‘I’ve got fifteen minutes in the schedule for breakfast. I’ll have some fruit and yoghurt and be on my way.’ I finished my coffee and wandered over to the buffet table, which was awash with colour. Platters of juicy apricots, larger-than-life grapes and chunks of watermelon sat alongside delicious-looking slabs of Italian cake and custard pastries. I ignored the selection of cereals and put a mini fruit plate together with a dollop of Greek yoghurt and a drizzle of honey. It looked too good to rush, but I didn’t have time to hang around.
‘OK then, talk me through your plan,’ Holly said, tucking into a slice of vanilla sponge.
‘I’ll get the bus into San Gimignano, start smashing through those first few to-dos and go from there,’ I said. ‘The only way to do it, is to do it – right?’
‘I’d offer you a lift, but I’m riding a Vespa these days, which I know isn’t your bag,’ Holly said. We exchanged a look, but nothing else was said. I bit into an apricot and looked around the restaurant. There was a blonde woman, with a little girl, both chomping on pineapple opposite us, and an elderly couple on the table next to them. The little girl waved.
‘My dress is pink,’ she said, holding up her skirt to show me. ‘Is it your favourite colour too?’
‘Yes!’ I enthused. It wasn’t, but I didn’t like to let her down.
Her mother looked up. ‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘Ellie, don’t bother people while they’re eating.’
‘That’s OK,’ I said. ‘I’m Abi.’
‘Dawn,’ she said, and went back to her breakfast.
I got a double wave from the couple over her head.
‘Mornin’,’ one of them called, in a strong Scottish accent. ‘I’m Ian, and this is Cathy.’
‘Holly and Abi,’ I said. That was all of us then. Five fresh guinea pigs and no single men. Play would have to resume when I got back to London.
‘Day one breakfast seems to be going well,’ I said, watching Mia and Paolo running back and forth to the kitchen. Holly was still reading through my list and had spread my pop-up map across the table.
‘Mm-hmm…’ She was tracing the map with her finger. ‘You do realise that some of these places are completely off-road, don’t you? You can’t reach them by public transport.’
‘Don’t worry about that,’ I said, pulling a folder from my bag. ‘I’ve got a whole load of advice on the quickest way to get it all done. I’ll just Uber if I’m stuck.’
Holly looked up, puzzled. ‘You’ll what?’
‘The bus goes to San Gimignano at 10.45 a.m.,’ I said, checking my itinerary. ‘And the bus stop is just over the road.’
‘I wouldn’t rely on…’ Holly started.
There was a scream of delight from Ellie, as Nero ran into the restaurant, his floppy ears flapping as he tumbled along. He snuffled his way under our table, where Holly had dropped a few cake crumbs and Ellie crawled in after him.
‘Sorry, sorry!’ Mia dashed over, and I felt a tiny lick on my ankle just before she scooped him up, kissing his furry head. ‘He is too quick!’ she said, clearly startled. He licked his lips then yawned, defeated, and buried his nose in her elbow.
‘Please can I hold him?’ Ellie asked, politely, an inch away from his face.
‘No, Ellie, dogs aren’t safe abroad.’ Dawn beckoned her back to the table, sternly.
‘Nero is very safe,’ Mia said, put out at the accusation. ‘He is only a baby.’
‘I’ll hold him,’ I said, to help her out and prove it. She smiled and placed the tiny puppy in my arms. I could feel the frenetic thud of his little heart slowly calming down, as he closed his eyes and went to sleep. He was so soft and sweet, his fluffy curls absorbing the sun, like a miniature hot water bottle. He started to snooze, and Holly took a photo.
‘No paparazzi please. We just want to live a normal life,’ I said, covering my face with a slice of watermelon.
‘Too late,’ she said. ‘I got a good one. He istoo cute, isn’t he?’
I looked down and nodded. He was pretty adorable.
‘And he likes you!’ Holly said, dewy-eyed. ‘You must have good vibes. A calming, inner zen, despite your outer… whatever it is.’
‘Fabulousness?’ I offered.
‘Yes, that’s it.’ She nodded. ‘You should get a dog, you know. You’d be a good dog-mum and it would keep you company in the flat.’
