Claudia Thompson had by choice become something of a loner. From her early years as a top fashion model, through her married years as a well known socialite until her husband Richard had died some 7 years earlier she had never been free to pursue her hobby of painting.
She was also very rich; she had inherited a very large number of stocks, bonds and shares - her husband had been in finance so money was not a problem.
She had sold the large family house; given her son and daughter their due share and then with the balance in a private account had seemingly disappeared.
She had wandered through many countries on the Continent indulging in her passion of visiting art galleries, as well as enjoying many gallant lovers and finally decided to settle down and do some serious painting. She had looked at many properties all over the Continent and finally settled on a place to live on the heel of Italy, not far from Brindisi.
It was a beautiful region of warmth, sunlight, sandy beaches, olive and orange groves. Claudia had found an ideal home on about 3 acres with olive and orange trees, high on a headland that had one entrance road and unlimited privacy.
Although the 'villa' was old she had spent a fair bit of money upgrading it as well as installing alarm systems and a personal alarm linked to the local ambulance facility.
She found the change from the enforced social life of high finance in the USA much to her liking. She was virtually unknown and having aged a few decades since she was a famous fashion model; not easily recognised -- especially in this part of the world.
But though in her early 50's she still retained her magnificent figure which was usually hidden under an old painting smock or other shapeless clothes she preferred to wear. Although her face was getting a little bit more lined from her time in the sun, she still turned heads when she visited the local market.
Many of her seascape and landscape paintings were readily purchased by the locals. She had an arrangement with a local bookshop, where she purchased paints and brushes, for her paintings to be displayed and they sold within days. After giving the shop owner a decent commission the balance was generally donated to the local hospice for the care of abandoned children. She kept only a small amount for her daily needs.
All of which came home to roost a year later when, after doing some painting from her flat top roof, and with the weather threatening some welcome rain, she gathered her easel, palette, brushes and proceeded to make her way down the outside step way.
The rain broke about halfway down and wanting to protect the half finished canvas, she hurried down the last remaining steps. Just as the strap on her sandal broke and she lost her balance 4 steps from the patio.
She fell awkwardly, landing sideways on her right hip on top of a pottery jar that smashed with the impact. She also felt something tear in her right knee before she hit her forehead on the tiled surface. Lying half under the awning protected her upper body from the deluge as she lay unconscious.
By the time she recovered her senses it had already gone dark but she was able to feel in the deep pocket of her smock for her personal alarm. She pressed it twice -- the pre-arranged signal for emergency help, then lapsed once more into a semi conscious state.
She remembered nothing of being surrounded by ambulance staff, carefully laid onto the stretcher, or the wailing siren as she was transported to the local hospital.
She was surprised to awaken and find herself in a clean sheeted bed with her right leg in traction and her left hand in a splint and plaster. Her groin hurt like hell and she was sure she could smell blood.
A nurse sitting on watch by her bed noticed her eyes open and immediately pressed a button attached to a cord taped to Claudia's right wrist. Claudia could vaguely make out the name Vittoria on the nurses badge but before she could say anything, the door to her private room opened.
First to enter was a swarthy faced young man dressed in a white doctor's uniform. Behind him came a blue uniformed man pushing a trolley and then another nurse.
"Buonjourno Signora Thompson," said the doctor. "I am Eduardo Russo, your doctor. Welcome back to the land of the conscious," he said with a grin.
"I seem to be in a bit of a mess." Claudia volunteered, pointing to her knee in traction and then to her hip and left hand.
"Si; however you are very lucky." said the doctor. "A piece of the pottery jar entered into your body just between the Aorta and femoral arteries. Without your alarm you would certainly have bled to death. You lost at least a litre of blood and the wound is deep. As for your knee, it twisted when you fell and landed on it snapping both cruciate ligaments. I am afraid it will be many months before you can walk again. Your wrist is fractured in 3 places and two fingers have broken bones."
Claudia's face fell as she realised her dream of self independence was gone.
"How long will I be in here?" she asked. "Someone will need to feed my two cats."
Vittoria the nurse replied, "My daughter Marina has offered to visit and feed the cats until you are able to return home."
"Then I must give you money to cover her costs." said Claudia.
"We will speak of it later," replied Vittoria, "She may also be able to help you when you return home. You will need a housekeeper to cook meals and clean up for you. She is a training nurse so could also change your dressings, if that is acceptable?"
"Well that is very kind," said Claudia, realising that some of her problems could be solved. "Let me think on it for a while because this has all come as a bit of a shock."
When the doctor had left, Vittoria uncovered a tray on the trolley to reveal a selection of snacks including cheese, crackers, olives, fish bits and water, coffee and tea.
Claudia beckoned to Vittoria and in a hushed voice asked, "How long have I been here?"
"3 days Signora. Is something wrong?"
"Both my breasts hurt and my bra has been removed -- how did that happen?" Claudia asked.
"When you fell, your upper body landed across the easel, so the bra must have been taken off because of the bruising. To my knowledge they have been more concerned with the wound in your groin and how well it will heal." Vittoria added, "I will ask Marina to bring some special bruise ointment when she comes on duty this afternoon. She can also discuss with you about the house-keeping."
Claudia picked at the food and had a cup of sweet black coffee, after which she relapsed into a more restful sleep.
She was awakened much later by someone feeling her breasts. "What the ...." she exclaimed.
