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The flight is relatively short, a little over two hours, and after requesting a blanket from the single flight attendant, I recline my chair and catch a quick nap to make up for all the time I was awake late last night. It’s bright and loud on the plane from all the chatter, but I manage to sneak in a little more than an hour of sleep before we’ve landed in Napoli.
Already, it feels like we’re in a different world, the air hotter and the sun warmer on my skin as I step off the plane. There is a distinct feeling of relaxation that is coming over the entire group of us, the constraints of our normal daily lives falling to the wayside. My brother and Roxanne are even more enamored with each other than usual, acting like smitten teenagers as theylean their heads close together to share secret words and what I assume are declarations of their undying love. The other couple, Lili and Robin, are equally attached, but more excited about the trip than anything else, talking endlessly about all the things they want to do in the next ten days.
Dan has made himself the de facto go-between with the drivers and other professionals we’ll be dealing with, probably to have something to keep him busy in his quest to avoid me. Placing my oversized sunglasses over my face, I go to talk to the rest of the group while we wait, shooting Dan looks every now and then to see if he’s looking at me. Most of the time he’s otherwise occupied, but I do catch him staring in my direction once or twice. Each time is a boost to my ego.
The yacht Dan has booked will take us to Capri in just an hour, and the excitement in the group is palpable. Even Dan, who has been as standoffish as possible, relaxes and accepts a drink as we board the boat, lounging in the leather seats and waiting for all our things to be loaded. As the vessel bobs in the water, I look over the city resting in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius, letting my thoughts wander. It’s been so long since I’ve had some time to really let all the worries of my life slip away for a little while that I’m having a hard time letting go of some of my die-hard habits. I find myself wanting to be more involved with the planning of everything, to know where exactly we are staying and what, if any, events have been pre-planned for the week. Giving up control isn’t something I usually enjoy, but at the end of the day, this trip is for my brother, and I know he doesn’t want me sticking my nose in everything. If he trusts Dan to have planned everything out, I should too.
All those thoughts bring me back to the fact that I’m supposed to be finding a fault line between my brother and his fiancée. To look at them, most people would think that there is no separating the happy couple. I tell myself that I stillbelieve they’re wrong for each other and that the shame Andries marrying a former prostitute who’s seventeen years older than him will bring our family isn’t worth whatever temporary joy she gives him, but when I let my guard down and think with my heart, I find myself glad for them. Roxanne has proven time and time again to be savvy, responsible, and even forgiving toward me when I went so far as not to ruin just her relationship, but her reputation, too. I want to return that grace, but every time I consider it, I think of Dad and how pissed he will be if I give up. All the hard work I’ve put into Van den Bosch Industries weighs heavily on me every minute of every day. The question of whether I’m ready to give it all up for the sake of my brother has been haunting me. I just hope it doesn’t ruin everything else during my time in Capri.
When the boat departs across the deep, sapphire blue water, I give up on Dan and try to connect with my brother, hoping to ease the nebulous guilt I’m feeling, revolving around him and Roxie.
“So you really don’t feel like you’re losing out on your bachelor vacation?” I ask, speaking loudly enough to be heard over the engine.
He shakes his head, expression completely earnest. “No, I don’t want anything like that. I just want to celebrate spending the rest of my life with Roxanne.” He looks at me, seeming to consider something, before speaking again. “I’m glad to be able to spend it with my best friend and my sister, too. I really am happy you came… as long as you stay out of my business, that is.”
I feel a stab of panic that he might know what Dad has asked of me, but Andries is just teasing. I relax and roll my eyes. “You don’t have to worry about that. I don’t want to interrupt you two gross lovebirds.”
“I can’t wait till you’re in love with someone, Elise, so I can rub it in your face like you’re doing to me.”
I resist the urge to look at Dan at the mention of love, and after giving him a quick smirk, I say, “You’ll probably never have to worry about that with me.”
“I don’t know…” He smiles, looking like the teasing brother that I’ve grown up with for the first time in a long time. “I think you’ve got a romantic streak in you somewhere, sister. You just need to embrace it.”
Soon enough, Capri rises out of the ocean ahead of us, looking craggy and intimidating from a distance but quickly clearing up into the gorgeous formation that it really is. The boat captain slows to a near crawl as we pass a few of the Faraglioni shooting out of the sea like huge teeth protecting the island. It's easy to see why the small island has been an irresistible destination even since the times of ancient Rome, and it does feel a little bit like going back in time as the boat maneuvers us into Marina Grande. The town of Capri stretches over the coast and up the cliff sides in some places in waves of cream and sunny yellow structures interspersed with small explosions of red and burnt orange buildings.
Gulls are crying amidst the sound of waves hitting the rocky shore, they cry alongside different music bands battling to be heard at the busy port. Curving in a rough C-shape, the marina itself looks like a second, smaller cover welcoming us in with open arms. From here there are a few little hints of the other secret parts of the island–caves carved into the rock walls, shimmering deep grottos, and paths leading deeper into the island where it only takes a few moments to be completely alone. The charm of Italy is there, but condensed down into something wholly unique to Capri itself; the ancient history of the island, the generations of lovers that have frequented its shores, the mystery of its hidden places… it all comes together to form the paradise where we will be spending our next ten days.
Romance is in the air here, and we’re breathing it into our lungs already. I see Dan looking at the view, unease on his face before he looks back at me. The smile that blooms over my face is slow and knowing. Our collision is inevitable, it’s just a matter of when it will happen.
We disembark and head for the funicular railway that will take us to the center of Capri Town and from there we can make our way up to our villa on Belvedere of Tragara overlooking the sea. We could take a private car, Dan tells us, but as a group, everyone decides they want the full Capri experience. Instead, we send our luggage on its way and walk through the streets on the way to the small train. I start to balk at the crowded station, wanting to forget the quaint travel option and opt for the longer car ride instead, but after some cajoling, we board our third method of transport. It’s only a four-minute ride, so I guess it won’t be the end of the world.
The funicular is cramped, but as it exits the station tunnel and into the open air, we pass through stunning lemon groves and watch Marina Grande retreat beneath us. The island is covered in greenery wherever the town hasn’t taken over; the aforementioned lemon trees, Italian stone pines looking like oversized bonsais, and myrtles. When we step off the train just minutes later, I suck in a deep breath of the clean, fresh air, and it smells to me like citrus and salt. My eyes flutter closed, and I soak in the moment all on my own. We’ve finally arrived, Dan and I haven’t been at each other's throats yet, and the island is more beautiful than I could have dreamed.
Stone and stucco homes and businesses line the walkways and streets in all colors of neutrals, yellows, brick reds, and corals. Most have small balconies facing the roads, many covered with creeping and trailing vines of greenery. On the opposite side facing the sea, the terraces and overlooks are muchmore splendid, taking full advantage of the magnificent view of the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Finally, after what seems like an entire day of travel, we reach our villa. I have to say, it was worth the wait.
The exterior is snow white with turquoise shutters that almost perfectly match the water below. Built right into the side of the cliff, the terrace takes up nearly as much space as the house itself, bordered by a waist-high stone fence everywhere except the infinity pool that occupies the center, overlooking everywhere below with just glass, making it appear as if the liquid was held there by magic alone.
Inside, everything is open, airy, and light, done up in shades of sand and sage. The house staff welcomes us, and after a brief tour of the villa, we all peel off to go and choose our own rooms.
Well, everyone else does. I take a moment to ask the maid for a glass of water, drinking it while exploring the bottom floor and the pool terrace, dotted with luxurious lounge chairs and private corner cabanas with breezy curtains that could be pulled for extra privacy.
Once I’m sure everyone has had time to choose their rooms, I go in search of Dan, breaking an ice cube between my teeth as I congratulate myself on my plan. My idea is, if I had rushed to get the room next to Dan, my brother might have had some suspicions. This way, everyone else has already chosen, and if I'm right, the couples surely chose more secluded bedroom suites so they could have all the privacy they need for their nighttime activities without having to worry about being heard by the rest of the house.
As I expected, Dan had chosen the master bedroom on the East wing, and the smaller suite next to it was blessedly empty. I drop my purse on the bed as a way to mark the space as my own, and make my way to Dan’s doorway, leaning on the doorframe and watching him unpack.
He’s taken off his jacket and the thin white button that was beneath it has the sleeves rolled up to display his forearms. I know he senses me in his space, but he’s still trying to act like I’m a ghost, so it becomes a weird standoff to see who is going to speak first.
Looking at the master suite, I have a brief moment of regret that I didn't fight for this space myself. Like the other rooms, the floor is ivory marble interspersed with veins of gold and emerald green, but behind the bed, there is a stone staircase with recessed sconces that leads down to what I can only assume is a private indoor pool. I can only catch a glimpse of the reflection of the water from here, but it figures that Dan would choose the second most sumptuous room for himself.
Finally, Dan runs a hand through his hair in an annoyed gesture, his eyes closed. “What do you want, Elise?”
I take a few steps in his direction, standing inches beside him. “I just wanted to tell you that I love the room you picked out. Did you choose this one specifically for us to share later?”
The seductive edge I put in my voice doesn’t change how frustrated he looks. “I explained this to you already. Here in Capri, you’re invisible to me. Completely, utterly,invisible.”
“True, but you said that before everything that happened back home,” I point out, but he just shrugs.
