This time she and Adrian were going to do things in more luxury, but it didn’t quell her worrying urge to run away.
Gianfranco gave a small beep of his horn outside, breaking her thoughts. Ginny grabbed her handbag and went downstairs to meet him.
“It’s your special day,” Gianfranco exclaimed as he helped her into his car. “Are you happy?”
“Yes, but I’m nervous, too.”
“Do not worry,” he said. “In my humble expert opinion, everything will be fantastic. I have also spoken to Nico and we have fixed our differences.”
“That’s great,” Ginny said with a relieved sigh. “I’m so pleased.”
“Our bond is unbreakable. We are very different people who have been through many troubles together and we always work things out.”
Ginny sat thinking how his words could also relate to her and Adrian.
Gianfranco set off and Ginny toyed with her wedding ring. Her stomach jittered as they drove along the road toward Vigornuovo village then turned right, climbing up the hill to the Grand Hotel Castello Bella Vista.
A moped horn tooted at the car and a cyclist waved at her. Ginny smiled and waved back.This is what you want, she told herself.
The car pulled up outside the grand entrance to the hotel and a flash of auburn hair made Ginny’s spirits soar. Phoebe stood waiting on the entrance steps to the hotel. She looked gorgeous in a long cream lace dress with sheer sleeves that gracefully curved over her stomach. She wore a pale pink gerbera in her hair.
Ginny carefully stepped out of the car and sped toward her, finding it hard to believe her daughter was here in Italy. She held Phoebe gently in her arms and breathed in her scent of rose petals, sun cream and home. She’d missed her so much.
Phoebe stood back to admire her outfit. “My god, Mum. You look amazing.”
“You, too.” Ginny was finally able to reach out and place her hand on her daughter’s belly. She felt the greatest rush of love. “How are you feeling?”
“Excited. Pleased to see you. Happy to see the sun. It’s like some kind of dream.”
“I’m so pleased for you both,” Ginny said. She looked all around her. “Where’s your dad?”
“With Pete, upstairs. I know things have been tricky between you and Dad...”
Ginny wondered how much Adrian had told their daughter, and if he’d put a spin on things.Tricky?She rolled the word around on her tongue. It sounded insubstantial and even a little cute. Things between them had been the complete opposite, and she’d borne the brunt of it. She reminded herself this was a chance to draw a line under everything and to start over. To forgive and try to forget. The only doubt still niggling in her mind was Adrian’s presence on the dating site and his liaison with Jenny.
“Are you ready, Mum?” Phoebe asked.
Ginny heard a car pulling up and looked around to see Eric, Edna, Curtis and Heather arriving in a taxi. As they got out, she felt a twist in her chest that Nico hadn’t changed his mind to join them.
She curled her fingers into her palms, taking a few final moments to try to leave all her upset and worries behind her. “Yes, I’m ready,” she said.
She walked inside the hotel with her daughter, and up the stairs to greet her husband.
31
Bouquet
By the time Ginny reached the top of the stairs, her chest was aflutter. The doors to Gianfranco’s celebration room were closed and she guessed Adrian and Pete were already inside. Edna, Eric, Heather and Curtis must have taken an elevator because they were already waiting at the end of the corridor. Biscotti was with them wearing a bow tie and, strangely, Heather had a suitcase by her side.
Ginny fixed her eyes on it, wondering why she’d brought it with her. “I just need to speak to my friends for a minute,” she told Phoebe.
“I’ll come with you. I’dloveto meet them.”
Ginny made her way toward the group. “Thanks for coming,” she said. “This is my gorgeous daughter, Phoebe. It’s her special day, too.”
Everyone smiled, shook hands and said congratulations.
“A double whammy,” Curtis said.
