钥匙

湖

The lake

我叫汤姆。我三十一岁，住在伦敦。或者说我以前住在伦敦。我自己也说不清了。

My name is Tom. I am thirty-one years old, and I live in London. Or I lived in London. I’m not sure anymore.

现在是六月，一个温暖的晚上。轮渡停在加尔达湖边的一个小城，在意大利北部。水很蓝，山很高，空气里有柠檬的香味。

It is a warm evening in June. The ferry stops at a little town on Lake Garda, in the north of Italy. The water is blue, the mountains are high, and the air smells of lemons.

我以前来过这里。十四年前，我和我的奶奶诺娜·罗莎在这里度过了整个夏天。那时我十七岁。

I was here once before. Fourteen years ago, I spent a whole summer here with my grandmother, Nonna Rosa. I was seventeen.

两周前，诺娜·罗莎去世了。她活了九十一岁。她把她的房子留给了我：柠檬别墅，那是湖边的一家古老的小酒店。

Two weeks ago, Nonna Rosa died. She was ninety-one. And she left me her house: the Villa Limone, a small old hotel above the lake.

我的计划很简单。在意大利待一周。我签好文件，卖掉酒店，然后坐飞机回家。

My plan is simple. One week in Italy. I sign the papers, I sell the hotel, and I fly home.

很简单。至少我是这么想的。

Simple. That’s what I think.

我提着包往山上走。路又窄又陡。山顶上有一座黄色的房子，有绿色的百叶窗，门前有两棵大柠檬树。

I walk up the hill with my bag. The street is narrow and steep. At the top there is a yellow house with green shutters and two big lemon trees by the door.

门前有一位年轻的女人在等我。她留着棕色的短发，戴着一副圆眼镜。

A young woman is waiting at the door. She has short brown hair and round glasses.

埃莱娜： 贝克尔先生？欢迎来到柠檬别墅。我是埃莱娜。我在这里工作。我是……我曾是您奶奶的经理。

Elena: Mr Becker? Welcome to the Villa Limone. I’m Elena. I work here. I’m … I was your grandmother’s manager.

她递给我一把古老的大钥匙。我们的手指碰到了。她看了我一秒钟，我把想说的话全忘了。

She gives me a big old key. Our fingers touch. For a second she looks at me, and I forget what I want to say.

“叫我汤姆吧，”我终于开口说，“请叫我汤姆就好。”

“Tom,” I say finally. “Please, just call me Tom.”

埃莱娜： 好的……汤姆。请进。我带你看房子。

Elena: Okay … Tom. Come in. I’ll show you the house.