Chianti Riserva so I’m able to use the label. But I also produce Pinot Noir and Riesling. The wines have a beefier taste and are preferred when eating strong food like game meats. I have a bottle of Riesling open, if you’d like a taste.”
“I certainly didn’t expect such hospitality. I would love a glass.”
He poured some into a tumbler and handed it to the nun, standing near the exit door of the wine hut.
“You look at the orphanage every day. Do you get along with the nuns?”
“They haven’t been any trouble, Sister. They’re quiet.”
“I imagine the children aren’t so quiet.”
“The sound of children doesn’t bother me. At first, my wife was disturbed by it. She and I decided to put off having children. The nuns, however, made my wife welcome. Once she was able to make friends with some of the children, she enjoyed waving to them.”
“I hadn’t heard that. How did she get to know them?”
“She was their cook for three or four years. She trained Sister Edita.”
“I noticed the fence. Did you think they would trample the tender grapes, Martino?”
“We feared some of them would wander into the fields and hurt themselves.”
“Did that ever happen?”
“No. We put in the fence pretty quickly.”
She sipped the wine and savored the unusual flavor. “Are you aware there was a witness the night of the kidnapping?”
“I heard they saw a nun. Is that what you mean?”
“One of the girls saw a nun on your side of the fence.”
Martino’s brows shot up. “She thinks it was one of us?”
“No, she said it was a nun standing at the end of your vines. She didn’t see how she got there or where the nun entered the orphanage. She and I walked along the fence to see how well the child would have been able to see the nun. The moon was full enough so that they could see each other.”
“Please show me where she stood.”
The nun handed the vintner her empty glass and carefully led him down one of the rows to the end. “It was right below the window up there.”
La Barca checked the vines directly behind the nun.
“She supposedly hid by sitting down near the end of this row.”
“I see, I see. There are a few broken branches here. She must have sat directly on them. Did the eyewitness say how big she was?”
“The nun was taller and thinner than you are. She wasn’t able to hide very well because her head was evidently still visible above the vine.”
“Has anyone in the neighborhood seen a woman with a young child?”
“Did you know Pia?”
“I’d seen her in the yard. Whenever the children were out, I’d try to wave to them too. That must sound nefarious, Sister, but I felt for them. I just wanted to make them feel liked.”
“Perhaps you and your wife could adopt one of them. If you decide not to have them yourselves.”
“My wife and I are too busy trying to get this place going before I go broke. We’re still young. Maybe someday.”
The nun suddenly realized she hadn’t yet eaten. She grabbed her rumbling stomach. “I really should get the truck back to Michel before the wine hits me,” she said. “Thank you for the taste. It’s magnificent. I’m sure your winery will do well.” She headed back down the row until she got to the driveway. As she struggled to turn the truck around near the house, she glimpsed in the rearview mirror and saw La Barca running toward her. Completing the U-turn, she stopped and rolled down the window.
“Sister Angela, Sister Angela. I found something among those vines,” he called out, almost breathless. When he got to the window he revealed what he held.
“What is it?” she asked. She watched as the small crumpled object began to bloom in his hand. “Wait,” she said, looking for something in the truck with which to take the object. “We shouldn’t be touching evidence.” She found a box of tissue in the glove compartment and let Le Barca place it on a tissue.
“Was it on the vine with the broken
“I certainly didn’t expect such hospitality. I would love a glass.”
He poured some into a tumbler and handed it to the nun, standing near the exit door of the wine hut.
“You look at the orphanage every day. Do you get along with the nuns?”
“They haven’t been any trouble, Sister. They’re quiet.”
“I imagine the children aren’t so quiet.”
“The sound of children doesn’t bother me. At first, my wife was disturbed by it. She and I decided to put off having children. The nuns, however, made my wife welcome. Once she was able to make friends with some of the children, she enjoyed waving to them.”
“I hadn’t heard that. How did she get to know them?”
“She was their cook for three or four years. She trained Sister Edita.”
“I noticed the fence. Did you think they would trample the tender grapes, Martino?”
“We feared some of them would wander into the fields and hurt themselves.”
“Did that ever happen?”
“No. We put in the fence pretty quickly.”
She sipped the wine and savored the unusual flavor. “Are you aware there was a witness the night of the kidnapping?”
“I heard they saw a nun. Is that what you mean?”
“One of the girls saw a nun on your side of the fence.”
Martino’s brows shot up. “She thinks it was one of us?”
“No, she said it was a nun standing at the end of your vines. She didn’t see how she got there or where the nun entered the orphanage. She and I walked along the fence to see how well the child would have been able to see the nun. The moon was full enough so that they could see each other.”
“Please show me where she stood.”
The nun handed the vintner her empty glass and carefully led him down one of the rows to the end. “It was right below the window up there.”
La Barca checked the vines directly behind the nun.
“She supposedly hid by sitting down near the end of this row.”
“I see, I see. There are a few broken branches here. She must have sat directly on them. Did the eyewitness say how big she was?”
“The nun was taller and thinner than you are. She wasn’t able to hide very well because her head was evidently still visible above the vine.”
“Has anyone in the neighborhood seen a woman with a young child?”
“Did you know Pia?”
“I’d seen her in the yard. Whenever the children were out, I’d try to wave to them too. That must sound nefarious, Sister, but I felt for them. I just wanted to make them feel liked.”
“Perhaps you and your wife could adopt one of them. If you decide not to have them yourselves.”
“My wife and I are too busy trying to get this place going before I go broke. We’re still young. Maybe someday.”
The nun suddenly realized she hadn’t yet eaten. She grabbed her rumbling stomach. “I really should get the truck back to Michel before the wine hits me,” she said. “Thank you for the taste. It’s magnificent. I’m sure your winery will do well.” She headed back down the row until she got to the driveway. As she struggled to turn the truck around near the house, she glimpsed in the rearview mirror and saw La Barca running toward her. Completing the U-turn, she stopped and rolled down the window.
“Sister Angela, Sister Angela. I found something among those vines,” he called out, almost breathless. When he got to the window he revealed what he held.
“What is it?” she asked. She watched as the small crumpled object began to bloom in his hand. “Wait,” she said, looking for something in the truck with which to take the object. “We shouldn’t be touching evidence.” She found a box of tissue in the glove compartment and let Le Barca place it on a tissue.
“Was it on the vine with the broken
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