“No I haven’t, but I’m a hard worker and in great shape.” Aja tried not to seem desperate.
The woman looked Aja up and down. She narrowed her eyes for a minute, thinking. “Okay.” She sounded reluctant. “We need some people right away.” She began to go over the list of duties.
That’s when Aja started having second thoughts. It didn’t sound like the mindless, peaceful work of picking grapes that she’d imagined. It sounded like back-breaking, exhausting work. There wasn’t much else to choose from, however, so she stuck her chin in the air and listened.
Nona, as she informed Aja everyone called her, took her on a tour of the vineyard. The perfect rows of vines, the green leaves bursting with life; it was all so foreign. Aja had drunk her share of wine in the past, but had never considered where it came from. It was a sobering thought. She decided she would never take a sip of wine again without appreciating the work involved.
After touring everything and introducing her to some of the workers, Nona turned to Aja, “You have someplace to sleep?”
“Yes, I’m staying at a hotel in town.”
“We have a small villa a short walking distance from here. You interested?”
She had a straightforward way of speaking. Aja knew she was going to like Nona a lot.
“I’ll include the rent in the cost of your wages.”
“I’ll take a look and let you know.”
Nona nodded and said, “Tomorrow morning, then. Six o’clock.”
“AM?” Aja had never gotten up before six, as far as she could remember.
Nona frowned at her and Aja added, “Six. I’ll be here.”
Nona gave her another quick nod and walked away.
Aja took a deep breath and started back toward her car. She couldn’t believe she had a job. The first one she’d applied for, too. But why was Nona so quick to hire her despite her doubts about Aja’s strength? Was it because it was so hard to find people to do this kind of work? With that thought she began dreading the next day.
In the distance Aja could see the workers out in the vineyard. They were working hard, not speaking, a poetic part of the landscape. They blended in so well that it looked like a painting. Her eyes caught one worker. Her breath stopped as she stared at him. He was bare-chested and even from a distance she could see that he was young and strong. Aja felt a stirring as she watched him trim the vines. He was beautiful, a work of art, such as she’d never seen before. Aja tore her eyes away and continued on.
She hadn’t been sitting at her usual table five seconds when Antonio called out, “Bella, you’re here.” He beamed at her as he moved across the room and out the door, sweeping up to her table like Romeo. He stood back and admired Aja, humming in his throat with appreciation. He always made such a fuss over her, causing her much embarrassment. Aja hated and loved it at the same time. He quite enjoyed the whole thing because he did it every day.
“Hi Antonio.”
“No, no, call me Toni, bella.”
She laughed. “Okay, Toni. Call me Aja.”
“Aja? What kinda name is Aja? Thatsa name a place, not a name for donna bella.”
He moved back through the bar greeting the customers, waving his hands around like he was the conductor of an orchestra. In fact, that wasn’t far off. He kept up the flow of chatter and good will in his bar daily.
Aja sat enjoying her cappuccino while she tried not to think about her new job. There was coffee, something she’d always enjoyed, and then there was coffee outside a small bar in an Italian city. Now that was coffee. Aja watched the villagers move about their business, all talking animatedly, waving their arms and raising their voices for emphasis. The people here lived life with such intensity. It was different from life in Canada. In Vancouver, people were so...tame. Almost colorless. Italy was a riot of color. Not just the landscape, but also the people. Their characters were bold and vivid. Aja could feel herself fading into the background as she watched them.
She put some euros on the table, turned and smacked into the chest of someone very large. She couldn’t see because she’d hit her nose and was seeing only stars. “Oh God!” she grabbed her nose and bent over.
“
Scusatemi, mi dispiace vi ho fatto male
?”
“Huh?” Aja squinted up at him, still clutching her nose. Realizing he’d spoken in Italian, she said. "
Non parlo italiano
.”
He laughed and said in broken English. “So sorry. You look Italiana. You okay? I hurt you?”
Aja’s vision finally cleared enough to see him, and his appearance matched his amazing voice. She nearly saw stars again. He looked vaguely familiar and then she realized that he was the man from the vineyard. She was going to work with him.
“You okay?” He peered closer, this time with real concern.
Realizing that she was staring, Aja blushed and looked down. “No... Oh, yes, I’m fine,” she stammered, feeling even more foolish. Aja turned and grabbed her purse from the chair and scooted around him.
“You new here? You visit
famiglia
?”
It seemed to be the first question everyone asked.
“No, no family, just visiting. Well, actually I’ve moved here. I’ll be working up at the vineyard just outside of Siena.” Aja waved a hand in the general direction.
His eyes lit up at the news. “
Fantastico!
Me work too. I see you again, then.”
He was even more beautiful when he smiled. Aja’s stomach sank. How was she going to work with this man? She’d vowed to stay away from them altogether and she hadn’t even been here a week. “Yes, I guess I’ll see you,” she mumbled and walked away, heading for her hotel as quickly as possible. She was doomed.
Chapter 13
Four thirty came too quickly, and the old-fashioned alarm clock’s clanging threatened to wake the entire hotel. Aja groaned and batted at it, finally smothering it with a pillow until her fingers found the switch. The silence was deafening. Aja flopped back on her pillow muttering about inhumane people that would make their workers start so early. Something about Nona, though, made Aja reluctant to disappoint her. She needed to make a good impression on her first day.
After rifling through the suitcase for a few minutes, Aja realized she had nothing appropriate for a day in the fields, doing whatever it was they did in… fields. She clutched her head. It was too early to think, let alone come to any sane conclusions. She grabbed her shabbiest pair of jeans, another hopeful purchase in the children’s department. The biggest problem with the jeans was the flat butt. Somehow her ass cheeks ended up riding on her thighs. She looked at every angle in the warped mirror and realized it was a mistake. Now she wouldn’t be able to get that image out of her head all day. She threw on a tank top, pulled her long hair back in a braid and rushed downstairs to the dining room.
By the time Aja had finished eating and getting the hotel staff to make her a lunch, it was nearly time to be at the vineyard. Frantic, she raced her rental car too fast, but figured it just made her more like the locals.
She hurried to the house and knocked on the door. It opened just as she was in the process of adjusting her left butt cheek to fit more comfortably in her jeans.
Aja raised her eyes in time to meet the haughty look of the man who’d spilled her espresso in her lap. He watched her contortions and quirked an eyebrow. Aja glared at him.
“Who are you?” His voice was like whiskey. Smooth, but with a bite at the end.
She straightened up and tried to look dignified. A difficult task, considering she was eye level with the tuft of hair sprouting out of his shirt. “I’m the new worker.”
“You?” He barked out a laugh and looked her over. “You look like a stiff breeze would blow you away.”
Why does he have to be so damn fluent in English?
Aja muttered to herself. He had an accent, but spoke perfect English. Of all the people she had to meet. It dawned on her that he’d opened the door of the main house and he wasn’t acting like a visitor. He was probably the owner of the vineyard and here she was being a smart ass.
Aja stuck her chin in the air and put a smile on her face, hoping it didn’t look as much a grimace as it felt. “Nona hired me yesterday and told me to be here at six. Is there someone who can show me around?”
He looked her over and was silent for a full minute, or at least it felt that way. Aja squirmed under his gaze. His dark blue eyes were gorgeous, but they had a skeptical look that was anything but attractive, especially for the person withering under it. She could feel the heat rising up her neck.
He muttered something about Nona’s “damn interference” and pushed himself off the door frame. “I’ll show you around. Just wait a minute. I’ll be right back.” He disappeared and the door shut in Aja’s face.
Of all the… what a stuck up pig.
Aja stood on the porch, completely dismissed, and felt like leaving. Maybe she didn’t need a job after all. The only thing that kept her feet glued to the stone was a determination to show him she could do the work no matter what he thought of her. She was going to pick grapes, or whatever they had to do, like a pro, and he would humbly beg her pardon by the day’s end.
By the time the door opened again, she’d thought up at least fifty good adjectives for Mr. ‘Arrogant’, but Aja had to rearrange her features in a hurry when she saw Nona standing there. She greeted Aja with a smile and an apology.
“My son doesn’t like me to interfere with the workers now that he’s taken over the winery,” she said in her charming voice.
Aja felt warmth for Nona rush over her. She was her champion.
“So, I’m afraid we won’t be able to take you on after all.”
Aja’s brain rattled the words around for a few seconds then she gasped. “What?”
“He said you’re too small to do the work.” There was regret in her voice.
“Too small? How big do you have to be to pick grapes?”
And why couldn’t he tell me this himself?
Nona laughed. “Not big, strong. You have to be strong to handle the work and being out in the heat all day.”
Aja stiffened her back. “I’m strong.”
Nona shook her head. “You don’t look very strong, though you seem like a nice girl.”
“Nona, just give me the chance. I really need the job and there’s nothing else.” Aja had no idea if there was anything else to be had, but she was determined to get the job. She wasn’t going to let old “stick in the mud” stop her.
Nona studied her for a moment, then turned and for the second time that morning, the door was shut in Aja’s face. She gritted her teeth in exasperation. It was six thirty in the freakin’ morning and she was standing on the front porch of an Italian villa with pretty windows, begging for a job. Wouldn't The Brothers laugh at her now?
The door opened again and this time both Nona and the man Aja now knew was her son, stood in front of her with grave looks. Aja put on a brave face when what she really wanted to do was stick her tongue out at him and tell him to go procreate with himself. They studied her, conversing in rapid Italian, while Aja fought to keep a lid on her temper.
Finally, with a huge sigh of resignation, the ‘I’m better than anyone’, son threw up his hands and said, “Fine. Hire her. But don’t come complaining to me when she doesn’t last the day.” He walked away without looking at Aja.
Nona turned to her again. “I’m sorry… what was your name again?”
“Aja. Aja Rain.”
Her face was inscrutable. “Aja. You can have the job. I’ll take you to Carlos who will show you how to prune the vines. We are cutting back the leaves to give the grapes more sun.”
“Thank you, Nona. I really appreciate it.” It was hard, but Aja resisted the urge to hug her.
Nona shrugged. Aja hoped the gesture meant she felt bad for what they’d put her through. She had a feeling, though, that it was resignation. She was probably thinking Aja wouldn’t last the day like her son said. Damn that man.
Aja spent about three hours with Carlos before she began to notice her arms itching like crazy. She tried to scratch without him noticing, but after a while he turned to her and motioned at her arms. He wanted to see them. Aja sighed and held them out.
When Carlos saw the bright red blotches and welts, he started babbling in Italian.
There was no mistaking the reaction. He dragged Aja back up the hill to the main house and pounded on the door. She was mortified. If Mr. ‘High and Mighty’ answered the door…
“What’s wrong, Carlos?”
Aja moaned and hid her face in her hands. Of course he was still there. Why wasn’t he out in the fields where he should have been, tending the precious grape vines and watching every move his employees made? Why did he have to be there to witness her humiliation?
Of course he looked pleased with himself. Carlos babbled at him and motioned toward Aja’s arms. ‘I Can Do No Wrong’ took her by the arm and waved Carlos away. He pulled her toward the back of the house.