I stayed in bed most of the rest of the day, even when I began feeling better, wondering if Estancia was trying to give me warnings not to doubt her curse. What else could explain how many things seemed to be going wrong in my life?
When my cell phone rang, later in the day, I hesitated when I saw Lily’s name pop up, but it wasn’t her fault Mylos was no longer in my life.
“How are you, Lily?”
“Exhausted, Pia. How are you?”
“A bit under the weather, but otherwise okay.”
She asked what was wrong, and I explained my symptoms.
She laughed. “The last time I felt that way, I was pregnant.”
“That isn’t my problem. Unless it is an immaculate conception. How are the kids?”
“Angus is almost as tall as I am. Aria is my little angel, and baby Miles is colicky.”
I’d forgotten she and Wills mentioned naming their third child after her brother, even though Angus’ middle name was the same. “What does that mean?” I asked, hoping her answer would get my mind off the pain in my heart whenever I thought about Mylos.
My heart sunk when I received an email from Fellwood not long after, canceling their order, citing a concern over our “quality issues.”
To make matters worse, earlier in the week, Georgio came to me to say the corking machine had broken down. Replacing it would cost more than 10,000 euros.
Not to mention, I still wasn’t feeling better. Overcome, I put my head in my hands and cried. My cell phone rang; Lily was calling again.
“Hi.”
“You don’t sound good.”
Ten minutes later, I finished unloading the shitstorm my life had become.
“I’m sorry, Pia. I wish you felt you could’ve confided in me sooner.”
“It isn’t easy for me.” I blew my nose and wiped at my tears.
“I think trying to build a tourism business by advertising the farmhouse is a good idea. As would be adding to the accommodations you offer. It seems like people who visit would also buy wine.”
“You would think so, but I have another confession, Lily. The last group who rented the farmhouse for more than one night was your family.”
“Can I ask you something?”
Here it came; I knew exactly what she’d ask. “Sure.”
“Have you talked to Miles?”
Any hope I had of ebbing the flow of my tears, was lost. Now that I’d started, I might as well continue and tell Lily everything.
“Your brother showed up when I was last in London, and we had a terrible argument.”
“About?”
“Paolo, which was none of his business.” I told her how after we’d made up and then made love, her brother sneaked out of my room.
“Pia, tell me your symptoms again.”
I went through how I felt nauseous several times a day and then, at others, I felt fine. I was tired, but that could easily be explained by the stress I was under.
“Anything else you can think of?”