The Italian Cure

Aunt Della wins a trip for two to Italy and wants to take her niece, Charlotte (Charlie) with her! Because Charlie works in her uncle’s deli shop, she’ll be able to get the time off, and, since her fiance has found someone else, Charlie is eager to just get away for awhile.

When the pair arrives in Italy, Charlie learns that her luggage is lost! Just another hit to her already bruised life since her fiance, Rob, left. However, neither Aunt Del nor Charlie are going to let something like that stop them from enjoying their vacation. Charlie, at least, has her carry on, and so she’s got her essentials, and Aunt Del says she’ll lend her some of her clothes until the luggage arrives.

Later, Aunt Del and Charlie meet a couple who are also on the same Italian tour, Bunny and Ed Hopper. Charlie can’t ignore the name, but the couple is quite pleasant and friendly, even though Bunny is much younger than Ed. The tour guide, Rocco, introduces himself to Charlie, and she’s set back by his Italian good looks and flowing accent. She doesn’t really think about Rocco, but simply wants to see if Italy can be the cure to her depression.

They were delivered to their hotel, and, while Aunt Del sleeps, Charlie heads down to the shops to try and find some clothes. Since she doesn’t have much money, she is frugal and just picks up the necessities. That night, she emails her sister, Carrie, as she does regularly, to tell her of her adventures. They’ve always been close, but life’s been challenging with Carrie’s special needs.

The next day, Charlie and Aunt Del are off on the tour bus with the driver, Tony, and their guide Rocco. Tony tells Charlie that her luggage has been found in Australia and that they’re still trying to get it routed to Italy, but that it may take some time. Speaking with Tony, she realizes that, although he’s not as “exotic” as Rocco, he certainly has his own charm. Charlie’s slightly embarrassed that she’s donning her aunt’s bright and flamboyant shirt and hat, but again, she doesn’t have her luggage and she’s very short on money so a full wardrobe shop is out of the question. However, as her Aunt Del always says, “Why be boring?”

Over the next few days, the group tours several historical places in Italy. On one particular evening, the group is scheduled for a formal dinner. Of course, Charlie has nothing to wear, but Bunny comes to the rescue and offers her a leopard print dress with sequins! Definitely NOT Charlie’s usual apparel, but Charlie decides to take her Aunt’s attitude and accepts - why be boring? Just before the dinner while waiting for the others to come downstairs, Charlie steps outside to get some air and is surprised when she feels a hand on her shoulder - Rocco! After mentioning how amazing Charlie looks, Rocco slips a piece of paper in her hand. “My room number,” he says. Rocco wants to meet for a couple of drinks the next day. She doesn’t have time to reply, however, as Rocco is called away. The dinner begins and ends, but Charlie doesn’t see Rocco again that evening.

Rising early the next morning, Charlie goes out in Sorrento on her own as Aunt Del is still recovering from the dinner and dancing the night before. After a short breakfast and viewing the shops, Charlie remembers that Rocco mentioned about her coming around about noon, and she makes her way to his room. She knocks but doesn’t get an answer. She knocks again and hears Bunny’s voice come from inside! “Tell them to go away.” With a tear of disappointment in her eye, Charlie moves away from his room. Moments later, she is greeted by Tony, the tour bus driver. He asks her if she’s thinking about her ex and she says yes, although it really is the slight from Rocco that’s gotten to her. Tony invites Charlie to go into town with him that day and she agrees. Charlie is NOT going to let any man ruin her good time in Italy. They walk some more and then, because Tony has to go to the tour office, Charlie finds her way back to the hotel.

When Charlie arrives back at the hotel, she’s surprised to see her Aunt Del sitting with a man at the bar. She learns that he’s one of the people on their tour, Sam Conti. They seemed to hit things off. On the side, Aunt Del tells Charlie not to pursue Rocco, advice which makes Charlie chuckle. Apparently they both know about what happened with Bunny.

The next day, the tour continues. Charlie opens up to Tony and tells him about Carrie, but their conversation is cut short as Rocco calls everyone’s attention. It’s surprising to Charlie that Rocco’s voice does not hold the same allure it once did. On their tour of Pompeii, Charlie’s purse is stolen from her shoulder! She runs after the man, but there was no way she is going to catch up to him. And what would she do if she did? When she stops running, she realizes that she doesn’t know where she is, and so she sits and waits, hoping someone will find her. Hours later, it’s Tony that finds her sitting on the top step of a temple’s stairs. They embrace, and it feels as natural as it ever could to Charlie. Tony did tell Charlie that he was originally from the States, and now, he tells her that he would be willing to move back just to spend more time with her. Nothing is decided, but, in Charlie’s mind, she thinks to herself, “Why be boring?”

Campbell does a comprehensive job of painting an Italian tour for the reader. The descriptions of the towns and culture are colourful and interesting. The plot, though simple, speaks to real situations and feelings that are believable. This short novel is a light and romantic comedy that also brings to light some of the harsher realities of love and life. Its conclusion is fitting and satisfying, though more groundwork would make the ending that much more substantial. The Italian Cure would be suggested for those readers who seek light entertainment combined with some descriptions about Italy and the surrounding areas.