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(A bit of this and a bit of that as Grandpa would say, until dough forms.)
Flour
Sugar
Unsalted butter
Milk
Egg
Baking powder
Salt
Vegetable shortening
Vanilla
For the filling:
3 tbsp cornstarch
½ cup sugar
1–1 ½ cups whole milk
2 egg yolks
1 tbsp butter
1 tsp almond extract
What to do:
For the dough:
Combine dry ingredients then add in butter and shortening like you’re making a crumble.
Mix together wet ingredients then add to dry and make a dough.
For the filling:
Like Nanna’s custard, make a roux with cornstarch and sugar. Add milk and eggs and almond extract and keep whisking until thick.
Roll out dough and make shells that fit a cupcake tin.
Spoon in two tbsp custard. Then layer a circle on top.
Refrigerate for 30 mins.
After 30 mins sprinkle with a splash of egg wash and bake for 12–15 mins at 22 degrees.
Once golden, remove and leave to cool.
Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Sabrina began to stir. The golden rays of sunshine had no respect for the current time of 4.30 a.m.; it barged its way in through the curtains without any apologies. Sabrina stretched out her arms and legs so she resembled a starfish, and jumped at a sudden cry of ‘ouch’ as the blanket next to her started to shuffle.
She let out a laugh and a feeble ‘sorry’ as Levi reached under the blanket and grabbed at her daisy print pajama shorts. She tried to smack his hand away, but it was no use – even in his sleepy state she couldn’t match his strength. He pulled her on top of him and snuggled into her sandy blonde hair, breathing her in.
‘How do you smell so good in the morning?’ he asked, playing with her locks as they fell around his fingers. ‘You smell like sunshine and flowers.’
Sabrina laughed. ‘Why thank you,’ she replied, kissing his nose. ‘I see your charm is never switched off, even at four-thirty in the morning.’
‘You’re the one that woke me at four-thirty in the morning to have your way with me! And I’d be a fool to say no to that.’ Levi’s cheeky tone made Sabrina laugh even more. She actually giggled as he smothered her with kisses. She loved the way he made her feel.
‘No,’ she cried through her laughter. ‘The sun was too bright, it woke me.’ She paused as Levi sat up, causing her to move with him so that she ended up sitting on his lap as he leaned his head against the head rest. ‘And I must admit, I’m nervous about today. Are you nervous?’
Levi touched the tip of her nose and traced her jaw with his thumb. ‘I wouldn’t say I’m not nervous,’ he said, with a soft shrug. Levi was the most laidback of the group. He and James were like double trouble, always the life and soul of the party, never taking anything too seriously. It was no surprise. Levi’s older brother had taken the more conventional route in life; good at school, left to get a great job, married by twenty-five, two kids. Levi’s mum had never had to worry about Chase, but Levi had certainly made up for that. Dan wasn’t exactly a troublemaker but put him and Levi in a class together and they never got any work done. Records were constantly spinning in both their brains and if they weren’t whispering to each other about guitar riffs or band names they were doodling on desks or in the back of their schoolbooks. Levi’s mum had to deal with her fair share of meetings in the principal’s office and grounding Levi whenever him and Dan snuck out of the house to see a gig. Dan had mellowed out the older he got, Levi not so much, especially when side by side with James.
When Sabrina had first met Levi’s mum, Joanne, while the boys were on tour in San Francisco for their first album, the first thing Joanne had said to her was, ‘Thank you for giving him focus sweetheart. It makes a mother’s heart happy to see her baby living his dream.’ Then she’d added with a chuckle, ‘That and I thought he’d be sleeping on my couch until he was forty.’ Sabrina had instantly warmed to Joanne and though back then her relationship with Levi was strictly professional, she’d felt a kindred spirit in Joanne. They had Skyped often over the years. Joanne liked to check in on the boys, but would always spend an extra ten minutes catching up on Sabrina’s news, asking if there was anyone special in her life yet, dropping hints about Levi being single and ‘that boy would be too daft to notice if love was right under his nose’ then telling Sabrina to keep a close watch on him. Of course, Sabrina had never told Joanne about the time she had kissed her son or how much she wanted to be with him, but she always sensed Joanne knew. Sabrina guessed it was a mum superpower.
It had been a pure delight to inform Joanne via Skype over the holidays, that they had finally taken the risk and become an item. Joanne had rolled her eyes noting, ‘It took you both long enough. What did I tell you? Right under his nose.’ Though Joanne often teased Levi for his goofy manner, Sabrina could see where he got it from. Levi’s dad hadn’t been around much when he was growing up, so while Joanne had had to step it up and look after her two boys on her own – keeping them in line and out of trouble as best she could – where Levi was concerned, there was definitely an element of fun to her. She always added a touch of lightness to any situation, having never wanted her sons to grow up in a miserable environment just because their dad wasn’t around. Sabrina had never experienced Levi feeling sorry for himself; it was rare that he mentioned his dad, but he doted on his mum. Sabrina sensed that his humorous nature was a way of keeping that sparkle in his mum’s eyes. Whenever the two of them were together you could bet there would be laughter.
As she gazed at Levi now, his face lit up by a sliver of sunrise coming through a crack in the curtain, his chestnut brown eyes flittered over her face, his jaw relaxed and a slight curve to his red lips teased a playful smile. ‘How about you take my nerves and look after them for a bit?’ Sabrina said sweetly, pulling the duvet up over her shoulders to ward off the chill.
‘Baby, nerves are for wimps. Today is going to be epic. We have the best manager there is and Dylan’s one hell of a bass player – he makes the rest of us look good. And if they want us to find a new lead, we can just replace Dan with another mysterious San Francisco hippie, and no one would know the difference,’ Levi stated, trying to keep his lips straight but his eyes were glinting with cheek. Sabrina burst out laughing and shoved him in his bicep.
‘Do you ever behave?’ she asked through her laughter. In reply he yanked the duvet up and over both of their heads and tickled her until she was screaming, tears of laughter soaking her face.
In that moment, Sabrina felt eternally grateful that they had found their way back to each other and that their book of love had been reopened ready for a rewrite. Yes, she thought, borrowing some of Levi’s confidence, today would be epic.
*
The office was spacious, clean-cut and very LA, but with a refreshing pop of colour that pleased Sabrina. Anyone that cared for bright yellows and pastel pinks was sure to be someone that Sabrina would get along with. Sabrina sat on the chair directly opposite the solid mahogany desk while Dan, Levi, Dylan and James sat behind her on the couch. Levi and James sat back against the cushions and Dan and Dylan sat on the edge, elbows on their knees, hands clasped. Dan, Sabrina could see, was ready to talk business. He would have her back if she needed him to step in. Sabrina cared greatly for Dan, and not just because he was her big sister’s boyfriend, but because they shared a similar mind for business and, ninety-nine per cent of the time, were on the same page and had been since the day San Francisco Beat had walked in to Lydia’s office over three years ago. Dan challenged her to be her best and she loved him for that.
A rustle at the door signalled the start of the meeting as a tall lady with shoulder-length black hair, red-rimmed glasses and Chanel ballet slippers bounced in. The lady was elegant and screamed retro chic and those shoes – seriously, Sabrina was having trouble tearing her eyes away.
‘Hello all, how are we doing today? My names Keira and I’m thrilled to meet with you,’ Keira said as she walked over to the couch to shake hands with each of the boys, all of whom stood up to greet her. ‘It’s a pleasure to meet with you too,’ Dan said, speaking on behalf of the band, his husky voice confident.
Sabrina stood to greet Keira when she made her way over to shake her hand. Both women paused for a moment as Sabrina got a close-up of Keira’s Chanel shoes and flashed her Chanel bag that she had splurged on last summer – much to Louisa’s delight and Amanda’s disapproval. ‘Think of how many truffles you could have bought with that,’ Amanda had said, to Sabrina’s amusement. She hadn’t wanted truffles, she had wanted the pastel pink Chanel bag with a gold clasp.
Sabrina beamed. ‘Thank you for meeting with us. We’re interested to hear the marketing strategies you would propose for a band like San Francisco Beat and we have heard nothing but wonderful things from Tyler,’ she said, as both ladies took their seats. Keira was a sharp contrast to what Sabrina had been used to in Lydia. Whereas Lydia was icy and poker-faced, Keira was warm and had a smile permanently at her lips. Her mascaraed lashes fluttered when she spoke and she spoke with such passion, that Sabrina finally felt like this could be ‘the one’; the record label she had been searching for when scouring her emails each day.
‘Your work speaks for itself. You’ve been doing a stellar job so far and we don’t wish to barge our way into an image and sound that has clearly been working for you all – that, and I can sense there would not be much use in me trying to persuade such creative and smart minds into my way of thinking.’ Sabrina noticed Keira give Dan a small smirk as she said this. ‘The way we would like to move forward is to allow you the platform to continue as you wish and give you our full support and encouragement to create an album you want to create. We want to see what it is you are all truly capable of and then, should we see room for changes once the first year is up, we can possibly renegotiate terms and market accordingly. For now, there is a rapid fan base waiting on your next move, and I have full confidence in you, Sabrina, that you know exactly what you want that next move to be.’ Keira finished with a bright smile that made Sabrina sit up straighter and feel like she could take on the world. This woman could be a motivational speaker.
‘I appreciate your confidence not only in myself but in the band too. Your offer is the best one we have received so far.’ Sabrina smiled, then turned to Dan for confirmation to make sure he was happy with what he had heard too. Dan rubbed his hand over his chiseled jaw and gave Sabrina a small nod. This day was certainly shaping up to be epic.
Keira stood. ‘That’s what I like to hear. I should expect you will want to talk over the offer in private. All I ask is that you get back to me this afternoon. You’ll understand this business moves at a rapid rate and we don’t wish to be kept in the dark. The offer will only stand for a short period,’ Keira noted as Sabrina and the boys followed suit in standing.
As they each took a step closer together to thank Keira, Levi casually placed his arm around Sabrina’s waist. Sabrina felt her palms grow sweaty instantly. She never wanted to hide or deny her relationship with Levi, especially not after the years they’d wasted due to Lydia putting the fear of god into her. She loved Levi and was proud of their relationship. However, that didn’t stop a flurry of butterflies exploding in her stomach as Keira spotted this intimate movement.
Keira opened the door and one by one the boys filed out, with nods, handshakes and sincere thanks. Before Sabrina could shake Keira’s hand and step out of the office, Keira half closed the door and gently placed a hand on Sabrina’s elbow. Sabrina turned to face her, grateful to see that her face was still rosy and friendly.
‘I have to ask. Are you and Levi an item?’ Keira queried, one hand resting on the door, the other still on Sabrina’s arm. Sabrina took in a deep breath to steady her nerves and remind herself that she could be both a professional and in love and if the record label didn’t like it, well … well, she wasn’t quite sure what she would do. All she knew for certain was that she was not giving up on Levi again.
‘We are, yes, and you have my word that it does not get in the way of our business. I do what is right by every member of the band – he receives no special treatment when it comes to work,’ Sabrina said boldly, then cringed at the last bit. That was way too much information, Keira did not need to know what special treatment she gave Levi outside of work. She bravely attempted a smile when Keira’s brows furrowed. After what felt like an eternity Keira’s features relaxed, her pink-stained lips curved upwards.
‘I will warn you – the label as a whole doesn’t think too fondly of talent and managers mixing. There’s been trouble with it in the past.’ Keira shook her head and waved her hand away as if it had all been a silly mix-up and shouldn’t have been a big deal. ‘I like you and I’d really love to work together with these guys and take them to the next level – not with fame, I can see that’s not a priority for them, but with their music and the reach it can achieve. However, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. Our publicists are tough and I like to keep everyone working together on the same page and running like clockwork. There will be compromises for all parties involved. So, think about it and get back to me as soon as you can.’ Keira squeezed Sabrina’s arm and opened the door once more. Sabrina thanked her again and took a step into the corridor where Levi and Dan were waiting. James and Dylan had walked further up the corridor. Sabrina appreciated them looking out for her.
She glanced back at Keira when she heard a small chuckle. ‘I can see it,’ Keira started. ‘You make a cute couple, but be smart,’ she said with a wink before waving them off. Sabrina ignored the prickle in her throat. This was the offer that they couldn’t resist; freedom when it came to recording and writing. It was time to celebrate. Sabrina was certain that if she could handle Lydia Jones for all those years at Jones Records that she could handle whatever the publicists would throw her way here at City Heights Records.
Chapter 6 (#ulink_9ac2b5bf-598c-5592-945f-e99d099f68e6)
Torta Caprese
Ingredients:
Farina
Zucchero
Uova
Polvere di cacao
Burro
Mandorle macinate
Rum
Cioccolato
What to do:
Sciogliere il burro e il cioccolato insieme a fuoco basso.
Sbatti gli albumi in una ciotola separata. Mescolare gli ingredienti secchi insieme.
Aggiungi rum.
Infornare in forno per un’ora.
The small balcony off the kitchen was home to the most magnificent view of the Tyrrhenian sea. Louisa had the brown double doors propped open so she could feel the night’s breeze on her skin and smell the perfumed air. She couldn’t quite put her finger on the scent of Italy. Yes, there was the hint of salt from the sea, but it was more flavourful, more powerful than just that. It was mixed with the lightness of the elegant flowers that blossomed in every garden, the lingering aromas of the day’s food that swirled through kitchen windows and the ever-present smell of coffee being brewed somewhere, accompanied by the sweet scent of pastry. She breathed it in, allowing her body to relax at the smell of home. She made herself comfy in one of her zia’s wicker chairs. The navy-blue hue of the night sky was mesmerizing; a vast ocean of sparkling dots caught her attention as her eyes flickered in search of the brightest one.
‘Ciao Grandpa,’ Louisa whispered before casting her eyes over the sketch she had been working on.
She had her sketchbook propped up against her knee and the arm of the chair and a few pencils tucked away at one side of her legs. She never went far without it these days. Since being in Italy she had been drawing nonstop. Everywhere she looked she found inspiration and that passion she had lost during her stint in London, trapped in her most recent nine-to-five, had come roaring back.
The current piece she was working on had been inspired by the ceramic shops she passed daily on her way to work. For every Costa coffee that Manchester had, here in Orzoro there was a shop selling limoncello soap and ceramic pottery that drew Louisa in every time.
The extra special shops were those where no two pieces were the same, where you would often find the owners hunched over a table in the back of the tiny store painting, each brush stroke working its way purposefully over the pot. Louisa especially loved when the artist mixed the blues and yellows and greens together; something about those colours screamed Italia to her.
Her blank paper was now alive with a deep cobalt A-line pencil dress with a square neck, a yellow patterned trim around the neck, waist and hem. Louisa could picture Sabrina wearing it for an important day at her new office with the boys. The thought made her smile. She was proud of her sister for taking Dan and Levi up on their offer of continuing to represent them and helping them navigate the next part of their journey in finding a new record deal. Louisa knew Sabrina was more than capable. She was pleased too that Sabrina would no longer have to work under Lydia at Jones Records. Louisa had apologized to Sabrina for always assuming her life was that of a glamourous celebrity manager, attending flashy parties, red carpets and dining with the rich and famous; she hadn’t accounted for Sabrina missing her as much as she had missed Sabrina. Her millions of Instagram followers and her band’s international success hadn’t exactly signaled lonely to Louisa, but they had talked over Christmas and her snipes and moody remarks were water under the bridge. Louisa now understood the workload behind the social media and album sales, and she couldn’t be more in awe of Sabrina.
Louisa felt that having some space over the past month and a half in Italy had helped her understand her sisters. She had always been the one to stay home, to be there for her parents and grandparents. She had felt angry at Amanda and Sabrina for leaving the family, and her, behind. But she was realizing that finding that balance between family and pursuing your own dreams was important. Being in Italy, doing something for herself, made her feel invigorated. As though she had finally stepped out of her older sisters’ shadows and found some sunshine of her own. Though she had to admit that going after her own dreams here in Italy meant that she missed her sisters more than ever.
There was a small part of her that truly believed she could make something of herself in the fashion industry and this was one of the things that was keeping her going. Another thing was Luca.
Growing up, Louisa had been surrounded by love; her parents had been happily married for over thirty years and her nonni had been sweethearts for sixty. It was this love that had squashed any doubt about giving the Italian man she met in Alfonso’s pasticceria, before Christmas, a chance. Luca had been a kind stranger at a time when she had needed it most. Though it all happened quickly, Louisa had felt a certain pull of magic, like Luca was her own Prince Charming.
Luca had spoilt her with picnics overlooking the mountainside, candlelit lunches in the cozy confines of her office and the finest tables at Orzoro’s best-kept secrets; to which Louisa had made mental notes to take Amanda to next time she visited. In addition to their extraordinary dates, Louisa had also spent time getting to know Luca’s family more, while Luca too often visited with her nanna and zias. The qualms about it being just a holiday romance were dissolving as fast as Luca’s sfogliatelle melted in her mouth.
Louisa wished more than anything she could tell her grandpa all about Luca, his family and the pasticceria, but somehow, she thought he already knew. Taking her eyes off her new favourite design, she looked out across the peaceful night sky and smiled as the brightest star flickered as she watched.
Suddenly her phone buzzed in her pocket. She grabbed it eagerly in hopes that it was a text from Amanda or Sabrina, but Luca’s name flashed across the screen. She smiled as she read his text wishing her a buona notte but couldn’t shift the loneliness she felt from her sisters having not responded to her for the third day in a row. She slumped down in her chair, a pout playing at her lips.
‘Cara mia, cosa c’è che non va?’ Nanna’s voice came out of the shadows in the kitchen doorway. Louisa sat up right away, not wanting to give cause for Nanna to worry. She was being silly. She loved her sisters and she knew they loved her too. They were simply busy, and so was she. Life in Italy was wonderful and not just because of Luca and work, but because she got to see Nanna getting to spend time with her own sisters after eighteen years apart. Unlike Grandpa, Nanna had not been able to travel back and forth from England to her home in Italy over the years. Ailments and illnesses had kept her grounded. She had become terrified of flying because of this. But last year after Grandpa passed, she had wanted to see that he got home and had inspired the girls when she agreed to come with them for his funeral. Nanna was strong and had put on a brave face. That face bore wise wrinkles, her skin a still-glowing olive tone and her eyes glistened brighter than ever before when she pottered about her childhood home. Now she shuffled along the tiled floor in her navy slipper sandals, concern making the creases around her eyes more prominent.
‘Nothing’s wrong Nanna, I’m fine thank you,’ Louisa said softly, getting up out of her chair to hug her. That always made her feel better.
‘You miss your sisters, no?’ Nanna questioned. Nothing could ever get past a nonna, Louisa mused, better luck next time.
‘Yes, I do. I’m so excited about the fashion show Nanna, but I can’t help thinking about how fabulous the opening of Torta per Tutti is going to be. I know she can be a stubborn pain sometimes but when it comes to cooking, Amanda knows her stuff. I was looking forward to seeing it come to life, you know, just being there for her and being a guinea pig, making sure the menu was perfect. But I know she will have everyone else,’ Louisa confessed, her arms wrapped tight around her nanna who she could have sworn had shrunk a couple more inches since arriving in Italy.
‘I understand cara. I know of this problem. Life is balance. What can we do?’ Nanna said, her voice an airy whisper. She, more than anyone, knew the heartache of years away from loved ones, yet she had always remained so strong and happy with what surrounded her, her sisters always sending cards and parcels.
‘That’s it! Grazie Nanna. Grazie,’ Louisa cried after a few moments passed. She kissed her nanna on the cheek, an idea having sprung to her mind. ‘You take a seat and you teach me,’ she added, guiding Nanna to the kitchen table but grabbing a yellow cushion to make the seat more comfortable. Just then Zia Sofia walked into the kitchen waving a torn piece of paper in the air as if she had read Louisa’s mind. Zia Sofia was the youngest of her three zias and the one always bouncing around after everyone; taking the lead in the kitchen and reminding Louisa fiercefully of Amanda.
‘Aspetta, aspetta,’ she said, before reaching Louisa’s side and pinching her cheeks with her paper-free hand. ‘You need this. We make it now,’ her zia announced, turning on her heel and collecting up pots and pans. Louisa gazed at the browning paper now in her palm and blinked back tears. It was Grandpa’s handwriting and read ‘Torta caprese’.
She looked to Nanna, unable to speak. Nanna’s eyes twinkled, a spark of happiness followed by a gleam of pain. Louisa missed him every day; she couldn’t imagine how Nanna felt.
‘Family recipes, they are the treasure of the life,’ Nanna noted, as Zia Sofia carefully pulled the recipe out of Louisa’s hand, handing her bowls and spoons and shouting instructions in fast Italian. Louisa would do well to remind her that it was Amanda that was the chef of the family and not her, but she had been the one to want to learn, so she did as she was told, following the instructions as best she could, feeling content that her zia had read her mind and agreed that food was always the answer, especially when made with love.
*
Rest had not been on the cards last night, Louisa was too excitable. At 6 a.m. she crept into the kitchen, grabbed her coat from the coat rack, picked up her bag from where she’d left it next to the wicker chair, collected the brown parcel from the kitchen counter and tip-toed in her black ballet pumps out onto the balcony. The soft morning breeze cooled her warm bones.
Louisa walked in silence down the cobbled path, past the blocks of apartments whose shutters were all closed. She almost wanted to tip-toe, scared to make even the smallest of noises and disturb the tranquility of the sleeping village. The street looked like a rainbow, as each window bore a different shade of turquoise, pink and yellow. As she made her way further down the mountain, closer to the village square, lights illuminated bakeries where Louisa could see little old nonnas preparing the doughs for the day. Louisa’s thoughts drifted again to Amanda and how she would soon be doing the same thing in her café back home and it gave her an extra pep in her step. She wanted to stop and give the nonnas a hand, knowing how tiring the process was, after years of watching Amanda beat herself up over loaf after loaf, trying to perfect them and get them exactly like Grandpa’s. But she knew this was what the Italians lived for – waking up to cook with love, to feed the world. She knew the nonnas would be just fine and kept on walking.
Disturbing the silence up the street were the fisherman delivering their catch to the market stalls and restaurants. The salty fragrance of freshly caught squid reminded Louisa of her childhood summers spent fishing with her grandpa. The girls had promised they would be back to fish in the summer; Louisa hoped that with both her sisters being so busy that they would somehow still be able to stick to this promise. She would try and understand if not.
Arriving at her first destination, she snuck in to the back of the bakery and was immediately greeted by Luca’s mamma. ‘Buongiorno cara,’ she said, hugging Louisa and then holding her back at arm’s length, her hands still on Louisa’s shoulders. Louisa was accustomed to this behavior. Luca’s mamma was assessing her up and down, finally resting on Louisa’s eyes. It was the kind of evaluation she received daily from her nanna and zias, usually to check that she had eaten enough and that there was happiness behind her eyes. But before the interrogation began, Luca appeared, and Louisa’s stomach turned into a swarm of butterflies.
‘Ciao bella,’ he said, his eyebrows raised and surprise in his tone. Then he walked over to her and kissed her sweetly on each cheek.
