The moment she stepped outside of the car Graziella was enveloped in sensations of her childhood.
She breathed in the sweet heady perfume of the mimosa tree that her grandfather had planted, mingling with the scent of the rosemary that her grandmother added to every dish of potatoes and chicken, the lavender that was always dried every year and then wrapped in small cotton bags and placed in all the wardrobes and cupboards, then the basil used to make the delicious pesto sauce that was her grandmother's speciality and held all the richness of her Ligurian home.
The daisies that her grandfather never wanted to cut were curled up for the night, their pink tips a rosy glow in the silver moonlight.
Graziella felt quite dizzy. She had spent all her childhood summers here with her grandparents.
A great sadness came over her. She should have come back more often, she had stayed away too long. The news that her beloved grandfather was unwell had made her feel homesick and had reminded her of her roots.
She was a dancer and had travelled the world on cruise ships and tours.
Dancing had been her passion all through her childhood and when she was offered a job with a cruise ship company she had accepted immediately. She had needed to get away, from all the reminders of her lost love Simone. He had been her childhood love, her one true love. Then he had broken her heart by going to work in America. It seemed right that she should leave too to start a new life.
She'd seen the Caribbean, the Baltics, the whole of the Mediterranean from east to west, the Greek islands and once even done a tour of Thailand and China. she had worked with people of all nationalities and had friends from all over the world. The other members of the cast had become her family, but now she needed to see her parents and grandparents.
She had been back sometimes but only for brief visits. Her grandfather loved to hear tales of other countries. As she left to join her cruise ships he always said the same thing.
' You are dancing round the world Graziella, the same way as the creatures in the wood, your footprints will leave kindness and grace wherever you go, but please make sure you come back.'
She looked across the valley which was glowing in the silver light from the moon.
An owl hooted from the woods behind her. How she had loved lying in bed looking out at the dark woods and listening to her grandfather's thrilling tales of the animals, elves and gnomes that lived in the wood.
'Now that you're in bed Graziella, they'll all be out dancing. Oh how they'll dance. Tomorrow we can go and look for their footprints. They are magic footprints, full of grace and kindness and if you tread carefully you will feel that magic.'
Maybe it was those stories that had made her want to be a dancer.
There was a scuffling noise behind her and something nudged her knee causing her to stumble. Then a large dog was jumping up at her and nuzzling her hand.
'Oh it's you Roco, you haven't forgotten me.' She bent down to stroke him and pat his back. She turned round as she heard footsteps. It was her father. She moved towards him, put her arms round his neck, and gave vent to the tears that had been threatening to fall all day.
'Thank you for coming so quickly Graziella. Nonno cheered up immediately he knew you were on your way. He looks better already. Come on in, your grandmother has been cooking all day for you.' He handed Graziella a tissue and she dried her eyes.
'Just tell me papa, is it serious? What happened? It was so lucky that my cruise ship docked at Genoa today, it's as though I was meant to come.'
They walked to together towards the old farmhouse.
'He had a heart attack last week and was taken to hospital in Savona. The doctors said it wasn't serious and did something, your mother understands it better than me, and now he's at home. Your mother went home, she was exhausted but is so looking forward to seeing you.
The doctor said he just needs to take it easy and watch what he eats. We all had a fright though, he's never had anything wrong with him, not even a cold.
He's with the doctor now.'
Her father hesitated, as though he was about to say something else, but carried on.'
That's why I came outside with Roco. It was like market day in there. Your grandmother was fighting with the doctor about the dier.'
The door opened and a golden pool of light beamed into the courtyard. Graziella ran towards it as her grandmother came out and held her arms open wide.
'My little Graziella, how wonderful you are here. Oh but you are so thin, you must come and share the food I have prepared for the doctor.'
Graziella gently pushed open the door to her grandparents bedroom. The sight of the enormous wooden double bed with the painting of the Ligurian village behind it brought a lump to her throat and the tears welled up again. That picture was of the village where her grandmother was born, Varigotti. Her grandmother said it was called the most beautiful place in the world, there was no need to go anywhere else. How many times had she crept into that bed in the middle of the night and snuggled down between her grandparents, and listened to her grandfather's stories.
She rushed across to her grandfather and laid her head on his shoulder, burrowing her face in the warm softness of his pyjamas and stroking his beard. She'd always loved his beard, it was surprisingly soft and smelled of his favourite aftershave. Her grandfather put his arms round her.
'My dear little Graziella, you are the best medicine that I could have. There, there is nothing to cry about I will be fine, the doctor has assured me of this.'
There was more of a hint of defiance and challenge in her grandfather's voice and Graziella turned her head to see who it was directed at.
The doctor was standing near the door and Graziella fell back on the bed.
'It's you Simone, I didn't know you still lived round here.'
Her heart beat fast and she felt her face turn red. The sight of Simone after all these years still turned her to jelly. He had always had that effect on her. It was something about his earthy vitality, the way he held his head, the way his hair curled over his collar no matter how often he had it cut. She glanced at his hands. How she loved those hands, strong yet slender, she remembered the last time she had felt them on her skin. She wanted to touch his cheek and to pull him towards her. There was silence in the room. Simone moved towards her.
'I came back Graziella. I work here now in the village and your grandfather is one of my favourite patients.'
He winked at the old man. Graziella turned round and saw her grandparents were both beaming and looking expectantly from one to the other.
Graziella stood up and went towards Simone. In his eyes she could see desire, but she could also see something else, a longing, a fondness and it was like coming home all over again. She fell into his arms and amidst her tears she heard him whisper.
'There was never anyone but you Graziella, only you, I've missed you so much.'
She said the only thing he needed to hear.
'I love you Simone, I'm home again.'
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