A/N Thank you for all the reviews!was very surprised when I woke up this morning. I'm glad everybody is liking the concept and hope you all keep reading. I would recommend the film but maybe wait until I've finished this so it doesn't ruin it for you. Anyway keep reviewing and if you have questions just let me know x
Letters to Juliet- Chapter 2
Ashley left the building without a second thought not wanting to let her anger get the better of her like it normally does. She felt almost bad for shouting at that Spencer girl but she was annoyed that somebody had involved them self in somebody else life. Ashley headed back to Juliet's garden where she had left her Gran while she hunted down the person responsible for the ridiculous letter. Entering the court yard Ashley couldn't help but smile as she approached her Gran who looked happy to be back in the town where she spent so much of her child hood.
"Did you find an ATM Ashley?" Her Gran asked as she joined her by the wall.
"Erm yes" Ashley lied averting her eyes from her Gran's as she hated lying. As she looked around the court yard she spotted the blonde girl that she had just gone off at, she was stood shyly by the entrance of the court yard.
"Can you not take a hint?" Ashley snapped walking towards Spencer who didn't look too upset by Ashley's attitude.
"I can when it is reasonable" Spencer threw back with a smug smile.
"Have you made a friend Ashley?" Ashley's Gran asked as she stood next to her feisty Granddaughter.
"Definitely not" Ashley snapped giving Spencer an evil look.
"Are you Clare Davies?" Spencer asked ignoring the death glares Ashley was throwing at her.
"Yes I am dear do I know you?"
"Come on Gran lets go back to the Villa" Ashley pleaded clearing wanting this interaction to continue.
"Ashley don't be so rude, this young lady is talking to me, if you don't like that then go somewhere else" Clare snapped.
"I'm Spencer; I replied to your letter, the letter you sent to Juliet" Spencer explained smiling widely hoping the older lady would be slightly more polite that her horrible grandchild.
"Thank you Spencer, thank you for your beautiful words, thank you for making an old lady happy" Clare smiled clutching the letter in her hands.
"You're more than welcome Miss Davies"
"Please call me Clare and my last name is actually Taylor now"
"Well it's nice to meet you Clare, erm if you don't mind me asking what happened with Lorenzo?" Spencer pried taking a seat next to Clare which clearly annoyed Ashley beyond belief.
"Excuse me" Ashley snapped grabbing Spencer's hand and pulling her out of ear shot of grandmother.
"Why are doing this?" Ashley asked releasing Spencer's hand.
"I have no idea what your problem is but just because you're a complete ass doesn't mean I'll ignore your grandmother"
"Look just because you are some lonely sad act with no boyfriend or whatever doesn't mean you should get involved in other people's lives. My Gran has had a wonderful life so she doesn't need you dragging up the past that clearly didn't matter that much to her anyway" Ashley continued her face getting slightly red by the time she finished her rant. She seemed annoyed that no matter how rude she was being it didn't seem to affect Spencer; the blonde still maintained a polite smile and happy demeanour.
"Firstly, I am engaged so you really have the wrong opinion of me. Secondly, what you deem as something that didn't matter to Clare clearly does because 50 years later she is stood in the same spot. The exact same spot that she stood in 50 years ago, when she was convinced she had lost the man of her dreams. Clearly you void of any emotion otherwise you would understand exactly why that woman is stood there. Look Ashley I am sorry if my letter has made Clare come here and ruin your summer vacation but and I'm guessing you don't hear this very often 'the world doesn't revolve around you' so stop being a brat" Spencer replied quite calmly which annoyed Ashley even further.
"Is everything ok between you two?" Clare asked standing up from the bench.
"Yes don't worry. So I would love to take you for a coffee Clare, maybe find out some more about what happened all those years ago?" Spencer asked hopeful that Clare would be willing to pour her heart out. Spencer's interest in the letter was purely curiosity at first but now she felt she might be able to find a story somewhere that would be worth telling.
"That sounds wonderful Spencer, doesn't it Ashley?" Clare replied with a knowing smile at Ashley who looked unimpressed still.
"Just delightful Gran" Ashley answered sarcastically.
Spencer took the Ashley and her Gran to the restaurant that Maria's family run and of course all the other secretaries came down and joined them making Ashley look less than happy.
"Are you intrigued to see what your Lorenzo is like now?" Once of the ladies asked as they poured some more wine.
"Of course, he was so handsome and kind, beautiful soul" Clare replied looking as if she were daydreaming.
"Well that's not an option we are going to visit family in Florence and there is no point in dragging up the past" Ashley interrupted.
"You're young Ashley and yet to find love but when you do you'll chase it even if it is 50 years later" Angelina said having not spoken much at all.
"Gran was only 15 when she met this Lorenzo guy which I doubt is an age that anybody can determine what love is. I'm 22 and I don't know what love is, I doubt whether it even exists" Ashley answered back causing all the women to gasp in shock, making Spencer laugh a little.
"Very cynical for somebody so young, it's sad. Look at Spencer here, she is engaged to a lovely man and they are deeply in love" Maria said using Spencer as an example which Spencer felt to be unfair, yes she loved Aiden and will marry him but it never felt like the love that Shakespeare spoke of in his plays or poetry. Ashley watched Spencer's face at the mention of her relationship and she spotted the slight look of doubt in her eyes.
"If Spencer is so happily engaged why isn't she wearing a ring, surely that is kind of important when it comes to being engaged" Ashley smirked, enjoying being able to challenge the polite blonde.
"Aiden is about to open a restaurant and I didn't want him to waste his money on a silly ring. We know love each other and that's all that matters" Spencer lied hoping Ashley wasn't intuitive as she seemed.
"I want to find Lorenzo" Clare announced from nowhere pulling Ashley and Spencer from their staring contest.
"That's insane Gran" Ashley said first.
"That's a wonderful idea Clare" Eva gushed in excitement.
"I think it's a fantastic idea as well" Maria added supporting her friend.
"No Gran, there are probably hundreds of Lorenzo Bartolini in Tuscany let alone the whole of Italy. I'm putting my foot down I'm afraid" Ashley said standing up clearly over the conversation. But her outburst only made everybody laugh.
"Ashley, I appreciate that you are trying to protect me but if I don't do this then I'll never know" Clare said holding her granddaughters hand. Just as Ashley went over the words in her head the moment was interrupted by a loud Aiden walking into the restaurant on his phone. Spencer rolled her eyes wanting to kick him for ruining a moment of what could have been romantic history.
"Ciao ladies" Aiden beamed hanging up his phone and kissing Spencer on the forehead.
"Ciao Aiden" The ladies all replied clearly infatuated with Spencer's pseudo fiancée.
"What are doing here baby?" Spencer asked standing up and taking Aiden aside.
"I needed to ask you something very important" Aiden explained taking Spencer's hand in his own.
"Yes?"
"I need to go away for a while; a friend can get me a ticket for a wine auction. This is a once in a life time opportunity Spencer and I really don't want to pass it up" Aiden continued having already made his mind up Spencer thought to herself.
"Jesus Aiden this is our holiday, some of which I would like to actually spend with you" Spencer argued trying to keep her voice low but her emotions were getting the better of her.
"Baby, this is important to me, please" Aiden pleaded.
"How long?"
"Not very long"
"How long Aiden?" Spencer said a lot louder than she had wanted to as now everybody at the table were looking at the couple.
"4 days tops" Aiden finally said.
"Fuck Aiden I thought you were going to say like a day or two"
"Spencer you have you letter writing thingy to keep you busy, you won't even notice I'm gone" Aiden rationalised. Spencer considered the option and thought that really she rarely knew where he was most of the time anyway.
"Fine, go" Spencer sighed defeated as she headed back to the group.
"Aiden is off to a wine auction so I will be able to help you for a few more days" Spencer announced to the rest of Juliet's secretaries.
"Wonderful, we love having you around Spencer" Maria smiled rubbing Spencer's arm.
"I have an idea" Clare said out loud.
"What's that then Grandmother?" Ashley asked even though she still had her eyes on Spencer slightly.
"Spencer can help us find Lorenzo, she now has some spare time as Aiden will be leaving her and it will be nice for you to have somebody around who is the same age" Clare answered smiling widely.
"I don't want to intrude Clare" Spencer replied politely as she looked at the expression on Ashley's face.
"Don't be silly Spencer, I have a feeling you will be far more helpful than my darling granddaughter here" Clare joked playfully poking Ashley who smiled a genuine smile for what seemed like the first time.
"Wonderful it's a win win situation baby" Aiden smiled pouring himself a glass of wine ignoring the look of pure annoyance on Spencer's face. Ashley watched the couple interact for a while and could tell in that short time that there was something missing or not quite right but it was none of her business so she pushed her thoughts aside.
"Gran it's late we should get back to the Villa" Ashley instructed.
"Yes you're right Ashley. Spencer would you like to meet us here tomorrow morning so we can start our journey?" Clare asked.
"As long as you're sure, both of you" Spencer replied aiming the statement more at Ashley than Clare.
"Whatever, it's not like anybody is listening to me anyway" Ashley sulked downing her glass of wine.
"Sorry what did you say?" Spencer joked getting an almost smile/ pout from Ashley.
"Funny as well as nosy, this is going to be funny" Ashley threw back in a slightly more playful tone than normal.
"Good night ladies, you are all wonderful. Aiden I hope the wine auction is everything you hope it to be. Spencer we will see you in the morning" Clare said all her personal goodbyes followed by Ashley who neglected to share the traditional goodbye as she had done with the older ladies.