‘I’d love that, if we can include some turtles in the decorations – if it’s not too late,’ Nathaniel said.
Toni knew exactly what Sophie would do in this case: rush out and find some turtles. If she could, Sophie would find a way to make the turtles hatch on demand.
Her phone rang – an unknown Italian number. She stepped away from Donatella and the bridal couple with a quiet apology and answered the call.
‘Ciao, Toni. It’s Cristina. From Procchio beach – you remember?’
Of course Toni remembered the mortifying moment she’d asked Gabri’s sort of ex to pretend to be her friend so she didn’t have to admit the truth to her mother. She’d hoped never to see Cristina again – for a variety of reasons.
‘Gabri asked me to give you a call.’
‘He did?’
‘About the turtle nest at Innamorata. I am a volunteer with the environmental group. We have a webcam on the nest now. I understand there is a wedding taking place there this week and I should come and help you decide where to place the ceremony to ensure nothing is disturbed?’
‘That would be great – as soon as you can come by. The wedding is on Friday.’
By the time she’d arranged to meet Cristina the next day and ended the call, Alison and Nathaniel were ready to head to the restaurant for dinner and Donatella told her to go with a gentle squeeze to her shoulder.
‘We can talk more tomorrow, but I showed them a local artist who makes turtle ornaments, not expensive, and they like the idea of putting them on the tables. Gabri will be able to add something to the arch and voila – we have our light turtle theme. Everyone is happy.’
‘That sounds good.’
‘Go. Your son will want to see you.’
Donatella’s assumption that Cilli would want to see her turned out to be an understatement. He leaped out of his chair and wrapped his arms around her in a choking squeeze when she returned to their little cabin.
‘I’m sorry I’m late, sweetie.’ She pressed a kiss to the top of his head.
‘It’s all right. I was doing a crossword with Granny.’
Daphne smiled from where she was wiping her hands on a tea towel. ‘This apartment is just perfect, Tone. There’s a mini-market at reception and we found everything we needed for Cilli’s favourite tuna pasta, since even he can’t eat pizza every day for a week.’
‘I could try!’ he piped up from where he’d returned to analysing the grid of words in Daphne’s magazine.
‘How’s it all going?’ Daphne asked with a concerned look as she dished out a plate of pasta that looked like everything good in the world right now.
‘Okay – I think. There’s just a lot to prepare for a wedding on the beach.’
‘Especially since you can’t disturb the turtle nest,’ Cillian added.
Toni blinked at him in surprise. ‘Oh, you saw it on the beach today.’
‘Yep,’ was all he said in reply.
‘Well, we do have to be very careful of the nest. The bride and groom seem to be happy with the development – baby turtles on the lovers’ beach,’ she continued, speaking to Daphne in between mouthfuls.
Cillian looked up, his brow furrowed. ‘But it’s not really a very nice place. Maria threw herself into the sea and died because they killed Lorenzo.’
Toni stopped eating, looking between Cilli and Daphne in confusion. ‘What’s this?’
‘The pirates,’ he explained earnestly. ‘They took Lorenzo and then Maria was so sad, she threw herself into the sea. That’s why this is called the lovers’ beach. Gabriele told me.’
Goosebumps whooshed to Toni’s hairline at the sound of his full name. ‘Who?’ she asked cautiously.
‘That’s right!’ Daphne said emphatically as she took the remaining seat at the table. ‘There was a strange man on the beach, talking to Cillian. He seemed harmless, but he did go very quickly once I confronted him.’
The lump in Toni’s throat threatened to spoil her hard-earned dinner. ‘He approached you?’ she asked Cillian.
