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‘He had brochures under his arm. What if he’s thinking of going there. To live. Permanently.’

‘But… surely he’s a long way from needing an old people’s home, or assisted living or whatever it’s called now. He’s still got the trattoria… he’s so full of life and…’ Rocco ran out of steam as he slumped on his stool. He’d always assumed his grandfather would go on forever. The thought of Matteo Bartoli moving into a place like Cedar Lodge was disquieting.

‘He was getting quite maudlin and philosophical during his birthday meal. Going on about how things change and won’t stay the same for ever,’ Frankie said quietly.

Rocco sipped his coffee. Although slightly concerning, it was quite a leap to make from thinking their grandfather was a bit maudlin, to assuming he was completely changing his life. ‘Have you said anything to Valentina about seeing him at Cedar Lodge?’

Frankie shook her head.

‘Good. Don’t. She doesn’t need the worry.’

‘Should we say something to him? Or Mum and Dad?’

Rocco thought for a bit then shook his head. ‘At the moment, we don’t know anything. Maybe turning seventy-seven got him thinking about his future. He may well have gone to have a look, but can you really see him moving in there? He loves living above the trattoria.’

‘I suppose. I just feel a bit unsettled at the moment.’

‘You’re not the only one, sis.’

There was a pause and Rocco could feel Frankie watching him and he just knew the next topic of conversation she’d bring up.

‘You know Jay’s back, don’t you?’ Frankie said.

Bingo! Not able to meet his sister’s gaze, Rocco nodded, rubbing at a small mark on the kitchen counter. ‘I saw him the other afternoon.’

‘Did you talk?’

‘A bit. I guess I’ll bump into him if he’s living here for a while.’ Rocco had replayed their conversation in his head multiple times and he got a queasy sensation in the pit of his stomach when he thought of the ultimatum Jay had given him.

‘I’m going to be walking Toffee.’

‘Right.’

‘Are you okay with that?’

Rocco shrugged. ‘Sure.’

‘If you’d rather I didn’t⁠—’

‘It’s fine.’ It really wasn’t but Rocco didn’t want to say anything in case it brought up anything from the past. And the past was a delicate little box of secrets that needed gentle handling in case even the slightest bump caused everything to tumble out.

Luckily Frankie picked up on the fact he wasn’t in a sociable mood and finished her coffee.

‘I’m going to go.’

‘Cool, I’ve got a lot on today,’ Rocco said, knowing he sounded cranky but unable to snap out of his torpor.

‘I’ll let myself out, save you walking.’

Rocco waited until he heard Frankie’s ancient van sputter into life before he limped over to the sofa in his open-plan kitchen and living room. Willow, close at his heels, meowed at him. Rocco flopped down on the squashy cushions and picked up his PS5 console. He hadn’t exactly lied to Frankie; he did have a lot to do today but it mainly involved embodying a Viking warrior in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and slaying some bad guys in as bloody a way as possible.

CHAPTER 11

FRANKIE

Frankie’s phone rang as she was reversing out of Rocco’s driveway.

It was Valentina. Frankie already had four missed calls from her that morning. She knew she wouldn’t be able to avoid her all day.