‘I suppose.’ Rose shrugged. They could still have done it on the same date in a year, but she wasn’t sure Luna would want to hear that argument.
She leaned back in her seat as the food began to pile up, filling every available space on the table. When the waiter hadfinished, he began to explain what everything was, pointing at each of the plates as he spoke. ‘Polenta crostini with tuna; calamari with garlic aioli and a lemon wedge; olive and caper bread; bruschetta; antipasto with bean dip; mozzarella and balsamic vinegar; meat, olives and cheese.’ He tried his best to speak in English, but his Italian accent was heavy, making some of the words difficult to understand.
Rose was pleased when he performed a dramatic flick of his wrist and left just as another man arrived loaded with empty plates. He doled them out as a woman dressed in a tight black suit arrived and began to fill their glasses with crisp white wine and sparkling water.
Rose noticed she took extra care filling Ben’s, hovering around him for longer than necessary. He glanced up at her a couple of times, speaking quietly and even winking once. He was obviously incorrigible when it came to women. Was that why his fiancée had decided not to go through with the wedding? Too afraid of losing his attention long term?
‘It’s amazing here, isn’t it?’ Ben asked as the waitress left and he began to tuck into the feast. Rose found herself nodding out of politeness.
She’d never been to Tuscany – partly due to her fear of being in a car on the wrong side of the road, and partly because she preferred her home comforts – and always knowing what was coming next. Also, her parents kept her busy and she was loathe to leave them alone for long without support.
She picked up a piece of calamari with her fork and glared at it suspiciously as Ben scoffed down three.
‘You’re supposed to eat it, not turn it to stone,’ he joked when he noticed, stabbing another two.
Rose grimaced and took a bite. It tasted surprisingly good, not what she’d expected, and she quickly swallowed. ‘Do youstay with Marco’s family every year?’ she asked, glancing at Luna who was still being monopolised.
Ben nodded. ‘As I said, the Marinos are my family. I come two or three times most years with Marco and for Christmas. I used to come more regularly because my ex’s family used to live close by.’
‘They’ve moved away?’ she asked.
He nodded. ‘They wanted to make a fresh start.’ He shrugged looking unconcerned. He looked around as a couple got up from one of the tables and someone came to clear. ‘It’s busy today.’
‘Isn’t it usually?’ Rose asked sharply. ‘Are the Marinos…’ She paused. She didn’t want to be rude. ‘The restaurant does seem busy, but is that because it’s July? I’ve heard of businesses struggling out of season, even in a place like this.’
Her mind whirred as she looked around. What if Marco had needed to get engaged to someone? What if it hadn’t mattered who it was, and meeting Luna was simply a happy accident? Was the story about the date being significant simply an excuse to push through the nuptials?
Luna was about to become a very wealthy woman. Italian laws were complicated, and she hadn’t had a chance to investigate what happened during a marriage or divorce.
Ben’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Rose. ‘Yes, it’s always like this. Busy and successful. The whole family work hard and this place is a testament to that,’ he said flatly. ‘I’m sure once you’ve had a chance to get to know Marco and his family, you’ll see there’s really nothing for you to worry about. Luna and Marco will be very happy, and their marriage will last for years. Give them a chance.’
‘I’ve been counselling couples for almost eight years,’ Rose said as she plucked an olive from a bowl and nibbled the corner. She didn’t normally like them, but this one was plump and a tantalising mixture of salty and sweet. ‘Many of their marriagesare in trouble and almost all of them wedded in a rush. A lot of them have wonderful families – it doesn’t necessarily mean tying the knot was the right decision.’
She paused for long enough to eat the rest of her olive and to take a tiny sip of the delicious wine, considering her next words carefully. ‘Most of the couples I see didn’t know each other well when they embarked on their supposed lifetime together.’
‘Have they all split up?’ Ben asked. ‘I thought you were all about saving relationships?’
She sighed. ‘I’m good at what I do, but even I can’t work miracles. Couples need to want to put in the work. They also have to listen to my advice and learn to be honest with themselves.’ She paused as her parents flashed into her mind. Neither of them ever listened to her. She put her fork down, suddenly losing her appetite. ‘I will say almost all of them wish they hadn’t rushed into their marriages. Mostly they see that as the root cause of their mistakes.’
Ben scratched his head. ‘My parents weren’t dating for long before they got engaged.’ He looked reflective. ‘Speed didn’t make a difference to them. They were together for over forty years – and as far as I know, they were happy for all of it. Marco’s parents are similar.’
Aurora let out a sudden loud burst of laughter across the table.
He added, ‘Aurora met Aldo in Vegas, and they married a week later. Their marriage is still going strong.’
Rose didn’t want to tell Ben what she thought about that marriage. Aurora was wonderful, but clearly a fantasist. Or perhaps it had simply been too painful to let go of her husband? ‘There are always exceptions, but I don’t think we can bank on them. How long were you with your fiancée before you decided to marry?’ She regretted the question when she saw the look of shock on his face. ‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that up.’
‘It’s okay.’ Ben waved a hand as Luna giggled and leaned closer to Aurora. He waited until their laughter died down, his easy-going expression returning. ‘I knew Sophia for a year before I proposed, and we were engaged for almost another two.’ He paused. ‘I met her when I was visiting the Marinos, and we took it from there.’
‘A holiday romance?’ she asked.
‘Not for me, but…’ His expression remained blank. ‘If we’d known each other longer, I’m not sure if it would have made a difference. She didn’t feel the same way. Surprising, I know.’ He flashed her a smile, and Rose wondered if it was real.
‘Perhaps if she’d had more time, she would have realised it before you got to the altar,’ she said gently.
‘We had over three years. Besides, I’m not sure time is as important as you think. When you know, you know, and when you know it’s wrong, you’re probably right.’ Ben shrugged.
Rose had another sip of wine and waited. Silence was the space where you learned the most interesting things. Pieces of puzzles people didn’t always intend to share. It was irritating how much she wanted to get to know Ben, how much she suddenly wanted to flesh out and colour in the empty spaces of his life. Did he care, or was he just as emotionless about his relationships as he was making out?
