‘Oh, Stella, I’m so happy for you.’ Amy’s voice caught. ‘Sorry. I’m feeling a bit emotional. The last few days have been so wonderful. Fernanda’s so happy and Leo’s got more enquiries about commissions than he could ever deal with. And now you and Gino – well, you’re going to make your dreams come true. Ignore me, I’m just feeling sorry for myself.’
‘We all feel like that sometimes when a holiday comes to an end,’ Stella said.
Amy looked at her as if she couldn’t quite believe what she’d said.
‘Sorry. I wasn’t thinking. My mind was on packaging.’
‘For the olive oil? Wouldn’t you just put it in glass bottles?’
‘Yes, for the litre bottles but for the little souvenirs I was thinking of something quite different. Something special.’
‘Like what?’ Marta said.
‘Decorative pottery jugs for the olive oil; tapenade and pastes in little lidded pots. Nothing factory produced. I’d want all handmade. Of course, I could import but then there’s the risk of breakages…’
Stella smiled as the expression on Amy’s face changed.
‘Handmade pottery?’ Amy sounded cautious.
‘Of course, but I don’t know how you feel about getting involved.’
Amy pulled her into a huge hug. ‘I feel like I’m about to start the biggest adventure of my life.’
Marta clapped her hands together. ‘I don’t care if it’s only ten in the morning, this deserves a celebration. Who’s coming back to the bar with me?’
‘I’ll meet you there,’ Amy said.
‘I think I can guess where you’re going.’ Stella smiled. ‘Go on, run and tell him your news.’
Amy didn’t hesitate a moment longer, dashing across the courtyard and running down the winding street as fast as she could on the uneven paving. She was bursting to tell Mum and Dad her news, not to mention Jack and the friends she hoped she could persuade to come out and visit her. But before she did any of that, she had to find Leo. She couldn’t wait to see his face when she told him she was here to stay.
In her haste she almost shot past the entrance to his workshop.
‘Leo!’ She had to yell above the sound of Oasis blasting from his old CD player.
‘Amy?’ He removed his goggles. ‘I didn’t expect to see you until later on.’
‘Oh.’ A pang of doubt hit her. What if he’d said all his sweet words safe in the knowledge she’d soon be gone? ‘I had to see you. I…’
‘Don’t look so worried. What is it?’
‘That second-hand potter’s wheel you mentioned. Do you think it’s still for sale?’
‘You mean…’ He sounded as nervous as she did.
‘Yes,’ she butted in. And then it all came tumbling out: the oldalimentari, Stella’s plans, Amy’s part in it all, the pots and jars she planned to make.
‘Stop!’ Leo said.
‘Sorry, I know I’m jabbering on.’
‘It’s not that. I want to hear everything but I need to leave in a few minutes to meet Nonna. And if you don’t stop talking I won’t have time to do something I have to do this very moment.’
‘Oh, what’s that?’
He reached out a hand and traced her upper lip with a rough fingertip, the look in his eyes telling her more than any words could say. And now his mouth was on hers, sending a thrilling shiver right through her. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him tighter, heedless of his dust-covered overalls pressed against her clean cotton dress. ‘You’re staying,’ he murmured between kisses. ‘I can hardly believe it.’
Eventually, he let her go. She opened her eyes, almost surprised to see she was still standing on the concrete floor, surrounded by slabs of marble and a tool-strewn workbench. The setting wasn’t nearly as romantic as the old archway where they’d shared their first kiss but this moment was another she would never forget.
