‘It was my pleasure.’ He grinned. ‘Like I said, us Brits have to stick together. Though I must say, I was impressed when you started chatting to Anastasia in Italian at the end there. I know a few words, but felt like such a clueless tourist compared to you.’
Colette laughed. ‘I studied the language at uni and it’s nice to get the chance to practise.’
They chatted more then about their respective educations and where they’d studied. As Colette suspected, Ed was the product of private education, which suggested he came from a wealthy upbringing.
Though their roots seemed miles apart, it was still nice to find common ground in their nationality.
‘I better get going,’ she said, shielding her eyes from the late afternoon sun. The shops were getting ready to close for the afternoon. ‘It was nice meeting you, Ed. Enjoy the rest of your time here.’
‘Very nice to meet you too, Colette, and likewise. Perhaps we’ll bump into each other again before we leave.’
Chapter 34
Then
‘Heading out with lover boy again tonight?’ Colette asked later that evening as she peeked around the doorframe of Annie’s room.
‘Yep,’ the other woman answered with a coy smile. ‘What about you?’
‘Luca’s usually busy with work on weekdays …’ Colette replied, settling herself on the corner of the bed.
Annie thought she noted a hint of hesitation in her tone, but then became distracted by the small purple box tied with white ribbon she was holding.
‘What’s that?’ she asked, expertly running straightening tongs through her hair.
‘It’s a present.’
‘From who?’
‘Me to you,’ Colette answered simply.
She laughed in surprise and delight, and went to sit beside her. ‘A present for me? Why?’
Colette shrugged. ‘You and Kim helped me so much after the accident, and with Luca, of course. I just wanted to get you both something to say thank you.’
Annie took the box in her hands and pulled the end of the ribbon to untie it. She flipped the top open and nestled among soft white satin was a gorgeous silver bracelet with a single oval-shaped turquoise stone at the centre.
‘You got this for me?’ she asked in disbelief. Her life really was full of surprises these days. First Felicity’s bequest, then the three girls’ unlikely friendship. And Harry, of course.
And now lovely Colette was buying her gifts.
Unexpectedly, Annie could feel her eyes begin to sting and she became overcome with emotion as she ran her finger over the beautifully crafted piece.
‘I picked them up in Sorrento earlier.’ Colette raised her hand to show an identical bracelet adorning her own wrist. ‘I got one for Kim, too. Something we can all remember this trip by.’
‘I love it, thank you. But you really shouldn’t have … There was no need.’
‘It’s perfect, and so thoughtful,’ Kim said, stepping into the room, a similar bracelet also on her wrist.
‘Almost feels like we’re one step away from starting a girl band,’ Annie joked archly. ‘The Runaways.’
The following morning, Annie paid the taxi fare, trying to ignore the driver’s knowing look as he dropped her off outside the villa entrance.
Evidently the walk of shame was a thing in Italy, too.
Though this was different, she reminded herself as she let herself into the courtyard. Harry wasn’t just some random one-nighter, he was much more than that.
Maybe she would get lucky and everyone would still be asleep when she got inside. Strangers or not, she didn’t want to advertise to the other guests that she’d spent the night elsewhere.
