‘To work where? When did he go?’
‘Mia has taken him to Poggibonsi to catch the train. They left maybe ten minutes ago.’
‘Where is he getting a train to?’ I asked, completely thrown, but he’d already nodded off and was back to his snore-show. Poggibonsi was the train station for the airport, but Tony couldn’t have left for LA just like that, surely?
Me:SOS – can you come to the vineyard – QUICK?
Holly:On my way – what’s up?
Me:Tony’s gone.
If he’d only just left then there was still time to speak to him, or at the very least, say a proper goodbye.
*
Xavier zoomed in through the gates on his moped with Holly hanging off the back. Best friend to the rescue. She jumped off and came running over.
‘What’s happened? Gone where?’
‘He left a note,’ I said, handing it to her. ‘Paolo said he’s on his way to Poggibonsi and going back to work. Presumably to LA?’
‘Surely not,’ Holly frowned. ‘His note would have said.’
‘Give Mia a call and see if she picks up?’ Xavier suggested.
‘I’ve already tried. It’s going straight through to voicemail.’
‘Well you can’t just let him leave,’ Holly said. ‘Go after him, quick! Before he gets on the train.’
‘Do you think?’ I said, cringing at the thought. ‘I don’t want to throw myself at him.’
‘You wouldn’t be, Abi – there’s something between the two of you, and you know it. Or you wouldn’t have sent me an SOS.’
That was true. We saved those three letters for life emergencies only.
‘Should I go to the train station?’ I wanted her to convince me, but the fear was all-consuming.
‘Yes. Go! Right now.’ Holly turned to Xavier. ‘Can you take her to Poggibonsi?’
Xavier nodded. ‘Sure, no problem, but I’ve only got the bike. Is that OK?’
‘Oh yes… the van is at the restaurant,’ Holly said. ‘We can bike back and get it?’
‘There isn’t time,’ I said, looking around. ‘If we don’t go now, it’ll be too late.’
I was trapped with no other option than a lift on Xavier’s Vespa, but I had to decide what I was doing, andquickly.
‘I’ll drive really slowly,’ Xavier said, as I looked at him in panic. My bones were quivering at the thought of getting on his moped. A visceral internal reaction. But the longer I faffed about in indecision, the less likely it was we’d catch them in time. I had to get on with it, one way or the other. There was no other choice.
‘How long will it take?’ I asked, already knowing the answer.
‘Twenty minutes. Maybe slightly less.’
Holly gave me a big hug. ‘You can do it, Abs. What would Margot say?’
‘Probably some nonsense about tonight being a quarter-wine moon which will guarantee me safe passage,’ I mumbled into her shoulder.
‘No. She’d sayfeel the fear and do it anyway. And she’d be right.’ She nodded, sagely. ‘And as your best friendI’msaying shut your eyes and you’ll be there before you know it.’
