‘It seems so. Mamma is so embarrassed. Amy, she wants to apologise to you in person. She is on her way to Sant’ Agata’s. Would you meet her there? I hope and pray that you will be able to forgive her, forgive all of us.’
‘I will meet her but it will have to be during my lunchbreak.’
‘Go now,’ Stella said. ‘That cutlery display can wait.’
Amy hurried towards the church. Despite the upset of the day before, she was glad to have the chance to see Fernanda again. The old lady must be mortified to realise her mistake.
She turned the corner to the church. Outside, Fernanda was waiting. But she wasn’t the only one standing there. Fiddling with a button on his dust-covered overalls stood Leo. Her heart leapt.
‘Amy, I’m so sorry,’ Leo burst out before she had time to say a word. ‘I should never have accused you the way I did. Deep down I couldn’t believe you’d do something like that. But I told myself I was blinded by the way I feel about you. Can you ever forgive me?’
‘No, no, it was all my fault,’ Fernanda interrupted. ‘Maybe I have been a bad judge of character, defending my sister all my life. But I found nothing but goodness in you, Amy. That was what gave me such a shock. Now I feel so ashamed for doubting you.’
‘Come here!’ Amy said.
Fernanda stood as stiff as a church pillar but after a moment her body relaxed into Amy’s arms. Over Fernanda’s shoulder, Amy watched Leo’s face soften. His love for his grandmother brought an image of Grandpa Lance to her mind and all that she’d lost. She swallowed hard before she spoke.
‘Oh, Fernanda, of course I will forgive you, I’m just so glad you believe me. I was so hurt you’d think I could steal from you. But how could I expect you to deny the evidence? I was wearing the necklace you thought you had lost. Anyone would put two and two together.’
‘I can hardly believe there are two such similar necklaces,’ Leo said. ‘It is the strangest thing.’
‘I should have brought your necklace with me, Amy, but I left it in your room for you. I hope you will come back and stay. Tonight, Gino and Stella are coming for dinner and I’d like you two young people to be there. But first perhaps I can treat you both to a coffee at the bar? Unless you need to get back to work, Leo.’
Leo grinned. ‘The plaque is finished.’
‘That’s fantastic!’ Amy hugged him.
‘Bravo!’ Fernanda clapped her hands. ‘Allora, let us have our coffee.’ She took Leo’s arm.
He turned to Amy. ‘I’m so relieved. I didn’t know if you would ever forgive me.’
‘I haven’t actually said that I have forgiven you,’ Amy said primly. ‘There’s still one condition.’
‘Anything.’
‘You treat me to one of those jammygobeletti.’
‘I’ll buy you one every morning for the rest of your life.’
‘The rest of this week will do and we’re quits,’ Amy said, amused at his flushed cheeks.
‘Are you two going to stand there all morning smiling at each other or are we going to have this coffee?’ Fernanda said. Her voice was stern but her eyes twinkled.
44
‘Stop fussing, Stella!’ Domenico tried not to sound too exasperated. ‘I’ve already told you I’m glad you are going out. It’s given me a chance to invite Goffredo over this evening.’
‘You should have done that before. I can’t believe you put him off on my account.’
‘You’re being an angel, cooking for me and looking after the shop. The least I can do is spare you having to spend your evening listening to two old men talking nonsense in dialect.’
Stella rummaged in her handbag. Was she ever going to go? He’d already had to nod along to a list of dos and don’ts as though she were his mamma. Okay, he’d burnt his hand on the kettle but that didn’t mean he was going to set the house on fire or let the sink overflow if he was left to his own devices.
‘Now, are you sure I’ve prepared enough meatballs for two?’
‘Stella, just go!’
His niece put her hands up. ‘Okay! I get the message. You’ll be fine.’
