‘There’s no real reason why you should, Mum,’ Leo put in warningly.
But it was too late. Jade’s eyes glittered. ‘Are you suggesting I should report to you? Because last time I looked, you weren’t one of the people set to inherit Pensione Three Sisters.’
Sheenagh took a physical step backwards from the acid in Jade’s voice, freckles standing out from suddenly pale cheeks. ‘Mairead asked me to—’
‘To barge into the business that I manage and rudely ask my staff, “What the hell are you doing here?”? Then – also in front of my staff – demand I explain myself to you?’ Each of Jade’s words fell like chipped ice.
Leo winced. Used to occupying the top of the Villa Panorama pyramid and demanding answers, Sheenagh obviously hadn’t held back.
Now, she changed tack with an impulsive, ‘What would your grandmother think?’
Jade’s cheeks darkened. ‘That you’d overstepped the boundaries of friendship.’ Spinning on her heel, she reached for the door handle. Hastily, Leo stood aside. The door opened, then snapped smartly closed behind her ramrod-stiff rear view.
Sheenagh turned her dismayed gaze on Leo, her voice emerging as a scandalised whisper. ‘Jade’s never talked to me like that before.’
Leo moved close enough to give his mother’s shoulders a squeeze. She’d lost weight during whatever virus she and Papà had suffered through in July, and he could feel her bones through her skin. ‘Did you seriously walk in and challenge Geneva?’
With a shaking hand, Sheenagh tucked away a loose tendril of hair. ‘I was shocked. Mairead asked me to keep an eye on Jade and that woman might be looking to take advantage.’
He hugged his mother harder, knowing that under her managing exterior beat a golden heart. Still, Jade was right that Sheenagh had transgressed today. Carefully, he asked, ‘Jade’s very fond of you. Are you jealous that her mother’s turned up?’
With a gasp, Sheenagh wrenched herself out of his embrace, eyes blazing. ‘Jealous? What on earth makes you think that?’ She sounded very Scottish in her affront.
He jammed his hands into his pockets. ‘It’s the only way I can account for your reaction. Or should I sayoverreaction? Jade’s done the lion’s share of running this place for at least a couple of decades. You were rude to her staff, questioned her judgement in front of them, and acted put out that she hadn’t consulted you on her staff turnover. She’s not a child, Mum. And certainly notyour child.’ Then, deciding that if they were on tricky subjects then he might as well finish the job, he added, ‘I am your child and wouldn’t have appreciated what you said.’
Sheenagh stared at him, eyes wide and disbelieving. ‘Are you taking her side?’
He laughed softly. ‘Mum, in this case, you don’thavea side. There’s only one, and that’s Jade’s. She’s right – you overstepped. Maybe, later, she’ll see it was from the best of motives,’ he added fairly.
‘Do you still have a thing for her? Is that why you’re here?’ Sheenagh demanded. Then she paled, her hand flying to her cheek. ‘You’ve just told me that I overstep and in reply, I overstep.’ She gulped. ‘I must apologise to Jade.’
‘In a while.’ He gave her another quick hug. ‘And, yes, Jade and I are seeing each other, but it’s low key... and private. I’m here because I’m in limbo and she’s short of staff.’ After swiftly deciding that now wasn’t the moment to tell his mother about Isabella’s phone call concerning Teddy’s arrest – especially as he hadn’t had time to process it himself – he changed the subject. ‘I’ll bet Sofi’s hanging around in Reception, wondering what’s going on.’
Sheenagh glanced around the neat office, as if only just noticing her daughter-in-law’s absence. ‘We were supposed to be shopping for maternity clothes. I popped in to say hi to Jade as we were passing. Her sisters are arriving on Monday and I wanted to check she’s OK.’ Her shoulders rose and fell on a huge sigh. ‘Then I realised who Geneva was...’
Diplomatically commenting no further, he opened the door. ‘We’re expecting a laundry delivery. I’ll see you later.’
His heart did go out to his mother as she trailed unsteadily from the room, offering a wide-eyed Sofi a quiet, ‘Sorry to keep you waiting. Let’s go.’
Sofi shot him an enquiring look over Sheenagh’s shoulder, but he maintained a bland smile. When the two had stepped outside into the street, he decided the laundry could wait and set out in search of Jade. He toured every floor of the gracious, historic building in vain, then returned downstairs and tapped on the apartment door.
After several moments, Jade answered, a wary light in her eye and a bolshy tilt to her chin. When she saw him, she stepped back to allow him entrance. She’d removed her shoes, and her forehead only reached his jaw.
Once the door was closed, he pulled her gently into his embrace. ‘She’s sorry already.’ He found himself swaying gently with her, as if they danced to an inner tune, soothing her with long strokes of her spine. Some of the tension seemed to slide from her body and she silently rested her forehead against his collarbone. He kissed the top of her head. ‘When can I see you again? Tonight?’
Slowly, she straightened, turning her gaze to his, the golden lights less evident in the dimness of the small hallway. Then a slow smile dawned. ‘Why wait so long?Riposoafter Yara returns from lunch?’ she murmured suggestively.
Instantly, Leo’s blood boiled in his veins, certain that, in this instance,riposowould have little to do with taking an afternoon nap. ‘Sì, sì, sì, tesoro.’
She nuzzled his jawline. ‘We’ll silence our phones and lock the apartment door.’
He dropped his mouth to the crook of her neck, above her severe black dress, enjoying the way her head tipped to make it easier. ‘Perfetto.’
But their plans went nowhere. Jade became involved with Carlotta over the formalities of her leaving on Friday, then was called to Reception to speak to a lady whose English was too fast and heavily accented for Yara, then to the phone, thento another guest. The time forriposowell and truly past, Leo let himself out of the apartment’s back door. It was a twenty-minute stroll over the city cobbles and out of its walls to Mercato Coperto, the covered market in Via Mentana, rich with foods from local producers. Cheese and meat stalls stood alongside those groaning under baskets of brightly coloured vegetables and fruit, beautifully arranged and busy with customers. He moved from stall to fragrant stall, buying perch, carnaroli rice, white wine, butter, onions and cheese.Pomodori cuore di bue –oxheart tomatoes – were too tempting to leave behind with their ridged shape that made him think of pumpkins, so he bought dark green basil and onions to make a tomato salad, trusting that Jade would have olive oil and vinegar. A small loaf of fresh bread was next and then, finally, he purchased a begonia with coral-pink flowers and purple leaves for Jade. He carried his booty back through the sunshine, admiring the arches and columns, balconies and buttresses of his hometown, swinging the shopping bag like a child.
Back inside the apartment, in what he still thought of as Mairead’s kitchen, he cut the tomatoes into chunks, tossed them in shredded basil, and drizzled on oil and vinegar, before leaving the dish to marinate in the fridge. The plant he placed in the centre of the battered kitchen table.
Jade finally came in at 7 p.m. and while she showered, he made risotto and floured and fried the fish. He closed the shutters to cool the room and lit a lamp on the dresser. It wasn’t a lamp he’d have chosen, with a tasselled shade and a base decorated with roses and cherubs, but it bathed the area in a rosy glow.
