About 9 days earlier…
− What? Italy? Livorno? Isn’t that the place with white yachts bobbing on turquoise waves by picturesque beaches? Where there’s sun, sea, sand, and gorgeous, tanned Italian guys? — her friend asked, wide-eyed. Solomiya sighed.
− Yeah...
− Solomiya, are you kidding me? That’s the kind of place you go to soak up a sunset on a sandy beach, stroll through charming streets hand-in-hand with a sweetheart, eat delicious Tuscan treats, and sip amazing wine—not to work. Who goes to a place like that to slave away?
− Me... — she sighed even heavier.
Her friend sure knew how to lift her spirits. As if it wasn’t already hard enough without her painting such a dreamy picture. She knew full well that a vacation in a place like that would be far better than working as a cleaner. But... ugh... with her luck, that wasn’t in the cards. She had neither the extra cash for a getaway nor a tanned boyfriend. And, from the looks of it, no boyfriend at all...
− Solomiya, seriously, how do you even picture this? You’ll be miserable.
− Olya, don’t rub salt in the wound! Do you think I wouldn’t love to use my month off to lounge on a beach and soak up some sun? But... with my salary as a sales assistant, I’ll never save up for a car. And then there’s the debt, you know about that...
− Yeah... Poor thing... Well, what can you do? Hey, what’s your schedule going to be like there? Maybe you’ll have evenings or weekends off to relax, hit the beach?
− I have no idea. I’ll see when I get there. I don’t know all the details yet, but they promised the work won’t be too hard and I’ll earn a decent chunk of euros. As for the rest... we’ll see, — she replied with determination. She’d already made up her mind to go, no matter what. If she didn’t get to see the sea, so be it. At least she’d make some money. That was more important right now.
But... could she have ever imagined back then that this trip would turn out to be nothing like she’d planned? That instead of earning a nice sum and heading home without a hitch, she’d find herself in over her head in a way she’d never have believed possible? Yet... it turns out, anything can happen.
− Solomiya, why don’t you take me with you? You know how much I’ve always wanted to go to Italy.
− Where? Olya, I’m not going to visit relatives, I’m going to work. And there’s only one spot available. If there were another, I’d take you along, why not? It’d be more fun together.
− Yeah, I guess... So, this Aunt Anya who got you the job, is she decent? Do you know her well?
− Sort of. She used to be close friends with my mom; they lived in the same little town in Italy, not far from each other. She seems like a nice lady. She helped us out when things got tough with Mom. I think she won’t let me down now either.
− Got it. Well, that’s good. I’m happy for you. When are you leaving?
− Tomorrow. My suitcase is already packed, — she said, glancing at the large travel bag sitting in the corner of the room. What had she stuffed in there? It felt like just the essentials, but it turned out to be a lot. How was she going to lug this around? Probably overpacked. She’d need to go through it again.
− Did you pack a swimsuit? — her friend asked with a playful grin. Here we go again.
− Yep. Five of them. One for swimming, one for tanning, one for selfies, and so on... — Solomiya replied, rolling her eyes. In reality, she’d packed just one, and it probably wouldn’t even come in handy. Thinking about it stung. But still...
− Ha! Sure, I’ll believe that. But seriously, take at least one. Things might be expensive there, and you don’t want to regret not bringing it. And pack a couple of cute sundresses for the beach. You’ve got some, right?
− Yeah, I did. Alright, hon, it’s time to say goodbye. I’ll call you when I get there. Keep an eye on Dad and Burik for me, like we agreed. I’ll call Grandma myself. I’m so worried, honestly. You know how they are.
− Okay, don’t stress, everything will be fine. I’ll look after them. Your dog won’t get lost, and your dad will be just fine, — Olya, her friend and neighbor, reassured her. She was a lifesaver sometimes, especially now that Solomiya was heading 1,700 kilometers away from home, leaving her dad on his own.
− Thanks, Olya. I’m counting on you. If anything comes up, let me know right away. And make sure he doesn’t forget to water the plants.
− Got it. Safe travels. Call me.
The next morning, Solomiya set off on her long journey by minibus. Through Hungary and Slovenia, then northern Italy—Venice, Padua, Florence—and finally, they reached Livorno, a port town on the Ligurian Sea coast. The trip took over twenty hours, including a few short stops. Traveling in a minibus without air conditioning in the summer heat was anything but romantic. The only thing that brought her joy during the day was the breathtaking scenery outside the window. Europe’s beauty left Solomiya in awe.
The Italian coast welcomed the traveler with a cool night breeze and faint, distinct smells. Was it the sea? Around two in the morning, Aunt Anya, her mom’s old friend, met Solomiya at the station in Livorno. Phew... Finally. What a long way to go!
A short, sturdy woman in her mid-50s warmly greeted her guest, gave her a hug, and asked how the journey had been. Then she helped with the luggage and led Solomiya to her car.
− I’ll take you to my place now. You can rest, and tomorrow morning we’ll go see a bit of the city. Then I’ll drive you to the family you’ll be working for, — she calmly outlined the plan.
− Thank you. That sounds good. So, are they decent people? They won’t work me to the bone, will they? Because, you know, I don’t really have much experience cleaning for wealthy folks.
− Don’t worry. It’s just an old lady living there alone. She’s quite nice. But her children are coming to visit soon, and that’ll make things busier. I don’t know them, but... there’ll definitely be more work. Still, don’t stress. If anything comes up, call me, and I’ll give you some advice. How’s your Italian?
− It’s okay... I’ve been learning bit by bit, but I’m not super confident yet. I can understand most of what people say, though, and I can express myself more or less, — the girl replied.
− Oh, that’s already a good start. The main thing is you’ll roughly know what they want from you. Don’t be nervous. It’s just the old lady and her daughter who are Italian; the rest are from our parts. The daughter-in-law is Ukrainian, and the granddaughter is half-Ukrainian too. So, you’ll manage.
− Okay. I hope so... — Solomiya said with a hint of optimism.
A small car was waiting for them on the side of a narrow, steep street. They loaded the suitcase into the trunk and drove off. Aunt Anya’s old but charming stone house—technically her local husband’s—wasn’t far from the station. She showed her guest to a spacious room, pointed out a few things around the house, and left her to rest.
Try as she might, Solomiya could barely sleep in the new place. Though she was utterly exhausted, and the soft, fresh bed promised pure comfort, she only managed to doze off for a bit toward morning. It felt like she’d just closed her eyes when daylight arrived. Bright sunlight peeked through the thin curtain. Aunt Anya knocked on the door, calling her to the kitchen. Well... Solomiya had to quickly remind herself that she hadn’t come here to laze around.
Over a delicious breakfast of fragrant coffee and a pastry, Solomiya met the friendly homeowner, a stocky, bearded man named Francesco, who looked to be in his mid-60s. Afterward, she got the chance to see a bit of the city.
Wow! She couldn’t keep her mouth closed from sheer amazement! Livorno was incredibly picturesque. It was exactly how she’d imagined Italy—sunny, with old but impeccably neat buildings, imposing fortresses, vibrant flowers everywhere, and palm trees. And the beaches... simply unreal! She’d never seen such beauty in her life. Even though Livorno wasn’t the most popular tourist destination, there were supposedly even prettier places. She recalled her friend’s words about how this was a place to wander, not to work. Sigh... What luxurious white yachts floated here...
Aunt Anya only drove her through the city center and along the waterfront, hardly stopping anywhere. But even that was enough for Solomiya to fall in love with the place at first sight. Not too big, but cozy and full of character, bathed in Italian sunshine and a lively vibe. Amazing! She caught herself wanting to explore every corner of this almost paradise-like spot. Most of all, she longed to swim in those turquoise waves she’d only glimpsed from afar.
Her mom had often talked about how beautiful Italy was, bringing back photos. Solomiya had always been fascinated by her stories, even though she resented the country for keeping her dear mom away for so long. But now, she quickly understood why her mom had loved it here so much.
The tour was coming to an end. Aunt Anya turned onto a lovely street lined with large, elegant cottages and began telling Solomiya more about her new job. The girl had to let go of her romantic daydreams and focus on more practical matters—like how to clean a wealthy household and keep an elderly signora happy. Anxiety started to creep in. She remembered her mom’s stories about picky Italians who sometimes humiliated or mistreated their help. Oh... she hoped this old lady wouldn’t be like that. Aunt Anya explained:
− Solomiya, the key is to show from the start that you’re willing to work hard and do a good job, but don’t let anyone walk all over you. Remember, while you’re living in that house, you’ll have to do pretty much everything they ask, not just cleaning. Within reason, of course. If, for example, the old lady wants you to give her an injection, say no. There’s a nurse for that; you can call her, and she’ll come do it. Don’t take on extra responsibilities. Or anything like fixing things or similar tasks—there are other people for that. But household chores like cleaning, cooking, running errands, taking the signora to the hairdresser, for coffee, or wherever else—that’s all your job. The main thing is to make sure she feels comfortable and satisfied. If she is, she’ll be more likely to cut you some slack, maybe let you have some time off or even give you a little gift.
− Wow. Really? Will I have any days off? Who’s going to be keeping tabs on me?
− Yes. Often, people in your position get Sundays or Mondays off, but we’ll confirm that. By the way, the signora’s daughter, Valentina, will be the one paying your salary. So, it’s most important to be on good terms with her.
− I’m already nervous, — Solomiya said with a grimace.
− Don’t be. Valentina doesn’t live here. She’s all the way in Florence and only comes by occasionally. So, no need to worry. Everything will be fine. It’s a decent family. And Oksana will help you too. She’s the one you’re replacing for the month. She’s heading home tomorrow, so she’ll show you the ropes and explain everything. The month will fly by, and then you’ll get your money and head home, — the woman reassured her.
− Okay.
− Don’t be afraid of anything. You’ll manage. They’re not asking for the moon. The most important thing is to be honest. The signora got burned once before. She had a maid who stole from her, and she’s been wary ever since. But I know you won’t cause any problems like that. So...
− Thank you. You’ve put me at ease. I’ll do my best not to let you down, — Solomiya smiled. After this conversation, she did feel a bit more confident.
The car began to slow down near a large, beautiful light-yellow stone house. Oh... her heart started racing. What would this place turn out to be for her? A fond memory, or a nightmare?