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‘I said Laurence thought my brother was ready for a wife. He said he just needed the right girl. Maybe he was thinking of you, Veronica.’
It was a stunning thought, and one which Veronica would never have imagined. But it was possible, she supposed. Maybe that was why he’d left her this villa. And why he’d made Leonardo the executor of his will. So that they could meet and fall in love. It was a hopelessly romantic idea which seemed uncharacteristic of what she’d learned about Laurence.
But maybe it was true. It certainly appealed to her own romantic side.
‘Tell me, Carmelina, what kind of man was my father?’
Carmelina tipped her head on one side as she considered her answer.
‘He was very English,’ she said at last. ‘He did not like to show his feelings. Not like Italians. When his wife died, he did not cry. He just sat out here and did not speak. For days and days.’
Veronica’s heart turned over. ‘Oh, how sad.’
‘Yes, that was what he was. Sad. Very sad.’
‘Was that when he started to drink too much?’
‘Si. He try to hide it but I see the empty bottles.’
Tears pricked at Veronica eyes. If only he’d contacted me, she thought. If only he…
She stood up abruptly. ‘I don’t think I want to talk about that any more.’
Carmelina shook her head as she stood up also. ‘You are just like him. You are afraid to show your feelings. Come. You need a hug.’
* * *
The rest of the day went very well. Carmelina helped Veronica give the house a quick tidy-up while the sheets and towels were in the washing machine. After remaking the bed with fresh linen and replacing the damp towels with fresh ones, Veronica jumped in the shower. Half an hour later both girls left the house arm in arm to go shopping. Not for clothes or even food. It was more of a look-but-not-buy expedition where Carmelina showed Veronica the best places to buy both, as well as the easiest ways for her to get around. They walked some, caught a bus and finally, when they were tired, they called Franco to come, pick them up and drive them home.
‘You ladies look like you have fun,’ he said in his usual jolly manner.
‘We did, Franco,’ Veronica assured him. ‘Carmelina was a marvellous guide. Almost as good as you,’ she added with a sparkling smile.
Franco beamed, catching her eye in the rear-view mirror. ‘Si. I am the most best guide on Capri. With the best car too. You call me any time you need ride, Veronica. I will not charge you.’
‘Ooh. I will tell Elena,’ Carmelina said cheekily.
‘She will not care. Elena knows I love her. She not jealous.’
Carmelina laughed. ‘She’s very jealous of any pretty girl who smiles at you.’
Veronica grinned. ‘Then I will try not to smile at him when he gives me a lift.’
‘Si. Good idea.’
Franco drove round to the delivery entrance to the villa, probably to avoid his wife seeing Veronica in his car. But Veronica was just grateful that she didn’t have to climb those steep steps. Her new sandals were starting to rub and she suspected she might have the beginnings of blisters. Saying goodbye to both Franco and Carmelina, she took herself wearily inside, ready to have a siesta. It wasn’t late—only three—but Carmelina had wanted to get back before the
children arrived home from school.
Veronica immediately went down to the bedroom where she dropped her bag by the bed, slipped off her sandals and crashed onto the cover, sleep finding her in less than a minute. When she woke the light outside showed that the sun was very low in the sky. Sighing, she rolled over and reached for her bag, rifling through it for her phone. Once retrieved she checked the time. Six twenty-three. She’d been asleep for over three hours.
She rose and made her way to the bathroom. It wasn’t until then that the thought occurred to Veronica that her period hadn’t arrived yet. She wasn’t overly worried. Although her period was usually as regular as clockwork, her poor body had been through the mill lately, what with the shock of finding out about Laurence, followed by the nervous exhaustion of travelling here, not knowing what she would discover.
Veronica suddenly recalled how her reproductive system had shut down for a while after Jerome had died. This might be something similar. It didn’t cross her mind that she might have fallen pregnant. The thought did occur to her, however, that if her cycle had been disturbed she would have to ask Leonardo to use condoms, if and when she went away with him again. Which could present a problem. What reason could she give when she’d already had unprotected sex with him many times?
Oh, dear. Perhaps she just shouldn’t go away with him. After all, her female intuition kept warning her that he was all hot air about their sexual chemistry being extra special, implying that he might be falling in love with her.
Unfortunately, at the same time, her own feelings kept overriding common sense, tapping into his appeal to give him a chance to show her he wasn’t the player she thought he was. It would be difficult to deny him that chance when she was absolutely crazy about him.
