‘I was digging near the nest,’ he said with a grimace. ‘I thought I was in trouble, but then he told me about the eggs; there could be a hundred down there. Did you know the mamma turtles return to the same beach where they were born?’
She could imagine Gabri explaining it with his light Italian lilt, calling them ‘mamma’ turtles. He’d said he didn’t like children, but he’d apparently taken the time to explain to Cillian about the life cycle of the Loggerhead turtle. Or were there any number of men called Gabriele hanging around the lovers’ beach?
‘Then he told me about the pirates from the Middle Ages, about Maria and Lorenzo.’
‘You had quite a conversation. Did he say what he was doing at the beach?’
Cilli just shrugged in reply.
‘Did he know your name?’
‘I’m so sorry, I left him outside the toilets—’ Daphne began, but Toni cut her off with a shake of her head.
‘I told him my name,’ Cillian answered, forcing Toni to stifle her own grimace. ‘Right after I asked his, as we were saying goodbye. He said I wasn’t in any trouble.’
Toni fluffed his hair and gave him a squeeze before picking up her fork and making her best effort to pretend nothing was amiss. ‘Of course you’re not in any trouble. I’m sure it’s nothing,’ she reassured her mother, whose worries were obviously racing off in the wrong direction. ‘I just thought it might be someone connected to the hotel. What did he look like?’
Cillian gave another shrug. ‘He was a grown-up.’
‘About your age – and your height. Dark hair, blue eyes,’ Daphne answered in more detail. ‘Typically handsome Italian, I suppose.’
As though Toni had had any doubt. She only wished she weren’t so curious about what he and Cillian had thought of each other – why Gabri had taken so much time with him.
‘Funny, his name was Gabriele. I thought that was a woman’s name – like your friend! I suppose she’s Gabriella.’
Toni couldn’t bring herself to share Daphne’s laugh. ‘Yes, very funny,’ she said instead.
She made a note to look up the wind forecast as she made her way to the beach the following morning. The stiff breeze was still blowing in, strong enough that everything would require anchoring for the ceremony. It wasn’t the gentle maestrale she remembered from Procchio.
When she reached the cordoned-off stretch of sand, Cristina was already waiting for her with a bright smile and a polite kiss to her cheek.
‘I’m so glad I can help.’ She appeared sincere so Toni forced her lingering embarrassment from her mind.
‘This spot is where we’ve held weddings in the past,’ Toni explained, gesturing to an even portion of sand, set apart from the rows of umbrellas. ‘With the guests sitting in rows here and the wedding arch near the sea. We already know the last rows of chairs will come too close here, but we have some alternative suggestions that I want to run past you.’
Toni took notes on her tablet as they formulated a plan, then checked her watch. She had some turtle ornaments to buy and then she wanted to drop in on Gabri to see his progress with the flowers – as well as asking him what on earth he was thinking, spinning local legends to her son. She needed to ignore the littlethrill that came with the prospect of seeing him for the first time in two days.
‘I hope you’ve had a nice time on the island?’
Toni glanced up to find Cristina watching her with a smile.
‘With Gabri?’
‘We’re friends,’ she insisted. ‘Thank you – again – for the other day,’ she continued, when the silence felt too awkward.
She was interrupted by a shout of, ‘Mum!’ as Cillian came running along the sand, his swimming shorts dripping and his hair askew. She was thankful to see he was wearing his beach shoes. ‘You should see the beach around there!’ he continued, his face alight with enthusiasm. ‘There are some old mining buildings and you can swim to the islands and climb on the rocks.’
Cristina blinked in surprise to see the boy as Daphne followed, picking her way more carefully along the red dirt path around the headland. Toni wasn’t quite quick enough to avert what happened next.
‘Oh, hello Gabri. We do get to meet you. How lovely!’ Daphne gushed. ‘Thank youso muchfor looking after our Toni for the week. She had such a wonderful time at your house.’
‘My… Yes, my house.’ Cristina shot Toni an amused look. ‘We did so many girly things – drank wine, at-home facials, watched classic Italian romantic comedies. She’s in love with Raoul Bova now.’
Toni wasn’t sure whether to laugh or hold her head in her hands. ‘Gabri is super busy, Mum,’ she said, hoping her attempt to end the conversation wasn’t too obvious, ‘what with the wedding in two days.’
‘Gosh, yes! All those flowers to prepare. It must be a huge job on your own,’ Daphne said.
‘Yes, in fact I have an assistant who you might see around at the wedding, because I have so many jobs to do,’ Cristinacontinued, ignoring Toni’s alarmed look. ‘He’s a man, very handsome, very charming. Toni met him and they went very well together.’
