Spider - Michael Morley [74]
Paullina, the waitress, arrived with his double cappuccino, something that she’d never been asked for before. She’d taken it to mean a single cappuccino with a double dose of coffee and the guest had laughed and said he was fine with that.
‘Which visiting are you planning today?’ she asked, noticing his map as she cleaned away a juice glass and cereal bowl. ‘Maybe Siena or Pienza?’
‘You know,’ said McLeod, his mouth open as he chewed a croissant. ‘I’m really not sure. I’m still a bit jet-lagged from all the travelling. Maybe I’ll go here.’ He jabbed a finger at a nearby town. ‘What’s it called?’
Paullina bent over the map and McLeod savoured the sensation of having her that close to him.
‘Chianciano Terme,’ she said, in a voice so sweet that he would have paid a premium-rate call charge just to listen to it.
‘Or, you know what,’ he added, ‘I may just go to Montepulciano. Some folks at dinner last night said it was real nice.’
Paullina nodded. ‘It is. It is very famous for its views and its churches. It is high up the hill, but worth the climb.’
‘Sounds like my kind of place, I love your Italian churches and all that Da Vinci stuff,’ said McLeod, wiping crumbs from his mouth. ‘You just sold it to me, err… I’m sorry, what’s your name?’
‘Paullina,’ she said. ‘I am Paullina Caffagi.’
‘Terry McLeod, very pleased to meet you.’ He stuck out his hand and she shook it hesitantly. ‘Been here a couple of days now and not seen you. Do you only do part-time?’
‘Scusi, I don’t understand.’
‘Part-time – just mornings, just breakfasts?’
‘Aaah yes, I only work at the breakfasts.’
‘Then maybe, if you’re free, you could come with me, act as my guide,’ McLeod suggested hopefully.
‘Oh no, I don’t think I could do that,’ said Paullina, wondering exactly what sights he was really interested in seeing.
‘Why not? I’ll pay you. Whatever you get paid to work breakfasts, I’ll pay you to show me around Montepulciano.’
Paullina thought about it for a second. Although he was a bit of a jerk, he seemed harmless enough, and the extra money would really come in handy. ‘Then all right, I will be pleased to be showing you Montepulciano.’
‘Great!’ said McLeod. ‘When’s good for you?’
‘Tomorrow? I will be finished here and could go by twelve o’clock. Is that okay?’
‘That’s fine,’ said McLeod. ‘Could you fix a cab, a taxi for us? I’m not big on public transport.’
Paullina smiled. ‘I will have one waiting.’
McLeod’s interest in Paullina disappeared as soon as Nancy King entered the dining room. The older woman needed only to throw half a glance Paullina’s way to send her scuttling off to resume her duties.
His luck was in. She had come into the restaurant to mix with the guests, ask them how they were enjoying their stay, that sort of thing. McLeod played his spoon across the froth on the cappuccino and listened to the small talk. She did all the tables; moving from an old couple at the back to some honeymooners, then a pair of walkers and finally himself.
‘Good morning,’ she said brightly. ‘I’m Nancy King, my husband and I own La Casa Strada, and we hope you’re enjoying your stay with us.’
‘Terence T. McLeod,’ he said, getting to his feet as he shook hands. ‘And I’m having a terrific time, Mrs King. You sure have a great little hotel here and great staff.’ He nodded towards Paullina as he sat back down.
‘That’s very kind of you to say so. Thank you, Mr McLeod,’ she said. ‘We certainly aim to please.’
‘I hope you don’t mind, but I’ve asked your waitress over there if she’d show me Montepulciano. I’ve offered to pay, of course. And if there’s a surcharge or some kind of fee to you at the hotel, then that’s also okay. I just want a good guide.’
The unusual request threw Nancy and she weighed it up for a moment before agreeing. ‘No. No, I don’t mind at all. We don’t encourage the staff to mix with the guests out