‘I know. I don’t feel as though I’ve got a good enough idea of what her life out there is like yet.’
‘Well I’m glad it’s not just me,’ said Miriam.
‘No, it certainly isn’t anything personal. I hope she’s all right.’
‘Me too.’
‘I’ll call her at the weekend. I usually have a better chance of catching her when she isn’t at work.’
‘OK, well let me know if you manage to get through… And good for you, darling, getting back out there on the dating scene. I’m proud of you.’ It had been about six months since she had broken up with her last boyfriend, once again not feeling that he was quite right for her.
‘Thanks Mum!’ said Libby. ‘Speak soon.’
‘Love you.’
‘Love you too, bye!’
The next day Libby got a surprising phone call from her sister. Miriam had obviously mentioned the fact that Libby was dating someone in her email, which had clearly piqued Helen’s interest.
‘Mum tells me you’re seeing someone!’ said Helen. ‘An Italian stallion, I hear!’
‘Ah, Mum’s good old weekly update… yes, I thought she might mention it. I was going to call you this weekend actually, but you beat me to it!’
‘So… who is he? I’m intrigued.’
‘He’s actually a colleague of sorts. He runs the bar in the hostel here and he’s also a freelance graphic designer.’
‘What’s his name?’
‘Luca Morelli.’
‘Luca… and you’re quite keen on him?’
‘Yes I am actually. He is kind of amazing.’
‘How so?’
‘He just looks after me pretty well, treats me all the time – and we have fun.’
‘Lucky you!’ said Helen. ‘Though goodness knows how you find these eligible men – I’m clearly doing something wrong. It’s only six months since you ended things with Nick, isn’t it?’
‘Don’t worry, Hels, it will happen for you soon. I guess it’s mainly just chance…’
‘Mmm, I’m not so sure.’
‘And taking a risk on someone once in a while…’ Libby trailed off. She tried to think of something helpful to say.
‘Well, I try to be open to possibilities,’ said Helen. ‘There just don’t seem to be many decent men around.’
‘I know you do, and it will happen, I know it will. Just keep on getting out and about and – sooner or later – someone great will come along.’
‘We’ll see. It’s just quite tough trying to meet new people. Well, for me, anyway – you don’t seem to have had much of a problem in Positano.’
‘It just so happens that Luca worked in the same place as me, that’s all. Pure coincidence… You need someone who can act as your wingman,’ Libby told her sister.
‘I thought I had that. A German girl called Rosanna, but she’s seeing someone now so she isn’t really around much.’
‘Oh dear! That’s annoying. Is there anyone else you can go out with?’
‘I’m fine,’ her sister told her firmly, changing the subject. ‘Anyway, I’m busy with work, so that’s good.’
Relieved that Helen had moved off the subject of their respective love lives, Libby quizzed her sister about the school she was working in and listened to her describing her new job in more detail. By the time she ended the call she felt a little better about Helen’s mental state. She was still fragile, there was no doubt about that, but her job seemed to be going well and she seemed to have a nice group of colleagues. Libby phoned her mum to let her know Helen’s news. She was glad they had had a good catch-up at long last, though she did wish her sister would meet someone. She couldn’t help feeling that a new man was just what Helen needed.
