Talking about the party reminds me that we still need to finalize our outfits. Towards the end of the afternoon, Theo drives me and the kids into Lucca to buy a few items of clothing to supplement what we already have. As we drive down the tree-lined main road, through village after village, over the two baffling junctions, I realize this is something else we’re doing for the last time this summer. Again, I feel a dip of sadness.
Pull yourself together, Adam. You’ll be back soon!
Theo drops us off just outside the city walls.
“Are you not coming, Dad?” asks Archie, putting on his cap.
“Sorry, I’ve got to go and pick up the spare chairs,” Theo says. He gives me a wink. “I’ll see you back here in a couple of hours!”
And, with another wink, he drives off.
We set off down Via Fillungo—Archie’s hand in mine—and call into several clothes shops. Many of them have discounted their summer stock, so we try on tops, shirts and T-shirts. As I slip on a pair of silver mesh espadrilles, I can’t remember the last time I wore socks. I realize I’ll have to get used to that again as soon as I’m home.
I grab some more clothes and take them into a fitting room. When I step out wearing them, Callum says, “Nice drip.”
We all laugh.
As well as buying a few clothes for myself, I pick up a patterned linen shirt for Theo and treat Callum to a double-pocketed utilitarian shirt in gray, Archie to a bright green T-shirt emblazoned with the wordCiao!, and Mabel to a lilac crop top that shows off her newly flat stomach, a metallic purple lip gloss, and a bead-making kit she spotted.
“Why do you want that?” I ask.
She shrugs. “I’m going to make something to match my outfit.”
Just as we’re leaving the shop, my phone vibrates to tell me I have a message. It’s from Theo.
All it says is, “Passenger on board.”
We drive through the olive grove and park in front of the garage. As we get out of the car and grab the bags of shopping from the boot, my heart does a cartwheel. What are the kids going to say when they see who Theo’s picked up from the airport?
We reach the patio, where our guest is waiting.
It’s Kate.
As soon as they spot their mum, the kids drop their bags and rush towards her. In an instant, I know we’ve done the right thing.
“Wait a minute,” says Callum, breaking out of what’s become a group hug, “this doesn’t mean we’re going home, does it?”
Kate squeezes his shoulder. “No, sweetheart. Adam invited me to your party.” Her voice cracks and she pretends she has to clear her throat. “Isn’t that nice?”
Callum stretches up onto his tiptoes. “Yeah, it’s sick!”
Mabel gives a little squeak. “It’s incred!”
Archie throws his hands around Kate again. “I love you, Mum!”
I had the idea of inviting Kate after she seemed genuinely remorseful for lying about the job and keen to make amends to the kids. I figured I could handle her company for a couple of days—even if she does take the odd swipe at me—as I’ll be so caught up in the party. I also figured it would be good for Theo to have the chance to tell her the truth about that time he cheated on her. I wasn’t expecting him to do it straight away but he messaged me before picking us up to say they’d already had the conversation and he was glad he’d got it off his chest. But I couldn’t find outany more, as when we met I was with the kids—so I’ve no idea how she responded.
As I step towards Kate, I can’t help my spine stiffening. I hold out my hand. “It’s nice to see you.”
She smiles and shakes my hand. As she does, I sense a tremble coming from hers.
“Your house is beautiful!” she burbles. “Theo gave me a quick tour—I love what you’ve done with it. Very understated and classy.”
I force out a wobbly smile. “Thanks.”
I thrust my hands into my pockets and start playing with a chewing gum wrapper.
“And look at you kids!” Kate gabbles on. “Cal and Mabel, you’ve gone so blond! Look at your golden tans! Archie, look at all your freckles!”
