Hearts On Fire Episode 28
The following day, Marianna and Jacopo remained at Villa Davide after finding alternative accommodation for all the guests.
The fire had been declared well and truly out, and the electricity supply had been restored.
Rain continued to fall with a soothing patter.
Marianna sat at her computer, working through the list of guests, contacting them individually to explain that, for the foreseeable future, Villa Davide was closed.
Jacopo entered with a soft drink.
“When do you think we can reopen?” she asked. “I contacted all guests due to arrive within the next two weeks and cancelled them, but what do I say to others due to arrive after that?”
This was something she would not normally ask Jacopo’s opinion of.
Jacopo had previously been confined to acting as chauffeur, working behind the scenes on the farm, and running errands.
“Speak the truth,” he answered. “Explain about the fire and that we are not sure when we will be open again.
“Give them the chance to cancel and offer a refund.”
Marianna shivered at how all these refunds would affect their finances.
“Can we afford it?”
“We can’t afford not to. If we don’t tell them, it will damage our reputation and generate more negative reviews online, just when we are getting lots of positive ones at last.”
“We are? Our business nearly went up in flames.”
Jacopo fiddled with his phone and turned it around.
She read a comment from Margot, the American, which enthused about how organised their hosts had been and how safe she felt during the fire.
I never doubted we would come through unhurt.
Villa Davide is an awesome set-up.
And from Debbie: Jacopo, Marianna’s son, was super competent. We were safe within seconds.
And so it went on.
Jacopo was right – they must be upfront.
“But the finances . . .”
Jacopo shrugged.
“The insurance will cover any cancellations.”
“Eventually, yes, but we will breach our banking terms before then.” She dreaded the call to the bank manager.
“Everything will be fine, Mamma.”
“How?” she asked.
Jacopo started counting the ways on his fingers.
“The outdoor dining table that Papa spent a fortune on, for example.”
Marianna pictured the smashed heap of oak lying below the terrazza.
“The insurance money will afford us a new table.”
The more Jacopo explained things calmly and rationally, the brighter the light grew at the end of the very long tunnel Villa Davide had lived in for several years.
“I have to speak to the bank manager this afternoon,” she said. “What if they –”
“Mamma, we are just claiming what we are due. Do you want me to speak to him?”
Marianna opened her mouth to say no, but hesitated.
A week ago she’d definitely have said no.
A week ago she didn’t trust Jacopo near the financial and organisational side of the business.
This last week she had seen a new side to her son, a surprising talent for languages and excellent business decisions.
Those skills had already existed, but she’d refused to see them until forced to by the desperate situation at Villa Davide.
He had become someone she could turn to for advice, and perhaps he was even the one to drive the business forward.
Now was the time to find out.
“Would you?” she asked.
“Of course, Mamma. If you trust me.”
“Yes. With my whole heart.” Marianna laughed. “When you’ve done that, perhaps you can deal with these other e-mail enquiries that have come in French.”
“Or Océane could.”
Marianna shook her head. That was definitely a step too far.
To be continued…