She bends down and kisses him several times on the head and cheeks, and he squeals with delight.
“You’re so gorgeous I could gobble you up!” she says.
Archie leans against her and gives her a nuzzle. “You’re gorgeous too, Mum!”
He isn’t wrong: Kate’s taller than I remember, her features less sharp, her skin enviably smooth and clear, even with a light tan. She’s wearing a coral blue, patterned, flowing sundress, with three-quarter-length sleeves.
Spotting her suitcase, Mabel asks, “Are you staying with us?”
Theo sucks in a breath. “I’m afraid there’s no room. Giuseppe says no one’s allowed to sleep in the cottage for a few days.”
“I’m staying in anagriturismojust at the bottom of the hill,” Kate explains. “I’m not quite sure what that means but I guess I’ll find out when I check in.”
“It’s very nice, apparently,” I say, a little too chirpily. It was Angelika who recommended it, telling me she often uses it when she has an overspill of guests.
“Well, thanks for making the booking,” Kate says, with a tight smile.
“My pleasure.” I realize I’ve rolled the chewing gum wrapper into a tight ball.
It’s obvious that Kate feels as uncomfortable as I do, so I excuse myself, saying that I have to make a start on dinner—which isn’t a lie. As I pick up all the bags and take them inside, she unzips her suitcase and starts handing the kids presents she bought them in Atlanta.
Once I’ve put the shopping away and hung up our new clothes, I set about making aninsalata capreseand a seafood risotto, which keeps me out of Kate’s way for a while. By the time she and I are sitting at the table, we’ve each had a glass of wine and our discomfort is fading. Even so, I make sure to position myself a few seats away from her and also a few seats away from Theo: I don’t want to rub her nose in our happiness.
Over dinner, I don’t have to say much as the kids are still excited to see Kate and can hardly stop talking—even Callum, who in between sentences grins so widely I can see pretty much all his brace. I’ve no idea what happened while I was inside—or what was discussed—but he and Mabel have clearly forgiven her.
After we’ve eaten, Theo shows Kate the digital marketing Callum and Mabel have done for the castello.
“You’re both very talented,” she gushes. “You’ve just got yourself a new follower!”
“Mum, can I be in a video?” Archie asks.
She takes a sip of wine. “What do you mean, sweetheart?”
Archie sits up. “I want to go on my swing, with Adam pushing it. And put it on TikTok!”
“I said they needed to ask your permission first,” clarifies Theo.
There’s a pause. All three kids look at their mum, expectantly.
“Yes, of course,” answers Kate. She tips back the rest of her wine.
“So can weallbe on the social media?” checks Mabel.
Kate puts down her glass and smiles. “Fine by me. In fact, why don’t we do the video now? Is it still light enough?”
We look out at the skyline and see the sun is slipping towards the mountain.
“Just about,” judges Mabel. She jumps up out of her seat. “We’ll have to be quick!”
Theo and Callum stay back to clear the table, while the rest of us walk over to the rope swing. Mabel films me pushing Archie, and Kate stands behind her, watching.
When Mabel decides we’ve got enough footage, she and Archie dash back to the table, where there’s a better Wi-Fi signal. “I’m posting this right now!” she declares.
Kate and I find ourselves alone. A tense silence sets in.
“Sorry I was such a cow,” she blurts out. “Clearly, I got you wrong.”
Kate’s apology—and its directness—take me by surprise. “Oh, thanks, I—”
