The View From Lake Como

Angelo drives Jess through the Italian Alps to Vilminore di Scalve, a small village with a Baroque cathedral. Unlike at home, they will fast on Christmas Eve and feast on Christmas Day. Jess thinks of the “easily assigned” roles for men and women in her family and how “no one questioned them” (283). She misses their traditions but hopes to “reinvent” some. After the mass, they drive back to Milan, and Angelo confesses that he broke up with Dalia because he likes Jess. She reflects on the peace she’s found in Italy and kisses him on the cheek.

Jess takes a bus to Italy’s Lake Como, needing solitude and clarity on her feelings for Angelo. She joins a group headed to the waterfalls that feed the lake. Farah texts to say that she went to visit her mother, who has completely accepted her as a daughter. As the group approaches a suspension bridge, Jess wants to turn back. She pushes herself forward, though, and her courage is rewarded by the beauty of the falls. Jess texts Lil, saying she found peace on earth, and Lil is thrilled for her. She texts her siblings a picture and feels full of hope for her own healing in the year ahead.

That night, Jess dreams about a loving, powerful man. When she wakes up, however, she can’t remember who he was. She goes back to sleep and wakes up hopeful. She decides to emulate Lucy Honeychurch and be the heroine of her own story.

When Jess arrives in the lobby, Bobby Bilancia is there, waiting for her. He tracked her down from Carrara. She tells him that she’s happy in Italy, and he says she belongs in New Jersey. She asks why he came, and he says he needs to understand what happened between them. He says he didn’t try hard enough, that he should have been kinder. Just then, Angelo walks in, and both men immediately begin posturing. Angelo suggests that Jess has been dishonest, but she confirms that she is not in a relationship with either one. Conor and Gaetano arrive, and Angelo storms off.

After dinner that night, Jess and Bobby go for a walk. He kisses her, but there is no spark. He asks if they should try again, but Jess knows it won’t work. She accompanies him back to Milan for his flight home. Jess looks forward to spending some time alone: “No drama, no confusion, just a feeling of peace” (306). She does miss Angelo though.

It is now March, and Jess has been working for Mauro for three months. Her texts to Angelo have gone unanswered, so she assumes he’s no longer interested. Campovilla says that the final report on the Elegant Gangster will be finished soon. Jess and Farah go into Mauro’s office, where Jess sees an old photograph that includes her uncle, Louie. When Mauro reenters, Farah asks who the man is, and Mauro says it’s his father. They leave for lunch at his mother’s, and he says that his father, “Luigi,” died before he was born. When Jess sees Mauro’s mother, Claudia, she realizes this is the woman from some of Louie’s old pictures and the love Louie spoke of on his deathbed.

Claudia tells the group that, according to her father, Luigi died in a mining accident. He was American, and they fell in love and planned to marry. Claudia found out she was pregnant after Luigi’s death. Jess feels sick. Later, she tells Dr. Scott from Thera-Me what she learned. He asks how this secret affects Jess, and he suggests she needn’t bring Mauro into the family fold. She tries to explain the importance of family and of knowing the truth, even if it’s painful. Angelo wants to talk, but Jess isn’t in the mood. She’s confused by his behavior, and he says he doesn’t text his feelings. He wants to know how he can make things right with her.

The next day, Angelo picks Jess up and drives her to Mauro’s quarry. She asks if this is the right thing to do, and he says that she can keep the secret or share the truth. They arrive at Claudia’s, and Jess reveals that “Luigi” (Uncle Louie) lived and went home to New Jersey; he didn’t die in a mining accident. Claudia is shocked that her father lied, and Mauro gets angry that Louie never returned for Claudia. Jess points out that they cannot know what Claudia’s father told him. She plans to tell Lil about Mauro, but she’s not sure how yet. When Mauro learns that Louie died recently, he feels that his tragedy is doubled.

Angelo and Jess go to the cemetery where Claudia’s father set up a memorial for all the men who died at the quarry. She says that Louie understood her, the same way Angelo does, and Angelo confesses that he’s in love with Jess. She tells him that she’s not ready, and he says he will wait. When she gets home, Joe calls to tell her that Lil died and that it’s time to come home.