“When we agreed to buy this place, you said, two years. I’ll stay and help you out for two years. Well, my tranny friend, those two years are up.”
Samantha Michelle Davies
Two women were sorting through a pile of clothes. They’d been bought as a job lot from a local firm of ‘House Clearers’.
“I’ll go and get the lunch today.” Said the very petite raven haired one to the taller brunette.
“You carry on sorting out this little lot,” she added.
“Gee thanks Saffy. We all know how you hate this job,” replied the brunette.
I’m the brunette. I’m Fran and the other woman is Saffron or Saffy for short. We both work in a shop selling Antique and Classic Clothes.
When Saffy had disappeared, I returned to sorting the rather large pile of clothes. Most of it was dross and destined for the ‘Less than £10’ rail or donated to the Salvation Army. There were a few choice pieces though. They’d spotted them at the viewing. The items of interest were two Vivienne Westwood originals from her 1978 Spring Collection. Those alone would more than cover the £200 plus Auctioneers Premium & VAT they’d paid for the job lot a few days earlier.
I’d just finished cataloging the last of the more saleable items when Saffy returned with our lunch.
“What delights did Sal come up with today?” I asked.
“Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Salad,” came the reply.
“That sounds a bit better than yesterday’s pasta. He put far too much garlic in the pesto. Did you tell him?”
Saffron grinned back. She could eat a whole clove of garlic without blinking. That was probably due to her Indian heritage.
“Yes I did. I wasn’t the only one.” She replied sadly.
“So?”
“He’s promised not to do it again.”
Sal ran the Deli down the street. His wife was a good customer of ours. Most of the shopkeepers in the street knew each other. His Deli was a regular meeting point. The general concensus was that makes the best espresso in Bath.
Saffy flopped the ‘Open’ sign to ‘Closed’ and locked the shop door. Then we sat down to eat lunch.
I’d hardly started to chew my first mouthful when Saffy said,
“On my way back from Marco’s I stopped and had a look in the window of that new Employment Agency at the top of the street.”
I almost choked on my salad.
“What?” I spluttered.
“Are you thinking of quitting?”
Saffy smiled at me with those big brown eyes of hers.
“No Silly. It’s for you.”
“Me? Why?”
Saffy sat back in her chair and finished her mouthful.
“Do you remember what you said when you first agreed to set me up in this place?”
I sighed.
“I’m sure you are about to remind me.”
She smiled back.
“When we agreed to buy this place, you said, two years. I’ll stay and help you out for two years. Well, my tranny friend, those two years are up.”
“And you are trying to get rid of me already? If I remember correctly the two years aren’t up for a couple of months?”
“Well… I just thought it wouldn’t help to start looking now.”
I sat back as far as my corset would let me.
“But Saffy, I kind of like it here. We get on well and the shop is making a profit now. So why the sudden rush to get me out the door?”
Saffy sat silently chewing her food for almost a minute.
“It’s you, you and your perennial dithering about going full time. It frustrates the hell out of me. As you said, this place is making money and I feel settled here. Yes, it is all thanks to you and your generosity but I am worried about you. You come here every morning and then proceed to spend more than half an hour transforming Francis into Fran. Fran is the real you. You know that. I know that. Yet you still refuse to take the plunge and be yourself.”
Saffy glared at me.
“Fran I want you to be Fran full time or… Or I’ll end up doing or saying something I’ll regret and l don’t want that to happen.”
I felt as if I’d been kicked in the balls. Yet, I knew what she was saying was true.
I reached over and took her hand in mine. I smiled at her.
“So what fantastic new job have you found for me?”
Saffy grinned back at me. The moment of tension between us was in the past and forgotten. That was the beautiful thing about our friendship.
Saffy, or officially, Saffron first came into my life when I was eight years old. Her family moved in next door to mine. We were almost the same age so we began playing together. This might seem strange but Saffy was not like other girls of her age. She was interested in all sorts of things that well, girls by all rights shouldn’t be. Fishing, playing in the woods and all sorts of ‘boy’ activities were right up her street.
Then at times, she’d be a normal girl. Naturally, she roped me into doing ‘girly’ things with her. She soon realised that I loved dressing up and doing girly things a lot more than being a boy.
We became very good friends and as a result, I lost count of the times I stepped in and saved Saffy from bullying. This often meant that I took a beating myself but by the time we were fourteen or fifteen people realised that our relationship was that of a very deep friendship and not of lovers.
What we portrayed in public was not the reality. We lost our virginity together on my sixteenth birthday.
We went to the same University. I studied languages. Saffy did Business Studies but all that did was make her realise that big business was not for her. Whilst I got a decent job in Brussels after graduation she drifted from job to job. We lost contact with each other for more than four years.
Then one day I was heading down the escalator into the Tube at Bond St having just arrived from Paris when fate intervened and there was Saffy going up the same escalator.
I will never forget that Wednesday. Not only were we reunited, but I had just become rich beyond my wildest dreams.
For Saffy, it was just in time. She’d just broken up with her husband of less than six months when she found him in bed with his best man. Hubby Anil decided that he wanted to wed his lover. She was in a dark place. No home, no family and as of an hour before I met her, no job.
It was fate all right.
To cut a long story short some nine months later Saffy became the proud owner of an Antique and Second-hand dress shop in our home-town, Bath. I became the honorary shop assistant. Some 90% of our stock was made up of female clothes so naturally I took the opportunity to indulge myself if dressing
the part. Naturally, Saffy did the same.
It was all funded by the money I’d made selling a picture I’d found in a trunk full on 1930’s clothes that I’d bought for £300 from a dealer in Liverpool. Buried in amongst the clothes was a picture. It was a portrait of a woman sitting naked on a chaise long. I liked it so I just hung it on my wall.
Almost a year later I was dusting it when it fell off the wall and the frame broke. As I pondered how I’d get it all back together, I noticed a signature on the picture. It had been hidden by the frame. The signature said ‘Amedeo Modigliani’.
When I’d recovered my composure, I took it to an art dealer in town. He took one look at it and shook his head before sending me to an Auctioneer’s in London. The upshot was that three months later, my life changed as the picture was sold at Auction for a mere £39.7 Million.
After a few months of somewhat extrovert dressing, we became part of the tourist scene in Bath. A side effect of this was the increased trade we received.
Naturally, Saffy had a lot of influence over how I looked. She soon persuaded me to grow my hair and to start wearing a corset. This one thing gave me a much more girly figure. This was well suited to the long floaty, Victorian dresses I often wore. Saffy, on the other-hand being very flat chested and adamant that she would only get her breasts done when I got mine, dressed in 1920’s style drop-waist style dresses.
These were more suited to her physical shape.
Saffy had tried countless times to get me to transition to Fran on a full time basis but I refused every attempt she made. It became something of a standing joke between us but, deep down I knew she was right. I was just scared to take the plunge.
Now, and before I had realised it, the two years I promised her I’d stay with her were almost up and I had a decision to make.
My deep thoughts were rudely interrupted by Saffy.
“Ground control to Miss Fran. Come in please?”
I almost jumped out of my skin.
“Sorry. I was miles away.”
“On a different planet more like,” joked Saffy.
“Ok. Ok.” I protested.
“Well?”
“Well what?” I replied.
Saffy gave a big sigh.
“Don’t you want to know about the job?”
“Not really. Who would advertise a job for a part time tranny? No one that’s who.”
Saffy laughed and put her phone down on the table.
“See for yourself”
Slowly I reached over and picked up the phone. A picture showing on the display.
Wanted.
Governess & part time Assistant/Secretary.
Must be willing to travel. The summer months will be spent in Italy.
Must be fluent in English, Italian and passable Russian. Good communication skills a must.
Salary. Dependent upon experience
This is a live in position and considerable travel will be involved.
“Do you really expect me to apply for this?” I said slightly exasperated.
“Yes. Yes I do. Why not? You are ideally suited for the role. You are fluent in Italian, French, German and passable in Russian. You are good with people especially children.”
"But … but the advert specifically mentions a Governess. Ergo the client wants a woman.”
Saffy smiled.
“And what do I see sitting before me but a pretty woman?”
“Bollocks and you know it,” I replied.
“Yes you have the balls to pull it off.”
I nearly laughed, but I got the point.
We didn’t discuss the advert or anything much more for the rest of the day. We really didn’t have much of an opportunity because we were far too busy. We’d had a sudden influx of American tourists all eager to buy some ‘Genuine Antique Clothing’. We kept a selection of larger sized slightly odd-ball clothes just for this very purpose. It was nearly 6pm when the last of them had left all seemingly happy with their choices.
“I’m just about done in,” said Saffy as she flipped the sign to closed and locked the door.
“Fancy a drink?” she added.
“Yeah. Why not?” I replied heading into the back room to get changed.
“Where are you going?”
I turned round.
“To get changed”
“No. We are going now,” Saffy said in a turn of voice that said everything.
Slowly I said, “You don’t give up do you?”
She smiled back at me.
“I think I’ll pass on the drink. I’m just about all in.”
This sudden change of tack clearly disappointed her.
“Why?..”
Then she gave up after seeing the look on my face.
“Ok, see you tomorrow,” Saffy said with a marked sigh in her voice.
Less than ten seconds later she’d gone leaving me alone to get changed and to lockup the shop before going home.
That was sooner said than done. No matter how I tried I couldn’t undo the lacing on my corset.
“Saffy! If I could get my hands on you,” I said very loudly.
In the end I gave up. I could have cut the laces but that was going to be a last resort.
I then did something I’d never done before in the two years the shop had been open. I went home ‘en-femme’. Until then being Fran rather than Francis was reserved for the shop and around the city. I’d kept the two parts of my life strictly separate. I just liked it that way.
I got myself dressed again and a few minutes later I was heading home.
Home for me was a small one-bedroom flat in the north of the city. I knew that I could afford something a whole lot better, but I’ve always been very careful with money. Perhaps it was down to my father going bankrupt not once but twice before I was even in my teens. Money was always tight at home. Mum earned enough to feed us all and not much else. At Uni, I found the cheapest and undoubtedly the grottiest dampest and most flea infected flat possible for the two of us to share.
My excuse was that it left more money for doing what students did best, getting legless at every opportunity possible.
Even that came to an end when one night, Saffy threw up in her handbag. For the rest of our time at University we were virtually tea-total Money was really short. Saffy was rightly pissed as the purse in question was a genuine Louis Vuitton bag.
When we decided to open the shop, I decided to live within walking distance. Needless to say property in the centre of Bath is expensive. My home cost me the best part of a quarter of a million quid even for a cash sale. Still, its location means that I don’t need a car to get to work.
It didn’t take me long to reach the building where I lived. This was the first time I’d been home dressed as Fran. I could only hope that Mrs Robinson didn’t come out of her ground floor flat to say hello. If you want to know what she is like then just think of that other Mrs Robinson in the film, ‘The Graduate’. She considers me her Dustin Hoffman.
Hmmm. Actually it would be nice for her to come out and see Fran. That would certainly give her something to think about.
I opened the huge front door and walked upstairs. My heels were making resonating sounds on the wooden stair treads. Sadly, the door to Mrs Robinsons flat remained shut.
As soon as I was safely in my second floor flat I breathed a sigh of relief. Well as much as my corset would allow. Still I felt safe at last.
I spent the evening sitting and trying to think. The events of the day had really caught me by surprise. I hadn’t given any thought to finding another job or anything really. When Saffy had come told me about the job and reminded me about our agreement really hit me hard.
My problem was twofold. The first was the question I’d been avoiding for quite a long time. Do I become Fran on a permanent basis or do I continue being Fran from 9to5?
The second was the job. If I even would somehow consider applying for it then the first question would be moot. I’d have to go fulltime. I’d also have to get some breast implants and probably have to take hormones for the rest of my life if I went the whole way. That was my biggest fear. Once I’d taken that step then there was really no going back. It was this fear that had stopped me in the past.
So far all the things I done to make being Fran easier such as facial and body hair removal were unnoticeable when I was Francis. Boobs were another thing entirely.
Frankly, I was scared shitless about taking this next step.
For years I’d dreamed of being Fran 24/7. Now I had the chance, I wasn’t sure if I would go through with it.
I sat looking out of my window at the setting sun trying to make some sense of my life. I was not being very successful.
It was totally dark before I roused myself from the chair overlooking ‘Royal Circus’. The city was quieting down for the night.
I took off my dress, removed my makeup and went to bed.
My mind was still a mess when I lay down on my bed. My corset was letting me know that it was still tightly wrapped around my torso. I’d never tried sleeping in one before. To be frank, I was not looking forward to it.
By the time the first rays of dawn appeared in the eastern sky, I knew my fears were well founded. The damn thing had dug into my hips all night. No matter how I turned or lay in bed, I still felt like a trussed up chicken.
I must have dozed off a little after that because the next thing I knew was my alarm going off at 05:30. I always cursed the short nights of late spring and summer. I much preferred it to be dark outside then I didn’t feel so bad lazing in bed.
After getting washed, dressed and made up I just had time for a little breakfast before I left home for work just after eight o’clock. At least there was no danger of meeting Mrs Robinson in the hallway as she never got out of bed until well after 09:00. I did meet Mr Cohen from Flat 2.
“Good morning Mr Cohen. It is going to be a another nice spring day.”
He stood halfway out of his front door.
His mouth was wide open, “Francis?”
I smiled back.
“It’s Fran from now on, Mr Cohen”
He blushed. He looked down at his feet and backed inside his flat once again.
I swept past him on the landing as his door started to close.
“Have a good day Mr Cohen.”
Then I was out in the street walking to work with a smile on my face, the sun was shining, the birds were singing and I was happy.
I opened up the shop and set to work on my nails. The part time Fran of the past two years hardly ever wore nail polish. If I were going to be properly full time then a nice bit of colour on my nails would go a long way to stopping me chickening out on a whim.
I rummaged around in my stash of makeup for a suitable colour. Right at the bottom I found an old bottle of a deep red polish. I cautiously opened it hoping that it hadn’t dried out. I was in luck. There was enough to do for today.
Twenty minutes later the second coat of polish was almost dry. I carefully put on my coat and left the shop.
I walked to the end of the street and peered in the window of the agency that had the job advert. I wanted to see for myself.
I stood for a long minute staring at the advert. While I was there, one of the employees of the agency arrived for work.
She smiled at me as she opened the office door and went inside.
I stood outside for a few seconds longer and was just about to walk back to the shop when the women who’d gone inside stuck her head around the door and said,
“Can I help you with something? Do you want to come inside?”
This startled me a bit.
“Yes…. Yes you can help me.”
She held the door open for me and waited for me to enter.
“Please take a seat. It’s not often we get personal visitors these days. With the internet and all that most of our business is done by email and over the phone.”
I sat down not really sure about what I was going to say.
She went behind her desk and sat down.
“Now, how can I help you?”
“The advert for the ‘Governess’,”
She smiled back at me.
“Ah. That one. I really should have taken it down last week.”
I felt really deflated. I must have shown it too.
The woman smiled back at me.
“No, it is not because the position has been filled. We haven’t been able to find anyone suitable. My boss has told the client and suggested that they use another agency. It is a real shame as we found the previous incumbent very easily.”
“Forgive me. I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Mary Armstrong. And you are?”
“Fran. Short for … well Francis”
“Well Fran, you’ve seen the advert. How good a match are you?”
“You are certainly direct,” I replied.
She smiled back.
“I’ve been doing this job for nigh on twenty years. I prefer the more direct approach. There are so many time wasters these days.”
I felt affronted.
“You don’t think I’m a time waster?”
“No. You are here in person.”
She paused for a second or two.
“So? How good a fit are you?”
“I have a degree in languages. I speak Italian, German and French fluently with a passable Russia and a smattering of Chinese. I can type at twenty-five words a minute. Shorthand is black magic as far as I’m concerned. As for children, well I was one once.”
My last comment elicited a half smile from Mary.
“What is your present position?”
I swallowed hard before answering.
“I’m the assistant manager of a shop. It is called ‘The Brass Rail”. You might know it as it sells Vintage and Classic Clothes.”
Mary beamed a huge smile back at me.
“Ah. Yes I do know it. That explains your… Shall we say somewhat less than conventional appearance.”
That was true. I was still wearing the Victorian Summer Frock from yesterday.
“Yes it probably does explain it.”
Mary sat and looked me straight in the eye.
“Forgive me for asking this but is Francis your real name?”
“Yes. Yes it is. I prefer to be called Fran, but why do you ask?”
I knew why. She’d read me.
Mary shook her head.
“I’m sorry, but you resemble a young man I’ve seen going into that shop in the mornings.”
My heart stopped. There was nothing for it but to own up.
“Yes. I know. That’s me. I’m, or rather was the young man you have seen going into the shop.”
I’d been read a few times in the past and resented it. This time it was different. For the first time I didn’t feel so bad about owning up to whom I really was. If I was going to get another job then hiding my background when challenged was not going to help in any way whatsoever.
“Thank you for being honest with me, Fran,” said Mary without even a hint of displeasure. Then she added,
“As long as you are honest with the client if asked.”
“Does this mean I have a chance with the job?”
Mary laughed.
“I will forward your details to the client. Do you have a CV with you? The client may well ask for references. I take it you can get at least one?”
“Thank you. I’ll get a CV to you by the end of the day. I’ll email it if that’s ok?”
“Yes that’s fine.”
Mary handed me a card with the email address on it.
Then she gave me that look again.
“Do you have a passport in your… new life?”
“I’m afraid not. I will be getting one as soon as possible.”
“Good. If I were you I’d not delay sending off the application. The client is known for making swift decisions.”
“Who is the client?”
“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that at this time. If the client wants to see you for an interview I may have some more details I can give you.”
I looked puzzled.
“I’m sorry, Fran, but that is all I know. Head Office knows all the details, but sometimes they keep the details of who the client is until a short list has been drawn up.”
“You said that the advert should have been taken down. Exactly how long was it on show?”
“Let me see?” replied Mary.
She ruffled through some index cards.
“Ah. Here it is. A month. It was on display for a month.”
“So, the ‘short list’ is likely to be very short then?”
She just smiled back at me and gave me a little nod of her head.
I took my leave and walked back down the hill to the shop. My mind was all a mess. Who was this mysterious client and why was it proving so hard to get the position filled or was the salary so small and other conditions so onerous? I couldn’t put my finger on it.
The shop sign was saying ‘Open’ when I arrived.
I entered and called out.
“Saffy? I’m here.”
She came into the front of the shop from the backroom clutching her pint mug of tea in her hand.
She took one look at me and the expression on my face and said,
“My God, Fran, you’ve gone and done it!”
The smile I returned said everything she needed to know.
[To be continued]
I grinned back at Saffy.
“What gave me away then smart arse?”
“Your eyebrows. God knows how many times I’ve tried to get you to really pluck them properly. You
always refused. Well you did until now”
Then I waggled my fingers at her.
Saffy grinned back.
“Stay right where you are.”
“Eh?”
“Just stay there. Ok?”
I didn’t get a chance to reply as she’d plonked her mug of tea on the counter and disappeared into the stock room.
Less than a minute later she returned carrying a large cardboard box.
“Here, this is for you. I’ve been keeping it for the day when you decided to properly join the ranks of the better sex.”
I grinned back as I took the box.
“What is it?”
“Why don’t you open it and find out?”
I sighed.
Saffy handed me a kitchen knife.
I slit the tape holding the lid shut and peered inside.
All I could see was an aluminium case.
I lifted the handle and pulled it out of the case.
There were two catches. I quickly flipped it open. Inside was everything I could ever want in makeup and I mean everything.
I grinned at Saffy and said,
“Thank you Saffy. Just what every girl needs. More makeup”
We both fell into each other’s arms laughing.
When we separated, Saffy said,
“Do you remember when your parents found your stash of makeup just after you’d finished your GCSE’s?”
“Yeah. Dad made me put it all on my face. I looked awful. Then they threw me out. As far as they were concerned as I was sixteen years old, I could bloody well look after myself.”
“Yeah. You arrived ay my place looking like a zebra with a bad attitude.”
I laughed at her description of myself.
“Then you and your Mum took me in and looked after me, no questions asked.”
“We did just that.”
Then she added, “When you came to live with us I made myself a promise. I promised myself that come the day when you joined the ranks of us women I’d give you something to help you on your way. Well, here it is.”
“Thank you Saffy.”
I smiled back.
“Given some of the presents you have given me over the years, this is by far the best thing you have ever given me.”
Then I kissed her.
I mean really kissed her. Kissed her in a way that I’d been longing to do for years. To my eternal surprise, she responded. She responded in a very enticing manner.
When we came up for air, Saffy said breathlessly,
“Your place or mine?”
“Mine,” I mumbled as I kissed her again.
“It’s closer.”
Later afternoon Saffy and I lay in my bed and dozed gently. We were both exhausted from our lovemaking.
Saffy suddenly said, “Don’t get any ideas into your head that this is anything more than a one off.”
“Yeah. Just like the last time then? And the time before that, and that?”
“Exactly.”
“Just checking you know. I like to be perfectly clear on these things.”
“Yeah right.”
A little later Saffy said, “You know that in many respects you are the brother I never had.”
“Apart from the fact that most normal Brothers don’t have sex with their Sisters.”
“Well, except for that.”
Then she added.
“My mother loved you like a son. Like the son she never had. That is why we could never get hitched.”
“Even if they were getting another daughter?” I joked.
“Even then.”
She paused.
“She loved to see you all dressed up. She knew right from the start that you were really a woman in a man’s body.
I smiled as I recalled Aditi, Saffy’s Mother. If ever there was a woman who deserved better from her life it was Aditi. Manjunath, the husband from an arranged marriage was a violent bastard who kept coming back into her life like a bad penny. One day he’d come back looking for money and when Aditi didn’t have any, he calmly knifed her almost to death her before fleeing the country.
If Saffy hadn’t had me to support her in that difficult time, I don’t know what would have happened to her. I suppose that is what ‘sisters’ are for isn’t it?
“We are good together,” I said a little later.
“We are and that’s why we need a break from each other. If we don’t I fear we may fall out and not remain friends. We both have to get on with our life.”
“Except for the occasional sex that is?”
“Yes. Except for that,” she replied.
“Good. Now roll over again.”
[sometime later]
“I went and had a look at the advert.”
Saffy sniggered.
“I wondered if you would be able to resist the temptation. I didn’t think you could.”
“I also talked to the Agent.”
Saffy, who was lying in my arms suddenly stiffened.
“You did what?”
Resisting the urge to laugh at her, I replied, “I was standing outside when Mary arrived for work. She…”
“Who is Mary?”
“Hold on a moment. I’m getting to that ok?”
“Hmmpph”
I carried on my story.
“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted…”
Saffy responded by squeezing my balls.
I ignored her and carried on.
“I went in to see Mary and talk about the position. She didn’t know very much. She told me that her boss was handling all the details.”
“And…”
“I told her about my language skills and stuff. Not much really”
“There has to be more to it than that protested Saffy.”
I paused for a few seconds.
“There is isn’t there?”
Then she gently started massaging my penis.
“Ok. It is just that she read me.”
“Oh bugger. There goes your chance to get the job. How did she know?”
“Really silly. She’s seen me arriving for work as Francis. She put two and two together that’s all.”
“And made four hundred no doubt?”
“Not really. More like four. She seemed pretty cool about it actually but that was more likely that she was not handing the details of the position.”
Saffy sat up with a jerk. In doing so she forgot where her hands were.
“Hey. That hurts.”
“Sorry,” she replied grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Then she continued.
“How would she be cool about it?”
“How the hell do I know? She just seemed unfazed by me applying for a job as a Governess. All part of her job I guess. She must get all sorts through her door.”
“So what happens next?”
“I told her that I’d get my CV to her by the end of the day. I’m also to get a new passport with my new appearance.”
Saffy cocked an eye at the bedside clock.
“In case you hadn’t noticed it is almost four.”
I looked at the clock.
“Oh Shit. I must get my CV sorted out and sent to her.”
I leapt out of bed leaving Saffy giggling at my plight.
I threw on a dressing gown and headed into the lounge and my computer.
I’d just started editing the document when Saffy joined me and started gently brushing my hair.
“You are missing those two years at the Investment Bankers in London,” she said looking over my shoulder.
“Enough already. You can edit it when I’m done.”
Saffy shut up talking but carried on brushing my hair.
Some twenty minutes later I’d done.
“That’s it. You can rip it apart now. Your business skills are much better than mine.”
“Well move over then.”
I stood up and let her sit in front of the screen.
“Why don’t you go and make us some tea. Do you have any Assam?”
I smiled back.
“You know full well that I only drink that sort here.”
“Well off you go then?”
I took the hint and left her alone to rip shreds out of my attempt at putting a CV together.
I was waiting impatiently for the kettle to boil when Saffy called out.
“Do you want me to write your reference from the shop now?”
I’d not given that much thought.
“Yes. Why not? As long as it is good.”
“After your performance this afternoon, why wouldn’t it be?”
I laughed to myself as the kettle came to the boil.
I carried the teapot, two cups and saucers into the lounge on a tray. Saffy was still hard at work on my CV so I put the tray down and waited while the tea brewed.
I’d just poured the tea when she sat up and announced,
“There. It’s done.”
I handed her the tea, sat down next to her and began to read it.
To say it was a work of fiction was not all that far from the truth. All the relevant facts were there but wrapped in a style that said loads but…
It really wasn’t a description of me that I recognised.
“This isn’t me!” I protested.
“Yes it is. Or rather it is now. This is the new you. Life according to Fran and not Francis.
I sat back and read it again. This time I was desperately trying to think differently.
After the second time it began to make sense.
“Ok. I get it. “
Then I added, “Thanks Saffy. It really is a big improvement.”
I kissed her once more.
“That’s enough of that. You need to get this emailed.”
I took over he keyboard and after rummaging in my handbag for the card with the email address of the agency, I quickly composed an email, attached the document and…
I paused for several seconds.
I took a deep breath and hit ‘send’.
“There it’s done. I’ve sent it.”
Saffy put down her cup of tea and kissed me lightly.
“There, that wasn’t so bad was it?”
“No.” I replied sullenly.
“Cheer up. I’ll buy you dinner. I’m starving. Neither of us have eaten much today have we?”
Then she leapt up and literally ran out of the room saying,
“Race you to the shower!”
I just sat back and smiled.
I did wish for a fleeting moment that we weren’t such good friends.
[To be continued]
With a bit of trepidation, I sent off the application for my new passport the following day after a quick trip to my lawyers.
When I’d come into all that money, I invested some of it in the shop and also just under £10M in a number of properties in and around the city. Property in Bath is really expensive. I employed a Solicitor to manage the properties on my behalf through a company I set up called ‘Safnis Properties Ltd’.
My impromptu visit to my Lawyers that day was to formally change my name to Fran from Francis.
When I returned to the shop, Saffy hardly let me in the door before she asked,
“Well? Did you send it? Has it gone?”
“Hold on a moment. Let me get in the door first.”
She grinned back at me.
“I take it that it’s gone then?”
By now I’d taken my coat off. Out of impulse, I threw it at her.
“Ok. Ok. You have sent it off,” cried Saffy from underneath my light raincoat.
“Yes I have. Now can we get down to work?”
“What’s up? I thought you would be happy?”
“Yeah I know.”
I replied grumpily.
“I just think it will all be for nothing that’s all. There is no way in my right mind I should expect to even get an interview let alone a job offer from my first attempt.”
“Oh I see,” retorted Saffy in that way of hers that said, ‘don’t be so bloody pathetic’.
Life at the shop and between us carried on as normal for the rest of the week. I pushed the events over the job to the back of my mind.
As we were locking up on Friday Saffy said,
“Come on girl we are going shopping.”
“Shopping? Why? What for?”
With a huge grin on her face she replied,
“To get you all those little things a girl needs. Besides there is an awful big hole in your Wardrobe that needs filling.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
Another huge grin.
“Well there will be a big hole when we throw out all of your old clothes. You know the ones more suited to Francis rather than Fran.”
I started to cotton on to her plan.
“Well….”
Saffy glared at me.
She had this stock glare that said loud and clear that she was not going to be messed with. Over the years, I’ve found that it is far better all round to go along with her rather than fight her in situations like this. So, I let out a sigh and gave in as I usually did. I felt like a wimp but the self-preservation genes kicked in. If I stood up to her I’d certainly feel those shoes of hers on my shins.
A few minutes later we stepped out of the shop onto the street. The normally quiet street was suddenly full of noise.
I looked up the street towards the source of the noise.
A Motorcycle was coming down the street. I thought to myself that it must be after 6pm as the street was pedestrianized during the day. It stopped right outside the shop.
I took hold of Saffy’s arm and we turned away from the shop.
We’d only taken a couple of steps then Saffy felt a tug on her arm.
“Is one of you Fran Clarkson?”
The voice came from behind a very dark visor. It was the rider of the bike.
Before either of us could answer the rider flipped up the visor. I was surprised to see that underneath all that clobber was a woman.
“I’m Fran,” I said calmly.
“This is for you,” said the rider as she hauled a large padded bag from the satchel that was slung over her shoulder.
I took the bag. My mouth must have been wide open with surprise.
The rider shoved a clipboard in my face.
“Sign here,” she said brusquely.
Still in a something of a daze, I took the offered pen and scrawled something resembling my signature on the paper.
The rider shoved the clipboard back in the satchel, climbed back on her bike and roared off down the street leaving Saffy and myself standing open mouthed in the middle of the street.
A good thirty seconds had gone by before Saffy broke the silence.
“Well, don’t just stand there, open the package,” she almost demanded.
“I… I wasn’t expecting anything,” I mumbled.
“Then it’s your lucky day then.”
I looked at her and said,
“I’ve already had more than enough luck for my lifetime,” I mumbled.
Saffy made a move to take the package.
I reacted by holding it tighter.
“Open it then. The suspense is killing me.”
I gave her the best smile I could manage at the time and then began to open the envelope.
I ripped one end open and peered inside. It contained a number of sheets of paper.
I pulled them out. The top one was a letter of some sort.
“What does it say?” Asked Saffy impatiently.
“Patience grasshopper,” I replied as I tried to read the letter.
As I did so, a smile gradually spread over my face.
“I’ve got an interview.”
I exclaimed as I got to the bottom.
Saffy tore the page from me and read it herself eagerly.
As she did, a smile grew on her face. When she’d finished she hugged me.
“You did it,” she exclaimed.
“No I didn’t,” I replied grumpily.
“I’ve got an interview that’s all.”
“An interview in Italy.”
“Yeah. So?”
Then she saw the look of dissapointment on my face.
"Hey, why the grumpy old fart look?”
“You seem to have forgotten that I am currently without a passport. The date for my Interview is the end of next week.”
“So?”
“No passport means no foreign travel. End of story.”
Saffy looked at me at first with a straight face and then with a grin.
“What is going on in your devious mind?”
“Do you remember my cousin Simbu?”
“Yeah. A slimebag. Tries to grope anything in skirts including you if I recall correctly, you included.”
“That very one.”
“So?”
Then it dawned on me.
“No Saffy. I’m not getting in some van with him.”
“You don’t have to. I’ll drive the Van. He owes me big time. He’ll let me borrow his van for a little trip to Paris. We could do with some nice bits of Haute Couture for the shop?“
“And what happens when the Her Majesties Customs and Excise stop the van and ask to see inside?”
“We both end up in jail,” replied Saffy in a matter of fact manner.
“No Saffy. As much as I appreciate it, the answer is no. I can’t ask you to break the law like doing this for me.”
“But….”
I held my hand up.
“No buts Saffy. I’m not going”
[06:30 Thursday Morning, at a service station on the M20 in Kent]
“Are you all settled down in the back?”
“For the umpteenth time Saffy. Yes I am.”
“Good. Now I’m heading for the Tunnel.”
“Well get on with it then. These blankets are rather smelly.”
I replied from my hiding place in the back of the van.
Saffy put the engine into gear and stalled it again.
I sighed to myself. She would insist in driving in her heels.
She restarted the engine and this time we moved off.
Some twenty minutes later we arrived at the Channel Tunnel. For some reason I held my breath. It was illogical. This was only the check-in, not the passport control or customs.
A couple of minutes later Saffy pulled away from the check-in.
As she drove away, she called out,
“I’m going to the Terminal. I need to use the loo. They haven’t announced our ‘shuttle’ yet.”
Almost half an hour later, Saffy pulled the van up to Passport Control. The van slowed down and Saffy must have flashed her passport as a few seconds later it speeded up slightly.
Then the van came to a halt.
I heard Saffy wind the window down.
Then I heard a deep male voice,
“Is there anything of interest in the back of the van Miss?”
“No. Those cases are all empty. I hope they will be full when I return. I’m going to an auction of clothes in Paris.”
“Have a good trip Miss.”
“Thank you.”
A couple of minutes later Saffy parked the van once more.
She updated me on the situation.
“We are through customs. We are in the car park waiting to board. Now we wait for a few minutes until we are called.”
[Fifty-Five Minutes later]
Saffy put the Van into gear once more and slowly drove off the shuttle train.
“Nearly there Fran. Not long now,” called out Saffy from the driving seat.
I remained in the back of the van for another ten minutes.
Saffy drove the van into the huge car park of the huge shopping centre that lies close to the Channel Tunnel site in Calais.
She stopped the car and called out.
“You can come out now. We are in La Belle France.”
She opened the rear doors, moved some of the cases and let me out of the van. I was a bit stiff even though I’d only been in there for a couple of hours.
“Oh God!” I exclaimed, “I don’t want to do that again. I lost count of the times my heart stopped.”
“Well my dear Fran, going home will be easier. You will have your passport with you then.”
“I really hope so Saffy, I really hope so,” I replied as I got into the van on the drivers side.
“I thought I was driving?”
“Later. I need to do something for a while.”
“Meh,” grumbled Saffy and got into the passenger seat.
At a little after 10:00 local we stopped for a late breakfast at an Autoroute Service Area. The fresh coffee and croissants were most welcome.
With both of us fully refreshed Saffy drove us into Paris where we checked into our Hotel in time for a late lunch in the Terrace Restaurant that overlooked the River Seine.
Saffy sipped a nice glass of red wine.
“Well we got here.”
“We did. We did indeed,” I replied as we chinked glasses.
“Now we can relax for a while,” added Saffy.
Lunch over we adjourned to our room.
“It is time for Francis to disappear,” I stated calmly as the door closed.
“I’ll get your case ready.”
[Paris Bercy Station, that evening]
“Well Saffy, thanks for everything. This next bit I must do on my own.”
“Yeah. I know. It feels like the end to …”
I leaned over and kissed her long and hard.
I watched Saffy standing there on the platform waving me goodbye as my train left.
I found it hard to stop the tears from welling up in my eye. The realisation that one very happy part of my life was probably over. Apart from an 18month period, Saffy and I have been together for nigh on 20 years. Most marriages these days don’t last that long.
I retired to my sleeping compartment rather sad about the past yet elated about a possible big change in my future.
Sleep didn’t come easily that night despite a liberal dose of my favourite sleep aid, a nice glass of Claret. Eventually I dropped off. It seemed to be only a moment before the sleeping car attendant was nocking on my compartment door announcing that Breakfast was being served and there was and hour before my stop in Florence.
I didn’t make Breakfast as I had to spend almost all the available time getting dressed and generally making myself presentable for my interview.
A little over 10 minutes late, the Paris-Rome Sleeper arrived in Florence. I was relieved to find that I was the only passenger from my coach to alight. The attendant helped me down onto the low platform and then passed my suitcase down to me. He even smiled at me so I must have not looked too bad even though it was still very early in the morning.
I pulled out the handle on the case and walked off the platform. The large concourse area was busy with commuters arriving in the city to work.
I looked at the large departure board for my train to Siena. The train was due to leave just after 08:00. This meant that I had time for a coffee at one of the several outlets in the station.
I walked up to one establishment and said in my rusty Italian,
“Scusilo per favore, una tazza del coffe della prima colazione”.
“Certamente signora, grande o piccolo?”
“Grande per favore.”
Two minutes later I was sitting down enjoying the delicious coffee thinking to myself why do the Italians make the best coffee in the world.
Just after 09:15 my train pulled into the strangely named town of Poggibonsi. I climbed down onto the platform cursing myself for tying my corset so tight when I got dressed on the sleeper. I should have chosen my wardrobe with a lot more care. I wanted to impress but at that moment, I was regretting my decision to wear a dress with a very restrictive pencil skirt. I needed a corset to give me at least a few curves in the right places.
I made my way out of the station and looked for a Taxi.
A solitary very ancient and battered Fiat Punto Taxi was sitting in the Station Forecourt. Its driver was sitting in his cab dozing gently.
I walked over to the cab and gently tapped on the roof.
The driver almost jumped out of his skin.
“Scusilo signora che stavo riposando appena i miei vista”
Yeah right. I thought. Resting your eyes indeed. I distinctly recalled hearing some light snoring.
“Potete prenderli a Talicona?”
“Si signora”
I climbed into the rear of the Fiat and dragged my small suitcase inside with me. The idle sod of a
driver had made no attempt to get out and help me.
As we drove out of the town and up into the hills, I allowed myself a little chuckle. There I was for the first time since I’d decided to live full time as a woman actually thinking like a woman.
All too soon that moment passed. My thoughts returned to the interview that lay ahead.
The Taxi pulled into the address I’d given the driver on the way to the village. I got my first glimpse of the house. It was beautiful. The view to the west from its position on the hillside was magnificent.
The driver pulled up outside the huge black front door.
“Quindici Euro per favore.”
I paid the driver and got out of the cab.
As the driver sped away, the front door of the house opened and a woman stepped out.
“Ah Fran, welcome to Italy. I am glad you made it,” said the woman smiling.
My mouth must have dropped open.
There was no mistaking the woman’s eyes.
They belonged to the woman on the motorcycle.
[To be continued]
[Edit 27-Mar-2017 to fix two typos]
“Please come inside. We have been expecting you.”
I was speechless. What on earth was going on?
Nevertheless, I went inside the house.
With a thud, she shut the heavy door behind me.
“Let me introduce myself properly this time, I’m Claudia. Shall we go into the Kitchen? I am sure that you must have a million questions?”
Still speechless, I nodded my understanding. I followed her into the huge kitchen. As I entered I was aroused by the smell of fresh coffee and even better, fresh bread.
“Please, take a seat for a moment, I have to get some bread out of the oven,” said Claudia.
Two minutes later, three fresh loaves of Ciabatta bread were cooling a wire tray.
“Sorry about that,” she said as she wiped her hands on her apron.
“Coffee?”
I found my voice at last.
“Yes please. I’m sorry, I’m a bit of a heathen, I take it with milk.”
Claudia smiled.
“Don’t tell anyone, but I do too. Well, since I started working in London that is.”
I thought to myself, ‘that explains the almost perfect English’.
She went to pour the coffee. I’d recovered enough to take my first really good look at her.
Claudia appeared to be in her late 20’s with long black hair that appeared to be straight out of a fashion magazine. She was wearing tight jeans. Very tight jeans indeed and a cropped white top with some ruffles.
Her beauty was accentuated by the fact that she wore almost no makeup. Just a hint of lippy and that was it.
All sorts of adjectives describing her flashed through my mind. She was frankly stunning.
Claudia put two mugs of white coffee down on the table and sat down opposite me.
“I’m very glad you came. So many of the people who have expressed interest in this position have grumbled and even complained about having to travel for an interview without being recompensed for their troubles.”
Claudia smiled at me.
“How much was your airfare by the way. I’ll give you the money before you leave.”
“But you just said…”
“Yes. Those who get on with it and turn up for the interview are definitely more serious about the position. So, I refund them the money they have shelled out to get here. It does seem to sort out most of the time wasters and believe me, there are a lot of them around. The sort of position open here attracts them like flies.”
Again, I thought, ‘she’s lived in England for more than a few years’. Her English is almost accent less, well a trace of Home Counties but only a trace.
I drank some of the excellent coffee. This frankly gorgeous woman was also very intelligent. I could see no trace of a ring on her left hand. I wondered how on earth someone as frankly fantastic as her could have not gotten hitched by now.
“Penny for them?”
Claudia’s question brought me back to reality.
“I… I was just working out how much I’d spent to get here. I didn’t fly by the way.”
“Don’t you like flying?”
“No. Sorry, yes I do but I have a little problem at the moment. ‘Sono senza un passaporto’. It sounds a lot better in Italian does it not?”
I smiled at her.
“How did you...? Don’t answer that.”
She put her hand up.
“You have shown great resourcefulness to get here today. How you did it is irrelevant. You are here and that is all I need to know.”
Then she smiled.
I felt relieved and decided to tell her anyway.
“I stowed away in the back of a van that took me to Paris. Then I took the sleeper from Paris to Firenze last night. Then the local train and taxi.”
She smiled back at me.
“Forgive me for prying but how will you get home? I know from experience that getting back into the UK will be a darn sight harder than getting out?”
“I hope to have my little passport problem resolved by then. Well if the Passport Office or whoever they are called this week get their finger out that is.”
“Good. Shall we get down to the interview?” Asked Claudia in a matter of fact way.
“I thought we already had?”
Claudia smiled.
“That was just getting you to relax after your trip.”
“Ok. Fire away.”
Claudia got up. I made to do the same.
“Please stay here. I’m just going to get your file.”
I sat put but slightly worried about the tone she used for that last sentence.
Claudia returned a minute or so later carrying a file that was at least an inch thick.
“Right, Fran lets get down to business,” said Claudia as she sat down and opened the file. Then she closed it again.
“I have to say Fran, you have led an interesting life. A very interesting life indeed. You and Saffron that is. Why are you leaving her? Are you getting a divorce?”
Her bluntness shocked me. Her reference to us as a couple stunned me. I’d never thought of us as one. I thought we were more like a brother and sister.
Before I got a chance to answer she continued.
“When I got this report on you I couldn’t believe my eyes at first.”
“What report?” I said desperately.
“The one I commissioned on you when I received your CV from the agency.”
She saw the concerned look in her eyes.
“Don’t worry. It is standard procedure for everyone who applies for the position. I felt we had to adopt this policy after the last two people we employed had only one thing on their mind and that was most certainly not on the job.”
“I really don’t understand what you are going on about. I think I’d better go,” I said feeling rather uncomfortable.
I stood up and walked out of the kitchen into the hallway. Then I realised that I needed a taxi to get back to the station.
I turned around and returned to the kitchen.
“Could you possibly ring for a taxi to take me to the station please? I believe that the number in Poggibonsi is 0577 937098,” I said remembering the number that was displayed in the Taxi that had brought me to her house.
Claudia laughed.
“You really are a one of a kind. My PI more or less told me so in this report but I couldn’t really believe it. He was as usual absolutely correct. Actually, he underestimated you in many ways".
I stood there defiant.
Then the smiled disappeared from her face.
“The job is yours if you want it?”
That stunned me to the core.
“What job? All I’ve heard is a few snippets about what was not right with others who have had the job. If it exists that is.”
Claudia laughed.
“Oh it exists all right and I think you are perfect for it.”
I still didn’t believe her.
“So persuade me that there is one and that you are not having a laugh at my expense,” I demanded.
Claudia was very serious now.
“Why don’t you sit down and I’ll tell you all about it?”
I sat down at the kitchen table unhappy but unable to leave without finding out more about this job and this strange woman who I was finding it difficult to say no too.
“The job is for my brother Luca. He is my twin brother. The governess part is for his two children also twins, Benito and Gina.”
She paused briefly.
“The last two people he employed had but one thing on their minds. That was getting him into bed, getting pregnant and living off his money. Perhaps now you might understand why when I read the report on you I knew you would be perfect. In the very short time you have been here, I knew that my instincts were right.”
“But? You know all about me and it does not matter?”
Claudia laughed.
“Matter? Not in the slightest.”
Then she chuckled.
“Actually you are probably the ideal candidate for the position.”
“But I fail the ‘ness part don’t I?”
“Well, I see sitting before me a very attractive woman. What else is there to say?”
“Rather a lot actually. Besides, I’m not a woman and I’m not attractive.” I replied slightly angrily.
Claudia sat silently.
“For one, why would your brother want to employ a tranny to look after his children and his affairs?”
“A good point. Why don’t you ask him for yourself?”
Quite startled by this, I looked around.
“Is he here?”
“Yes he is. He has been listening in to our conversation all along.”
I heard some steps coming down the hallway.
A man entered the kitchen. A tall slim elegant man. A man with the sort of natural style that only Italians of both sexes can display. Why is it that it does not matter if Italian men shave or not, if they are sexy, they are sexy. Luca was SEXY with big flashing lights and sirens.
“Luca, meet Fran,” said Sophia trying not to giggle at the similarities in the names.
Luca gave a slight bow and offered his hand. I took it. To my total surprise, he bent down and kissed it.
“I am honoured to meet you Fran.”
I was stunned.
“You… You are nothing like I imagined,” I stuttered.
They both laughed.
“What did you imagine then?” Asked Luca.
“I don’t know but whatever it was you are not it,” I replied desperately trying not to dig the hole I was in an awful lot deeper.
We all laughed at my ineptitude.
Luca poured himself some coffee and tore off a chunk of bread before sitting down at the huge heavy table with us.
“This is excellent bread Claudia. Some day you will make someone a very good wife.”
Claudia gave him a look of daggers and then laughed.
Luca reached over to the counter and grabbed hold of one of the three loaves and tossed it onto the table.
“This is very good but hot,” he added.
“Please take some before I eat it all and Claudia will not be very happy if I do.”
Luca patted his flat stomach to emphasise what he’d just said.
Claudia forced a little smile.
Luca turned to me and said,
“Claudia told me all about you. After she gave me your file to read, I had to agree with her assessment. I am as they say a very eligible bachelor and she’s told you about the little problems with the last two Governesses so I have every confidence that you will be different. I’ve been listening to you and my dear sister. I have to say you did defend your corner very well. She can be a little tigress at times.”
I was perplexed by their sudden confidence that I would accept the position.
“I’m flattered that you have confidence in me. I know very little about being a Governess. I’m sure my CV and your report will tell you that in abundance. To be honest with you I applied for the job on a whim and I really didn’t expect to even get a first interview let alone be sitting here in this lovely kitchen nibbling some of the most delicious bread I’ve ever tasted.”
It was Claudia who to my surprise answered.
“Why don’t you two go out for a walk in the garden and get to know each other and I’m sure he will tell you more about the job while I rustle us up some lunch.”
Luca stood up from the table and held his hand out for me. To my eternal surprise I took it and together we walked out of the kitchen, onto the large terrace and into the huge garden.
As we walked into the garden I really wanted to ask him if he really minded being with a man in drag.
However, I bit my lip hard. I was determined not to be the one to bring it up. He was going out of his way to treat me like a lady. As such, I felt duty bound not to make a scene.
We spent the next half hour walking around the garden. Luca told me all about his two children and about their mother who was noticeable by her absence.
He told me that she’d left Luca a couple of years before for an Italian Racing Driver who worked for Ferrari. He sounded quite sad at his loss. I guessed that the whole sorry episode had affected him a lot.
He went on to tell me that the children were away at private school in Switzerland and that next September they’d move to being schooled in England, one at Winchester and the other at Cheltenham. He was also looking for a base in England while Benito and Gina were at school.
I found out that Luca’s family were owners of a shipyard. They built those mega yachts you see at places like Monte Carlo when the Grand Prix is in town.
He travelled the world sealing the deals. A lot of the money sloshing around these days is Russian hence the need for someone reasonably fluent in that most elegant of languages to travel with him on business and to be at his side.
He also expressed a desire to appear as a married man. This was to keep the bevy of ‘blonde haired babes’ who would be present when he visited some of his clients.
“Think of ‘Playboy Bunnies’ who don’t are just dumb and blonde and you won’t go far wrong,” suggested Luca when I told him I couldn’t understand why he would need such a companion.
“I get the idea. They want to get you into bed and that‘s all?”
“Exactly.”
I smiled at him.
“Well, you are a very attractive man if you don’t mind me saying so.”
My forthrightness must have stunned him or he was gobsmacked by my crassness. Either way, I felt I’d really put my foot in it. This being a woman was so hard at times.
To my total surprise his reaction was quite different.
“Thank you for the nice compliment Madame.”
Then he turned, took hold of my hand and gently kissed it.
I must have gone a deep shade of red.
He just smiled back at me as we continued our walk.
After a while, I started to warm to the idea of being his consort. A consort with a dirty little secret between its legs. That did worry me a lot though.
We arrived back in the kitchen just in time for Claudia to dish up a delicious plate of pasta with roast artichokes for lunch.
“This is a local delicacy. Everything is grown within twenty kilometres from here,” said Claudia proudly.
I had to admit that it was mouth-watering. The local red wine was just as delicious.
Once we’d finished eating I asked Claudia,
“You hinted that you worked in London. Was that how you were able to surprise me on Friday?”
She grinned back.
“Yes. I work at a Graphics Art Company in Greys Inn Road. I commute into the city by bike. Did you like my bike?”
“It seemed very powerful,” I replied knowing very well that she had been riding a late 1970’s Moto Guzzi ‘Le Mans’. It was a real collectors item.
She smiled back at me.
“My Sister is very talented. She rebuilt that bike herself. It was the love of her life for nearly a year,” said a very proud Luca.
“My Brother really does over exaggerate,” said Claudia.
“Oh yeah. And how many times did you turn up for dinner with grease under your pretty nails?”
“Minor details. Minor details.”
I could sense an intense yet friendly rivalry between these two siblings. It didn’t take me long to realise that their relationship was much like the one that Saffy and I had.
Things were going very well but I still had this nagging doubt at the back of my mind.
As the meal finished, I asked Luca,
“Claudia’s investigation into me was very thorough.”
My words dried up.
To my surprise, Luca read my thoughts.
“Are you worrying about the fact that you are not who you seem to be?”
“Yes. To be perfectly honest I am. It could prove very embarrassing for all of us if the wrong people were to get hold of the wrong end of the stick? Your Investigator found out pretty well everything there is to know about me in just a few days. What is to stop a competitor from doing the same? Blackmail is not unknown in big business after all. The media would have a field day with it especially in more conservative countries such as this one.”
It was Claudia who answered for her brother.
“Fran, I think you have enough at stake to not want that to happen. My brother here needs someone he can trust and not have getting him into bed as their prime objective. When I first read the report into you I was rather surprised. Well actually horrified. I knew next to nothing about transgendered people. I did some research and talked to a City Lawyer who is a female to male transsexual. After a while, it dawned on me that you might be the solution to the governess problem.”
I looked at them both before saying,
“And what was your dear Brothers reaction to your grand plan?”
As soon as I said those words, it dawned upon me that the wine was having an effect. It seemed to have loosened my tongue. I hoped that I hadn’t put my foot into it and quashed my chances with the job.
Claudia looked at her brother.
“Are you wondering about your real self and…” said Claudia.
“Yes, yes I am.”
I thought for a few seconds.
“Look. I’ll be honest with you both. You have been that way with me.”
The jovial atmosphere disappeared in a trice.
“If either of you have the slightest worry about living in the same house and working with a male to female transsexual then I’d like to know now.”
This obviously put both of them on edge.
It was Luca who replied.
“How about we give it a trial? How would three month’s sound? That would give you time with the children and a chance for all of us to get to know each other a bit better.”
I felt relieved.
“Yes. That will do. Provided I can read the report your PI did on me. I’d like to know what juicy bits he didn’t find out.”
They both laughed.
“That won’t be a problem,” replied Claudia as she passed the folder over to me.
It was nearly 8pm when I called Saffy, to report on the day. I’d sat for nearly half an hour before making the call trying to get my mind straight. Here were two people willing to take a huge risk in employing a tranny in a role that I still didn’t fully understand. It appeared that my streak of luck that began with my lottery win was still going strong.
I took a deep breath and dialled her mobile number. I was just about to hang up when she answered.
“Hi Fran. How did the Italian inquisition go?”
I paused for maybe half a second before replying.
“I got the job. Well it is mine if I want it.”
“That’s great. When are you coming home?”
I paused before replying. There was something not quite right about her. She was clearly not her usual self.
“Err. Don’t you need to bring my passport to me somewhere first?”
“Yes I do.”
There had been quite a delay before she answered.
“Saffy. What’s wrong?”
It felt that every word she said was a struggle.
There was no answer.
“Saffy?”
There was a long silence before a voice was heard on the line.
“Fran, please don’t go. Don’t take the job. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked you to leave,” said Saffy with audible sobbing.
Then she said something that made me very uncomfortable.
“I’m scared Fran. I don’t want to lose you. I love you. I really didn’t realise it until last night. I didn’t realise how much I missed you.”
I was left totally speechless.
A tear ran down my cheek. I felt… strange, alone and a million other things that I could not describe.
[To be continued]
Edited to remove a small continuity error between this and the next part.
Our Heroine is in the middle of a very awkward phone call to Saffron.
“I… I don’t know what to say.”
There was no reply.
“Saffy? Are you there?”
There were some audible sounds from the other end of the line.
Eventually she replied.
“Don’t you love me?”
Now I was in a corner with no way out.
“Yes Saffy I love you but not in the way you think I do.”
“So I’m just a cheap fuck then?” She said angrily.
“Now Saffy. I…”
I didn’t get a chance to say anything else.
“What am I to you after all this time?”
I didn’t know what to do. It was Saffy who suggested that I should stop working at the shop.
“Saffy, you are everything to me except the person I want to spend the rest of my life with. We are much too alike to be together romantically. You are my Sister in all but blood.”
There was silence from the other end.
Then the line went dead.
I sat still for several minutes before swallowing hard and going back in the house.
Claudia was in the kitchen preparing things for breakfast the next day. She took one look at my face and said,
“Am I correct in thinking that the call home didn’t go very well?”
“You are right. It didn’t go very well.”
“Did you find out anything about your passport?”
I’d clean forgot about asking Saffy about it.
“No. No news I’m afraid,” I said.
Then I added.
“I didn’t get around to asking about it actually.”
“I will be flying to London in the morning. Perhaps I can find out for you?”
I wasn’t sure if Saffy would be receptive to a visit from Claudia. However, I couldn’t think of anything else that could be done.
“If you could I would be very grateful.”
Luca left the house after dinner. He had to be at the Shipyard in Genoa for a meeting the following morning.
Claudia took me to the local station very early the following morning. Then she headed for the airport in Firenze. She had tried to let her take me into Firenze to get the train. In the end, we agreed that it was more important for her to catch her flight to London than to take me into the city centre.
I caught the first train to Firenze where I changed trains for the first time. Two more changes at Milan and Turin enabled me to get to Paris just before 8:00pm that evening tired and in need of a bath.
My first port of call was nearest hotel. This was the ‘Gare De Lyon Hotel’. With a weariness that only comes from travelling I walked into its Lobby and up to the Reception desk.
As I walked up to the reception counter the male receptionist gave me the ‘once over’ and said,
“Comment est-ce que je peux vous aider?” {can I help you?}
I smiled at him
“Bonsoir. Je me demande s'il y a des salles libres pour le soir et probablement un couple plus de nuits.” {do you have a room for two nights?}
“Laissez-moi jeter un coup d'oeil au registre.” {let me consult the register}
He tapped a few keys on the computer. At first he shook his head. Finally, he looked at me.
“I’m sorry. We are fully booked tonight.
His sudden switch to English startled me.
Nevertheless, I carried on in French.
“Êtes-vous sûr là n'êtes-vous aucune salle?”
He gave me the typical Gallic ‘put me down’, a shrug of his shoulders.
“Very well, I will go to the Hotel de Paris instead”
I turned on my heels and walked towards the exit and a taxi.
The receptionist called after me.
“Madame. Please I am sure we can find a room somewhere.”
I ignored him.
I’d just left the hotel in search of a Taxi to take to someplace that had rooms free when my phone buzzed.
I looked at the display. It said ‘Number Withheld’.
I answered it hoping that it wasn’t Saffy calling to say sorry.
“Hello?” I said tentatively.
“Is that you Fran?”
Right away, I could tell that it was Claudia. I felt a little happier. I was not looking forward to speaking to Saffy.
“Buona sera Claudia. Sono a Parigi che cerca un hotel.”
She laughed. She sounded happy.
“The Hotel de Gare L’Est usually has rooms. It is part of the Ibis chain. If they don’t have a room, they will soon find you one. Why don’t you try there?”
“Thanks. I’ll get a taxi. I’m at the Gare de Lyon. The Hotel there claimed that they didn’t have any rooms but the place was dead.”
“Wherever you do end up, be sure to let me know where you are staying. I’m coming to Paris tomorrow after work. We can travel back to London the following morning."
“But what about my Passport?”
“That’s the reason for my call. The Investigator I used to check you out has it. He is sending it to me by messenger in the morning. He got it from Saffron.”
I was about to say something rude but stopped myself just in time. I’d wait until I had it in my possession before telling her just what I thought of her.
“Fran, are you there?” Asked Claudia.
“Yes. Yes, I am. Ok. I’ll let you know where I’m staying. See you tomorrow.”
I hung up before she could respond.
When I get tired I get irritable. That was evident from the phone call. I had to put that behind me for now. I had to find somewhere to sleep.
With the call over I went to the station rank and climbed into a Taxi.
“Hotel Ibis, Gare De L’Est si vous plait.”
I sat back and hung on for dear life as the driver attempted to emulate the Formula 1 drivers at Monaco the previous weekend.
We made it to the Hotel in almost no time at all.
“Vous avez conduit comme un idiot. Il n'était pas necesseary pour conduire comme Michael Schumaker.” {no translation needed…}
As I counted out the exact fare I said,
“J Vous n'avez pas presque dû nous tuer tous les deux à la La Place de la Concorde e ne te donne pas un bout.”
The driver gave me several profanities most directed at my parents and screeched away from the forecourt only to be stopped by the traffic lights at the junction with Rue de Fauborg.
I permitted myself a little smile as I entered the hotel lobby.
The place was pretty dead but I could hear the chink of plates in the Restaurant that seemed to be behind me. My stomach grumbled in sympathy.
To my eternal relief they had a room for two nights.
I spent the following day moping around Paris. When the weather is fine it is a truly beautiful city but in the wet, forget it. In the end, I found a public library and spent the afternoon reading books in French about childcare and educational theory. I wasn’t all together sure if it would prove useful or turn out to be a complete waste of time.
Claudia arrived on the last train from St Pancras brandishing my new passport as if she was Neville
Chamberlain returning from striking a deal with Hitler.
I burst out laughing when I saw her.
After I’d let her in on the joke, we shared a glass of Scotch in the bar before heading to our rooms. She did her best to cheer me up without prying too deep but it didn’t altogether work.
A little before 07:00 the following morning we were sitting on the train to London. Like the previous evening, I wasn’t feeling very talkative so I just sat looking out of the window of the Eurostar train for most of the journey home.
At over 150mph we soon passed through the battlefields of the Somme under leaden skies.
I looked around at the other people on the train. None of them seemed to be giving even a thought to the
millions of troops who fought tooth and nail for every inch during WW1. I had to stop myself from thinking such morbid thoughts but it was hard.
All too soon we slowed for Calais and the tunnel only to emerge half an hour later into bright Kent sunshine. My mood brightened considerably. It was either the weather or the fact that I’d soon be home again.
Claudia had tried had several times during the journey to engage me in conversation. Eventually, she gave up and let me be.
As the train ducked into the tunnel under the Thames I looked at Claudia and said,
“Claudia, I’m very sorry but I can’t accept the job offer. I have some things in my life I need to get sorted out before I even consider leaving Bath.”
Claudia look a long and hard at me for quite a while before she replied.
“I can’t say I’m surprised. Does it have something to do with that phone call you made at the house the other evening?”
I nodded my agreement.
“Very well. I know that Luca will agree with me when I say that we both wish you all the best whatever you decide to do in the future.”
I initially was surprised by the ‘calmness’ and ‘finality’ of what she said. As we neared St Pancras I realised that my whole persona since that phone call had telegraphed my whole state of mind.
I said goodbye to Claudia in the Underground ticket Hall.
The goodbye was a long hug. Even though we’d only known each other for a couple of days I already felt like she was a friend.
Just after lunchtime I walked down the street to the shop. It was a walk I’d done hundreds of times before but today, well it was different. I felt that I was walking into the unknown.
When I walked inside, I breathed a sigh of relief to find the shop empty of customers.
“Saffy?” I called out.
“Fran. Is that you?”
“Yes it’s me.”
“I’m in back sorting some new stock,” came her reply.
I walked through the shop and into the stockroom at the rear.
As I entered I was immediately enveloped by a pair of arms and a pair of lips pressed against mine.
I gently pressed Saffy away from me.
“What’s the matter? Didn’t you miss me? Aren’t you glad to be back?”
“Saffy, we need to talk.”
She was strangely silent. For a confirmed chatterbox, this was unusual.
“We need to talk about what you said on the phone.”
I pressed my small advantage home.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said. About you, me and us. I had plenty of time on the train to Paris and again all day yesterday.”
I looked at her. She was still silent.
“Saffy, I do love you but not in the way you think.”
There I’d said it.
“What do you mean?”
I could see a tear starting to form in the corners of her eyes.
“I love you as a sister. You are my best friend. I can talk to you about anything but I don’t love you romantically.”
“What… what about all those times we went to bed together?”
I knew she’d bring that up.
“Those times were for both of us. Sometimes we both needed to be loved. Neither of us has been very successful with partners in recent times. Those times in bed made up for the someone special who is currently missing from each of our lives.”
“I don’t understand. What are you trying to tell me?”
I reached forward and took hold of her hands.
“Saffy, my little trip to Italy has made me finally accept something that I’ve not been willing to for years.”
She didn’t reply but looked at me with her soulful eyes.
“Saffy, I’m gay.”
She still didn’t say anything.
“Don’t you understand Saffy? The reason I can’t love you is because I’m gay. I got all gooey inside after I’d spent an hour walking around the garden with Luca in Italy. That experience made me finally accept my sexuality. I’m a gay and I’m a tranny.”
Saffy was sobbing gently.
“Are. Are you going to work for him? Be his governess?”
“No Saffy I’m not. I turned the job down. I’ll get a few things sorted out and then I might do some travelling.”
Saffy couldn’t look me in the eyes.
“This is all my fault. I should never have made you apply for that job.”
I gently squeezed her hands. This whole episode has made me realise that I was just marking time. I wouldn’t accept what I really am now, I have started to I feel a whole lot better.”
“But what about me? You can’t leave me?”
I smiled at her.
“You will be fine. I’m sure it won’t take you long to find my replacement once you put your mind to it. I’ll even help you if you want me to.”
I let her hands go.
“I’ll be back later. I have to go and see old man Hutchings.”
I said changing the subject.
“I am going to sell Hartley Grange.”
“Why?”
“So I can go travelling. Maybe get some boobs, a bit of work done on my face. I don’t know. I’ll have plenty of time to decide. It won’t sell overnight. I’ll be around for a bit longer, don’t worry. That place needs someone living in it. Buying it seemed a good idea at the time. I’m just not the person who should be owning it at the moment.”
I left her alone in the shop. On my way out, I turned the door sign to ‘Closed’ and walked down the street into the City Centre.
Ten minutes later I arrived at the offices of Hutchings, Laws and Symonds. They are a local firm of Accountants, Solicitors and Property Managers. This was my second visit in a little over a week.
Hartley Grange is a late Georgian Country House that sits in a couple of hectares of land about 10 miles north of the city. I’d been meaning to sell it for some time. Now was as good a time as any.
I didn’t have long to wait for see William Hutchings. He looked after my portfolio as well as being my lawyer.
“Good morning Mr Hutchings. I take it that everything is in order?”
“Please take a seat Fran. I’ll have the documents ready for you to sign in a minute or two. Mrs Jenkins is sorting them out now.”
I sat down and waited.
Mr Hutchings smiled at me and said,
“You do realise that with the state of that part of the property market you probably won’t make any profit on the sale. We are a bit far out from London for the ‘Rich Foreigner’ market.”
“Yes. I fully understand that may well be the case. As you have said to me several times, it really does not fit in with the rest of my portfolio. At one time, I thought that I might actually live there myself, but it is not going to be possible so I’m going to sell it.”
“As long as you fully understand…”
I smiled back at him.
“I understand. I will sign a document stating that fact. You warned me more than once so any losses I might make on the place is totally down to me. All I need you to do is get the place ready for it to be sold and then get it placed with all the usual agents. You do understand that you are to accept the first reasonable offer as per the email I sent you earlier?”
“Yes. It was very clear.”
He smiled at me once more.
“I wish more of our clients were as clear with their instructions life would be a lot simpler.”
I laughed.
“But that would mean a lot less income for you, wouldn’t it?”
“It would but we would be able to handle more clients thus any effect on our income would be minimal.”
Any further discussion would have to wait. His secretary, Mrs Jenkins entered the office. She put a set of documents down in front of me.
I picked up the first document. It was titled ‘Limited Power of Attorney’ and began reading.
Some twenty minutes later I’d read all the documents and signed them. I took my copies and put them in my handbag.
“Thank you Mr Hutchings. Do you fully understand the instructions I have left you regarding communication with me over the sale?”
“Yes. Email for the address is in your instructions with paper copies sent to your home address.”
I smiled back at him.
“Then we are done for today. I’ll bid you goodbye.”
I didn’t leave Bath for another month. I kept working at the shop. Gradually, Saffy began to accept my decision and our relationship returned to something approaching normality.
But, she had a lot of trouble really accepting my confused sexuality.
The only way I could accept it was by saying,
“Physically I’m a man but my personality and desire is to be a woman. As such I’m a woman who is attracted to a man. But as I’m a man, ergo, I’m gay.”
Saffy, to her eternal credit did a lot of research on the Internet about my sexuality.
“You aren’t gay.”
She told me one day.
“What do you mean?”
“From what I have found Fran, you are just a normal tranny. It seems that most male to female transsexuals end up looking for a man as a partner.”
I knew this but I had to feign surprise. My whole ‘gay’ feint was designed to put a stop to this silliness about her loving me.
“So I’m not crazy then?”
“Not in the slightest. Well, not anymore than normal that is…”
We both laughed.
After that, things got back to almost normality. The thing that didn’t return was our sexual romps. That didn’t matter to me as we’d both moved on in our life.
After a few abortive attempts, we interviewed and subsequently hired my replacement. Her name was Vivienne. She was a 19-year-old failed drama student who loved dressing up. Saffy was pleased with my selection so five weeks after my ill-fated trip to Italy I formally resigned from the shop. This was my last week ‘on the job’.
A few days later I travelled to London to see a doctor about starting my formal transition to womanhood.
It didn’t take long for any hopes for some swift action to be totally dashed. However, once I fully
understood the rules about transitioning I reluctantly accepted the plan the doctor put to me. This plan did include starting hormone treatment. The doctor spent a lot of time explaining the changes I’d likely experience and how to deal with them.
Later that day I was sitting on the train at Paddington waiting for it to depart when my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Oh hello Mr Hutchings. Have there been any developments?”
“They’ve made an offer? How much?” I replied trying not to be too eager.
I heard the amount. Not as much as I’d hoped but it was within the range I’d agreed with Mr Hutchings.
“Not as much as I’d hoped but acceptable. Have you indicated to the buyer that this is the case?”
“Very good. When do you think that contracts will be exchanged?”
“That’s fine. The end of August is fine by me.”
“I’ll leave everything to you. Thanks.”
I closed up my phone with a smile on my face. At least something was going well today.
I spent the next hour mentally planning my summer travels. Naturally, I got nowhere. All the places that seemed to be at the top of my list were hot, sunny and would naturally involve swimwear, skimpy clothes and everything related to a beach holiday. My transition to womanhood was not at a point where I was comfortable with that at all. Call me prudish, modest or whatever but the lack of breasts and the appendage between my legs made going to the beach for some sun was not something I wanted to risk at this stage
I was just starting on yet another ‘plan B’ or should that be plan ‘Z’ when my train arrived at Bath Spa Station. My deliberations in that area would have to wait for another day.
My mind was still on the good news of the day because somehow I didn’t go straight home. When I realised where I was, I found myself in the street where the shop was located. My internal auto-pilot must have kicked in when I got off the train.
I knew right away that I didn’t feel like seeing Saffy. She would want to know all about my visit to the doctors so I turned up a side street that would eventually take me home without passing the front door to the shop. Besides, I told myself that this was my last week so I didn’t care. My last day was going to be hard enough as it was. The new me decided that I just going to get on with my life.
I’d hardly turned into the narrow side street when I bumped into someone.
I stepped back and looked at him. I got the shock of my life. It was Luca.
“Luca? What are you doing here?” I exclaimed.
“Well, hello to you Fran. This is a most unexpected pleasure to meet you again.”
I’d recovered my composure a little by now.
I gave him a little smile. More of ‘putting on a face’ than a genuine ‘I’m pleased to see you smiling’.
“What brings you to this neck of the woods? There can’t be many super rich people who want you buy luxury boats in Bath?”
Oh shit. I thought. I’ve really put my foot in it now.
He laughed.
“I’m pleased to see you Fran. I’m not here in business. I’m buying a house. As I told you when we last met my children are coming to school in England. I need a base for at least the next 6 years.”
My heart sank. It couldn’t be possible that this man was the buyer of my house.
“Where are you looking for a property?” I asked in the hope that he would either say, ‘I’m still looking’ or that it was a long way away from the city.
“I am buying a place to the north of the city. It is called Hartley Grange”
I almost fainted on the spot.
“Are you all right? Is there something wrong?” Asked Luca urgently as he took hold of my arm.
I managed to recover a little.
“No. I’m fine. Just a little tired that’s all. I’ve been to London on business.”
Luca smiled.
“Can I buy you dinner? Perhaps tonight?”
This was the last thing I wanted.
“Thank you for the invitation. I am a little tired tonight.”
“How about tomorrow evening?”
“I have a lot to do. I’m going travelling for the summer?”
“Where are you going? Perhaps we will run into each other?”
I laughed.
“I hardly think so Luca. I’m going to Iceland, Alaska and a few more very out of the way places. I’m afraid we move in very different circles.”
He laughed.
I felt something stir inside me. There was no doubt about it; I was attracted to him after all.
“Well, the offer still stands for tomorrow night. The following day I’m off to the Barcelona Boat Show. I’m staying at the Royal Bath Hotel. I’ll book a table in the restaurant for say, 7pm tomorrow. If you care to join me than I’d be honoured.”
“Thank you Luca. I will certainly think about it.”
He turned to go. Then he turned back and said,
“If you come, why don’t you wear one of those beautiful period dresses that your shop sells?”
“Thank you Luca, as I said, I’ll think about it.”
He gave me that super smile and left me standing there alone.
I didn’t get a lot of sleep that night. I was desperately trying to decide if I should go to dinner with Luca the following evening.
The other problem I was trying to get to grips with was the little matter of the house. I knew from reading the report that Claudia had let me read that there were a few pertinent facts missing from my case history.
One key item missing was the name of the company I used for my property portfolio. It was that company that was selling the house.
If it had been left to me I’d have purchased the properties in my own name but Saffy persuaded me to use a limited company instead.
It was true that I could hide behind the company but I wasn’t feeling exactly happy about it at the time. Now I realised that it did have its uses.
Eventually I fell asleep a little before dawn without making any decisions.
I was still dithering about the evening ahead when I walked into the shop late the following morning. Vivienne was already there. She was dressed as a Victorian Maid complete with apron and cap. She really looked the part. I was suitable impressed.
“Hi Vivienne. Is Saffy around?”
“Not at the moment Fran. She’s gone to the Dentists.”
“Ok, I’ll go and make some tea.” I said not really wanting to strike up a conversation with her at the moment.
Saffy turned up just before 1pm. She saw almost right away that I had the whole world on my mind.
“Viv, why don’t you head off and get some Lunch?”
“Sure thing Boss,”
Once Viv was out of the way, Fran asked,
“Ok Fran. Out with it. What is the problem?”
I didn’t answer right away.
“Come on Fran. I’m not going to stop pestering you until you tell me what is wrong.”
I knew I’d have to tell her. I’d almost not come into work because of that inevitability.
“I’ve been asked out on a date. I don’t know if I should go or not.”
Saffy smiled back at me and put down the pile of clothes she was carrying.
“Who, why, when, where? Come on spill the goss!” She demanded.
“The who is a man I met yesterday. The why is because he asked me out, the when is tonight and the
where is the Royal Spa Hotel at 7:00pm. Satisfied?”
“Nope. Not in the slightest. I want the rest!”
“There really isn’t much to say.”
“Pull the other one Fran. I wasn’t born yesterday.”
She grinned at me.
“How did you meet?”
“On my trip to London.” I replied.
Yes, it wasn’t strictly true but I wasn’t going to split hairs.
“And he’s staying here in Bath? Wow. What a coincidence. What is his name? What does he do for a living?”
“Hold on a moment. Just slow down. I don’t know everything about him. All I know is that he has some business here in Bath and asked me out to dinner. Now are you satisfied?”
“I guess I will have to be. For now,”
I smiled back at her.
“What are you going to wear?”
I smiled back at her. I fluttered my lashes.
“Ok. Ok. I get the message. You want me work my magic on you for tonight?”
“I still haven’t decided if I’m going or not.” I protested.
“Yeah right and the Dali Lama is a Buddhist.”
We both laughed.
Just then Vivienne returned from her trip deli with her lunch.
Saffy called out to Vivienne,
“Viv, now that you are back can you look after the shop? I have someone to dress to kill.”
We spent the next hour or so rummaging through our, sorry the shops collection of ‘top notch outfits ideal for ‘knocking them dead’ on dates’. These were very different from the ‘top notch dresses for being seen in’ or ‘for getting laid in’. These were classic styles from the thirties, if you had a really tiny waist, skipping the very dull forties right up to the mid 1960’s. In the end we settled on a ‘Normal Hartnell’ number from his spring collection of 1959. It was mostly black with white trimmings and a full skirt. I’d be wearing three frilly petticoats to make it really full. We found some white elbow length gloves and a suitable ‘pill-box’ hat. I’d knock him dead.
Well I would if I dared put a foot inside the hotel.
Saffy was back to her good old self as she plucked, filed, painted and a dozen other things in her quest to get me all dolled up for my date. She even roped in Luigi Percaronso from the Hairdressers a few doors down the street. He certainly did weave his magic on my hair as he combed and brushed it into an incredible style.
By late afternoon I was ready to get dressed or, so I thought.
“Hold on right there. I’ll get rid of Viv first.” Said Saffy.
“I’d forgotten about her,” I replied. Viv didn’t know about my real sexuality.
“Yeah you did all right. Your mind is clearly on your hot date tonight”
I didn’t correct her. It was. I knew I could still chicken out at the last minute.
Saffy disappeared into the front of the shop.
She returned a couple of minutes later smiling.
“She’s gone for the day. I’ve locked the door so we can get going.”
“What do you mean?”
“For starters, that dress is not going to work with your corset. “
“Eh? I thought it would look great.”
“Yeah, and it would also tell the world that you are wearing a corset. The art of wearing this type of dress is to give you a waist without the appearance of it being unnatural. A different type of garment is required.”
I smiled back at Saffy. She was on top form.
“Strip off while I get your new underwear,” she commanded.
I stood my ground.
“What on earth are you talking about?”
“Very well. Just stand there while I get what you will be wearing. Perhaps then you will understand.”
Saffy went back into the shop. I heard her rummaging around in one of the drawers where we kept the Victorians called ‘unmentionables’.
“Here. This is what you will be wearing tonight.”
She tossed me the garment.
I gasped.
“It’s an all-in-one body shaper!”
“Exactly. It will hug you in all the right places to enhance the shape the dress is trying to present.”
“Are you saying that I’m not the right shape?”
“Well in certain places, yes.”
I had to laugh. Saffy was the only person who could talk to me like that. This was more like her old self.
I hugged her tight. She responded.
We spent the next twenty minutes getting the beast of a garment on my body. In one respect, not having the corset on was a relief but that dammed garment was worse in one crucial area, where my penis and testicles would sit or rather be squashed in.
Eventually, I got my bits sorted out and myself squeezed into the instrument of torture.
Once I pulled the straps up over my shoulder and Saffy adjusted them I took a good look at my new figure in the mirror.
“Well? What do you think? Do you like your new shape?”
“Yes. Yes, I do. But this is hardly practical for everyday wear is it?”
“Why not? Women wear them don’t they?”
I looked at her and said,
“How many women do you know would even contemplate wearing an instrument or torture as bad as this?”
“Point taken. Perhaps for special occasions only then?”
“Special occasions then.”
“Like your date with this mysterious man tonight?”
“Perhaps,” I answered a little coyly.
I had to admit that I looked pretty good once my outfit for the evening was complete.
Saffy had wanted me to wear seamed stockings but personally, I think they are vastly overrated unless you have legs like drainpipes. I didn’t have that good fortune so I was wearing some fairly small mesh fishnet holdups.
I was wearing my favourite pair of 4in heels. I’d had these for a couple of years and they were well worn in and thus very comfortable. I learned early on that comfortable heels are a godsend. There is nothing worse than shoes that hurt your feet even if the make you look good.
“God you look good enough to eat.” Pronounced Saffy as I paraded for her in the shop.
I looked at myself in the mirror. I had to admit that I did look pretty good. I gave myself a twirl. The full skirt flared out beautifully, amply assisted by the petticoats.
“Thank you Saffy. I appreciate that. And all the effort you have put in today.”
I went to kiss her on the lips.
She moved out of the way.
“No. I don’t want to have to apply all that lippy again.”
So we hugged each other.
“Thank you Saffy. You are one of a kind.”
We hugged for a few seconds before Saffy broke free and said,
“Now be off with you before I start crying.”
A minute or so later I was out of the shop and walking down the street towards my date.
It was five to the hour when I arrived at the Hotel. It was now or never. Do I go or do I chicken out and run home? Outwardly, I was still dithering but inside I knew that I could not back down.
With a new resolve, and at exactly two minutes past seven, I walked into the Hotel foyer. Luca was waiting patiently for me.
As he saw me his mouth dropped open slightly before he recovered his composure and walked towards me smiling broadly.
“Hello Fran. It is really nice to see you again. I am so glad you decided to come.”
He took my arm in his.
This was a pleasant and very unexpected surprise.
Instead of leading us towards the restaurant we went towards the side exit of the hotel.
“Where are we going?” I asked slightly puzzled.
“As it is a fine evening I thought we would go out for a picnic. I know the perfect spot.”
He led me to a black Jaguar XF.
Luca opened the door for me and helped me inside.
I slid onto the passenger seat and swung my legs in together in an attempt to appear ladylike.
He closed the door behind me and then got in on the driver’s side.
A few minutes later we were heading up the hill out of Bath.
As Luca turned onto the A46 and headed North my heart sank. I knew where we were going.
Sure enough he turned the big car off the A46 a few miles later.
I spent the rest of the journey trying to decide what to do when we reached our destination. Should I tell him or should I not? I couldn’t decide.
I was still frantically trying to decide one way or another when we arrived at our destination. The gravel drive crunched under the tyres of the Jaguar as we travelled up the drive and around the side of the house.
This side of the house faces southwest and offers views over the disused ‘Charmy Down’ airfield towards Bath and Bristol. This was the feature that had made me so reluctant to sell it over the past few years. I never really intended to live here but my plans to rent it out came to nothing. In the end common sense made me sell it. I’d make a small loss on the property but that was something I’d have to live with.
Luca stopped the car and helped me out like the perfect Gentleman he was.
“Why don’t you go and admire the view while I set up the picnic? I have everything I need in the back of the car.”
I pretended to be interested in the view. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Luca setting up a table, chairs and all the accessories. Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to get all this ready all the time assuming that I would indeed turn up tonight.
By the time he’d finished and called me over I had decided not to tell him about my ownership of his future home.
Luca came over to where I was standing carrying two glasses of Champagne.
I graciously accepted one of the glasses from him.
“Cheers,” he said quietly.
“Cheers.”
We chinked glasses.
Luca led me back to the table and helped me sit down. He was being the perfect gentleman. I had to stop my thoughts wandering off in the direction of ‘I could get to like this’.
As we ate the delicious meal we talked. Talked about a lot of things but always skirting the subject of me and him and the job.
As the sun started setting I was glad that Saffy had insisted on me wearing a wrap for the evening.
Luca noticed my slight shiver.
“Are you getting cold? Perhaps we should go back to town?”
“I think that might be best.”
“Why don’t you go and sit in the car while I clear these things away?”
I made a sudden decision.
“No. Let me help. We will get it done quicker that way.”
A few minutes later we were on our way back to the City.
“Thank you for a very lovely evening,” I said as we turned onto the A46.
“It is my pleasure. It has been quite a while since I had the pleasure of the company of a beautiful woman.”
“Thank you for the compliment.”
“You didn’t sound very convincing.”
“You know my dirty little secret so how can I be convincing. Besides, you could have your pick of dozens of beautiful women.”
He laughed.
“All I see sitting beside me is a very pretty woman, a pretty intelligent woman. What more does a man need?”
“Well, if you put it like that then thank you. It was probably the best evening out I’ve had in years.”
He smiled back at me.
“Have you by any chance changed your mind about the job?”
I was expecting that question at some point during the evening.
“No, I’ve not changed my mind. As I said, I’m going to spend the summer travelling. I can’t think of anything beyond then. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry. That is fine. Both Claudia and I respect your decision besides, will be sharing the children with their mother for the summer.”
He chuckled and added.
“She really does not want to look after them but she has to play her part in bringing them up.”
“I’m pleased for you that you can spend time with your children. So many fathers get shut out of the lives of their children after a divorce.”
I saw Luca smile out of the corner of my eye.
We’d just entered the city when Luca suddenly pulled off the road and stopped the car in a garage forecourt.
He turned to me and said,
“If you are the least bit interested in the job when you have finished travelling at the end of the summer, then….”
He was lost for words for a few seconds.
“Then, come and find me. I’ll email you my itinerary tomorrow. I am perfectly serious. I have to admit that when Claudia showed me your application it took me a long time before I agreed to her idea that you would be suitable for the job.”
I didn’t say anything.
“The day you came to the house in Tuscany I knew almost right away that you were the right person for the job.”
“But I turned it down.”
“Yes you did. I respect you for that. I suppose that is one of the things that drew me to this part of the country. There was something…”
“Stop right there Luca. Don’t go there. You know all about me. I’m nothing but a fake, through and through.”
I didn’t get a chance to say anything else.
Luca leaned over and kissed me. Not a long kiss but just a little peck on the lips.
Then he sank back in his seat.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“Can you please take me home?”
“I’m sorry. Yes. I’ll take you home.”
I sat back in the seat and stared at the road ahead.
Fifteen minutes later Luca stopped the car outside my home. I got out and shut the car door without saying another word.
I went straight inside. I dared not look back at him.
Then I cried my heart out.
For not the first time since I’d got embroiled in this, sleep was hard to come by. Half of me had wanted to kiss him back. The other half was feeling dirty at the thought of me being attracted to another man.
I can only say that I looked like shit when I eventually walked into the shop close on lunchtime the next day.
“Oh look what the cat dragged in.” Exclaimed Saffy when she saw me.
“Don’t say anything. Just don’t ok?”
I retreated into the rear of the shop and brewed some coffee.
Saffy joined me a little later.
“So he kissed you then?” Said Saffy as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
I didn’t answer one way or the other.
“He really did. How was it? Was that the first time a fella has snogged you?”
“It wasn’t a snog.”
“Oh my god. He really did it. Was it nice?”
I sat there looking at my coffee.
“He knows. He knows about me and he still kissed me.”
That was it. I didn’t need to say anything else.
“What! Before or after the kiss?”
“Before.”
“And still he kissed you. Wow. Girl you have transitioned.”
I shook my head at her.
“What’s wrong?”
“Before. He knew before the date.”
Saffy collapsed into a chair.
“Oh my god Fran. How? Did you know he knew?”
I nodded my head.
Saffy sat there silent just looking at me for a good ten minutes.
“You fancy him don’t you?”
“No. Well just a bit but I can’t.”
Saffy grinned.
“He’s married then. Does his wife know he’s sort of gay?”
“No Saffy. It is nothing like that. Nothing at all.”
“Well what is it then?
“He could be my boss.”
Saffy sat still again. She was thinking hard.
“Was it the Italian… what’s his name?”
I nodded my head.
“Luca. Yes, it was him.”
“You don’t do things by halves do you my dear?”
I didn’t need to answer that.
“What happens next?”
I smiled back at her.
“I’m going away on holiday.”
“What! You can’t be serious!”
“I’m perfectly serious. I’m going away and not coming back until September at the earliest.”
There was no need to tell her about the house. It would just complicate matters even more.
Still, I felt a little better having told my best friend.
[To be continued]
[Authors note]
If you read Part 4 on the day it was posted then there is a chance that you may have spotted a continuity error at the end of Part 4 and the start of this one. I edited Part 4 to remove the error.
When I first told Saffy that I was going travelling and despite her protestations and comments such as ‘Yeah Right’, I really meant it.
As I prepared to leave the country to start my travels, I was not really sure where I would end up. I called it, ‘Going with the Flow’. My problem was deciding where to start.
In the end, I started in Pompeii. It was a place I’d always wanted to visit but would not have been on my wanted list if I hadn’t by chance seen a late-night TV Programme about Pink Floyd playing at Pompeii.
I booked a flight to Naples right away and left Bath the following afternoon to begin my adventures.
The sale of ‘Hartley House’ went through at the end of August. I found out by email when I was in Alaska watching Grizzly Bears fishing for Sock-eye Salmon. I’d put the events in Italy and Bath well out of my mind.
The day after the sale went through, I was ‘hit upon’ in a bar in Nome by a Venture Capitalist from New York. I felt that I’d well and truly transitioned into life as a woman. I left him speechless when I told him that he didn’t have enough money to keep me in the style I’d become accustomed to.
As I walked nonchalantly out of the bar two friends of his who’d overheard my putdown burst out laughing.
One of them collared me two days later at the airport.
“No one has put him down, no, destroyed him like that ever! He won’t be allowed to forget that in a hurry,” he said grinning from ear to ear.
I just smiled back at time
Then he thrust a card into my hand.
“If you are ever in the Big Apple I’d love to take you out to dinner. Just dinner you understand. Consider it a reward for making my trip with that bore worthwhile.”
I leaned over and gave him little kiss on the cheek.
Then I whispered,
“He deserved it and if I am ever in New York and at a loose end, I’ll take you up on that.”
I returned to Bath refreshed mentally but tired from all the travelling at the end of the second week in September. As I lay in my bed that night, I’d still not made any decision about going to work for Luca. I’d pushed it out of my mind because I wanted a period where I could enjoy myself in my new role and not worry about the future.
Now I was home it was time to do some serious thinking.
I set too with the cleaning of my home. Leaving three months of dust lying around was just not my style.
As I dusted, mopped and cleaned my mind wandered aimlessly but there was always the question I needed to answer bubbling around somewhere near the surface.
By lunchtime on the third day, my home was clean, my laundry done and ironed. I’d also consigned the last remnants of Francis to the recycling bin. I’d also made a decision. For once in this whole saga, my mind was clear, perfectly clear.
I fired up my laptop and after checking the schedule that Luca had sent me, I booked a flight to Rio de Janeiro. I had a date with Luca to talk about a job.
I did feel a few pangs of remorse that I hadn’t been to the shop since I’d come home. But, I didn’t want to have to answer Saffy’s million and one questions before everything was sorted out. I really hoped that this ‘sorting out’ would happen next week in Brazil.
The next day, with my case packed, I headed for the Airport.
Although I was pretty, no make that very well off I was generally cash poor because most of it was tied up in investments. Now that I had some cash in the bank, I could afford to fly right at the front of the plane.
Despite the extra security and all that made flying a real pain, at least in first class you were treated as a human being. Being stuffed in like cattle was something that I was determined never to have to experience ever again especially on a long-haul flight.
Rio Airport in the early morning is not the most welcoming of places but I had been to worse in my recent travels. The Taxi driver thought he was Ayrton Senna or Filipe Massa as he drove through the city like a maniac. The vehicle looked as if it had been in at least a hundred accidents. Everyone else seemed to be driving in a similar manner nothing disastrous happened but there were far too many near misses for my comfort.
By some fluke of luck we survived the Grand Prix on the highway and arrived at my hotel at the southern end of Copacabana just before 06:30. The place was just waking up, still there were at least three prostitutes on duty outside. Their presence and initial interest in me made me smile as I realised the irony. From what I’d read they were more than likely to be just like me, a trans person. Their obvious beauty bought a smile to my face but I did wonder how much of it was natural and how much was due to the skill if a surgeon.
As they saw the taxi drive up they all headed towards it hoping to snare a tired traveller as a client. The looks of disappointment on their faces when they saw a pair of high heels getting out of the cab really brightened up an otherwise dull and overcast morning.
I was soon relaxing in my suite that overlooked the beach at Ipanema. After a shower, I changed my clothes and sorted out my makeup before going downstairs for a late breakfast.
I keenly looked around for Luca. I was slightly disappointed that there wasn’t any sign of him. That in itself, didn’t worry me unduly as the updated schedule I’d received from him a couple of weeks before had told me that he would be here later today. I was just hoping that he’d be here a little early.
After breakfast I went out for a walk. The place was almost deserted. It was very early spring after all. I wandered down the length of Copacabana beach before returning to the Hotel in time for a little nap before Lunch. The exercise and fresh air had given me a bit of an appetite.
I’d just come downstairs from the restaurant when I saw Luca getting out of a car outside. My heart raced for a few seconds. I smiled and started walking towards him.
Then I saw the woman he was with. She was tall, blonde and gobsmackingly beautiful. Her dazzling beauty made me completely miss the fact that two children had also emerged from the car.
My previous calmness evaporated in an instant. I stopped dead in my tracks. The smile had gone from my face.
“How could he do this to me?” I thought to myself.
I felt a tear welling up so I turned tail and just managed to catch a lift as the doors closed.
I just made it to my room before I burst into tears. I was angry, hurt, betrayed and just fed up.
His (dam him) last email to me was full of hope that I’d make it here. Now I’m here and he as a real beauty on his arm.
I must have cried myself to sleep because it was getting dark when I opened my eyes.
The sight of my bloodshot eyes in the bathroom mirror almost made me start crying again.
“These bloody hormones.” I shouted at myself when I realised why I was getting so emotional.
In the end, I washed my face, fixed my makeup and after changing my clothes I went downstairs.
Once I'd recovered enough to face the world, I went down to reception and got the eye of the male clerk.
“I shall be leaving ahead of schedule. Tomorrow evening if I can get a flight to London.”
“Certainly Madam. Perhaps the travel agent in the arcade next door can help you book a flight?”
“Thank you. I’ll go and see them. What time do they close?”
He looked at the clock behind his head.
“In a little over an hour.”
“Thanks. I’ll go and see them now.”
I turned to go towards the exit when I had a thought.
“Can you book a table for me in the Restaurant for this evening?”
“Certainly Madam. What time would you like the table for?”
I smiled at him.
“Lets say 9:00pm.”
“That will be fine Madam. I’ll see to it now.”
Just before 9:00pm I walked out of the lift in my best evening dress. Not a LBD but a Long Black Dress. It had a high waist that sported a thin silver band. The full skirt felt nice on my legs. I was also wearing a new pair of 4in-heeled sandals. I’d bought them in Paris just before I returned home from my travels. The outfit was bought to impress a certain Italian male. Now… I was wearing it to boost my own confidence.
My entrance into the restaurant did indeed turn a few heads. I felt more than a few male eyes following my every move as the Maître D’ escorted me to my table.
My table was on the balcony that overlooked the famous Copacabana beach. It was a perfect night but possibly a little chilly by Rio’s standards, it was early spring after all.
“I’ll have a bottle of your best Champagne please.” I said as I was seated at the table.
I’d decided that if I was going home with my tail between my legs then I was going to have one last fling.
The food was marvellous. As I dined, the moon came out and the wind dropped. It was a perfect evening.
At the end of the meal I stood up and watched the traffic driving up and down the beach road. The moonlight was showing up the statue of Christ that looked down on the city. Beautiful, truly beautiful.
The Maître D’ rudely interrupted my dreaming.
“Excuse me Miss. A gentleman at the bar wishes to know if you would have the pleasure of joining him for a nightcap?”
I turned round hoping that it was Luca. I looked back at the bar area. A man raised a glass and smiled at me.
It wasn’t Luca. My hopes were dashed.
“I’m sorry. I don’t date strange men.”
“As you wish Miss.”
He left me alone. As he walked back inside he shook his head at the man. The man by the bar didn’t look happy. Not happy at all.
I turned back to look at the view. The moon had gone behind some clouds. The moment had gone. I left the balcony and went back inside the hotel.
I walked slowly down the stairs into the lobby and towards the lifts.
The bell pinged and one of the sets of doors opened. The lift car was empty. I walked inside and pressed the button for my floor.
The lift doors were just closing when the man from the bar rushed inside.
“Ahh a mulher fria que não sabe quando está pronta por um bom tempo.”
“I.. I’m sorry I don’t speak Portuguese.”
“It does not matter Doll. I’m going to give you a good time, a really good time. You really should not have turned down my offer of a drink you know.”
His accent and choice of words told me that he was an American.
I suddenly felt really frightened.
“Please. Leave me alone. I don’t want have anything to do with you.”
“Now that is no way to talk to me.” He replied with a definite tone in his voice.
Then the male part of me kicked in.
“Look buddy. You really don’t want to mess with me. You really don’t know what you are letting yourself in for if you pursue this.”
He smiled.
“Oh goody. I like a bit of spunk in a whore.”
I glared at him. How dare he call me a whore?
A jerk told me that the lift had stopped. I glanced at the indicator. It was my floor.
I couldn’t decide if I should run out of the lift. I knew instinctively that I wouldn’t make it in these heels.
I made a lunge for the button to send the lift back to the lobby. He saw my move and blocked it, gripping my wrist as he did.
In a deft move my arm was twisted up behind my back. His garlic-ridden breath was all over me. His lips started to pucker up. He wanted a kiss. There was no way I was going to kiss that bastard.
“Fuck you,” I cried.
His free hand started to move towards my tightly bound crotch.
I couldn’t let him get there.
I brought my knee hard up into his dangly bits.
“Ooff”
He collapsed into the corner of the lift clutching his crotch.
“Bitch. You will pay for that. Really pay. You really don't know who you are messing with!”
I didn’t reply. Instead I pressed the button to take the lift down to the lobby.
It seemed to take an eternity for the lift to drop the eight floors. Eventually the doors opened.
When it did, I pressed the alarm.
A couple of seconds later several staff appeared outside the lift and looked in.
They saw me shaking like a leaf and my attacker lying on the floor still grasping his crotch.
“Get her. She attacked me. Get me a doctor. Get the police.”
Screamed the man.
“Liar. You attacked me.”
Then a figure appeared in the door. He seemed to tower above everyone else. I looked up. It was Luca.
I didn’t care, I ran to him and wrapped my arms around him and for the second time that day I burst into tears.
I was still shaking when the police arrived. It didn’t take them long because there was a Police Station right outside the hotel.
Luckily for me, the Maître ‘D appeared on the scene.
A lot of very rapid talking eschewed, almost all of in Portuguese.
There was a lot of finger pointing at the man who was still lying on the floor.
Just when I felt that fingers were being pointed at me, the Police dragged the man away. He was protesting loudly. Confusion reigned. The only solid thing was Luca. He held me like a rock.
A few seconds later, the Manager appeared.
“I am sorry for this incident Madame? The Police have arrested him. We will provide them with the CCTV from the lift.”
I gave him a small smile.
“Thank you. But I’m supposed to be going home tomorrow.”
“It will not be a problem. This is not the first time Senhor Bristow has tried it on with a female guest when he has been staying at the hotel.”
“But…” I gasped.
Luca interrupted me.
“Shh Fran. You have had a difficult time tonight. Why don’t you go to bed and we can sort all this out in the morning?”
I didn’t say anything. At least I had now stopped shaking.
Luca said something in Portuguese to the manager.
There was much nodding of heads. Luca shook the hands of the Manager.
“Come on. We can sort all this out in the morning.”
Still holding me Luca guided me back into the lift. I had a great feeling or relief when the doors closed.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
“That’s all right. Don’t worry. From what the manager said, he deserved a good kicking.”
I didn’t answer.
Luca escorted me to my room.
“Thank you,” I said once more.
“Why don’t you try get a good nights sleep? We can talk in the morning.”
I opened the door and went inside. I turned around and looked at Luca.
“Good night Fran.”
He said in a calm yet reassuring manner.
With a smile, I shut the door to my room. My previously uneventful but delightful evening had been totally ruined by a drunken American. The only good thing to come out of it was my rescue by a ‘knight in shining armour’.
My last thought as I fell asleep was that the ‘Blonde’ was nowhere to be seen.
[To be continued]
The gentle knocking of the maid on the door eventually roused me from my slumbers.
I didn’t want to move so I shouted out,
“Please. Come back later.”
The knocking stopped and all was quiet once more apart from the muted traffic noise coming from the world outside the Hotel.
I relaxed back onto the bed and closed my eyes once more.
Eventually the call of nature demanded that I get out of bed. Once up and on my feet, I took my time taking a shower, applying my makeup and getting dressed. In reality, for much of the time I was thinking about the events in the lift the night before. I resolved to not let a drunk American get me down.
With renewed determination, I headed downstairs to the lobby. The desk clerk saw me coming out of the lift and immediately disappeared into the office behind the reception area. By the time I’d walked across the marbled floor of the lobby he’d returned with the manager.
“Madame. I want to say that we are so sorry for the events that happened last night.”
I waved him away.
“It is all right. Men like that are in these troubles times, unfortunately everywhere. Do I need to go and make a statement to the Police?”
He shook his head.
“No Madame. We gave the Police the CCTV tapes from the lift. They say that they contain all the evidence they need. He will be charged later today and probably deported. He will not be staying at any of our hotels anywhere in the world ever again. That is not the sort of incident we want. He is not the sort of guest we want in our establishments.”
“Thank you for your kindness. Have you seen Mr Luca today?”
He smiled back at me.
“Yes. He has left a note for you.”
He retrieved an envelope from the rack behind the desk and handed it to me.
“Will there be anything else?”
“Not at the moment thank you.”
I wandered over to a couple of leather chairs that were for the use of guests and sat down to read the letter.
Fran,
I’ve gone with the children to the airport. Their mother is flying back to Europe via Miami. We will be back in the late afternoon. Please join us for dinner. We have a table booked for 7pm.
I have rebooked your flight home (the manager told me you were leaving). I hope you don’t mind. I need to talk to you. We are all flying to London tomorrow night subject to your approval.
Luca.
I read it again. My head was buzzing with questions. Was that woman I saw with him yesterday his ex-wife?
Then I sat back and smiled to myself.
I was jealous. I couldn’t believe it but there was no other explanation for what I was feeling. A bit of me was happy but another part, deep inside was disturbed. Why was I starting to? No I don’t want to go there.
After a while, it hit me right between the eyes, yes I did fancy him. Why else would I have travelled this far? After all, who in their right mind comes to Rio out of season?
After a late breakfast, I went back to my room and dozed for a while. Perhaps the emotions from the episode in the lift was catching up on me. Well, that was my excuse anyway.
Eventually I stirred myself out of my stupor and went out for a walk. The afternoon breeze was up. There were very few people on either the Copacabana or Ipanema beaches. A few hardy souls playing beach volleyball on Ipanema and a few kite surfers were thoroughly enjoying themselves just offshore. I got a few whistles as I walked past the volleyball court. That alone did a huge amount towards restoring my confidence. Rio out of the season in so many ways is really no different to Blackpool or any of a dozen summer resorts all over the world out of season.
I took my time getting ready for the evening. I was very nervous at the prospect of meeting his children for the first time.
I was so nervous that it took me almost half an hour to put my hair up properly. I made a mental note to get it cut when I returned to the UK.
Just before 7pm I took the lift downstairs. I was wearing another LBD tonight. The ‘L’ meaning ‘Long’ and a lot fuller in the skirt. Two petticoats helped give it volume which was the effect I wanted.
As I stepped out of the lift into the lobby my eyes darted around looking for him. As I did so, I wondered if I looked all right. Not too flirty I hoped.
None of them were in the Lobby so I started to walk up the curved stairs to the Restaurant.
As I approached the entrance the Maitre ‘D saw me and smiled.
“Welcome back. I hope Madam is feeling better after last night?”
“Thank you. Yes, I’m fine, actually I’m very well.”
The reason I was so ‘fine’ was that I’d spotted Luca.
“Would you please follow me your party is already seated.”
He led me to a quiet corner of the restaurant. Luca was there with a boy and a girl. The girl was fidgeting.
The boy didn’t look very happy. Both were obviously wearing their ‘Sunday best’ or something close to it.
Luca saw me as I approached. A beaming smile appeared on his face.
He got up from the table to welcome me.
“Good evening Fran. I hope you are well?”
“Very well Luca. Very well indeed.”
He beamed a smile back.
“Allow me to introduce my children.”
He turned towards them.
“This if Fran. If all goes well, she may become your Governess.”
“Fran, this is Sophia.”
The little girl smiled back.
“The unruly wretch in the corner is Benito,” added Luca.
I smiled to myself. He was dressed up in a suit but the image was of ‘Just William’. He was obviously the sort of boy who could never look smart no matter how he tried. This was so unlike his father who was most certainly ‘hot’ in that classic understated simple Italian way. I afforded myself a little internal sigh.
“Hello Sophia. I’m pleased to meet you at last.”
I made sure than Benito was not left out.
“Hello Benito. I’m very pleased to meet you too.”
Neither of the children said anything. Their eyes were sizing me up.
Luca helped me into my seat and then sat himself down.
Out of nowhere a waiter appeared with two menus. He gave one to Luca and one to myself.
“Hey!” cried Benito.
“What about mine?”
The waiter looked at Luca. He nodded his head.
A few seconds later, the waiter returned with another menu. He smiled graciously and gave it to Benito.
I pretended to read my menu but in reality I was watching the two children. They were very alike but naturally they should be.
Sophia kept pulling faces at Benito. He tried to ignore her by burying his head in the menu. Every so often, and when he thought that there was no one looking he’d respond by sticking his tongue out at her.
At that instant, I knew I could look after this pair.
I folded my menu and put it down on the table.
Luca looked at me.
“Have you decided already?”
I smiled across the table at him.
“No. No, I haven’t decided. I thought that it might be nice to let Benito choose what we would all eat tonight.”
Sophia started sniggering.
“Sophia!”
She tried to stop but couldn’t.
I looked at Benito.
“Well Benito? What should we all eat tonight?”
He looked at his sister for support. She just sat there as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth.
“Grandmamma made something for us last week. She called it Ensoado De Lagosta. I liked it.”
Luca smiled and called the waiter over.
“Are you ready to order Sir?”
“Yes. Can you ask the chef if he can prepare some ‘Ensado De Lagosta’?”
The waiter smiled.
“Very good Sir. I will ask the chef.”
He took the menus from us and left us alone.
Luca had thoughtfully ordered a bottle of wine. It was sitting in a cooler by the side of the table. He poured me a glass.
“It’s not Italian I’m afraid, but Chile does produce some nice wines.”
I almost came out and called him a wine snob but this was neither the time nor the place for that.
“Thank you.”
I said as he handed it to me.
I sipped it gently. The wine was pretty good.
“This is a good wine.” I commented hoping I was not out of order.
Luca smiled back.
“Yes is it pretty good. I happen to know that the Vintner is of Italian descent. He has to be with a name like Agostini.”
Just then the waiter returned and announced,
“The chef will be happy to make the dish you have requested. It will take him about half an hour to prepare if you do not mind waiting?”
Luca and I looked at Benito.
“Benito? You are in charge. What do you say?” Asked his father.
Benito smiled.
“Yes. We can wait.”
I smiled at Luca. He winked back.
The meal was delicious. Towards the end of it, the Chef came personally to our table and thanked us for ordering proper Brazilian Food instead of the more common ‘Steak and Fries’ that many of the ‘foreign’ diners requested.
At the end of the evening, Luca said,
“Fran, would you care to wait down here while I put these two to bed.”
Then I had an idea.
“If I am to be their Governess why don’t I do it instead? It will be good practice.”
After what seemed an eternity, but was probably no more than half a second he replied.
“Does this mean…”
“Yes.”
I didn’t say anything else. Instead I took hold of the children’s hands and led them out of the Restaurant.
Once we were all in the lift I asked the children,
“Ok, out with it?”
“What do you mean?” replied Sophia.
“You two have been very quiet all evening. That is unnatural. Remember, I was your age once. So why were you as good as gold all night?”
Benito looked a Sophia. Then he said,
“Father told us to be on our best behaviour otherwise you wouldn’t take the job.”
“What do you think? Do you want me to take the job? How do I rate when compared to the other Governesses you have had?”
They looked at each other but didn’t say anything.
Then the lift arrived at the 5th floor.
“Come on. Time for bed.”
Ten minutes later they were in bed.
“I hope you two aren’t looking for a bedtime story?”
Sophia looked at Benito. Then she said.
“Miss Fran. Why do you want to be our Governess? You are nice, and not like the other ones.”
Before I could answer, she added.
“We are going to school in England. You will only be with us for the holidays.”
“Sophia, you are very smart for an eight year old.”
She gave me a toothy grin back at me.
“When you two lovely children are at school I shall be helping your father with his business. I can speak a few languages he can’t such as Russian.”
“Miss Fran, do you want his money? The other governesses wanted nothing more than to get my fathers money.”
I laughed.
“No Sophia I do not want your father’s money. I have enough to last me for the rest of my life. If fact, we have not even discussed payment for my services. Does this satisfy your curiosity?”
“Yes Miss Fran,” both of them said in unison.
“Good.”
I smiled.
“I want what we just said to be between us. Our little secret? Ok?”
The looked at each other and nodded their heads.
“Now off to sleep with the both of you.”
I switched off the lights as I left their room.
As I turned around from shutting their bedroom door, I bumped right into Luca.
He put his arms around me and we kissed. Not the fleeting kiss from the night of the picnic but a full on snog.
When we broke free I started to say.
“But…”
That was as far as I got. He put a finger over my lips and he led me into his room.
I tried again,
“But.. We shouldn’t be doing this.”
“I know but it feels nice doesn’t it?”
I couldn’t argue with that.
I sat down on a chair and tried to get my thoughts together. This was not the first time my mind had been in this sort of tizzy since I’d met Luca and his sister.
I couldn’t get my mind straight. In the end it came straight out.
“Luca, are you gay?”
He looked at his feet. That was answer enough.
What he said next would have knocked me down if I hadn’t already been sitting.
“I don’t know.”
His eyes were still looking at the floor.
Then I replied without thinking once more.
“So a little tranny comes along and suddenly click, a solution. I become your trophy wife. Image problem solved. Is that it?”
“Yes. Yes it was. At the start. Then…”
“Then what?”
“We met you in person and it all went wrong. That first day in Tuscany”
He paused,
“Then I realised that it was very wrong. I couldn’t do it.”
“What about the picnic. What about that kiss?”
“I am so sorry. That evening was beautiful. I saw the real you. I felt totally attracted to you. You were so natural and comfortable as a woman. For a moment, I forgot that you weren’t. That was why I kissed you that night.”
“And now?”
“Isn’t it obvious that I fancy you?”
He added, changing the subject slightly,
“They like you. I could tell.”
“Yes they do.
He paused before asking…
“Are you willing to give this a try? Give us a try?”
This was the question I’d been dreading.
“I don’t know. Can we see how things go for the next few weeks?”
He looked at me and I think he realised that was all he was going to get out of me for now.
“I’m going to bed. We all have a long day tomorrow besides I want to go up to Corcovado tomorrow if it isn’t covered in cloud again. I can hardly say I’ve been to Rio without going to see it up close now can I.”
“But you will …”
He started to say something along the lines of, ‘you will get plenty of opportunity when you come here to take the children to their grandmothers’. I’m glad he stopped.
For the second night running, I spent god knows how long tossing and turning in bed before sleep would come. All I could think of was ‘that bloody man has been messing with my mind again’. It was true, he had and I couldn’t quite understand the feelings I was having about him.
The taxi we’d hired for the day then took us all to a small restaurant right on the beach about 35km south of the city. There we had a simple dish of grilled fish and rice.
After lunch, the children played in the edge of the sea while Luca and I watched on from the terrace of the Restaurant. Not a lot was said between us. Each of us was for the moment content to just be there and relaxing.
Well, he might have been. I was trying to decide if I should come clean about the house.
After about an hour of deliberation, I broached the question of it.
“Luca, the children are going off to school next week but there is the little matter of an empty house to sort out as well as you looking after your business interests.”
He smiled back at me.
“It is all in hand. Claudia has been enjoying herself for the past month getting the house ready to live in. She emailed me yesterday saying that it was ready to live in. I thought we might go there in a couple of days. Benito starts school a day before Sophia. We can use it as a base besides, I know you will want to see your friend Saffy again.”
That last bit was true, very true. I needed someone to talk to.
“Then what?”
“Oh you mean my schedule for the next week or so?”
I nodded.
“We are supposed to go to Singapore for the Grand Prix at the end of the month. Then it is back to Italy. There are three big contracts coming to an end. I need to be on hand in Genoa for delivery. One is going to be delivered to Corfu. Perhaps we can travel with the boat and enjoy a few days rest and sun?”
“Perhaps. But what do you really want me to do? You know, when the children are away at school?”
He looked a bit uneasy.
“The original idea cooked up by my sister was that you would indeed be the ‘trophy wife’ as you put it. I can’t ask you to do that anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Because you are a real person. Before we met you Claudia and I had this caricature of what you would be like in our minds. Neither of us had ever knowingly met a Transsexual before. As I said, meeting you in person has changed all that.”
“I’ll do it.”
He looked at me strangely.
“I’ll be your trophy wife. Well at least until we decide to stay together or not. I will need to get a few things sorted out though.”
Luca mouth dropped open.
“What do you mean sorted out?”
I smiled back at him.
“Oh this and that. Things a woman has to attend to. Claudia would know what I mean.”
Then I changed the subject.
“Do you know who you bought the house in England from?”
Luca was a bit taken aback by the sudden change of tack.
“What do you mean?”
“Did you ever find out who was actually selling the house? I remember you telling me that it was some faceless company.”
He grinned back.
“I don’t have a clue. Do you know anything?”
At the last moment, I got cold feet.
“No. I don’t know anything.”
I looked at him hoping I sounded convincing.
To avoid any more possible foopah’s, I changed the subject.
“Are the children good travellers?”
Luca looked at me strangely.
“What I mean, is do they act like spoilt brats on the plane and if they do, how do you suggest I keep them under control?”
To my eternal relief, he smiled back.
“If they did act like that I’d soon make sure they were under control. Unfortunately, their Mother often let them run riot. As a result, I won’t let them travel with her anymore.”
All too soon it was time to say goodbye to Brazil and take the long flight back to Europe. I made sure that I’d never ever forget that afternoon on a beach south of Rio.
We arrived at Luca’s apartment in Genoa late the next afternoon.
It was a real shock to be in the middle of a city once more after the relative quiet of the bits of Rio I’d visited during my short stay.
The audible assault you experience in an Italian city has to be experienced to be believed. Thankfully once the heavy oak door to the apartment was closed behind us the noise became nothing more than a distant hum.
Our plan was to say in Genoa just long enough for Sophia and Benito to pack all the things they would need for the next three months at their new schools. This actually meant two nights in the city. This extra time would allow Luca to visit the shipyard and catch up on some business. Plus, it would allow me to test the limits of how well I could control the children.
What I hadn’t expected was the unannounced arrival of their Mother during lunch on the second day.
I knew as soon as she waltzed through the door that this was the long legged beauty I’d seen with Luca that first day in Rio. The incident where I’d had my first pangs of jealousy.
“Ed appena chi è questo?” (And just who is this) she said as she walked in on us as we were eating.
She was referring to me naturally.
“Ciò è sig.na Fran. È la nostra nuova governante” (This is Miss Fran. She’s our new governess) said Benito.
I could see her blood start to boil.
“Che cosa è lei gli che fa il cibo con tutto? Dovrebbe essere nella cucina in cui il personale domestico appartiene.„ “(What is she doing eating with you all? She should be in the kitchen where domestic staff belong).
It was Luca’s turn to come to my rescue.
“Fran is also my personal secretary,” he calmly stated in English for my benefit. My Italian was good enough to understand the venom of her words.
This was 100% the wrong thing to say. She glared at me.
“Have you been in his bed yet?”
This time she ranted at me in English. I was shocked. Shocked that she’d say that in front of her children.
I stood up and said.
“If you will excuse me. There is obviously some family business that you need attend to. I will be in my room.”
I walked out of the dining room. I had to. If I’d stayed any longer I would have more than likely punched her smack on the nose.
I closed the door to my room and sat on the edge of my bed.
I could hear raised voices from the other end of the apartment. In the end I decided to listen to some music on my mp3 player in order to tune it out.
I must have dozed off as when I came too, I removed the ear buds from my ears and listened. The apartment was quiet once more.
I got up from my bed and after checking my hair I went out into the main part of the apartment.
There was no one there. I went into the kitchen to get myself a drink. To my surprise I found a note from Luca.
‘Fran,
Gina has gone out to the beach with the children. I’ve gone to the shipyard to calm down. We will be back late afternoon. Why don’t you go out and explore the city?
Luca.’
By the side of the note was a set of keys. I guessed they were to let myself back into the apartment.
There was nothing in the note to say if Gina was going to be around for the evening. There and then I made the decision that if she was going to stay then I’d go. I wasn’t going to stay around to be insulted in with every word she said to me.
In the end I took Luca’s advice and went out for a walk. It seemed that everyway I turned, I ended up at the water. There seemed to be docks everywhere.
Then I realised it. I was lost. Totally lost.
I backtracked until I found the water. That was no use. All the roads leading away from it seemed to be the same.
No matter where I went, nothing seemed remotely familiar. In the end, I found a small café and went inside.
As I waited for the assistant to attend to me I rehearsed what I was going to say in my mind. ‘Excuse me. I am lost. Can you please direct me to the Via Bianchi?’.
Eventually, it was my turn.
“Si?”
“Scusilo. Sono perso. Potete dirigerli prego verso via Bianchi?”
The young man smiled back at me and then proceeded to unleash a stream of direction amply punctuated with a lot of arm waving that all went right over my head.
I smiled sweetly.
“Per favore lentamente. iI mio Italiano non è così buono.”
“Siete Inglese?”
“Si. Yes I am English.”
“Your Italian is very good,” said the rather dishy young man.
“Hardly. I couldn’t understand a word you said.”
He laughed.
“You accent is from Napoli. Was your teacher from Napoli? They always have problems understanding us Genovese?”
“I don’t know. It was a long time ago.”
“Non molto tempo fa mancanza.”
I blushed when I heard his comment.
“Grazie per il complimento. I sensi soddisfanno?”
“Lascilo annotarlo per voi.”
“Grazi”
“Come back anytime you are passing the café.”
I laughed.
“I would have to find the place first.”
He laughed back at me.
His directions were very good. I soon found the street where the apartment was. After the encounter in the Café, I felt a lot better with things and importantly myself. The young man didn’t know it but the compliments he’d given me really worked a treat.
No one was in the apartment when I returned. It was a bit early for them to return from the beach. I was still at a loose end.
Then I had an idea. I’d make dinner for the family. At the very least it would give me something to do.
I spent the next 10 minutes going through the store cupboards and the freezer. I soon realised that there were no fresh ingredients in the place but from my walk, I knew that there were a couple of small stores just down the street. They would have everything I needed so I went back out and did a bit of shopping.
I was in full swing in the small but functional kitchen of the apartment when Luca returned from his office.
“Hello. I see you can cook?”
He said as he stuck his around the kitchen door.
“Have a good day at the Office?”
I said jokingly.
“Very good. Very good indeed.”
“Then why don’t you relax and choose some wine for dinner. What time is Gina bringing the children back?”
“One thing at a time. Let me open a bottle of wine and pour us both a glass.”
I smiled sweetly back at him.
“La madre non li lascerebbe andare nel mare,” complained Benito to his father.
“L'acqua era troppo sporco lontano affinchè i miei bambini vada nuotare,” remarked Gina.
“So the water was not pristine. Were other people swimming?”
“Perché siete parlare inglese? Oh ora capisco, la cosiddetta governante qui.”
“Yes Fran is here. She is in the kitchen preparing dinner for the four of us.”
“Oh good. I’m famished,” replied Gina.
“No Gina. For the four of us. You make five.”
“State arrestandolo a partire da tempo di spese con i miei bambini?”
“No Gina. I’m not stopping you from spending time with our children. You turn up unannounced and want to take over. Just like you always did. The terms of our divorce gave you custody for half the school
holidays. Well, you have had them for almost two thirds of the holidays this time. Oh silly me. You left them with your mother in Petropolis while you went off god knows where with your current boyfriend. They are going to school in England tomorrow and it is time you left.”
I had kept well out of the way during this exchange.
I almost gave away my presence as I sniggered when she said loudly,
“Bastardo”.
Then I heard the front door slam.
“Can I come out now?” I called from the kitchen.
“Yes it is safe.”
I walked into the living area of the apartment. Luca handed me a glass of wine.
“She wants you back. She’s still in love with you.” I said calmly.
He didn’t answer straight away.
“Yes I know she is. Well, today at least she thinks she is. Tomorrow? Who can tell?” he said a few seconds later.
“But she’s not coming back. The Ferrari driver that caused our marriage to fall apart was not the first lover she’d taken in the 8 years we were married. She only pretends to want to come back. My guess is that she’s broke. I can tell that from a mile away. Why else did she fly back from Rio via Miami and in economy as well? Money. That’s why. It is a whole lot cheaper to fly that way.”
Wow! I thought to myself. He really does not like her. That was a new experience for me. Why on earth did they get married in the first place?
My deliberations were cut short by the arrival of the children. They’d gone and changed their clothes without anyone asking. They were really very good children.
They both went and sat at the table, dropping a real hint that they were hungry.
“I’d better go and serve up dinner then.”
Dinner was a big success. My efforts at an Italian classic dish were much appreciated.
When everyone had finished eating I stood up and began to clear the dishes away.
“Leave them Fran. I’ll do them when these two are in bed.”
“Fanno noi devono? Complained Sophia.
I had to laugh.
“Yes you have to go to bed. We have an early start tomorrow.”
Reluctantly they left the table and got themselves ready for bed. I held back to allow Luca to say goodnight to them himself.
He came back to the table and sat next to me.
“Thank you. That was really good. You are really something special you know.”
“Thank you kind sir.”
We chinked glasses.
When I’d finished my wine I too went to bed leaving Luca to clear up. It had been a hell of a day.
We arrived in Bath in mid-afternoon the following day. The journey west along the M4 with two inquisitive children was certainly a new experience for me. By the time we reached Bath, I was feeling like a mother hen who’d been reaching her chicks about what to eat and what not to eat. When he drove the rental car up the gravel drive to the house I felt strangely nervous.
Claudia was there to greet us. She seemed very pleased to see me.
“Fran! I wondered if you would eventually accept the job.”
“There were times when I wondered that as well. I only decided a few days ago. Anyway, I’m pleased to see you again Claudia,”
We went inside. The place had changed considerably.
“You have done a good job in here Claudia. A really good job. The improvements are very much in keeping with the style of the property.”
I commented on the new yet very tasteful décor.
“Have you been here before?”
My heart stopped for a moment. Did she know? Nah, she couldn’t. Saffy didn’t know so how could she?
“Only for a picnic with Luca in June. The view to the Southwest is magnificent.”
She looked puzzled if not confused at the change in the group dynamics.
Claudia changed the subject.
“Come on kids. Let me show you your rooms.”
“Do we have separate bedrooms?” Asked Benito.
“Yes. Beni, you do. There are four bedrooms for you two to choose from. Let me show you?”
The three of them disappeared upstairs.
When they’d gone Luca came over to me.
“My sister is going to feel a little left out of things.”
“Why. She has her own career in London. So why should she?”
Luca smiled at me.
“It was the same when I got involved with Gina. If I didn’t know her, I’d think that she deliberately introduced my wife to Giacomo. That’s who she went off with, you know, the racing driver.”
I thought for several seconds.
“Are you trying to tell me that Claudia is jealous of me?”
He nodded his head.
“Yes she is. I could tell it as soon as we arrived.”
“But she… She wanted me for the job.”
“Yes. Yes she did. But she never thought in her wildest dreams I’d fall for someone like you.”
“I’ll bet she did.”
Then I thought some more.
“Is that why you are splitting up Benito and Sophia? So they don’t turn out like you two? Where one twin can’t live their own life without interference from the other?”
He looked at his toes. I’d come to recognise this trait in him.
“I’ll take it as a yes then?”
“Yes.” He mumbled.
I took hold of his hand.
“You are a very good father. I wish mine had been even a bit like you.”
As soon as I said that bit about my father, I regretted it.
Luca to my eternal gratitude didn’t pursue the matter any further. The less I thought about my family the better.
The following day Luca took me into Bath then he drove Sophia up to Cheltenham then he’d take Benito down to Winchester, his old school. He’d arranged for his son to be in the same house as he was and for him to arrive a day early. I wanted to go with him but in the end I agreed that it was better for him to say goodbye to his children on his own.
With them gone, I took the opportunity go home and pack all my clothes.
That was easier said than done. My mind wasn’t really on the job. I ended up sitting on the edge of my bed sobbing. At first I wasn’t sure why but I seemed to need a good sob. Then I realised that once again, it was the hormones messing me up.
After a while I got myself together and after repairing my makeup, I went to the shop.
“HI Saffy,” I called out as I walked in.
“She’s not here at the moment.”
Came a voice from the back.
It was Vivienne.
I walked through to the rear in search of the voice.
“Hello Viv. Where is she?”
“Hello Fran. She’s at home getting ready to go on a date.”
“A date? Who with?”
“A hot chick from Italy.”
My heart sank.
“Would she be called Claudia by any chance?”
“Yes! How do you know? Do you know her?”
“Yes. I’m afraid I do know her. I work for her brother.”
Vivienne was a lovely girl but sometimes a little slow on the uptake. I could almost hear the cogs turning inside her head.
“Did you two have a thing going? You and Saffy?”
I laughed. She was obviously a bit sharper than I’d thought.
“Not really anything serious. She’s more like my sister.”
I thought for a second.
“Will she be in tomorrow?”
“She should be. Shall I tell her that you are back?”
“Oh, I think she knows already or will know by the morning. Thanks.”
I left her alone and went home.
I spent the rest of the day packing up anything else I would need in my new role. I managed to put a bit more effort into it this time. It was just as well that I did as I’d just about done when Luca called to say that he’d be outside in fifteen minutes.
I lugged as much as I could downstairs and audibly cursing the fact that I was wearing heels. Francis would have done this easily in the time available.
I’d managed two round trips before the rental car pulled up outside. While Luca was loading up the car I ran upstairs grabbed the final bag, locked up and headed back downstairs a little out of breath.
Luca, as ever was the perfect gentleman. He’d loaded the cases into the back of the car and was standing patiently holding the passenger door open for me. I gave him a little peck on his cheek as I got in. He gently closed the door behind me. What a man!
As we headed out of the city, I got my breath back and asked him about the day.
“How were the goodbyes?”
“Sad and a little tearful. This is the first time they will have been apart except for the week that Benito spent in Hospital when he broke his leg a few years ago.”
Then I dropped my little bit of news.
“Claudia is out on a date tonight so we should be alone.”
Luca looked at me slightly surprised.
“Did she tell you?”
“No. The date is with my friend Saffy.”
“Oh. I see.”
I could tell from the tone of his voice that he did all right.
That night, Luca had some time to alone. Strangely enough we didn’t talk very much. We were both pretty shattered. We sat in the Conservatory holding hands drinking a bottle of wine and watching a beautiful autumn sunset.
It was totally dark when we finally stirred.
“I think we should go to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow.”
“Yes. Yes we do. What time is the flight?”
“A little after ten.”
“Then we should aim to leave by five thirty.”
Luca laughed.
“What’s so funny?” I asked a bit puzzled by his reaction.
“I was just wondering if Claudia would be home before we left in the morning.”
I saw the funny side.
“If I know Saffy then the answer is most certainly a ‘no’.”
[To be continued]
The next two months were hectic to say the least. Luca and I went everywhere together. But it was all business, business and yet more business. Most nights we just collapsed into bed exhausted. There is such a thing as too much wining and dining and the endless travelling was always a pain in the bum.
At the end of November, we were in bed together at a villa somewhere near Acapulco. I’d been playing my part of the dutiful wife and assistant. I even had a couple of rings on my finger to help the illusion. That hadn’t stopped our host at a reception in the City earlier that evening from trying to get me away from the main group and into a side room. It was obvious that he had only one thing on his mind. I could understand it as his wife was heavily pregnant. A few sharp kicks to the shins plus me saying,
“You really don’t want to go any further. My husband would eat a wimp like you for breakfast. Besides, your wife is watching you like a hawk.”
Then I took his little finger and bent it back until he let out a little yelp.
I walked away from him and almost dragged Luca out of the place before anything bad could happen.
Luca had just closed a big deal with another rich Mexican. I knew the hard work we ‘d both put in just to get the signature on the contract. I was exhausted, worn out, knackered. I needed some time to recharge my batteries. More importantly, we needed some time together. That sort of time had been in very short supply in recent months.
“Franky, I need a break. We both need a break. We have hardly stopped still for the past two months.”
“What do you mean?” Replied a sleepy Luca.
“What I mean my darling is that in the eight weeks since we started travelling together and everything, we have not spent more than three consecutive nights in the same country let alone the same bed.”
He didn’t reply straight away.
Instead he turned over in bed and kissed me.
“Has it been that long?”
A small grin appeared on his face.
“You!”
Then he kissed me. As he did so, his hand found its way to my crotch.
Three days later we woke up together in bed to a wintery Tuscan sun.
“Are you one hundred per cent sure we can stay here for a whole week?” I said when his eyes opened.
“Yes. Now go back to sleep.”
His eyes closed again.
Instead of following suit, I got out of bed and opened the shutters wide. The sunlight streamed into the room.
Luca turned over, away from the light.
Unperturbed, I went to the bottom of the bed and lifted the covers. There right in front of me were two feet right for tickling.
Five seconds later Luca was out of bed.
“Now that I’m up, what are your plans for the day? You do have plans don’t you?”
“I don’t have any.” I replied.
“I just want to be with you. We do whatever comes along without a care in the world. Ok?”
“If you say so.”
“Yes I say so. Now I’m going downstairs to prepare breakfast.”
“Why… Oh never mind.”
*
Half an hour later we were sitting around the same table where I’d first met Luca.
“This is very pleasant,” said Luca as his eyes wandered around the kitchen.
I smiled back at him.
“Yes it is. It is also far more preferable than all those hotel meals we’ve been eating the past few months.”
“Hmm”
My smile broadened.
“If you are looking for your phone or your laptop then you are going to have a hard time finding them. I’ve switched the phone off and hidden them somewhere in the house. Can’t we at least spend a little time together? Just us? No phones, no Internet?”
“But…”
“Luca Francisco, sometimes you are the most irritating person in the world. A few days away from the business is all I’m asking. I don’t think it will go up in a puff of smoke in a few days will it? I know that even though you say you have the week off, if I let you near a phone or your laptop you will spend almost every hour of the day and night working. This is our time. Ok?”
He looked at me slightly surprised by my directness.
“I know you are right darling but it is hard.”
“Yeah. Like a drug addict and giving up his regular fix,” I joked.
“I know. I know. Claudia has said the very same thing to me in the past from just about where you are standing.”
I smiled.
“So? Great minds and all that?”
“Ok. Ok. I get the message.”
Later that morning we left the house and drove into Sienna. It was market day and the place was bustling. We spent a delightful hour wandering around the stalls tasting lots and then buying some of the truly wonderful produce on offer. Then we ate lunch in a small café just of the main square. Luca seemed to be starting to unwind. His body language told me that at least for a few hours he was not thinking about the next mega yacht that he was going to sell to someone trying to outdo Larry Ellison or Roman Abramovitch in the “my mega yacht is bigger than yours” pissing contest.
On the way back to the house we stopped at a viewpoint and admired the scenery. Even in winter Tuscany is beautiful. The warming wintery sun really made the light special. I began to appreciate why so many artists and painters are attracted to the place.
That evening we rounded off a perfect day eating some of the food we’d bought that morning along with a bottle of Chianti Classico that came from a vineyard less than 1km from where we were sitting. I was getting to really like the huge wooden table that dominated the kitchen. For an instant I debated shipping it to the house in Bath. It was just an instant, I promise.
As we relaxed after the meal, I brought up the subject of Christmas.
“Darling, you do know that Christmas is only a few weeks away don’t you?”
Franki didn’t answer. He just rolled his eyes upwards. I ignored him and carried on.
“Where are we going to spend it and more importantly, what about the children? Am I going to be their governess for the four-week school holidays or are they going to spend some time with their mother?”
“One question at a time please, my darling.”
I sat patiently waiting for him to get around to answering.
Eventually he did.
“I don’t know. It all depends upon Gina. As you know my ex-wife can be very elusive. She’s probably off somewhere with her so-called friends. I’ll try to call her, when I get my phone back that is?”
I laughed and asked,
“Where do you want to spend Christmas? Here, or Genoa or in England?”
“I think I’d like to spend it in England. Perhaps, Benito or Sophia might have made some friends that live close that they’d like to visit or even have visit us?”
I grinned a smile back at him.
“Good answer. If we do stay in Bath perhaps we can get Claudia and Saffy to spend it with us.”
He smiled back at me.
I chuckled.
“Yes. From what Saffy told me when we last spoke on the phone, they do seem to be making a go of it. The fact that they’ve been seeing each other for more than two months is unusual in itself for Claudia. This Saffy friend of yours must be a special person. I can’t wait to get to know her a lot better.”
The next day, I relented and gave Luca his phone. In return he took me shopping in Milan. We went up by train and had a great time. I spent a good deal on money on some delightful clothes which I modelled for Luca that evening.
A couple of days later Luca burst into the kitchen where I was preparing some pasta sauce for lunch.
“I’ve just heard from Gina that she’s going skiing in Aspen for Christmas. She got rather angry when I asked when she would be collecting Benito and Sophia for the holidays.”
I smiled back at him.
“She seems to be keeping to form then?”
Luca laughed.
Then he became serious.
“Are you really ok with this? There will be an awful lot of work for you over the holidays.”
I stopped what I was doing, rinsed and dried my hands. Then I took his hands in mine and smiled.
“If I am to be a bit more than your trophy wife then, well, it’s all part of the territory.”
Luca looked me right in the eyes.
“You are far more than a trophy wife and you know it.”
“I know that silly.”
I grinned.
“But I have to remind you every so often.”
I smiled a bit more.
“Don’t I?”
*
That evening at dinner I asked Luca.
“About Christmas”
He gave a little groan.
“Yes?”
I could tell that he was getting a bit fed up with me trying to plan things this early.
“Well, it is more about Sophia and Benito.”
“What? I’ve already told you I don’t have any idea about what to get them as presents.”
“No, it is not about that.”
I lifted my left hand up and waggled my fingers.
“It is about these and us.”
“Oh.”
He thought for a moment.
“You are anxious to present the right picture?”
I nodded back to him.
“Separate bedrooms and all that?”
I nodded again.
“They will probably be looking out for any signs of romance between us especially after the last two people you have employed. Besides I would love to spend some time with them as their Governess and not as a prospective Step Mother, so to speak.”
Luca was silent for a while. Then he said quietly.
“They know.”
My face dropped.
“They know? Know what?”
“They know about us.”
Then he looked at his feet. That was something he did when he had something to hide or embarrassing to say.
“They guessed. Well, sort of. They ‘Skype’ each other almost every day. They put two and two together from my phone calls to them.”
I chuckled.
“What’s to funny?”
“I was just trying to imagine what I was like at their age. Things have really changed. They are very mature for their age.”
He didn’t say anything.
“If they have guessed then fine. Besides, they probably spot that something was amiss. Kids their age are very astute.”
He smiled back.
“I won’t wear the rings though. They aren’t real.”
As soon as I said those words, I knew I’d put my foot right in it.
“Real? What made you think that they aren’t real?”
“I… I’m sorry. I just assumed that they weren’t that’s all.”
“What’s wrong with them?”
I took hold of his hand and smiled sweetly.
“We didn’t choose them together did we?”
“That is not how we do things in Italy. The Groom buys the rings.”
“We aren’t in Italy. Well we are at the moment but I hope you know what I mean?”
I held his hand tight.
“Darling, they really are not my style. I’d really prefer something a little more discrete and modest.”
He just smiled back at me.
Then he extracted his hand from mine and made a winding motion around his little finger.
I kissed him. I kissed him long and hard.
Over the next week I slowly persuaded, cajoled and frankly bullied Luca into getting Christmas organised.
I even managed to buy a few presents in Florence. I let Luca take me to ‘see the sights’. I hadn’t the heart to tell him that I’d been there in August. I had to admit to myself that Firenze was far more pleasant at the beginning of December than it had been in the middle of July. A lot less tourists taking selfies every few steps and far more comfortable in terms of temperature.
All too soon we resumed our busy life. Our first trip was to Sochi in southern Russia. My Russian was going to come in handy at last.
I emailed Saffy about prospects for Christmas from our hotel that overlooked the Black Sea. To my surprise she replied less than five minutes later.
“Fran,
Sochi eh? Don’t drink too much Vodka! You know what them Russians are like after a few drinks!
What a great idea for crimble. I’ll talk to Claudia tonight. She’s coming down for the weekend. Don’t say anything. I know it is a record.
Saffy.
“
I smiled when I read her reply. Things were certainly looking up a bit. Things were apparently getting a little bit serious between them. I was pleased for Saffy, very pleased.
My musings were interrupted by Luca.
“Come on Darling. Mr Federov is waiting for us.”
“Coming Darling.”
I closed down the network link and then logged off the PC.
I was still smiling when I joined Luca and we went downstairs to meet the client once again.
Valerie Viktor Nikita Federov was an obnoxious fat little man. He’d already felt me up at our first meeting. What made it worse was that it was right in front of his wife.
As for the wife, well she was a long legged blonde numbskull. Stunningly beautiful, but as thick as two short planks. Her accent was awful. My guess was that it came from Murmanskaya or even worse, the Kola Peninsula.
Almost every word she said was unprintable. All she seemed to want to do was get her husband into bed. Yeah right. Get him into bed and hope he has a heart attack and leaves everything to her.
I had to put my personal views aside as we walked into the private reception room for the next round of negotiations.
My heart sank as two goons moved forward to ‘frisk us’.
“Держите ваши руки с нас. Мы удостоинные гости га-н Federov.” I blurted out with emphasis. (Keep your hands off us. We are honoured guests of Mr Federov.)
My outburst stopped them in their tracks. One of them fingered the gun in his shoulder holster.
I’ve had to get used to the ‘Super Rich’ having armed protection. I’d been amazed at the sort of ‘security’ devices that were being fitted to some of the vessels being built by Luca’s Company.
Thankfully, the goons didn’t get their opportunity to grope me. Their boss barked a number of very rude and unprintable swear words at them and we were let through without hesitation.
The negotiations were at a very delicate phase. Mr Federov was trying to get a 20% price reduction. Luca was holding out.
Then Mr Federov played what he thought was his trump card.
“I could take my business to Mr Li and Mr Wong in Shanghai. They are offering a substantial price reduction as well as some extra security equipment.”
This didn’t shake Luca one little bit. We’d done our homework before travelling to Russia.
Luca nodded to me to speak.
“Пожалуйста пойдите вперед и сделайте дело с китайцем. После этого вы принять корабль целого врозь для того чтобы проверить для вещей которые не должны быть там.”
(Please go ahead and do a deal with the Chinese. Once you take delivery you will have to take the whole ship apart to check for things that should not be there.)
Mr Federov looked indignant.
“Чего вы значите?”(What do you mean?)
“Наилучшим образом, мы скажем детали которые интересовали бы FSB.”
(Some items that will interest the FSB)
The mention of the former Russian Secret Police had turned his face as white as a sheet.
I continued.
Стены имеют уши (The walls have ears)
Mr Federov went white in the face.
Luca pulled out a folder from his briefcase and handed it to the client.
He opened it and began reading.
“Это не может быть истинно!” (This cannot be true!)
“Yes Mr Federov it is true. Prince Mohammad will gladly talk to you on the phone if you desire.”
Mr Federov waved his hand in dismissal.
“What happened to Prince Mohammad’s ship?”
His English was perfectly good when the occasion demanded it.
“He sold it to the Iranians, to the head of the Republican Guard no less and for more than he’d paid for it,” replied Luca desperately trying to keep a straight face.
This caused everyone to laugh their heads off. Even the Russians disliked the Iranians.
We signed an outline contract for the deal half an hour later.
With the contract signed and a 20% payment in the bank we left Sochi that evening. I didn’t want to spend another evening with Mrs Federov. Their custom was that the men ate and drank together. The women did the same. Mrs Federov was a real dimwit. All she wanted to discuss was the latest ‘pop’ music sensation.
I could think of nothing worse to spend another evening eating ‘пельмени' (dumplings filled with some terribly salty fish) and at the same time drinking some truly terrible wine from Georgia. That is not to say that all Georgian wine is bad but this came from Mr Federov's Vineyard and was worse than the cheapest supermarket ‘plonk’.
We changed planes in Frankfurt on our way to London. I had just enough time to buy a couple of bottles of ‘Appfel Korn’. Normally I don’t drink spirits but I make an exception for this little tipple.
I was however very quiet on the flight to London.
“What is on your mind? You have hardly said a word since we left Sochi?”
I’d dreaded him asking me this. I tried to fob him off.
“It’s nothing. I’m thinking about Christmas.”
“Yeah and pull the other one. Everything is planned down in fine detail. What is really bothering you?”
I thought that there was nothing more I can do. I had to tell him.
“It’s about us and Sophia and Benito. I will be spending a lot of time with them over the holidays. What if they don’t like me?”
Luca took hold of my hand and stroked it gently.
“You do not have to worry about that my Darling. They adore you.”
“Why? I’ve hardly spent any time with them?”
“As I said before, they talk to each other every day and can’t wait to spend some time with you.”
I remembered back to what I was like at their age? Playing with Lego no doubt, well when Saffy and I were not dressing up that is.
“They are very advanced for their age but what does that have to with me and them liking me or not?”
Luca took hold of my hand and smiled sweetly at me.
“They have told me so. Well not directly but they keep asking me what they can buy you for Christmas. If they didn’t like you why else would they be doing that?”
I felt relieved. I kissed him gently on the lips and sat back to enjoy the rest of the flight.
The house came alive with the arrival of the children back from school.
Luca left me to look after them while he spent the day locked away in his office. I guessed that this was all part of his plan to get me used to the children and them used to me.
I took them ice skating, bowling and even to Bristol Zoo in the days before Christmas. I was knackered at the end of the day but thankfully Luca took over and let me relax and enjoy seeing a happy family at play.
Claudia and Saffy arrived mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve. Claudia’s car was crammed with presents. I felt rather guilty when I placed my small pile under the huge tree that the children and their father had decorated with great joy the previous evening.
After a fun evening we all piled into Claudia’s car and went to the Midnight Service in the nearest village. It was very moving.
I remembered the times as a child when I’d wanted to sing the extra verse of ‘Oh Come all ye Faithfull’, that is only sung on Christmas day. A small tear ran down my cheek as we sang. The choir was beautiful. The church was beautiful. Everything was beautiful.
The only thing missing was snow. I gave him upstairs a quick prayer for some. Alas the heavens remained clear and starry when we emerged after the service.
Christmas morning was manic. The twins crept downstairs just after 6am and started ripping presents open. Thankfully Luca was on hand to stop them and send them back to bed.
Well, he did have to threaten them with no presents and no food all day but they got the message.
He went up a few minutes later and gave each of them a stocking filled with little goodies to tide them over until later.
That did the trick and they didn’t appear until the smell of some fine Italian Coffee wended its way upstairs.
I was very anxious when Luca opened my present. I gave him a new wallet. I found it in Mexico. It was made of Soft, beautiful leather and I’d had his initials embossed in gold on the front.
By the time all the presents had been opened the place was a real mess. There was wrapping paper everywhere. There was only one thing missing. I’d not had a present from Luca.
He had been watching me out of the corner of his eye. I tried not to show any disappointment but I failed miserably.
A small smile appeared on his face.
Still smiling when he stood up and took my hand.
“Come on. I hadn’t forgotten you.”
He led me outside the house.
The car that Claudia had arrived in was sitting on the drive.
Luca dangled the keys in front of me.
“Happy Christmas Darling.”
“You… You mean this is mine?”
“Yes. It is all yours. Claudia collected it from the dealers a couple of days ago.”
I was overjoyed.
I showed my pleasure by kissing him. Well it was more like a god old snog.
They were both uncharacteristically quiet when we left the house the day I took them back to school.
I tried to jolly them up.
“Cat got your tongues?” I called back to them.
There was silence.
I could see in the mirror them looking at each other and gesturing at each other.
Eventually, Benito spoke up.
“Miss Fran, are you and Father going to get married?”
The directness of his question startled me more than the content. It was not bad for an eight-year old.
“I don’t know Benito. He hasn’t asked me.”
That was a lie but Luca and I had decided that we weren’t going to make it public until later in the year.
“But you said that you weren’t interested in being his Wife?” said Sophia silencing her brother.
I permitted myself a little smile. They had long memories. I remembered fondly that day and a bit in Rio.
“If I recall correctly, I said that I wasn’t interested in his money.”
“That’s the same thing Miss Fran.” Objected Benito.
“Oh Benni. Benni. You are so young and innocent.”
Sophia stuck her tongue out her brother.
“They are very different things. One day both of you will learn that fact.”
I could see from their reaction that this didn’t seem to satisfy them.
I didn’t say anything until I’d found a place to stop the car. This delay gave me a few seconds to gather my thoughts.
I stopped the car, switched the engine off and turned around to face them.
“I will promise both of you that I will never take any of your father’s money. If we do get married, then I will make sure that I can’t take any of his money. I love him and not his money.”
They didn’t say anything for several seconds.
Then Sophia leaned over and whispered something into her brother’s ear.
Then she said,
“We won’t forget this Miss Fran. You have made us a promise.”
I smiled inwardly to myself. That was one promise that I fully intended to keep.
[To be continued]
Christmas was soon forgotten as Luca and I spent most of January in Genoa. There were lots of things going on at the shipyard. I began to get a bit worried about him. It was as if the whole world was on his shoulders and despite my gentle probing he wouldn’t share his troubles with me.
At the end of the first week in February, I’d just returned to the Apartment with some food when the phone rang.
“Si?”
A voice spoke heavily accented Russian to me.
“Да, это Fran” {yes. I am Fran}
The smile on my face soon disappeared as I listened to what was being said to me.
When they voice stopped the line went dead.
With a shaking hand, I put the phone down on its cradle. I saw my reflection in the hall mirror. I was as white as a sheet.
I left the bags of shopping in the hallway and went into the lounge and sat down. I was still shaking.
I must have sat there starring into space for at least an hour before I found the strength to get up once again.
I picked up the phone and called Luca.
“Hello Darling,” I said when he answered.
“Yes. Yes, there is something wrong. I need to speak to you urgently.”
“No. It’s not the children or Claudia. It is all about us.”
“Ok. In an hour. Ciao.”
I put the phone down.
I hadn’t even put the food away when Luca arrived home.
After we’d kissed, I sat down and held my face in my hands.
“Whatever is wrong?”
“I can’t do this anymore. I had better leave before I do any more damage.”
“What damage? What are you speaking about?”
Asked Luca looking a bit troubled.
“It’s those bloody Russians. They know everything.”
“Everything? What do you mean?”
“Me. You. Us. Everything. That slime-ball, Viktor Federov is threatening to let it be known that… Well you can guess the rest.”
“Did he tell you what he wanted in return for not telling the world?”
I nodded.
“He wants the shipyard. Everything.”
A half smile appeared on Luca’s face.
“I begin to understand.”
“Understand what?”
He came forward and wrapped his arms around me.
“Don’t worry my darling I will sort this out.”
“Sort it out? How? All it needs is for one of his cronies to make a phone call or post something on Facebook or wherever and I’m sunk. We are sunk.”
Still holding me tight he replied.
“Since the turn of the year many of our suppliers have been demanding payment on delivery rather than the normal terms. Then some of our customers have mysteriously missed their payments for work already done.”
“Is that why you have been spending every hour you could at the office?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to worry you with my problems.”
I kicked his leg.
“It is our problem now.”
He smiled back at me.
“I love it when you are angry.”
Then he kissed me.
I broke it off.
“Hold on a minute. We are facing total humiliation and all you want to do is kiss me!”
“Si. Good isn’t it.”
I kicked him again. Twice.
“Ok. Ok. I get the message.”
“Well?”
“Come on my dear, there are a few things you should know.”
“Eh?”
We sat down with Luca holding my hands and looking into my eyes. This was the look he’d given me when he appeared at the lift in Rio.
“You never asked about my parents. Sorry mine and Claudia’s.”
“I didn’t think it was my place to ask,” I replied.
“They live here in Genoa. I haven’t spoken to them for more than three years. Don’t you want to know why?”
“I expect you are going to tell me whatever I say.”
He ignored me.
“I’d just taken over from my Father, running the Shipyard. I’d never really had any other career open to me. He retired and I became the owner and CEO of the company. All was going well until two things happened in quick succession to really mess things up.”
He swallowed hard.
“Gina announced that she was leaving me and was getting a divorce. She made the announcement at my mother’s birthday party. You can guess how that went down.”
“Not very well. And the other thing?”
“Claudia decided that would be a good time to come out of the closet. Our parents and especially our dear mother are very devout Catholics. It was like the old one-two sucker punch.
My mother blew her top like a good redheaded Irish Lady would. Papa just sat there looking into space.
After a while he said,
“Get out the both of you and don’t darken this house until you have paid for your sins.”
I grabbed Claudia’s hand and we fled.
“How are your parents now?”
“Papa took it very hard. He didn’t say anything to me for nearly six months.”
“What happened then?”
“Claudia and I got on with our lives. She left Italy and went to live in London. She was in a relationship with an Australian woman. That lasted until a just over a year ago.”
“And you?”
“I got on with running the Shipyard. I put everything into my work and the children. The rest you probably know.”
I thought for a moment.
“Why are you telling me this know? Your parents are certainly not going to like you being involved with a ‘travestito’. If Mr Federov goes ahead with his threat might to expose us could be the straw that broke their proverbial backs and could even send one of them to an early grave?”
As soon as I said it, I knew that I’d said it very badly.
Luca didn’t bat any eyelid.
“That is why my darling I am minded to say yes to his offer.”
I was totally shocked by this admission. He was going to let this upstart Russian who smelt like he lived in a whorehouse roll him over with no fight.
I broke free of his grip.
“Oh, I know we would not be able to live in the manner we are used to. No more first class flights. I’d probably have to sell the house in Tuscany, this place and even the house in Bath. But my darling, we could find somewhere to live together.”
I could not believe what he’d just said.
“Are you willing to give all this up without a fight just to be with me?”
Luca took hold of my hands once more.
“Yes Fran. I’m willing to do that. I’ve never been more certain of everything in my life.”
I smiled and cuddled up to him.
“What is the yard worth?”
“Don’t you mean what will the Russians be willing to pay?”
I smiled once more.
“Both.”
Luca thought for a moment.
“One Twenty and five.”
“One Twenty what?”
“Sorry. One Hundred Twenty Million Euros. The yard is worth easily that much. I expect that they will not want to pay more than five.”
“Why only five?”
“Mr Federov is a skinflint. Despite being a billionaire he really does not really want to pay for anything. I suppose that is why he is a billionaire and not just a multi-millionaire.”
“How much will he really pay if pushed?”
Luca looked at me rather oddly.
“You seem rather keen to want to know how much. Have I underestimated you?”
I smiled back.
“Well, you haven’t actually paid me anything since I started working for you. So why wouldn’t I be interested.”
“Oh shit. Haven’t I?”
I grinned back at him.
“I’m so sorry Fran. I… I guess I messed up didn’t I?”
I nodded back at him.
“Getting back on topic?”
“Yes. Please do.”
“Ok. Between Ten and Twenty if pushed hard.”
“Ten Million? That is far too low.”
“I know. But it is almost what the Americans call a fire sale.”
“Don’t you mind?”
There was no immediate answer.
“Actually no.”
“I thought that the yard was your life?”
“No. You and the children are my life.
I sensed my way in.
“How much would it take to get him off your back?”
Luca looked at me strangely.
“Why? It is not as if you can suddenly find twenty million Euros.”
I grinned back.
“Give me a week and I could easily find thirty million.”
You could have knocked him down with a feather.
“Now you are joking. No one has that sort of cash these days.”
I took his hands in mine.
“Darling, there is something you should know about me.”
“Ha ha. I know all about you. That report…”
I shook my head.
“That report only went so far. Remember, that I read it after my first visit to Tuscany. I knew that it had been done in a bit of a hurry so yes, whilst it contains some information about me. If you can remember that when Claudia gave it to me, I said that I wanted to know what they didn’t find out about me. However, that is one thing it missed. A very important thing.”
“Eh?’
“In 2009 bought a job lot of clothes and bits of junk at auction. In it was a veritable gold mine. I found and later sold a Modigliani for around Fifty-Five Million Euros. I paid sixty pounds and a few pence for the lot including fees and taxes.”
“You? How much?”
“Just less than Forty million pounds at the then exchange rate.”
“Wow!”
I smiled back and gently squeezed his hand.
“Now do you understand how I was able to make that promise to the children that I’d not marry you for your money or even take one cent from you?”
Luca thought for a moment.
“Yes. Yes, I think I do now. It never occurred to me before that, well, that you were rich. Why did you want to be a Governess?”
“Simple. I get bored sitting around doing nothing. That was why I opened the shop with Saffy. I needed something to do. Saffy had always dreamed of running a shop, so I gave her the money on the condition that there was a job for me.”
He thought for nearly half a minute.
“But how does that help me now?”
“I invested the money. I put some aside for a rainy day. Some I put into property. Some went into the stock market and some went into gold.”
Luca shook his head.
“I can’t ask you for any money. It is not right.”
“Don’t be silly darling. I bought Gold at $380 per ounce and sold it when it his $1100. I also bought Apple at $340. Now they trade at more than $130 even after a seven for one stock split. Getting €30Million is no problem. It will just take me a few days.”
He shook his head again.
“No darling. I can’t ask you to use all your money to save the yard.”
“Why? I want to help in any way I can?”
He leaned over and kissed me sweetly. I felt that tingle through my whole body. I loved it when he did that.
When we broke off the kiss, I asked,
“Shall I sort out the money?”
Luca looked sad.
“I don’t think so.”
“Why? Why ever not? I want to help?”
He looked at his hands again.
“I’m not sure if I want to.”
I held his hands tightly. I could sense his angst.
“If I gave up the yard and everything I could spend more time with you and my children.”
The use of ‘my’ hit home hard. Then I understood.
“You can’t just let that obnoxious Russian just waltz in and ruin everything. What would your Father say?”
“Leave him out of this,” said Luca in a harsh tone.
Talk about being sensitive. I dropped the subject of his father for the time being.
In the end, we got nowhere. I really tried to get Luca to at least consider letting me invest in the yard but he would have none of it.
The following day, an extremely grumpy Luca left for the office well before I was out of bed. As he crashed around in the kitchen a plan began to formulate in my head.
The plan, such as it was, went wrong almost from the start. It was easy to find out where Luca’s father took his mid morning Espresso. The security guard at the Yard was only too eager to help a ‘damsel in distress’. He gave me directions to the place where Luca’s father had coffee each morning.
The Café was not far away so I walked through the narrow streets of Genoa until I found the place.
Without so much as a second thought, I walked in. That was my mistake. It was obviously a ‘Men Only’ place. A fug of cigarette and cigar smoke met me as I opened the door. All conversation ended when the occupants of the Café saw that a woman had the temerity to enter their little bit of heaven.
I realised that I was onto a loser so I left without saying a word, my plan in tatters.
I retreated to another coffee shop where I sank into a seat and felt like shit. An espresso and a pastry did little to help my mood of helplessness.
In the end, I gave up and left the shop and walked back to the Apartment. I’d just put the key in the door when a voice behind me said in passable English.
“Were you were looking for me? At the Café?”
When my heart had restarted itself, I turned to look at the owner of the voice.
The owner was an older version of Luca. Still handsome even though he was well into his 50’s.
“Si… Yes, I was.”
“Well, I’m here. How can I help?”
I was lost for words.
“Please… Please come inside.”
He just smiled at me and followed me into the Apartment.
“Can I get you anything?” I asked as we reached the top of the stairs.
“Some water if possible.”
“Please sit down. I’ll get some for both of us.”
A minute or so later, I carried two glasses on water into the sitting room.
I handed one to him and sat down.
“So, you are Fran.”
He said as he smiled at me.
“You know about me?”
Another smile.
“Yes. I might not be speaking to my son but I do keep up with what he is doing.”
I gulped. I had no idea about this.
“Yes. I’m Fran. I’m English and I’m in love with your son.”
“I gathered as much. You are certainly different from the witch he was married to.”
He knew I was different but I hoped that he didn’t know how much.
“I’m Marco. I’m pleased to meet you.”
He offered his hand to me. I took it in what I hoped was a suitably ladylike manner.
“Pleased to meet you Marco. I wish this meeting could have been in more pleasurable circumstances.”
That wiped the smile from his face.
“What has my son done now? Has he gotten you pregnant?”
“No. It is nothing like that. It is the Shipyard.”
“What of it? I know most of what is going on there?”
“A Russian by the name of Viktor Federov. That is the problem. He is probably part of the Russian Mafia. He wants to take over the yard and does not want to pay much if anything for it. He is trying to blackmail us.”
We talked for more than an hour. It turned out that Marco knew that something was wrong at the yard. Several of the men in the Coffee Shop worked there. Then I told him,
“I did offer to help out financially but Luca is a very proud man.”
Marco laughed.
“Stubborn. My son is very stubborn. He is like me I suppose, a family thing but how can you help him out? That would take an awful lot of money, millions probably.”
I tried not to show any emotion.
“I offered just that, millions.”
Marco sank back in his chair visibly shocked.
Then as he looked at me a smile appeared on his face.
“I really should have expected something like that. Even in the short time I have known you, it is obvious to me that you are a very remarkable young woman.”
I returned a little smile.
“I won’t ask how you came by such a sum, it is not polite. It is satisfying to know that you care so much about Luca and my grandchildren.”
Marco looked at me, right in the eyes.
“How can I help?”
“As I said, Luca seems to want to give in without a fight. If he wants to spend more time with me and his family that is fine but it really saddens me that he might be using that as an excuse to walk away and not get any money in return.”
“I understand that. What do you want me to do?”
“Start talking to your son again and then convince him that if he really does want to walk away from the yard that it is left in capable hands and not run by some Russian Mobster. If I know anything about those Russians, they will rape and pillage the business and simply walk away from the mess. All they care about is getting more money into their bank accounts. Long term is just not in their vocabulary.”
I knew from the short time I’d know him that Marco was a man of surprises. He still surprised me by standing up, pulling me to me feet and wrapping his arms around me.
“I will do everything I can to help my son. By doing that I will be helping you.”
I pulled away from his grip.
“Shall I tell him that I have spoken with you?”
Marco laughed.
“No. Well not here. He probably knows about your visit to the Coffee Shop. That is where I keep up with things. It is probably a two-way street. Perhaps we should keep our meeting here today just between us.”
“I will. What are you going to do?”
“It is better that you don’t know. Then you can tell no lies.”
I couldn’t fault his logic.
“I hope that when this is over you will have a better relationship with your children.”
“I’d like that very much but my wife…”
I smiled.
“Would not take kindly to being friends with Claudia again?”
“I can see that we will get along fine Fran. Luca is a lucky man to have found someone like you. Very lucky indeed.”
That made me blush. I briefly held his hand in mine.
He smiled at me and gave out a big sigh as he gently removed my hand from his.
Marco took that as his cue to leave.
Luca was strangely quiet that evening upon his return from work. In the end, he said,
“Are you going to tell me about your day?”
“Why? I expect you already know that I spoke to your Father?”
“Why? Why on earth did you go behind my back like that?”
I leaned over the kitchen table and took his hands in mine.
“Because my darling I couldn’t sit by and watch you give up the yard without a fight.”
“Still you should have told me first.”
I smiled at him.
“And you would have said No.”
“It does not matter. I’ve made up my mind to sell it to that Russian.”
“Please don’t rush into selling. I don’t care if I’m exposed or not.”
“But I do. There is the rest of the family to consider.”
“Eh? I don’t think you thought much of your family since they all but disowned you over your divorce?”
“Yes. But that does not matter. If the TV stations controlled by our dear former Prime Minister Berlusconi get hold of it then we are sunk. They are far worse than even the worst British Tabloids. It will embarrass my family. That is something I don’t want to even if we aren’t talking at the moment.”
There was something about that frustrating man sitting on the other side of the table from me that made me mad as hell. No one else had ever had this effect on me.
We didn’t have to wait for long to find out what Marco was going to do. While we were having breakfast two days later the phone rang.
I answered it
“Si”
I listened intently to the voice on the other end.
“Si Chow,” I said when the voice had finished talking.
I was shaking when I put the phone down.
Luca was looking at me with a very worried look in his face.
I looked at him for a few seconds before saying,
“If you want to sell the yard there is a buyer a little closer to home who will gladly take over from you.”
“Was this my Father speaking on the phone just now?”
“Yes, it was. However, he is not the one wanting to take over the yard.”
“What do you mean?”
I sighed.
“Viktor Federov is part of the Russian Mafia correct?”
“Yes why?”
“Who would be a perfect counter for the Russian Mob?”
He looked at me blankly.
I sighed again. Sometimes, men can be so dense.
As soon as I said it, I had to chuckle to myself.
“Perhaps an organisation from a little south of here?”
He looked blankly at me.
“Come on Luca. Think.”
He still didn’t get it.
“How about some people from Sicily?
“The Cosa Nostra? You can’t be serious!”
“Well, my ever so slightly thick darling, yes they are. Perfectly serious.”
“Is this all my Father’s doing?”
I nodded my head.
“So I’m going to have to give up the yard to a different bunch of thugs?”
“Not quite. There will be a sum on money involved naturally but they are diversifying into legitimate businesses. As long as the yard makes money, then they would be a silent partner.”
“What about the Money Laundering laws? Our esteemed Prime minister has put all sorts of laws in place to stop this sort of thing?”
“From what your Father said, that won’t be a problem. Something about a bank account in the Cayman Islands.”
“But why is he doing this?”
I smiled back at him.
“I think he took a bit of a shine to me.”
Luca leaned over the table and kissed me long and hard.
“Merde! Fran, you’d talk the hind legs off a Donkey.”
“I know. What would you have done without me eh?”
“Oh you!”
We kissed for a long time. A very long time indeed.
Before we left Genoa to return to Bath, Luca’s parents invited us to their home for a meeting of reconciliation.
I was very nervous at the though of meeting his Mother.
As soon as I saw her I understood.
“Fran, meet my wife, Niamh”.
Niamh was a tall fiery red head. As soon as she opened her mouth I knew that we were not going to get along.
“So you are the English bitch my son has shacked up with then? Has he got you pregnant yet?”
Her Irish accent had not been dimmed by the years of living in Italy. Despite those years, her sense of fashion was more Belfast housing estates than Milan high fashion.
That said, I could see that Marco was in love with her.
The more time I spent in her presence the more I felt the knives being sharpened and plunged into my back.
For some reason, Niamh hated the English. She seemed to delight in putting me down at every opportunity.
By the time we ‘escaped’ from their home, any thoughts of reconciliation were long gone. Luca had tried his hardest to defend me. Marco was well in the middle and had kept well out of it. I had really warmed to him. As Luca and I walked back through the now quiet city streets, I felt sorry for him. He really deserved better than her.
When we got home, Luca really tried hard to cheer me up. He really didn’t succeed very well.
The poor man did his best but as I laid in bed listening to his heavy breathing I felt as if I had the whole world on my shoulders. It took a long time but eventually I fell asleep.
Then next think I knew was Luca was shaking me awake.
“Fran! Wake up.”
“Wake up!”
“What… what’s up?” I mumbled.
“You were having a nightmare.”
I looked at him blankly.
“Eh?”
“You were ranting on about being kidnapped by Federov and being forced to dance half naked in a cage with your boobs hanging out.”
I almost started to laugh but I saw he was serious. A shiver went through my whole body.
He wrapped his arms around me. Then I burst out laughing.
“What’s so funny?”
My hand wrapped itself around his very erect penis.
“This is!”
We collapsed onto the bed laughing and cuddling each other.
After a while and with my nightmare pushed to the back on my mind, I whispered some sweet nothings into his ear.
“Did what I said in my dream turn you on?”
He stiffened up immediately.
“No…. no it didn’t.”
I said nothing. I knew him well enough to know that it did. The thing that troubled me was that I could not remember one thing about it. It didn’t trouble me it actually pissed me off.
Over breakfast, I asked Luca about his mother.
“Why does your Mother hate me? Do you think she knows about me?”
“Don’t worry about Mama. Her bark is worse than her bite,” replied Luca as if I’d stamped on his toe.
I doubted that but I left it there.
“What are you plans for the day?” Asked Franki.
“Don’t you remember? I told I was going to the charity clothes auction.”
“Oh yes. I remember. What time is your train?”
“Just after nine.”
I looked at him and fluttered my eyelashes. I was wearing some shortish false ones for my trip to Milan. I was also wearing a Chanel two piece that dated from the early 1970’s. The hormones I’d been taking for the past nine months had filled me out in ‘all the right places’ and given me a figure that could carry the outfit without any of the padding I’d used before.
“I take it you would like a lift to the Station?”
“Please?”
He sighed.
“Ok. Go and finish getting ready while I clear up here. Then we can be off. I have a Board meeting at 10:00.”
I was feeling pretty good with myself when I got off the train in Milan. The weather had warmed up a bit and I’d seen the snow-capped Alps looking stunning in the warm winter sun from the train. I even managed to get a Taxi without having to wait.
The auction was a low-key affair. It wasn’t formal at all. It was more of a reception with food and wine and the occasional burst of bidding.
I’d discussed which items to bid for with Saffy over Skype the previous week. She was working with Claudia at expanding the business. I’d volunteered to help them in anyway I could.
I was talking to an absolute bore when the first item we were after came up.
“Scusilo. Devo fare una punta per questo articolo.” {Excuse me I must go and make a bid on this item}
To my surprise, I was outbid by a mystery bidder on the phone. Nevertheless, I smiled nicely and concentrated on the next item.
By the time I’d been outbid for the fourth time, I was getting somewhat frustrated. No other lots were being contested so I decided to change tack.
The next item was an awful dress that could have been right out of those worn on 1980’s TV shows such as Dallas. This was the last dress that we’d ever have considered having in the shop simply for the fact that it was a particularly horrid day-glo pink.
I bid for it and sure enough the mystery bidder put in a bit that was always higher than mine. I decided to have some fun and called out my next bid.
“Due Mila Euro.”
There were a few gasps from some of the other bidders.
All eyes turned towards the ‘phone bidder’.
“Due Mila Euro cinquecento,” said the woman who was talking with the bidder.
There were more gasps.
Everyone looked at me. I smiled sweetly, paused and then said,
“Cinque Mila Euro.”
The audible intake of breath from the room was deafening. I could hear the words ‘loco’ from several people in the room.
Then it quietened down as everyone looked at the woman on the phone.
You could hear a literal pin drop in the room.
The woman listened intently to the voice at the other end.
Everyone could hear her ask the voice to repeat themselves.
“Euro di Diecimila,” she said calmly yet shaking her head.
There were more gasps, and everyone looked at me once more.
I smiled back at them. With almost a grin, I raised my hand up.
“Sia lasciato chiunque sul telefono lo hanno. Spero che osservino molto buoni in un vestito che vale ogni centesimo quel voi pagato per esso è per la carità.” {Let them have it. I hope they look very good in a dress that is worth every cent that you paid for it. After all, it is for Charity.}
A few people started clapping me for my words. I grinned back and enjoyed my few seconds of fame.
I was still worried why only the items I was bidding were contested when I slipped out of the Hotel where the auction was taking place and headed for my train back to Genoa.
I was waiting for a Taxi outside the hotel when a big black Mercedes pulled up near me. I didn’t think any more of it until I saw out of the corner of my eye, Mrs Federov dashing out of the hotel and climbing into the car. Suddenly the rear window opened and the ‘pink dress’ was tossed out of the car into the road. The dress that someone had just paid ten thousand euros for!
It disappeared with a screech of tyres leaving me standing their totally gobsmacked at what had just happened.
The only thing I could think of was that she was the mystery bidder. The bidder that had out bid me at every opportunity.
I was still in a daze as I climbed into the Taxi. To make matters worse, as it left the hotel, it ran right over that pink monstrosity. Perhaps there is a god?
[to be continued]
Luca’s father, Marco turned out to be a real sweetie. Over the next few days I got to know him quite well. As for his wife of 31 years, Niamah was nowhere to be seen. She’d seen Marco embracing me at the station and hadn’t been seen since.
We found out a few days later that she was staying with Gina. That little bit of news made me feel a whole lot better. Marco seemed to agree with my statement of ‘She’s lost it’.
When I felt up to it, I headed back to Tuscany to supervise repairs and other things on the house. I spent more than a month there. It helped me get my mind off my experience in Milan.
Luca would drive down every Friday afternoon to review progress on the refurbishment of the house. Progress was steady but he was very impressed at my improving command of Italian swear words. I was giving as good as I was getting from the Builders. It did earn me more than a little respect.
We sort of fell into a pattern spending a very lazy Sunday morning in bed together and then going out for a late lunch at one of the many great restaurants in the area. We did however find time to discuss what I planned to do once my year of living as a woman was up. I was now certain that if I was to marry Luca, it had to be as a fully legal woman. Luca to his credit hadn’t pushed me into this decision. I dare not tell him that the episode in the lift in Rio had made my mind up for me.
When the builders started on the kitchen I got them to dismantle the table and ship it to Genoa. I didn’t want it damaged during the renovations. It just about fitted into the dining room of the Apartment. The movers commented more than once ‘they don’t make them like this anymore’. It made me pleased that I was not the only one to recognise quality in the workmanship. They estimated that it was at least one hundred and fifty years old.
By the beginning of March, the house was starting to look half decent so with a good heart, I flew back to London for one of my regular appointments with my Doctor.
After my sessions with Dr Emily Penrose, I did a little shopping in Knightsbridge before taking the train to Bath to say hello to Saffy and Claudia.
I’d hardly walked in the door when two pairs or arms rapped themselves around my body.
“Hello girls. I take it you are glad to see me.”
One pair of lips after another was planted on mine.
“Ok. I get it.”
Eventually they stopped their embraces.
“What was that for?”
“Because it has been a long time since we have seen you. And after what happened with my Mother we have been worried about you,” said an impassioned Claudia.
“Thank you for being concerned about me but I think I gave her as good as I got.”
Claudia didn’t answer but she did look a bit worried.
“You do know that she’s working with Gina to get custody of the twins.”
I sat down shaking.
“No I didn’t know. When did you find out about this?”
Claudia looked aghast.
“Hasn’t my brother told you?”
I shook my head.
“The rat. Wait till I see him…”
“Don’t be angry with him. I expect he was trying to protect me. He knows how I would react.”
She nodded her head in agreement.
Saffy tried to change the subject.
“How long are you staying for?”
I smiled back at her.
“I’m going back to Italy the day after tomorrow. I have some things to sort out in my flat and a little business to attend to tomorrow morning but I’ll be free to take the pair of you out to dinner tomorrow night.”
My best laid plans and all that went right out the door as soon as I saw him waiting for me at the Airport.
As he kissed me passionately I said,
“I was going to be a bit pissed off with you but since you welcomed me so nicely, how can I be angry with you for more than a few seconds.”
He didn’t answer but placed another kiss on my lips. That was his answer.
That night we talked and talked. It was well into the early hours before we fell into bed exhausted. I didn’t get to sleep for some time but by the time I turned over I felt satisfied that we had a plan. There was only one possible problem and hopefully that would be resolved the following day.
Once we’d ordered, Luca said to his Father.
“We would like you take over the yard. This would allow us to move to England. It will be harder for Gina and my mother to legally get custody of the children.”
Marco was ever the Gentleman. He just smiled back at us.
“Of course I will. I am only sad it took you this long to ask me. After… After my so rather silly wife started messing things up for you. I know that the pair of you will give my grandchildren the right sort of upbringing, something that their mother has proved rather inept at doing so to date.”
I thought to myself, ‘if you were only 25 years younger and I was a proper woman I’d ask him to marry me in an instant.
We spent a long afternoon discussing everything about us, the children and the business. Eventually, we got thrown out of the restaurant so, the three of us returned to the apartment where I made us something more to eat and we carried on talking well into the night.
With that all organised Luca and I flew to London a couple of days later. Once we’d settled into the house once more, we went up to London to seek some legal advice regarding the domicile and guardianship of the children.
The news was not good and not bad.
The good news was that Gina had given written permission for them to be educated in England. Any move to take them out of school without Luca’s permission would more than likely be viewed as kidnap.
The bad news was that if my true sexuality came out then the press would have a field day and the court of public opinion would ensure that Luca would lose that ever so important custody of his children.
We also discussed the financial implications. As Gina, hadn’t married anyone else she was still being paid the €200,000 a year maintenance. If she managed to get custody of the children that sum would probably go up considerably. I gasped when the lawyer mentioned as sum close to €500,000 a year.
Two days later I literally dragged Luca into a meeting with my Doctor.
“Doctor, this is my fiancée, Luca.”
“I’m pleased to see you but why the urgency for a meeting? You were not due for another six weeks.”
I swallowed hard.
“We have a little problem. Luca’s ex-wife is apparently going to try to obtain sole custody of their children. This is all being instigated by his mother. She does not like me one little bit. She is from West Belfast and thinks ‘Bloody Sunday’ happened yesterday.”
“I think I get the picture. What do you want me to do?”
I gripped Luca’s hand tightly.
“If it is possible, I’d like to complete my transition a little bit sooner than planned. Then we can get my documents changed so we can get married.”
The doctor just nodded her understanding.
“Then if the custody case comes to court we can present a stable family and it will be harder for the other side to attack me for not being really who I appear to be.”
There was an ominous silence in the Doctors Office.
She spent a few seconds finishing writing some notes. Then she looked up at us.
“I appreciate the problems but the rules are the rules. You have to complete one whole year living as a woman.”
I started to say something but she put her hand up to stop me.
“You are making wonderful progress. Every time I see you there is less of Francis in your character and personality. There are many other Transgendered people with less of a feminine character than you have had from your very first time you came here. However, I’d more than likely be out of a job if I let you break the rules in this area.”
I guess my look of total disappointment showed.
She gave me a little smiled.
“However, I am prepared to put the paperwork in motion that will expedite the official change in your sex once the twelve months have elapsed and you have transitioned.”
I could have hugged her there and then but she wasn’t the sort of person you hugged on the spur of the moment.
We left her office with both of us in a happier mood.
In the end, Luca had to go back to Italy for a while. He’d be back in a little over a week when the schools broke up for Easter.
Two days after he left I was dozing gently in the early morning when a gem of an idea started to form in my mind.
“I wonder?” I said to myself several times before I got out of bed and spent most of the morning working the Internet hard.
The pangs of hunger eventually drove me away from the computer and into the kitchen.
As I ate lunch a smile started to form on my face. By the end, it was a big grin. I returned to the computer and carried on with my work with a renewed vigour.
After another hour or so, I was done. I finished writing a very long email and sent it to Luca. With that done, I didn’t sit on my laurels, I went straight into the next phase of my plan. I picked up my phone and dialled a number in Cardiff.
After three rings, the phone was answered.
“Mr Sidoli?”
“I wonder if your company can be of assistance to me. I have a partially renovated house in Tuscany that needs finishing. I understand that you undertake this sort of work?”
His answer caused me to let out the breath that I’d been holding ever since the phone was answered.
“That is very good news. I have a number of photographs and other things I can show you if that is possible. When would be a good time for us to meet? I don’t mind coming to Cardiff.”
After a second or so, I heard the answer.
“That is great. Why time is best for you?”
“Ok, Thursday at 11:00. I’ll see you then.”
As I hung up the phone I saw my reflection in the mirror. I was grinning like the proverbial Cheshire cat.
Mr Sidoli’s offices were only a few minutes walk from the Station. This was just as well as a strong westerly wind was driving some light rain right into the faces of those who ventured out onto the Cardiff streets. Cardiff can be a beautiful and vibrant city but not on days like this.
I soon found the office and frankly I was glad to get inside out of the strengthening wind.
As I entered the offices I got the impression that this was a place of work and not style over function. I could see a couple of the obligatory models in glass cases but that was all. I could see people hard at work in a couple of offices.
I waited a few more seconds before deciding to announce myself.
I walked over to the door of one offices and went inside. The door was slightly open so I took it as an invitation to enter.
The sound of my heels on the polished wooden floor made the forty something man who was examining some plans in great detail pause what he was doing and look up at me.
I smiled sweetly and said,
“I have an appointment at eleven.”
He smiled back. It was a nice friendly smile.
“Ah, you must be Ms Clarkson. The boss is expecting you. If you’d just wait here a moment, I’ll get him. Things are a bit manic here at the moment. We are moving offices in a week so… Well its is sort of disorganised chaos.”
I smiled once more.
“Thank you.”
He put down the pair of glasses that he’d taken off to look at me and stepped by me into the doorway and through it.
Less than 30 seconds later he returned with what could only be Mr Sidoli. He looked Italian yet we were in an office in the middle of the Welsh Capital. Still, I told myself I shouldn’t be surprised as there is a lot of people in this city that are of Italian origin. Well, that was what Wikipedia had told me anyway.
“Ms Clarkson. Welcome. Won’t you please come with me. I’m sure my son has told you about our office move so why don’t we go and find somewhere a little more comfortable.”
He let me walk out of the office first. It felt strange to see someone who should have been in Italy talking with a heavy Welsh lilt. It was quite musical.
We soon found an office that was empty apart from a table and a few chairs.
“Please take a seat. Guiseppe will be joining us in a minute. He’ll bring us some tea and some of his wife’s cakes. They are really very good.”
I sat down and proceeded to remove the documents and photos I’d brought with me from my briefcase while we waited for Guiseppe to arrive.
Timing, they say is all about luck. Today, it was perfect. I’d just finished arranging my documents when Guiseppe arrived carrying a pot of tea, three cups with saucers and what looked like date and walnut cake.
As first impressions go, this lot are up there with the best.
Guiseppe even poured the tea properly! Milk first then the tea through a strainer. Perfect.
He handed us each a cup and then sat down himself.
“Ms Clarkson, what sort of job do you want us to do?”
“Please call me Fran. Ms Clarkson sounds so formal.”
The both nodded back at me.
“I have recently bought this house,” I said telling them a little fib.
I pushed over a photo of the house towards the two men.
“It is as you can see, a typical Tuscan Country House dating from the middle of the 19th Century. It has eight bedrooms and six receptions rooms. It sits in 9 hectares of somewhat overgrown gardens. Oh, and there are a number of outbuildings including a three-box stable block.”
“As you can see from the picture, it had a new roof put on a few months ago. The original plan was that I’d be on site most of the time to supervise but a change in circumstances had made that impossible.”
“Excuse me”, asked Guiseppe.
“You said that you are in the process of buying the house yet you said that you’ve already had a new roof put on. I’m a little confused.”
I smiled at him.
“I’ve bought the house from my fiancée. I know it sound strange but it is the easiest way to… Apparently is a fairly common way to avoid paying some taxes in the future.”
Mr Sidoli smiled back at me. I think he understood.
“What do you want from us Fran?” Asked Mr Sidoli.
“Mr Sidoli,..”
“Victor please,” he said interrupting me.
“Victor,” I smiled.
“I’d like your company to complete the job I’ve started. The work that has been done is more than likely not up to your standards. I’ll have to put that down to my amateurish attempts at project management. I’ll give you a free hand to do the work. I want it done to the highest quality because we are going to live there once it’s done.”
“Then money’s no object?” asked Victor.
“I didn’t say that. You can have a free hand but I will keep a close eye on the costs. I want a proper job done. I’ll also be expecting at least a one year guarantee on the works. No doubt you will factor that in to your prices.”
I looked at them earnestly.
“What I’m saying is that I will pay a reasonable and fair price for the work but in return it has to be top quality.”
I paused for half a second. Then I added.
“Non lo voglio tagliare gli angoli. Nessun bodging.”
They both laughed at my Italian. I think I overdid the ‘amateurish’ part of the translation.
We spent the next hour going over the finer details using my photos and sketches. Gusieppe made copious notes on just about everything. At the end, I asked,
“What do you think?”
Victor looked at his son who gave a little nod of his head.
“I think we can do the job. As it happens, we are just finishing a job about 30km from this house. We should be done there in a week or two. What I’d like to do is visit the site next week and do a more formal survey. That will take two or three days. Then I’ll draw up a schedule with a load of costs and other details. Then we can sit down and work on a contract.”
I smiled back at them both.
“Thank you. Now about a retainer? Would this do?”
I pulled a cheque from my handbag.
“That should cover your initial expenses,” I said as I passed it to Victor.
He looked at the amount.
“You seemed rather certain that we would be able to help you?”
I smiled back at him.
“If I didn’t have any confidence then I’d probably sill be pulling pints at my local pub.”
He chuckled at my response.
I added,
“I did do quite a bit research before calling you. It wasn’t hard to find out about your other project being close to completion and that the customer is very happy with the work done so far.”
Victor laughed and stuck his hand out.
I shook it.
“I think Ms Clarkson, that we are going to get along just fine.”
As a result, we flew to Rome the following Monday for a meeting with Marco and a team of lawyers who had experience in this sort of thing.
The meeting served to confirm much of what we’d been told in England. The so- called divorce that Luca and Gina had gone through was not final. This was due to some weirdness of the Italian Divorce Laws.
As a result, Luca signed the deeds of trust putting the money from the sale of the Tuscan house to me aside for the education of the children. The conditions of the trust were such that their mother could not touch any of the money even the interest. If tried to change this through the law, the trust would be dissolved and the money given to a charity.
The down side of all this was that in the short term there was no way we could get married even after I’d transitioned.
Until Gina formally gave up any aims of getting custody we couldn’t get married because under Italian law, I could be made to divulge my complete financial status. Any asset I owned could be included in the monies from my estate could be used in the amount that Luca would have to pay in maintenance.
I felt rather sad at this prospect. When we’d met with the lawyers and they explained the situation, I’d tried to change Luca’s mind but for once he was rock solid in his determination to keep my finances out of something I’d had no part in. Marco sat quietly through our first argument.
When we’d run out of steam, I went outside for a walk to cool down. He joined me and asked.
“You really love my son, don’t you?”
“Yes I do.”
He smiled back at me. Then he took hold of my hand.
“Then you will wait until these annoyances are properly sorted out.”
It was a question. It was a statement. He was telling me to wait.
The image of Marco being a bit of a softie went right out the window. Here and now he was showing a degree of toughness I’d not seen in him before. It was a side of Marco that I liked.
I smiled back at him.
“I can wait Marco. I’ve waited long enough. A little longer won’t matter very much.”
He smiled at me.
“But time is ticking by, if you and my son want to start a family.”
My face must have changed colour in an instant.
“Oh my dear. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
I took a few seconds to reply.
“No Marco. You had every right to wonder about our plans.”
I grinned back at him.
“I’m not really the mothering sort of woman. Oh, don’t get me wrong. I’ll be the best mother I can be to Benito and Sophia. But changing nappies is not really my thing. Besides, we both think that two children, is more than enough for any family.”
He looked very relieved.
I squeezed his hand and smiled.
“Shall we go back inside?”
“Mama was very persistent. If I looked at another woman she’d do her utmost to destroy her before my very eyes.”
He sighed. It was a very deep sigh indeed.
“In the end I gave in to both Mothers. We got married and then the hints about bambino’s started. At first Gina was an excellent mother. Then she seemed to miss the playgirl lifestyle she’d been enjoying before our marriage.”
He looked very sad.
“Don’t feel sorry Luca. You have found a wonderful woman in Fran,” said his father.
Luca took my hand and squeezed it hard.
Two days later I was sitting in the back of a taxi on my way to the Airport to fly back to London when my phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Oh yes Mr Sidoli. Is there a problem with the house?”
I listened to him speak.
A smile broke out on my face when he got to the reason for his call.
“You found what?”
I listened again. The smile got broader.
“I must see that. I’ll be there as quick as I can.”
I finished the call still smiling.
“Driver. Prendalo alla stazione ferroviaria. Devo interferire il treno seguente a Firenze.” { Driver. Take me to the railway station. I need to catch the next train to Florence.}
As the bemused driver turned the car around, I burst out laughing.
[to be continued]
I arrived at the house in Tuscany a little before 3pm that afternoon very eager to see what Victor had discovered.
The sound of the Taxi’s tyres on the gravel drive alerted him to my arrival.
He emerged from the open front door of the house with a broad smile on his face.
As I paid off the driver he opened the door of the car for me to get out.
“Thank you for coming at such short notice.”
“That’s all right Victor. You caught me just in time. Half an hour later I’d have been checked in for my flight home.”
“So, where is it?” I asked.
“Let me show you. We only found the entrance by chance.”
He led me into the back garden. It brought back memories of that first day when Luca and I had walked around the garden.
“As we agreed, I was going over the garden trying to see what was underneath the general dilapidation when I came upon this heap of stones that is covered in weeds and rubbish.”
“Where is it? This heap? I don’t remember it from the last time I was in this part of the garden.”
When was that?
“Last May”.
“Ah, that probably explains it. The vegetation was probably in full growth at that time of year.”
I didn’t answer him right away. Instead was carried on walking away from the house.
Before long we were in a part of the garden that was completely unknown to me yet we were less than 100m from the house.
“Here it is.”
Victor stopped and pointed at a mound some 10ft high in front of us.
I could see that there was a lot of rubble.
“Is this the remains of an old building?
“Yes.”
Then he looked at my feet. I was wearing a nice comfy pair of 4in heels. Comfy in that they fitted perfectly and were well worn in.
“Are you all right with walking on the grass in those shoes? What I want to show you is on the other side and with the recent rains…”
I smiled at him.
“Yes. That is fine. These are an old pair.”
I thought to myself, ‘they might be old but I really don’t want to break a heel at this very moment.’
I followed him around to the other side of the mound. It was soon obvious that Victor had cleared a sort of a path through the undergrowth. The path led to a flight of steps that disappeared below ground level.
“Do we have to go down there?”
“Afraid so.”
“Ok, lead on.”
Victor produced a large flashlight from his coat pocket and after switching it on he started going down the stairs.
I followed behind.
When he reached the bottom, he pushed open a wooden door and went inside.
Victor, ever the gentleman, shone the light onto the floor in front of me.
I entered the cellar.
Without a word, Victor shone the light around the walls of the room. It didn’t take long for me to start giggling.
Then he lit up two pieces of furniture in the middle of the floor. One was a pair of stocks and the other was clearly a chair where you could tie people down.
“Welcome to your very own Dungeon Ms Clarkson,” said Victor in a calm voice.
I smiled.
“Well, this certainly wasn’t on the inventory of the house.”
“I don’t think anyone have been down those steps for many years. Decades probably.”
He shone the torch around the room slowly. As he did I could see restraints of various kinds all hanging there nice and neatly on the wall. There were also whips and even a bridle or two complete with a shiny bit.
“Victor, when you told me about this place, I couldn’t decide if you were joking or not. I have to apologise for having any doubts about you.”
He chuckled.
“There is no need to apologise. If anyone else had phoned me up and said what I did, I probably would have had doubts just like you. I know you like to keep things simple and direct.”
“Thank you Victor.”
Then I added.
“Could I have the torch? I’d like to take a look around for a few minutes.”
“Ok. I’ll wait outside. Don’t be too long, as it looks like it might rain soon.”
He handed me the torch and made his way out of the door and up the stairs.
I spent the next 10 minutes looking over the room. Everything was in its place. Well, I assumed it was in its place. There were hooks in the walls at regular intervals on three of the walls. On each hook there was some item of restraint or punishment.
I examined the stocks and the restraint chair. I even sat down in the chair and flipped one of the cuffs over one wrist. A small shiver ran down my spine. I’d never even thought about bondage let alone ever tried it out. Still, my interest had been piqued.
I saw a small desk in one corner of the room. I got up from the chair and went over to it. There was a small drawer in the front.
After a little pulling came open.
The only contents were a few old photographs covered in dust.
I was about to bush the dust off them when I heard Victor’s voice
“Miss Clarkson, it is starting to rain. We had better get back to the house.”
I stuffed them into my purse and left the cellar. I only paused to close the door.
Victor was right. Some rain was now falling and it had got quite dark.
My heels sank into the damp ground as we virtually ‘legged it’ back to the house.
When we got to the house, Victor offered me some Coffee.
“How will you prepare it? I had the kitchen ripped out.”
He chuckled.
“You might have paid for it but these locals didn’t try too hard. Besides, those cast iron ranges are very difficult to move without specialist equipment.”
I had to agree with him.
The kitchen although warm seemed very empty without that table. I wondered if I’d done the right thing by shipping it to Genoa.
There were a few rickety chairs for us to sit on.
“I found these in the stables.”
“But… There were at least six chairs in here the last time I was here.”
“Well not any more there isn’t. If I were you, I’d take an inventory of the rest of the house.”
“That’s ok. Everything we wanted to keep is in storage in Firenze or in Genoa. We left a few chairs here for the workers up use.”
“They have used them all right. In their own homes.”
We both laughed at that.
Victor poured the coffee from a saucepan and added some milk from a flask.
It was very warming after our exploits in the cool cellar.
As we drank the coffee Victor asked,
“Why do you think that is there?”
“What do you mean?”
“That Dungeon. Why?”
I smiled back at him.
“I have no idea at all. It is all a bit strange to me.”
He didn’t answer so I decided to change the subject.
“Has your survey shown up any problems? Do you think you will be able to carry out the restoration?”
Victor looked at me for a couple of seconds.
“Yes. Yes, I am afraid that it has.”
He paused. I could tell that his news was not good by the tone in his voice.
“The roof has to come off.”
“But it was done recently.”
I protested.
He nodded.
“I agree. But what your local bodger failed to tell you is that the wood holding the roof up is riddled with woodworm. Many of the
joists in the house are the same. Thankfully the floorboards are made from a different wood and so far, none of the floorboards seem to be affected.”
I felt rotten.
“Anything else?”
He smiled at me.
“Oh, the windows are rotten and there is no damp proof course. The external rendering is falling off on great chunks but you know that last part.”
“So the place should be pulled down tomorrow?”
He laughed.
“No. The structure is on the whole pretty sound. If we re-point the place properly before applying new render of the old type, it will be good for another hundred years.”
I felt relived that the place wasn’t going to fall down on top of us.
“This is not going to be a cheap restoration. Not by any means.”
I nodded my understanding.
“Would knocking the place down and rebuilding it be cheaper?”
He thought for a moment.
“If this were anywhere else in Italy, then yes it would be. In Tuscany, things are a little different. So many old buildings here have been ‘restored’ and totally ruined that unless the building was about to fall down we have to repair, restore and refurbish. There is no other way.”
I smiled back at him.
“In a way, I’m pleased. I like this place faults and all.”
I looked at my watch.
“Can you take me to the station in Poggibonsi. If we hurry, I can make the train to Empoli and be in Genoa tonight. I’ll fly back to London from there after I’ve taken care of a little business.”
Victor smiled.
“Yes. Yes of course. I’ll be back tomorrow to finish the outside work. You will have my report and outline schedule by the end of next week.”
When we got into the apartment I dropped my case in the hall and after kicking off my shoes, I headed for the kitchen where I poured myself a large glass of wine. I downed most of it before refilling it and pouring another one for Luca.
I handed him his wine and together we headed for the sitting room.
I picked up my purse on the way before sitting down and taking another drink of wine.
“Steady on Darling. You will get drunk,” said Luca in a concerned voice.
“So? What does it matter?”
“What’s wrong? What happened in Tuscany?”
I opened my purse and pulled out my phone and showed him the pictures I’d taken from the drawer in the cellar. I also showed him the faded prints that I’d picked up.
I thrust them into his hand.
“Perhaps you might like to explain these?”
He said nothing. His mouth dropped open as he saw the images.
“What are you and your not so darling sister doing in them?”
“I…I…. I don’t know what to say.”
“You will have to do better than that.”
Luca went red in the face. Then he started to explain.
“It was built during the war by a German Officer. He used it to entertain his women.”
Luca saw the look of concern on my face.
“They were all women who were serving in the German Army. The story goes that he believed that he was a relative of the actor Boris Karloff and re-enacted scenes from his horror movies. We found the place and there were some old films of his re-enactments. My father made sure we couldn’t hurt ourselves as we played out the same scenes. Claudia made a very convincing Boris.”
As much as I tried, I could not stop myself laughing.
“So that’s why you are wearing a dress?”
“Fraid so.”
“Well, in future I’m the only one that wears a dress. Got it?”
Luca responded with a huge kiss.
[To be continued]
After dinner, I told Luca about the auction and the antics of Mrs Federov, he Luca laughed his head off. His board meeting had gone very well so we were both in a great frame of mind. He’d also been meeting with his lawyers about something to do with the children. He was a little reluctant to tell me and I didn’t want to push it.
Our brief period of happiness didn’t last and we were brought down to earth with a bump when two days later when we were just about to leave for the airport and our flight to London when Gina arrived on the scene.
It was obvious that she was breathing fire.
“You…” she screamed at me.
“You scheming Bitch. This is all your doing!”
She was waving some papers at me.
“What is the matter Gina? We were just leaving to go to the Airport.”
“Yes. That is right. Flying off to your little love nest in England.”
Luca couldn’t resist laying into her.
“That is not true and you know it. In case you hadn’t realised Gina, we are divorced and it was you who went off with that Racing Driver. It is also the Easter holidays in a few days. Are you going to be a mother for a few days?”
Wow! I’ve never seen him like that. I might get to like him if he were a little more assertive.
My dreaming was rudely interrupted by Gina launching another verbal tirade at me.
“He has no money. This stupid trust idea has taken it all. What are you going to live off now then?”
“What is stupid about putting money that I’d have to pay you aside for our Children’s Education and wellbeing?” Countered Luca.
“What am I going to live on then?”
“What about your men friends? Who is your current boyfriend? I seem to have lost track recently. Surely there are some left who you can sponge off?”
If looks could kill, Luca would be pushing up daisies right now.
“That is none of your business.”
“Really? Yes it is. You are our children’s mother. You should be setting a good example. Instead you go off skiing, partying and frankly my dear, you don’t give a dam about me or them apart from how much money you can squeeze out of me. Well, that is all over. I’ve put my most of my money out of your grasping hands. Now get a job or a lover. Don’t even think of going to a lawyer to get it reversed unless you have the money to pay them. I’m not paying one cent towards your legal fees ever again. I’m done paying for your affairs. You get your settlement and not one Euro more. Go find a sugar daddy or live life like a normal person.”
I tried to stop myself from giggling at the slight twist of those famous last words of ‘Gone with the Wind’. Sadly, I failed.
“What is so funny?” barked Gina.
I managed to stop laughing.
“Gina, from what little I know of you, you really don’t give care very much about your Children. I fail to understand why you would ever want to have sole custody of them? It can only be at the request of Luca’s mother. Is the plan to let her bring them up while you are off enjoying your playgirl lifestyle?”
Luca looked stunned by my outburst. If he was stunned, then Gina was absolutely livid.
“Do you let the paid help run your life now?”
Her anger was strangely not vented at me but at Luca.
“Fran is not the paid help. She and I are getting married.”
Gina took this opportunity to hit back.
“Not if I don’t sign those papers you won’t.”
Luca permitted himself a smile.
“That is where you are wrong. My lawyers can go to court to force you to sign or you will lose your settlement.”
Gina totally ignored that statement and finally turned her attention to me.
“You wouldn’t dare? Besides, what do you see in this…? She isn’t even worth looking at.”
Luca came to my rescue.
“Fran is more of a woman than you will ever be. I realised a very long time ago that I only married you because my mother arranged it. Apart from two wonderful children nothing positive came of our time together. Now I want it to end once and for all. If I never see you again, it will be a day too soon.”
Finally, Gina realised that she wasn’t going to win. She did not say anything else but she turned on her very expensive Louboutin heels and literally fled.
Neither of us said anything for several minutes. Finally, Luca said,
“What just happened?”
“I’m not sure really. I think I might get those papers signed and I doubt that we will hear of this custody battle again. On the other-hand we might very well have stirred up a hornets nest. I can probably guess that she is hot-footing it to talk to my Mother,” said Luca.
Then he added,
“At least my Father is on our side and won’t pay for anything either.”
“Then we can only hope that the former happens,” I said with a nod of my head.
“It is time Fran. Your year is up. How does it feel?”
I smiled back at her.
“Actually, rather good. I’d forgotten the exact date of this appointment. It wasn’t until Luca reminded me last night that I remembered.”
“That is very good to know.”
Then she paused.
“Are you ready to go beyond the point of no return?”
I looked puzzled.
“I thought I’d passed that several months ago? You know when I started to get real breasts and my penis decided that it was time to go to sleep and never wake up.”
“That is one way to look at it. You know what I meant.”
I nodded.
“Yes, yes I do. I have thought long and hard about it this past year. If there was one thing that has kept me going, it was the though of finally realising a dream. A dream that I’ve had since I first put on a dress and felt, ‘this is me. This is what I should have been. The dream I denied myself for so long.”
She looked at me sternly.
“This should be more than a dream. It should be a need.”
“Perhaps you are right.”
I paused for a second while I tried to get the right words together.
“Before I came to see you last year, this might have been a dream. Then something happened to me that…. Well I decided that the time was right to make the dream come true. Once I’d made that decision, there has never been a doubt in my mind that this is the right thing to do. It is the right time in my life to stop messing around sitting on the fence and become what I truly want to be.
I am in love with a wonderful man who is supporting me all the way.”
I looked at her for some sign that I’d said the right thing.
For what seemed a long time she looked at me with nary an emotion or expression on her face.
Then she wrote something down in her notes before looking at me once more.
“Then you had better get your surgery booked then.”
My jaw fell open. Wide open.
“Does this mean…”
She smiled back at me.
“Yes, it does. Actually, I never doubted your intent and downright desire for this to happen, right from the first day we met. All this time I’ve been testing you. Every time you have passed. It is time for you to become the woman you so desire. Please don’t feel bad about me testing you. That is my job and I am certain that you are ready for the final step.”
As I got out of my car, the front door of the house opened and three very excited people hurried out. They all had but one question on their lips.
They didn’t need to ask it. The huge grin on my face told them everything they needed to know in an instant.
Luca hugged me so tight that he squeezed all the breath out of me. Saffy and Claudia wrapped their arms around both of us.
“Please. I really do need to be alive for the operation you know!” I gasped.
Eventually they let me breathe once more.
“I’m so happy for you my darling,” whispered Luca as we walked into the house.
I squeezed his hand tightly. He couldn’t fully appreciate that the hardest part of my journey was yet to come.
The outcome was that I’d delay having the operation until September. At least the children would be back at school so the workload on that side of things would be a lot lower than if I had it in the holidays. It would also be easier to hide the fact that I was having fairly major surgery from them.
The School Summer holidays would soon be upon us and then there was the little matter of overseeing the work on the Tuscan house. It was at a critical stage with the roof off for the second time in such a short time. I didn’t want to let that job get on top of me. Luca was also busy helping out Marco with the yard. Since the ‘investment’ from Sicily, nothing more had been heard from Mr Federov.
Marco announced that he was divorcing Niamah. It looked like it was going to be just as messy as Luca’s due to even more weirdness of Italian divorce law. As for Gina apparently, she was now living with a much older man in a place on the coast about 30km south of Venice. She had been very evasive about how much time she wanted to spend with her children over the summer. In the end, she only had them for a weekend in Genoa.
Back in England, Saffy and Claudia were planning an expansion of the business. They were thinking about opening another branch in Notting Hill more specifically, Portobello Rd or just off it. I was happy for both of them.
Everything seemed to be going so well when a few days before the end of term, I got a phone call from Sophia’s house teacher.
“Hello”
“Yes this is she. Who’s calling?”
“Oh hello Mrs Morris. What can I do for you?”
I listened to what Sophia’s teacher had to say.
“Of course I’ll come to the school today. I can be there in a couple of hours if that is agreeable to you?”
“Fine. Four pm then.”
I hung up the phone still unclear about the reason for the call.
After a few minutes of deep thought I called Luca who was in Italy attending a handover of one of the Yards products to its new owner.
“Hello Darling.” I said trying to sound cheerful.
“I’m fine but I’ve just had a rather strange phone call from Sophia’s house teacher.”
“No, she didn’t say specifically what is wrong. Sophia isn’t hurt or anything but she wants to see me today”
“Yes, after the final class of the day, when Sophia will be doing her ‘prep’.”
“That’s it. She wouldn’t say why. She just wants to see one of us ASAP. It has to be something that she can’t or does not want to say over the phone.”
“Yes. I will call as soon as I find out.”
“Bye Darling.”
Slowly, I put the phone away in my handbag. Something felt not right but I couldn’t put my finger on what it was. That made me even more concerned.
I parked the car outside Sophia’s ‘House’. This was the dormitory block where she slept and studied when not attending classes. I sat in the car for a few moments as I watched a tall girl send down a devilish ball that demolished the batsman’s stumps. That brought a small smile to my face as I remembered my puny efforts at bowling when I was at St Wilfred’s Catholic School.
As the dashboard clock flipped over to 4pm, I gritted my teeth and got out of the car and went into the house. I looked for Sophia but the hallway was empty, the sounds coming from the playing field and tennis courts seemed a million miles away.
I knocked on Mrs Wilson’s study door and waited. I felt like some naughty pupil waiting to get their punishment for some misdemeanour.
“Come,” came a voice from inside.
Slightly nervously, I opened the door and went in.
Mrs Wilson was sitting at her desk in the middle of marking some work. As I came in she looked up and gave me a smile. She was in her late 30’s or early 40’s and looked like a typical school mistress. Memories of seeing Maggie Smith in the ‘Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ came back to me. Then I saw a ying-yang tattoo on the inside of her wrist. Perhaps my first impressions might not have been so accurate after all.
“Ah Ms Clarkson. It is so very good of you to come to School at such short notice. Please take a seat.”
I tried to smile but that sense of foreboding was getting to me.
“How can I help you Mrs Wilson. You really didn’t say what the reason for your call was for…”
I got stuck for words.
Mrs Wilson opened a drawer in her desk and pulled out a manila folder.
“Would you please read this?” said Mrs Wilson as she handed me the folder.
I opened it. Inside, I saw some paper with what was obviously Sophia’s writing all over it.
At the top of the page it said in capital letters, ‘MY FAMILY’.
I started to read Sophia’s essay.
By the time I’d finished reading the piece I fully understood the reason for the summons to the school.
Mrs Wilson saw that I’d finished reading the piece.
“Is that an accurate picture of your family?”
There was nothing like being direct and to the point.
I took a deep breath.
“I’m afraid it is.”
Then to my complete surprise she said,
“I’m rather relieved that it is accurate. We do pride ourselves here that try to educate our students to always tell the truth.”
Then she looked at me for a second or so before dropping the bombshell that I really had not been expecting.
“Would you be prepared to come and talk to the senior girls about your Transexuality?”
[To be continued]
Before I could control myself, I started crying.
To my eternal relief, Mrs Wilson didn’t come and offer to help.
When I’d recovered my composure, I said to her,
“You can’t be serious. You really want me to come and tell a load of adolescent girls about a man who does not want to be a man and why he’s having his dick cut off?” I blurted out rather angrily when I’d recovered at least some sort of composure.
I dragged a handkerchief out of my handbag and tried to dry my eyes without making too much of a mess of my makeup.
“Why? I’m sure the girls would be interested to know about this particular aspect of sexuality.”
“Not from me they won’t. Ten seconds after I finish speaking to them it will be all over Twitter, Facebook and who knows where else. Perhaps a tabloid newspaper would be interested in paying for the story. Besides, I’ve never told Sophia or her brother about myself. I’m sure their father will be wanting to have a very long talk about this with them.”
“Sophia has done nothing wrong. Why would you punish her for speaking the truth?”
I’d recovered a bit more by now.
“Mrs Wilson, whilst I appreciate your good intentions and all that, there are some members of Sophia’s family who would use this
knowledge against her father in a trice. “
My argument didn’t seem to hold much water with her.
“To whom are you talking about?”
“Her Mother and Grandmother!”
This seemed to stop her momentarily.
It was an all too brief moment.
“Why, If I may ask? Surely they are entitled to know who is looking after the children?”
I wanted to throttle her from that moment onwards.
“That might be true but their Mother wants sole custody of the children. If she finds out about me, then their Father would be lucky to see them ever again. He Mother goes through lovers like they are going out of fashion. Now, I ask you, is that right and fair?”
Then I gave her a little smile.
“Oh, and the extension to the Science block may be delayed a little.”
Mrs Wilson gave me a really serious look.
“And what do you mean by that?”
“What I mean Mrs Wilson is that a sizable donation that was earmarked for the Science Block appeal will now not be making its way to the school. Instead, I think it might go to an animal welfare charity instead.”
“I don’t believe you. How would a faux children’s governess be able to make a sizable donation to anything.”
“Mrs Wilson, I am sure you would understand that that sort of question is not one you would really expect an answer to now is it?”
I smiled at her. I felt much better now. I was back in control of my emotions.
“How can I believe you?”
“Mrs Wilson! I can assure you that I am a person of independent means. One who is quite prepared to make good that promise I just made to you.”
She didn’t answer so I did it for her.
“Perhaps I should leave now. I think I’ll take Sophia with me. Her Father will be flying in from Italy in the morning and will be spending more than a little time with her in the next few days!”
“But… you can’t. The term isn’t over. Besides you aren’t a parent or guardian.”
I smiled sweetly back at her.
“Mrs Wilson, if you look at Sophia’s file, I am sure you will find a letter from her father appointing me as a person who can act ‘In loco parentis.”
“I really must protest. You can’t just take a girl from the school.”
I smiled back and pulled my mobile phone from my handbag.
“If you’d prefer it, I could phone Sophia’s Father and get his opinion on the matter. I am sure that when he hears about your little scheme he will have no objection to me removing his daughter from this school without delay. Well?”
I didn’t wait for her to answer. I dialled Luca.
If she was waiting for me to back-out then she was mistaken. He answered on the second ring.
“Hello Darling”
“Yes I’m fine. I’m at the school now. I’m sitting in Sophia’s House Mistress’s study.”
“Yes there is. Sophia knows about me and included it in a piece about her family.”
“Hold on Luca. It was nothing like that. For her age, it was very beautifully written. It is Mrs Wilson that is the problem. She wants me to talk to some senior girls about being a Transsexual.”
His reaction was as I’d expected. I help the phone away from my ear just so that Mrs Wilson could hear his reply.
“That’s right. Twitter and everything else. Probably within minutes.”
“Agreed. There is no way I am going to do it. Mrs Wilson tried to blackmail me. I told her that my donation towards the new science block was in danger. I want to remove Sophia from school at once.”
I listened to him start a bit of a rant.
“Hold on Luca. Why don’t you tell that to her yourself?”
He agreed.
“Sophia’s Father wants to talk to you himself.”
I handed the phone over.
She took it very reluctantly. She knew what was coming.
Three minutes later my phone was back in my handbag and I was on my way to Sophia’s dormitory. She would be leaving with me despite Mrs Wilson’s initial protestations.
Sophia was sitting at her desk writing something when arrived at her room.
“Knock-knock,” I said quietly.
She turned around and when she saw me she dropped her pen and ran over to me. She hugged me tightly.
“Sono così spiacente. Non ho significato scrivere quella storia.” {I am so sorry. I didn’t mean to write that story.}
“Non importa. Che cosa è fatto è fatto.” {It does not matter. What is done is done.}
“It does matter. I was wrong. I should be punished,” she said switching effortlessly back to English.
I eased her grip from me and then I knelt down to be at her level.
“Sophia, it is no use worrying about it. I’ve come to take you home. Away from that Wilson woman.”
“Mrs Wilson? Why?”
“It is nothing for you to worry about my dear. All you need to know is that you have done nothing wrong. Nothing wrong at all.”
She held onto me for a long minute. I gently stroked her hair.
“Is papa coming from Italy?” She asked in a whisper.
“Yes. He will be here tonight if he can get a flight.”
She looked up at me and gave me a very tiny smile.
Two hours later we arrived back home. The place was eerily quiet. Saffy and Claudia were living in my old apartment in town which meant that there was no one else besides myself to comfort Sophia.
As much as I tried, I failed to get her out of what could only be called a ‘fug’. It started as we left the grounds of the school.
I even tried to bribe her with her favourite ice cream but she didn’t touch it.
This was one of those times when I seriously questioned my suitability for this whole governess and family malarkey.
All Sophia would do was keep saying that she was sorry.
In the end, I gave up and called the Saffy. I desperately needed help.
Saffy breezed into the kitchen, removing her Crash Helmet as she came through the door.
“What’s up Fran? What couldn’t you tell us on the phone?” She asked smiling.
“Lets wait for Claudia to come in? Then I don’t have to explain it twice.”
Saffy smiled back at me and headed for the sink. She began to fill the kettle with water.
“This looks serious so I’d better get a brew on.”
I gave her a little smile in return. In times of stress, Saffy always turned to tea. Not just any tea but a delightful blend of Assam and Darjeeling. I have to admit that she’d hooked me on it years ago.
Claudia finished parking her Guzzi and joined us in the kitchen.
“Ah Tea! Wonderful”
Saffy giggled. Before they’d gotten together she’d very rarely dunk tea. Now? Let’s say that she is a convert.
I let Saffy pour us all a cuppa before I began.
I took a sip of the hot tea and simply stated,
“Sophia knows about me.”
The smiled disappeared from their faces in an instant.
“How? Why? I don’t understand?” Exclaimed Claudia.
“How does not matter. What matters is that she wrote an essay for school about her father and casually mentioned that her father was going to marry a man who dressed up as a woman.”
You could have heard a pin drop.
“Say that again?” Asked Saffy.
Instead of telling them again I opened the same manila folder that Mrs Wilson had given me at the school.
“Why don’t you read the story for yourselves.”
Together they read Sophia’s words.
When they’d finished, Claudia asked,
“Does my brother know?”
“Yes. He’s on his way here but last I heard, he might not get a flight until tomorrow.”
A stern faced Saffy asked,“What do you want us to do?”
“Make Sophia understand that she’s done nothing wrong.”
They looked at each other and smiled.
“Where is she now?”
“In her room. Why?”
Saffy smiled at Claudia again. Claudia nodded back.
“I think it is time to get the dressing up box out again.”
I sighed and thought to myself. Why didn’t I think of that?
“What do you want me to do?” I asked.
“Nothing Darling. Absolutely nothing. Why don’t you go and have a nice soak in the bath and let Auntie Claudia and Auntie Saffy sort things out?” Suggested Claudia.
I couldn’t argue with her or their logic on that point.
My demeanour the following morning was not much better. Thankfully, Saffy had left for the shop with Sophia by the time I emerged from bed looking like something the cat had dragged home and then thrown away. Luca was going to stop by the shop on the way home.
My melancholy was still very much apparent when Luca came home with Sophia late that afternoon.
He took one look at me and then at my totally dishevelled appearance and quickly ushered Sophia into the games room and sat her in front of the TV. This is not something we would normally do but Luca needed to speak to me alone.
I was still sitting in the kitchen in the same place he’d left me hours before. I hadn’t moved in all that time. The half empty coffee cup was still where it was when Luca had left me alone that morning.
My mind was still a virtual train wreck. Why? Why me? What should I do? I’d asked myself those and a thousand other questions over and over again all day.
Naturally, no viable answers had been forthcoming.
Once he’d gotten Sophia settled, Luca came and sat down beside me.
He gently put his arm around me and drew me close.
He didn’t say anything at first. For that I was glad, very glad.
Eventually, I relaxed a bit and let my head sink onto Luca’s shoulder.
We sat there for nearly an hour. Our shared solitude was interrupted by Sophia ‘bouncing’ into the room.
“Daddy, I’m thirsty,” she exclaimed as she walked into the kitchen.
Almost automatically, I made a movement to get something for Sophia. As I did so, Luca tightened his grip on me.
“I’ll do it. You stay put my darling.
I relaxed and sunk back into the chair.
Luca got up and went to sort out a drink for Sophia.
Sophia saw her opportunity and came up and hugged me.
“I’m so sorry Miss Fran. I should not have written that silly story.”
I managed to give her a little smile.
“It is all right Sophia. You did nothing wrong. You told the truth. That is all anyone could ask for.”
She hugged me tight.
I tried to force a small smile from my lips but failed miserably.
Luca returned with Sophia’s drink.
“Qui è la bevanda Sophia. Forse vorreste berli nell’altra stanza?” {Here is your drink Sophia. Why don’t you drink it in the other room?}
“Sì papà.”
She took the glass and left us alone once more.
I took a deep breath and said,
“I… I can’t do this anymore.”
Luca didn’t answer but came and wrapped his arms around me.
“Yes you can my darling. You have come so far this past year. You have changed into a lovely confident woman.”
“Until this happened maybe I would have agreed with you. Not now, I’m a wreck.”
“You did wonderfully well at the school. You could have easily clocked her one for doing that to you like that. God knows, that teacher probably deserved one.”
His comforting eventually worked. I couldn’t stop a little giggle from keeping out.
“That’s more like the Fran I know and love.”
Saffy and Claudia came over for dinner that evening. Luca made us one of his delightful ‘throw what’s in the fridge into a pot and add some pasta’ surprises. As usual, it was fantastic.
Claudia and Saffy were the life and soul of the diner table. I tried my best to join in the fun but my heart wasn’t really in it. Still, I was feeling a bit better than earlier in the day.
As I sat there watching Sophia I marvelled at her ‘innocence of youth’. As the evening wore on, it seemed that she’d totally forgotten the story and all the angst it had generated amongst the adults in her life.
I felt a lot better the next morning. So much better in fact, I ducked under the bedclothes and woke Luca up slowly and gently with my mouth massaging his penis.
“That feels nice,” He mumbled after a few minutes.
I sped up my massage until he got nice and hard.
He was just about to ejaculate when I heard Sophia calling.
“Daddy, Daddy, I can see a rainbow. Come see.”
Luca got out of bed and put his dressing down on. He came back and kissed me gently.
“Daddy, Daddy”
Came the call from the next room.
“Oh, the joys of parenthood.”
I smiled back.
“Let me go. If I’m going to be her stepmother, then we should start now.”
Luca took my hand.
“Let’s both go and see this rainbow.”
[to be continued in Part 14 of 15]
[Authors note]
This part was very hard to write. I think I must have written and rewritten it at least a dozen times. I hope I got the cantor right.
Sophia soon put the episode at her now old school behind her as she began a slightly extended summer holiday. It didn’t take us long to find her another school for September and when Benito came home from school we planned all sorts of things to do for the holidays only to have them thrown into total confusion by the arrival at Hartley House of Gina.
She breezed in, as if she owned the place. It seemed that it was something Italian Women just did. She pronounced the place ugly and vulgar and not the sort of place for children.
Then she saw the children’s play room and her eyes bulged even more.
“These are totally inappropriate for MY children,” she pronounced.
Then without waiting for approval, she took their hands and literally dragged them out of the house and into her car. As she started to drive away from the house, I had the chance to close the electronic gates to the house. She was going nowhere without Luca’s permission.
Gina returned and gave me an earful if very coarse Italian swear words right in front of the children.
“Gina, you are hardly setting a good example for your children if you go on like that in front of them,” I replied calmly.
Benito was trying his hardest not to snigger buy failed miserably.
Gina stomped her heel and took off this time without the children. I opened the gates and let her out thinking, there goes bad rubbish.
Luca returned from a business trip to London a few hours later and almost hit the roof when he found out what Gina had tried to do.
After a very long and at time very agitated phone call between them, some sort of agreement was reached about her having some time with the children in the next few weeks.
All went well for three days. Benito had twisted his mother’s arm and they’d gone to Longleat to see the Lions and all the other animals. Gina returned fuming at the monkeys who’d stolen the windscreen wipers from her rental car.
“Who is going to pay for them? I’m not made of money,” she exclaimed.
The next morning, she arrived at the house but spent most of the day on the phone to her friends. Then she got back in her car and left without saying either hello or goodbye to her children. That was the last we saw of her. Luca got a text message late the next day saying that she was in Cancun and if we’d like to take the children to Mexico, she’d take them off our hands for a week.
Luca replied calmly, ‘No we have better things to do’.
So, she’d gone and with it, her promise to take her children for a couple of weeks never materialised. It did leave us rather in the lurch. Gina had breezed, in upset the apple cart and left leaving a pile of debris behind her for others to clear up. This was typical Gina and I’d just have to get used to it.
To our eternal relief, Claudia took control of the situation with Sophia and Benito and the three of them went off to a cottage in Wales for a couple of weeks. They were all going to learn to ride a horse despite the weather forecast not being all that kind.
What plans Luca and I might have had for spending some of the holiday together were rudely interrupted on the second day by a phone call from my builder, Giuseppe in Italy.
“Si Giuseppe”
“What is so bad about finding the source of the damp? Isn’t that good news?”
I listened intently for more than a minute getting more and more confused by the second.
In the end, I interrupted him in full flow.
“Giuseppe, stop right there. I’ll get on the first available flight tomorrow and you can show me what you mean. Ok?”
Thankfully, he agreed.
Feeling a little shaken, and confused, I parked up a few hundred metres down the road and walked up to the house.
I managed to squeeze past the three trucks parked in the drive and went towards the house. I soon discovered the reason for the congestion.
There was a huge hole in the drive. It stretched from the house to the outbuildings. I peered down into it and saw a pool of muddy water.
Suddenly, I heard a shout.
“Signora”
I turned to look towards the house. Giuseppe was waving at me. I breathed a sigh of relief and walked towards him.
“Signora, buon pomeriggio. Rimanga prego là. Ci è molto fango underfoot” {Good afternoon Signora. Please stay there, there is a lot of mud underfoot.}
He was not wrong about the mud. My black patent shoes were already well spattered with it. I went back to the car and changed into something more suitable for a building site.
“What is this?” I asked him when he joined me at the side of the ‘pit’.
“Signora Fran, that is what you call a spring. It is the cause of the damp and rot in the Cellar.”
“I don’t understand?”
He smiled at me.
“There was a drain but over the years it got blocked. The water, she had to go somewhere? Si?”
I began to understand.
“What are you going to do now?”
“We dig a new drain and then we let the soil dry out for a week. Then we fill it in.”
Then he took hold of my hand.
“Come, there is something else I have to show you.”
He led me towards the house. The foundations were also exposed.
“See, this is very damp. For many years it is wet. The…”
He didn’t finish the sentence. Instead, he leapt down into the ‘pit’.
“See?”
He took a metal pole and literally pushed it into the wall.
My heart sank.
“What is the matter with the wall?”
“The base of the wall is totally rotten. If we are not careful the house will fall down. As with many buildings of this age, the foundations are almost non-existent. Most of what little there is was made of very bad stone and the water has made it even worse.”
I was getting very worried. He saw the look on my face.
He smiled back at me as he climbed out of the hole.
“Please, come into the office and we can talk.”
He led me into the site office and offered me a seat.
“What can we do to stop my house from falling down?”
Giuseppe unfurled a set of drawings.
“See here. We make a new foundation and secure it to the house.”
Then I had an idea.
“Is this called ‘underpinning’?”
He smiled broadly. “Si. Underpinning.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
As I thought of something to say, I looked at the plans in detail. They showed the spring and the new drain. The amount of work involved seemed to be huge. As my estimate for the amount of work grew, an idea started to form in my mind.
Giuseppe looked at the grin that started to form on my lips.
“Signora? Is there something wrong?”
I didn’t answer immediately.
He tried again.
“Signora Fran?”
I was ready.
“Giuseppe, I have an idea. It will involve a bit more work but I think it will be worthwhile.”
“Signora?”
I looked around the office for a drawing board. There was one in the corner.
“Giuseppe. If I may use the drawing board, I will show you my idea.”
I stood up and took the plans over to the drawing board and laid them out.
An hour later, Giuseppe and I shook hands.
“It is agreed then. No planners or inspectors to know about our little project?”
“Si.”
“Good. I will go and get the money we agreed on from the bank.”
He looked sad.
“Not today Signora. All the banks are closed. The tellers are on strike. Perhaps tomorrow?”
I sighed. I’d planned on flying home tonight. I realised that it was not going to be possible.
“Ok. I will go into Florence and find myself a hotel. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I turned to go but Giuseppe called me back.
“Signora, I know a lovely place to stay. Only 10km from here.”
I smiled.
“And which relative of yours owns it?”
He grinned.
“My wife’s second cousin. He is a magnificent chef.”
We both laughed. I was beginning to understand the ‘Italian’ way of doing things.
I had to smile at my use of ‘our’. Then I felt depressed.
What if he didn’t like me after my operation? There were lots of stories on the internet where relationships had foundered after the ‘woman’ had had her gender reassignment operation.
Thankfully my session of self-loathing was interrupted by the plane touching down at Heathrow. To add to my discomfort, I’d still not decided how to tell Luca.
The important question was still not resolved in my mind by the time I drove up to the house. Luca was waiting for me at the door.
“Mmmm,” that was almost worth you being away said Luca after he’d kissed me long and passionately. Any doubts and fears I had soon vanished.
Over a lovely pasta dinner, he asked,
“You were a bit vague on the phone last night. What was the real reason you had to stay on? Was it some gorgeous hunk of an Italian Gigolo?”
Inwardly, I breathed a sigh of relief.
I smiled back at him.
“It was nothing like that darling. Although there were a couple of very aged and overweight former gigolos who tried their best to seduce me.”
He looked at me seriously. Then he started to laugh.
“Ok. What was the real reason?”
“Water. Or rather water where is shouldn’t be.”
“Oh, that little damp patch in the cellar. What of it?”
I looked him in the eye.
“A little damp patch? When I arrived it was a big puddle at least a metre deep.”
“What? It couldn’t be?”
“Oh yes. It has also undermined the foundations. They need underpinning.”
He looked really sad.
I reached over and took his hands in mine. We both looked serious for several seconds.
“The upshot is that we will soon have our very own dungeon.”
There I’d said it.
The look of astonishment on his face was a picture worth a million Euros.
“Our what? Mama Mia? What have you done?”
I didn’t say anything. I knew that I had to let him have his say.
“Why? Why on earth did you do that?”
I just smiled.
“Oh, I get it. You thought that we needed one like that old one down the garden.”
I thought to myself,
“By George, he is starting to get it.”
“But… Why?”
He stopped spouting forth and looked me hard in the eye.
“Say something. Don’t just stand there grinning…”
“Yes dear.”
His eyes rolled upwards.
I squeezed his hands gently.
“It was a spur of the moment thing. But now I have had time to think about it, the more I have warmed to the idea.”
“I don’t have a clue about what you are talking about.”
I sighed.
“We are both mature and pretty independent people. You because you have had to be a one parent family since Gina left. Me? Well you know why. Until I met you and the children, the only person in my life was Saffy.”
I stopped mid thought and started again.
“Darling, what I’m trying to say is that we don’t do anything together. Other than the children, we generally ‘do our own thing’. That is no basis for a long-term relationship. I just thought that… well we could do something a little bit different and intimate together.”
There was an eerie silence between us.
Eventually I’d had enough.
“Are you going to say something?”
“I’m trying to understand what you want. I’m not sure I can do the things your want.”
I smiled.
“Neither am I. That is what makes this so intriguing. Neither of us knows what we are doing.”
I thought for a second or so before trying a different tack,
“Do you remember the first time you tried to ride a bike?”
He smiled back.
“Yes.”
“Did you fall off?”
“Yes. More than once,” came his reply with a smile as he remembered the event.
“But you kept on and eventually, you managed it and you didn’t fall off.”
“Yes. But what… Oh. I get it.”
“Then you went faster. Then you leaned over going around the corners. Sometimes you fell off and scraped your knees and elbows. Yet you still got back on and rode the bike.”
Luca leaned over and kissed me.
“We seem to have a lot to learn then?”
I just smiled back at him before giving him a very long and loving kiss.
That night in bed, I could tell that Luca had a lot on his mind. He was lying there wide-awake.
I cuddled up to him and said,
“A nearly worthless penny for your thoughts?”
He chuckled at my feeble attempt at making a joke.
I could tell that he was struggling to get the right words together.
Eventually he said,
“Are you sure that all this stuff isn’t just to take your mind off the operation? It is not that far away now is it?”
I cuddled up to him.
“Not in the slightest my darling.”
“Are you having second thoughts?”
“The only second thoughts I’m having is that I’ll wake up and find out that the operation was a total failure.”
“I’m sure it won’t and that finally, your dream will be realised.”
I relaxed at bit.
“It is funny how until sixteen months ago, that dream was just pie in the sky. Something that I might have done eventually until…”
“Until what?”
“I saw that advert in the Agency window.”
He laughed and said, “Passing ships and all that.”
“All set?”
I sighed.
“For the umpteenth time darling, yes. Now can we get going?”
The confidence and bravado I’d shown at home soon evaporated when we arrived at the Hospital in West London where my operation was to take place. This was due in no small part to the ward receptionist calling out to the orderly,
“Dwayne, another trannie to get his dick removed. Can you show him to room 8?”.
Firstly, it had been a long time since I’d been called a ‘him’. Secondly, there was really no need for her to shout out like that.
I gave her a really dirty look hoping that she’d notice but as she didn’t even flinch, I guessed that it was just like water off a duck’s back to her.
That aside, I was soon showered, dressed in my nightie and waiting for the Doctor to come to see me.
Luca had been very dutiful for the past two months in removing all the hair around my crotch. I was completely hairless and would be forever more. It felt really strange, cold at times but pleasing at others. He’d been very gentle with me for which he had my eternal gratitude.
Luca was pacing around like an expectant parent. Nothing I could say or do would get him to sit down.
“Luca Francesco, please come and sit down. There is nothing you can do to hurry them up.”
He just glared at me. I only used both of his forenames when I was annoyed with him.
“Why don’t you go downstairs and see if you can get a copy of the Evening Standard. We can do the crosswords together while we wait for the doctor.
With a grunt, he left me alone.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
He’d only just returned with the evening paper when the Surgeon who was going to perform my operation came into my room.
“Hello.” He said as he stuck his head around the door.
“May I come in? I’m Mr Jeffries. I’m going to be doing your operation in the morning.”
“Please do Doctor,” I replied cheerfully.
He came in, shook my hand.
“This is Luca. He’s my ‘other half’”.
“Pleased to meet you.”
They shook hands.
Then he proceeded to check my charts and wrist band.
“I see that your blood hasn’t been taken yet. I’ll get nurse to do that pronto.”
“Why do you need that?”
He smiled back.
“Just to make sure you haven’t gone and changed your blood group on us.”
He smiled. Then he got serious.
“Sometimes, when we cut into your penis, there is a lot of blood. The thin skin is a devil to clot. Just like it is when you cut your head. To be on the safe side, we need to have a good supply of your red stuff on hand should we need it.”
He could see that I looked worried.
He smiled back.
“Don’t worry, I haven’t had a bleeder for a good nine months.”
“Do… do you do a lot of these operations?”
“Oh yes. Five or six a week on average. Most of them are like yours, male to female but we are seeing an increase in those going the other way.”
That last bit made me shiver.
“May I examine you?”
“Certainly,” I replied. I looked at Luca.
The good doctor turned to him.
“You can stay if you like. I expect that there is nothing you haven’t seen before?”
Luca went red in the face as I grinned back at him, lifted the hem of my nightdress up for the doctor to examine my ‘bits’.
He was very gentle and thankfully didn’t have cold hands.
“Very good. Very smooth there should be no problems with in-growing hair follicles after the operation.”
He turned to Luca.
“Did you have a hand in the hair removal?”
“Y… yes I did.”
“Jolly well done. I wish more of my patients were as ‘clean’ as Fran here. It makes my job a lot easier.”
I guessed that this was supposed to help Luca get over seeing someone else fondle my penis. Up to now, only Saffy and himself had had that privilege since I stopped being washed by my mother many years ago.
Sadly, it didn’t. Luca was a bit of a wimp in this area. He fled into the private toilet and shut the door.
Dr Jeffries just carried on as if nothing had happened.
“I’ll get the nurse to come and do your bloods ASAP. Nothing more to drink after 6pm and we should be prepping you around 5:30am in the morning so get a good nights sleep. You are first up in theatre.”
“Any more questions?”
I smiled back. I could hear Luca throwing up in the toilet.
“No doctor, I’m fine. I think I’d better go and help my wimp of a partner.”
We both laughed as he left the room.
As the closed the door, I felt myself shake a bit. A thought passed through my mind.
‘Was I having second thoughts?’
I pushed any such thoughts aside for the moment as I straightened out my nightdress and then went to help Luca.
Needless to say, I didn’t sleep much that night. Luca had stayed until the night sister kicked him out just after 10pm. He spent the night in a Hotel in Hammersmith.
As I tossed and turned for the umpteenth time I regretted refusing a sleeping tablet all those hours earlier.
05:30 came and went and nothing stirred outside my room. Just before 06:00 I peeked out of my door and the nurses station was peaceful.
I started to worry.
Thoughts like, ‘had my operation been cancelled without my knowing’ and worse started to cross my mind.
Just after 06:30 things started to move outside my room.
A new nurse came into my room shortly after pushing a trolley.
“Ah good. I see you are awake.”
“Yes.”
I replied grumpily.
“I’m here to give you your pre-med. “
I just laid back and let her get on with her job. I said nothing more except to confirm my name and date of birth at least three times.
She got shirty when at the last time, I said,
“Same as it was five minutes ago and five minutes before that. Do you think I’d transported myself out of here and substituted a proxy?”
She just gave me a dirty look. The sort of look a teacher would give a naughty kid and in years past, would have received a clip around the ear for saying it.
“I’ll be back in fifteen minutes. No drinking now you hear.”
She left me alone once more after she’d told me off like a naughty schoolgirl.
I’d specifically told Luca not to be here for this part of the process. I didn’t want him to see me drooling like an idiot when I went under the anaesthetic.
Just before eight and with my stomach rumbling something rotten, I was wheeled into the Operating Theatre ante-room.
Mr Jeffries wearing full ‘gear’ came up to me and asked.
“Last chance to back out?”
“No sir. I’ve come this far. I’m ready”
“Good girl.”
Then he said to the nurse.
“Ok Sister, lets get this show on the road.”
As I felt myself become drowsy, little did I know of events in both Tuscany and Bath that were unfolding at that very moment.
[To be continued]
[Authors Note]
The Fifteenth and final part of my tale will be published next weekend.
I came around after the operation but didn’t open my eyes for a while. I listened for the sounds of anyone in the room with me.
To my untrained ears, the room was empty. I knew I must look a right state so I’d hoped for a few minutes to myself to at least run a brush through my hair.
There was nothing else for it but to open my eyes. I could tell that it was early evening as the setting sun was giving the room a soft, warm glow.
I lay looking at the ceiling for a few moments.
Then a voice came from my left.
“Hello sleepy head, welcome back to the land of the living.”
So much for my plans then, I knew who it was.
I turned my head and saw Saffy sitting beside my bed.
As my eyes struggled to come into focus, I saw her hair.
“Saffy? What have you done to your hair?”
“Typical Fran. Concerned about others before herself.”
“Sod off Saffy. What have you done to your hair?”
She beamed a smile back.
“I’ve had it cut. For the first time since I was six.”
The style was more of a formal bob. I had to admit that the style suited her rather round face.
“Enough of me, what about you?”
“Sore. I’m fucking sore that’s what. My mind also thinks that my dick is still attached and I want to scratch it.”
She laughed.
When Saffy laughed the whole world, or that within 30ft got to hear about it.
“Where’s Luca?”
The smile disappeared from her face.
“He’s making a phone call. I’m sure he’ll be back in a while.”
That I didn’t expect.
“What about the shop?”
“This is far more important than the shop. You are more important to me than bricks and mortar.”
She stopped abruptly as if she realised that she’d said something wrong. My still slightly addled brain didn’t pick it up at the time. It was only a lot later when I realised, realised how much everyone was keeping from me.
“Can you dig my hairbrush out of the drawer? I must look a right mess.”
Saffy breathed a sigh of relief as she made her way to the other side of my bed and retrieved my hairbrush.
Fifteen minutes later and Saffy had worked a lot of magic on my face and hair. I felt a bit more presentable. Presentable enough to face the world.
My world at that moment was enlarged to include a nurse.
“Time to take your stats.”
Stats meant blood pressure, O2 levels and temperature.
Her report was short and sweet.
“All normal. Very good. I’ll call the Doctor. I expect he’ll be down very soon to see you.”
With that she left.
Soon, turned out to be more than an hour. All the time we waited, I grew more anxious to see Luca. At the same time, my stomach complained more and more loudly.
Saffy flatly refused to go and find something for me to eat. She calmly pointed to the sign above my bed that still said ‘Nil by Mouth’.
I called the Nurse only to find that she had no sympathy for my grumbling stomach.
“Doctor will know when we can let you eat. Until then, ‘Nil by Mouth’ it says and ‘Nil by Mouth it is’.
At least I was allowed to moisten my parched lips. Small mercies.
Saffy and I talked for a bit but I got increasingly worried about Luca.
“Saffy, can you go and find Luca. I’m worried about him.,” I asked in what I hoped was a suitably concerned voice.
Saffy to her credit didn’t argue but after squeezing my hand, she left my room to look for Luca.
By the time she returned some 15 minutes later, I was starting to get worried.
“Where’s Luca? I thought you were going to find him?”
I asked before she’d gotten even halfway through the door.
Saffy smiled back at me.
“He’ll be here in a minute. He’s just gone to wash his hands.”
“There is something wrong isn’t there? Did my operation go wrong?”
I asked starting to get a bit desperate.
Saffy sat down beside me and took my hand.
I didn’t like this, not one little bit.
“Your operation was a complete success. But yes, there is something wrong but not with any of us.”
Despite her attempt at calming me, I didn’t feel re-assured at all.
To my eternal relief, Luca stuck his head around the door to my room.
He blew me a kiss and said,
“Be back with a vase for this lot.”
He showed me a huge bunch of flowers.
My relief at seeing him at last was palpable.
“Now, how are you my darling?”
I didn’t get a chance to answer. As I went to open my mouth, my lips encountered his.
Unbeknown to me Saffy was sidling her way out of the room leaving us alone together.
When we came up for air, I managed to get a word in at last.
“I was so worried about you. When I woke up and Saffy was here on her own, I was so worried about everything.”
Luca gave me that look of his. The look that said ‘shut up. I need to tell you something’.
“What’s wrong?”
Luca swallowed hard and took my hands in his.
“The house in Tuscany… Someone set fire to it last night.”
“But… Was anyone hurt? How much damage was done?”
Luca looked really serious. A look that I’d not seen before.
“We don’t know very much detail at all. Claudia is on her way to Italy as we speak. When she gets there, she will let us know.
The builder, Giuseppe called me in the middle of the night.”
Then he stopped.
“I’ve been talking to the Met Police most of the day.”
“The Police? Here? Why?”
He gripped my hands tighter.
“Because my darling, someone burnt our house to the ground.”
“Our house? You mean the one in Italy?”
He shook his head.
“Sorry. I am not expressing myself very well.”
He swallowed hard once more and gripped my hand tighter.
“Both of our houses have been set alight. Our house in Bath and yours in Tuscany. It seems that both fires were set at around the same time. Obviously planned and coordinated. It does mean my dear at this moment in time and to put it bluntly, we are homeless.”
I sank back onto the bed trying to believe what I’d just been told.
“Who? Why?... When?”
“Who? Well I have some ideas but there is no proof. Who else but someone close to us would even know about Tuscany?”
He was right.
“To have both places literally raised to the ground. I never understood why you English use a word that means to lift up to
mean exactly the opposite is quite beyond me.”
He looked at me hard.
“It can only be those two other women in my life, my ex-wife and my mother.”
“But why?”
“Because I’ve rejected both of them. You English have this saying about a woman spurned. Well there are two of them here.”
“But why would they do such a thing?” I repeated.
Luca kissed me again, but briefly this time.
“Why is revenge, pure and simple. They might not have done it themselves. At this point in time we don’t know if there is a link between the two fires but the Police here seem to think so. Proving it is going to be another problem.”
A few tears ran down my face.
Luca continued.
“The Police would like to interview you and get a statement. I told them you would be able to do it tomorrow.”
I didn’t say anything. I was still trying to get to grips with the disaster that had befell on us. There really was no other word than ‘disaster’ that could describe the last twenty-four hours.
“What about Sophia and Benito? They need to know what has happened.”
Luca leaned over and kissed me.
“That is what I love about you, always thinking about the bigger picture.”
I felt myself going slightly red in the face.
“Well?”
“I will go and see them tomorrow, once we have given our statements to the Police.”
I nodded my agreement.
“With respect to the bigger picture, there is the little fact that we are homeless.”
He gave me a small smile.
“I know. We can always stay in a Hotel until we sort something out. It shouldn’t take very long.”
I shook my head and grinned back at him.
“Don’t worry yourself over that. I’ll get something sorted out. It will only take an email and a couple of phone calls.”
Luca looked at me totally befuddled by what I’d just said.
“I don’t understand what you are talking about.”
Still smiling, I sighed before replying,
“You seem to have forgotten that I am a woman of property.”
Then I realised saying that I was a woman and not lying about what was hidden between my legs. It actually felt rather good.
There was no reaction from Luca so I moved on.
“What I’m saying my darling, is that my Letting Agent will probably be able to help us out. From memory, of my twelve houses, there is usually one vacant or about to become vacant all the time. I only let them out for six or twelve months at most. If there isn’t then he’ll know of a place we can use after all it is his business.”
Luca shook his head.
“I knew you had property but I didn’t know the details.”
“That my darling is because it never came up and you, to your credit never pushed me to tell you all about it. For that, I am eternally grateful. I really don’t like talking about it. I never earned it. Perhaps I am a little embarrassed about having some money, I don’t know but thankfully my darling it can help at times like this.”
To his credit, Luca just gave me a little peck on the lips.
“At least the insurance will cover the rebuilding,” he said almost as an afterthought.
As soon as I heard the word ‘Insurance’, I went white in the face. Then I buried my head in his shoulders as I started to cry.
“What is wrong my darling?” said Luca as he soothed me.
“It wasn’t insured,” I blubbed.
“What do you mean not insured? I remember paying the premiums myself.”
“Not here. Tuscany. It was too much of a hassle with all the building work going on.”
Neither of us said anything for quite a while.
All this bad news had one positive effect. That was to make me forget about the considerable pain that I was in. Now was the perfect time for a dose of the ‘Happy Juice’ pain killer.
“Can you let me alone for a while. I think I need a little of that ‘Happy Juice’.”
Once I was alone, I pressed the button on the control that would give me a measured dose of the drugs. After a few minutes, I dozed off into pain-free oblivion.
It was dark outside when I came around again. I lay there thinking about what had happened to not one but two of our homes. I knew that the police would want to speak to me. My only solace was that I had the perfect alibi.
I instinctively knew who was responsible for the fires. My mind tried to work out how we could prove them guilty.
It was only then that I heard a slight movement to my right. I turned my head and saw Luca.
“Shh darling. Just relax and get better.”
He took my hand in his. Just that simple action made me feel a lot better.
“Our homes?”
“Shh. Later. When you are better we can talk about it.”
“It was them, wasn’t it?”
“Yes, and the Police caught my ex-wife on the Motorway heading for London. She’d crashed her car. She’d never driven on the left before. They found maps and everything. She’s under arrest.”
“What about your Mother?”
He laughed.
“My father has it under control. He’s working with the Police.”
“But our home?”
“Well, thanks to you, Saffy and your Agent we have a place in Bathampton, so we aren’t homeless anymore.”
I relaxed.
“The children send their love. They can’t wait to come and see you.”
“No!”
“Darling?”
“They can’t see me in here. I don’t want to have them see me like this.”
Luca didn’t answer me.
“What aren’t your telling me? How can they be cool with me not being a proper woman? Not able to be a proper mother!”
“Shh darling. They want me to be happy. I’m happy with you. If I’m happy then they will be happy. They love you anyway. Besides, their real Mother is off their Christmas list from here to eternity.”
Luca took me in his arms and kissed me.
“Now, Doctor Luca says it is time for you to some rest. Apparently, your dressings are coming off tomorrow.”
I groaned as I remembered the words of the consultant. ‘Dilation, dilation and more dilation.
The Police turned up a little later and spoke to Luca and myself. They’d already interviewed staff at the clinic so they were happy that I hadn’t set fire to the house in order to get the insurance money.
Luca was with me when I left the hospital two days later and travelled to our new home in Bathampton. It was just a simple three-bedroom semi that had been built in the 1970’s. But it was mine, free and clear.
Everyone pitched in to help including the children. It didn’t take long to make it actually feel like home.
With all sorts of evidence against her Gina pleaded guilty to the charges of Arson and Conspiracy to commit Arson and received a 4 year sentence. The Italian courts didn’t waste much time in granting Luca the final part of the divorce, sole custody of the children and absolved him of the need to pay Gina any money in the future. Niamh, on the other hand, denied all knowledge of the crime despite being seen at the house on the morning of the fire. As it wasn’t a capital case, the court granted her bail. She didn’t waste any time in making threats against me before disappearing off the face of the planet.
“Do you Luca Di Mateo take this woman Fran Charleston to be your lawful wedded wife?”
Luca looked at me in that special was he does that caused me to go all gooey inside.
“I do,” he replied.
“Do you Fran Charleston take this man Luca Di Mateo to be your lawful wedded husband?”
I smiled at him.
“I do.”
“Then with the powers vested in me, I pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Luca kissed me with a passion that I’d never experienced before.
All the people present at the ceremony clapped. There weren’t many apart from the Children, Saffy, Claudia and Marco. The others were the delivery crew of the mega yacht that we were standing on. It was being delivered to the owner of the Island Paradise where we were anchored. He was the person conducting the service. The setting was really idyllic and a place where someone like Niamh could not get to us to try to stop the wedding as she’d promised she would very vocally more than once.
We set sail on our Honeymoon as the sun set that evening. Luca and I watched the sun go down and the millions of stars in the southern sky appear.
Watching the night sky appear as if by magic, I had time to reflect that my ‘Italian Job’ had turned out all right in the end. At least I wasn’t hanging over the edge of a cliff looking to rescue the gold. My piece of Italian gold was standing right beside me and was going nowhere unless, I was at his side.
[The End]
[Authors note]
This story was inspired by reading an article about a former banker who changed her profession and became a Nanny.