‘We are lucky that we have FaceTime, cheap flights and WhatsApp, you know,’ Luca told her. ‘In the olden days we would just have had to write each other letters.’
‘Exactly, long distance is much easier now. We just have to make it work.’
‘So what’s the next step for you in terms of the baby?’ Luca asked.
‘My GP is booked for the day after I get back, then I’ll have to go and see a midwife fairly shortly after that. I’ll let you know when they schedule me in for my twelve-week scan. It would be great if you can be there for that. Work will have to let me off; I’ll probably say I’ve just got a medical appointment and leave it at that. Oh my god, I dread to think how I will tell them.’
‘Don’t worry about that yet. So, the twelve-week scan: that will be in about six weeks’ time, you think?’
‘Yes, I think so.’
‘OK well, I will do my best to be there.’
‘Thank you.’
‘I’ll be longing to see you by then anyway.’
‘Me too.’
They fell asleep in each other’s arms. The next morning Luca drove Libby to the airport after tearful goodbyes to Floriana and Tonio, Maria and Andrea. She had said her farewells to everyone else the night before. Tearing herself away from Luca, whose eyes were shining with tears, she took herself through security, turning to wave one last time. He was so handsome in his white shirt and chinos, her heart dropped somewhere near her boots as she left him behind her and walked away. It felt so strange to be leaving. As she sat on the flight back to London, she let the memories of her time in Italy wash over her, one by one.
