‘You were staying in Sanremo?’ The place they’d gone that day. Was he remembering the joy they’d felt before it all went wrong?
‘I almost went to the casino,’ she added.
‘Despite my mamma’s dire warnings?’ He raised his eyebrows.
‘I might have risked it.’ Stella laughed. Was she flirting? In Gino’s presence it seemed to come naturally, despite her heart-in-her-mouth nerves. ‘But what are you doing here? I thought you lived in Alassio now.’
‘It didn’t take you long to find out who’s doing what around here.’
‘I saw Amy, the girl who is staying with your mamma. And I saw Fernanda too, she came in buying light bulbs. Do you come back often and stay with her?’
A frown creased his brow. ‘I will visit her, of course, but I stay with my son, Leo, when I come here. He is a stonemason, creating the memorial plaque which will be unveiled after the return of poor Pietro Parodi’s bones. I assume you know about that.’
‘Yes. You must be proud. And the rest of your family?’ She held her breath. This was when she would hear about his wife. His contented life without a Stella-shaped hole in it. And that was a good thing. It would stop this crazy urge to vault over Domenico’s counter and throw her arms around him.
‘My daughter is between jobs, staying with my ex-wife. She’s been helping out at the English Library.’
‘We went there once on a school trip when it was in the old building. Do you remember?’ Stella said, trying not to show how the words ex-wife made her heart leap.Calm down, you fool!Just because he had an ex-wife didn’t mean he was single. And she’d just sworn off men, hadn’t she?
Those green eyes met hers. ‘I remember everything.’
Her breath caught in her chest. She tucked her hair behind her ears, trying to get a grip.
A strange look passed over his face.
‘Well, it was nice to bump into you again. I expect I’ll see you around, it’s a small place.’
With that, he turned and walked towards the door. He hadn’t even bought whatever he’d come in to get. The bell tinkled, incongruously cheerful, as he left.
Stella stood open-mouthed. What had she done to prompt his sudden departure? Was there something hideous about her he’d only just noticed? She reached for her handbag to retrieve her powder compact with its dinky mirror. As she undid the clasp, she realised at once what had caused him to scarper. As she’d fiddled with her hair, she’d brought something to his attention: Joe’s great big sparkling you’re-mine-forever diamond ring.
27
Amy hovered outside Leo’s house, clutching her bottle of wine. She’d left Fernanda’s early, knowing one false turn in the maze of streets would leave her puffing up and down steps, getting in even more of a fluster than she already was. As it happened, she found her way as though she’d walked it a hundred times before and it was only bumping into Stella that had threatened to make her late.
Amy had been about to take the opportunity to ask Stella whether she’d found a chain for her necklace yet but Stella had seemed in a bit of a daze. And to Amy’s shock she’d blurted out that her fiancé, Joe, had ended their relationship out of the blue. Amy had been ready to offer a listening ear, praying it wouldn’t make her late. But after repeating her news, as if she could hardly make sense of it still, Stella had shocked Amy again by saying she’d probably had a lucky escape. And then the woman had practically skipped off up the road! It was all rather strange.
Leo’s door opened.
‘Amy! I saw you through the window. I did not hear you knock.’
‘Oh, I hadn’t knocked. I thought I might still be a bit early.’ She felt her cheeks heat. How could any man be that attractive whilst sporting a long chef’s apron splattered with sauce?
‘I hope you weren’t just going to stand there? Come on in.’ He ushered her into the kitchen. His father, Gino, was leaning against the counter.
‘This is Amy, she is staying with Nonna.’
Gino’s eyebrows quirked; he put down his newspaper.
‘Amy. Of course. We met in Alassio. How could I forget? You have brought wine? May I open it?’
‘Of course. It’s lovely to see you again.’ She handed over the bottle.
Leo took some wine glasses from the cupboard.
Gino wrestled with the bottle, removing the cork. He ran his hand through his damp hair. ‘Let us go into the living room. You must excuse my appearance; I have had to take a second shower today. The dust in my son’s workshop gets everywhere.’
‘Have you been to see the plaque?’ Amy asked, taking a glass of the ruby-red wine from Leo and sitting down on a somewhat battered couch. Gino took the chair opposite, leaving Leo to sit next to her. Their knees were almost touching. She took a big gulp of wine.
