She hardly dared read it. But whatever Cate had written couldn’t make things any worse.
Phil is at the airport. Will do filming tonight as planned. See you and Lucia later.
She passed the phone across the table.
‘So that solves one problem,’ he said. ‘But now you must choose. Leave the show or meet Phil, knowing what you know.’
‘I’ll just have to be professional.’ She bit her bottom lip.
Eraldo’s hand reached across the table; it closed over hers. ‘You are very brave, Natalie. I wish I could do something to help.’
‘You already have. Just listening has helped. I’ve never spoken to anyone about what happened that night, except Cate, and look how that turned out.’
‘You did not tell your mum and dad?’
Natalie sighed. ‘I couldn’t. They were both so excited about the trip. Neither of them had been abroad themselves. It was such a big deal for them… How could I tell them it had all gone wrong?’
Eraldo squeezed the hand he was still holding. ‘I wish I could be there when you meet this Phil but I fear it would look very strange.’
Natalie sipped the coffee she’d so far ignored. ‘I wish you could too but this is something I need to do alone.’
‘I wish you luck. And afterwards, you will join me for dinner, I hope. You have eaten risotto in Venice already?’
‘Yes, of course.’
‘Let me take you to La Gallina Verde. Whatever risotto you have eaten, I guarantee tonight’s will be even better.’ He smacked his lips.
‘Thank you,grazie! It will be something to look forward to.’ But she knew that when she came face to face with Phil, the thought of devouring a fragrant heap of glistening grains of rice would be the last thing on her mind.
* * *
Cate sprayed on a little more perfume. Chanel No. 5 had been her go-to for decades. It wasn’t the most original choice but even as a twenty-something, it had made her feel grown-up, sophisticated, ready to take on the world. But it would need more than a spritz of scent for her to feel confident that she could cope with whatever the evening threw at her.
She’d know from the expression on Phil’s face if he was guilty. And if he was then nothing would ever be the same again; all her cherished memories would be tainted. She wouldn’t ask him for a divorce, for Oli and Max’s sake, but she’d insist on separate bedrooms. They’d live parallel lives in their once happy home, drifting on in a marriage of convenience until both boys were old enough to head to university.
She stared into the mirror.Please let there be some other reason for Phil’s odd behaviour.Perhaps meddling Lucy had hit the nail on the head with her suggestion that he was playing away. She almost wished Lucy was right. An ill-advised affair between Phil and their neighbour Kiran would be a hundred times less distressing than finding out the father of her children was responsible for the attack on Nat.
She opened a blue, velvet box lying on the dressing table and took out her diamond pendant, a gift Phil had chosen for her last birthday. It took several attempts to do up the catch; it usually fastened so easily.
She checked her watch for what felt like the hundredth time. Below the floorboards, she heard the scraping of a chair. The film crew were getting into place to capture the moment when she and Phil were reunited. Judging by the enthusiasm with which Lucia had greeted her an hour before, Natalie had dropped no hint of the slightest disruption to the smooth running ofLuxe Life’s schedule. Cate would put on her widest smile, give the audience what they wanted to see: two wealthy, privileged people, living their best lives and still so in love.
Outside, the canal was bathed in golden light; the sun was starting to set. A private water taxi was approaching the palazzo. She knew even before it turned towards the waterfront entrance that Phil and some of the camera crew were aboard. Taking a deep breath, she opened the bedroom door, began descending the wide steps to thepiano nobile. She opened the door to the Red Room. Greeting Lucia, and Natalie – who avoided her eyes – she perched on the edge of a crimson couch.
Voices in the hallway. The hefty wooden door swung open. Phil, smart in an ivory linen suit, strolled in. She rushed towards him.
‘Cate, I’ve missed you so much.’ He wrapped his arms around her. She buried her face in his neck, the same old familiar scent.
‘I’ve missed you too.’ She turned to the camera, all smiles. ‘Darling, can you believe it? I told you the new presenter was someone I’d been to school with but Natalie was actually on that school trip to Venice where we first met.’
‘Small world! Pleased to meet you, Natalie.’ Phil held out his hand.
Natalie shook it. ‘Small world, indeed.’
Cate looked into the eyes of the man she loved, dreading what she might find there.
30
The director stood by the chaise longue. ‘Three, two, one.’
