Isabella and Etienne were already seated in the corner, holding hands beneath the table, talking quietly with their heads close together, when Gabi and Walker arrived. The long table was beautifully laid with little ceramic vases of fresh red tulips, set with gorgeous mismatched cutlery and water glasses of different colours.
It felt very odd to be walking without crutches, Gabi noted, as she made her way across the restaurant. Her leg felt bare in the warm air, although strangely, her whole body felt naked, exposed in a way it never had before. It felt like everything was brand new.
‘Come sit here,’ Isabella called, pulling out the chair next to her. Gabi slid in and kissed her cousin, who whispered in her ear, ‘I want to know everything.’ Gabi thought about the last couple of hours with Walker and the bed they’d left, and blushed. Maybe she wouldn’t be sharing quiteeverything.The things that man could do were probably covered by the official secrets act. If they weren’t already, then they should be. She smiled as Walker took the seat next to her, glad he hadn’t chosen to sit opposite her– that would have been too far away.
The noise levels suddenly increased as Wren, Rosie and Riley arrived with Amber and Jayden.
‘Kids this end!’ Rosie called and they laid claim to the end of the table, saving two seats for Reggie and George, who arrived next with Fox and Alex. But then Jayden spotted Gabi and dashed to her end of the table to put his arms around her and squeeze her tight. Gabi, her face tickled by his hair, squeezed him back in surprise and looked at Amber.
‘He’s been worried about you,’ Amber said as she pulled out a chair.
Gabi lifted his chin with her finger so that he could lip-read as she spoke. His dark brown eyes were clouded with concern.
‘I’m fine, Jayden. You know me! Always up to tricks!’ He grinned in response and nodded, looking relieved, before returning to the kids’ corner.
‘Gabi!’ Wren called. ‘How are you?’
‘I can’t believe you almost drowned!’ Rosie said.
‘Good news your leg is all mended now, though,’ Amber said, pouring herself a hefty glass of wine and passing the bottle over.
The table was alive with conversation, everyone talking over each other and laughing. The kids played thumb wars. Nonna popped out from the kitchen to kiss Gabi’s cheeks and exclaim over the events of the day before, then kiss Walker on both cheeks and thank him for saving one of her favourite granddaughters. Eventually, the meatballs arrived and everyone tucked in. Isabella grasped the moment and leaned close to her cousin.
‘So, what’s going on with you two then?’ Isabella asked quietly as Walker talked to Alex on his other side.
Gabi had known it was only a matter of time. But what to say? She shrugged and blushed and then laughed. Isabella raised an eyebrow inquisitively and leaned closer.
‘Sex?’ Isabella asked.
‘Obviously,’ Gabi said.
‘Feelings?’ Isabella prompted.
‘It seems so. . .’ Gabi admitted.
‘Love?’ Isabella whispered.
Gabi took a swallow of her wine and could feel Isabella’s eyes boring into her, waiting for a response.
‘How would I know?’ Gabi shot back, thinking of the way she felt around him. The pull in the pit of her stomach when he touched her. The swell of her heart when he looked at her. The feeling that she was on the high board every time their eyes met. Was that it? Was that love? How would she know? She’d never experienced it before. It was probably just a severe case of holiday romance combined with the best sex of her life. Isabella took her hand on the tabletop and squeezed.
‘You’ll know,’ she said gently. ‘When you feel it.’
Gabi squeezed back.
Lunch lasted for most of the afternoon. The kids played around the table while the adults poured more wine. Nonna joined them for desserts and rum liqueurs. Toby popped in with Jesse, who was up for the weekend from London. They only meant to say hello, but ended up staying for a drink. Space was made for them, more chairs found from somewhere, and soon the table was crammed to bursting with chat and laughter. Walker put his arm around the back of her chair and pulled her closer. Full and happy, she leaned against his side, tired from the last couple of days but more content than she could ever remember feeling before.
‘We should do this on the first Sunday of every month,’ Isabella announced, raising her glass to the table.
‘The meatball meet-up,’ Amber said.
The idea went down a storm, everyone clinked glasses and the children cheered with spaghetti sauce-stained faces. Gabi’s stomach tugged as she realised she would potentially not make the next one.
Gabi’s phone rang and she pulled it from her bag under the table. Her heart sank as she saw the international number.
‘Sorry. . .’ She excused herself, pushing back from the table to take the call. Walker glanced at her with a smile before leaning his head towards Alex to talk. She accepted the call and put her other finger in her ear to hear more clearly. The call was remarkably clear. The casting director might have been standing in the next room, rather than in California. She recognised her West Coast drawl immediately as the woman managed to sound like they were already best friends. She apologised for calling on a Sunday but the company needed to get contracts signed and sealed and she was pleased to say she’d be emailing Gabriella’s over that minute for her signature. Gabi’s heart stopped in her chest.
Usually, a new job was like a shot of adrenaline, as though she were standing on the edge of something, waiting to jump. It wasn’t the money– although the money was always good– that drew her on. It was the adventure, the drama, the challenge. New people, new places, new skills to be learned. No expectations or obligations– all she had to do was her job. It felt like a fresh start every time.
