushes. He kept hold of her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. He didn’t say anything. He didn’t need to. They sat there like that, in silence, for quite some time before she finally managed to put her thoughts into words.
‘David, are you doing this for my sake?’ She had to clear her throat before managing to speak properly. ‘It’s not fair of me to ask you to make such a massive sacrifice.’
‘I’m not doing it for your sake, Lucy.’ His voice was gentle, but heavy with emotion. ‘I’m not even doing it solely for the sake of the poor people who need medical help. I’m doing it for my sake, for me. I need this. Like I told you, I don’t want my life to have been just about playing tennis and winning a few tournaments. I want to be able to sit back in years to come and know that I tried to help other, less fortunate, people.’ He turned towards her and she caught the reflection of the setting sun in his eyes, turning them the rich purple colour of lavender. ‘Life’s been unbelievably good to me – in spite of the past few years – and you’re so right when you say it isn’t fair that anybody should have so much. With your help, I now know that the best thing I can do is to give something back. I want to be a better man. You make me a better man.’
‘You’re a wonderful man, David.’ Lucy could feel the tears streaming down her cheeks again, but she knew these were tears of joy. ‘And I love you so very, very much.’ And she kissed him.
As they finally separated, he looked down at her with a little smile.
‘Feel like taking Boris for his evening walk?’
Lucy drove home on autopilot, as if in a dream, jumped into the shower and then changed into a T-shirt and shorts. As she came back downstairs again, she could already hear a familiar whining scratching sound and she went over to open the door. David, now also wearing shorts and trainers, was standing there with his faithful hound at his feet.
‘Ready to go?’
She dropped to her knees and hugged the big black dog, feeling him bury his face happily into her armpit, his tail wagging so hard with joy his whole body was wagging with it.
She knew how he felt.
Together, they made their way up through the olive trees, the last rays of the sun just peeking over the top of the hill casting long shadows. She and David walked hand-in-hand, happy to exchange little more than a word or two as they passed the spot that, to them, would forever be the place where they had seen the porcupine. At the top of the olive grove, they followed Boris onto the narrow path that wound its way through the rough scrub of the steeper part of the hillside. The temperature was still high, in spite of being the middle of September, and the sky was crystal clear. She knew from Armando that the vendemmia would start any day now and she hoped the weather would stay fine and dry until the precious grapes had been collected and ferried off to be made into next year’s wine.
At the top of the rise, they walked across to the fallen tree where she had first discovered the identity of her reclusive neighbour and she found herself reflecting upon how much progress he had made since then. He had come out of his shell, had rediscovered what it felt like to smile once more, and had morphed from a bitter, grumpy victim into a confident, happy man.
And her?
She couldn’t remember another moment in her life when she had been as happy as she was now. She had everything she had ever wanted, and the future, which only a couple of hours ago had looked so bleak, was once more bright and inviting. She sat on the familiar tree trunk and pulled David gently down with her until he was sitting at her side. A warm hairy body pushed in between them and she smiled as she saw Boris panting like a steam train, his head resting happily on his master’s knees. She reached down with her free hand and ruffled his ears. The look he cast up at her melted her heart.
‘Love you, love your dog.’ She returned her attention to David who removed his hand from hers and stretched his arm around her shoulder, cradling her against his chest.
‘Are you sure you mean that?’ She felt him kiss the top of her head. ‘I come with a lot of baggage, you know.’
‘And I don’t?’ She twisted her face up towards him. ‘I’ve struggled all my working life trying to square the circle, to come to terms with the fact that I’ve been lucky enough to have been born in a country where people – generally speaking – don’t go round in fear for their lives. I was able to get a good education and enough to eat every day and yet I know that millions upon millions of people elsewhere in the world never had that and never will. I know now that it’s been eating me up inside. Suddenly I feel a tremendous weight lifted off my shoulders and it’s thanks to you.’ She stretched up and kissed him softly on the lips. ‘You won’t believe how much you’ve helped me.’
‘I’ve helped you? It’s the other way round; I owe you so much.’
She nestled against him and gripped his arm with both her hands. She felt happy, she felt safe, and she felt a growing sense of pleasurable anticipation at the new life that now opened out in front of her. She looked out across the valley to the farms on the far side, the regular rows of vines among the olive groves and open fields making the scene look like a patchwork quilt. Although it was getting dark, she could see the funny little miniature tractors used in the vineyards creeping across the hillsides as the farmers prepared for the harvest to come. She hoped the wine would be good and now she knew without a doubt that she would still be here in Tuscany to sample and enjoy it. She squeezed David’s arm and looked back up at him again.
‘David, I’m sorry it’s taken me so long, but if the offer’s still open, there’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that I’d love to marry you. I can’t think of anything better than spending the rest of my life with you, if you’ll have me.’
As she spoke, she felt a big hairy paw land on her knee, followed by another as Boris, no doubt affected by the emotion in the air, stood up on his hind legs and stretched his long black nose towards her, trying in vain to reach up and kiss her. She smiled down at him and ruffled his ears as his master leant towards her and did what the dog had failed to do. Just before he kissed her, he murmured softly.
‘You can’t imagine just how happy that makes me.’
But she could, and it felt amazing.