‘I …’ The words jam and all I manage is a pathetic, ‘It just … happened.’
‘Just happened?’ Griselda scoffs. ‘What? You tripped and landed on an art course 160 miles away?’
I wince. Trust Griselda to know the actual distance between Venice and Florence. But yes, that was anunhelpful thing to say. ‘How come you’re here?’ I counter, really not doing myself any favours.
‘I’ll tell you why they are in Venice,’ Silvia says, drily. ‘A colleague in Florence called me when your family couldn’t find you. He traced your application here. I told them you were safe and how to reach us.’
Her words spark something in me. I think back to this morning, when no one picked up – not Mum, not Dad, not even Griselda. Like their phones were switched off. They must have been on the plane.
I turned mine off so I could concentrate on the showcase. It’s still off now. There’ll be a flood of frantic calls and messages. The thought churns my stomach.
‘We had to get the express train,’ Griselda bites out, and I hear the subtext – it cost a fortune.
‘Evie …’ Dad waits until I meet his eye. ‘None of this explains why you lied to us.’
It’s his calm voice and steady look that does it.
‘I tried!’ The words burst out, messy, too fast. ‘I applied for the same science placement as Grace. Then I saw this one. So I lied, because I knew you’d never let me do it.’
‘That’s not true,’ Mum says quickly.
I hold her gaze. ‘You would have let me miss school for art?’
Mum fumbles. ‘It’s not that we don’t value art, Evie. It’s just … we thought science would open more doors for you. You’ve seen what it’s done for your sister. You know your dad and I were never good at school.’ A dull flush creeps up her neck as she glances at Silvia and Veronica. I hate that she’s embarrassed to admit that in front of them.
‘You’re always on about a better life,’ I say. ‘But maybebetterisn’t the same for everyone. Dad switched jobs after Grandpa got ill. Everyone knows carers have bad hours and bad pay. The way he talks about it, you’d think he’s won the lottery. The families he helps know he’s worth more than his payslip. Isn’t that right, Dad?’
‘That’s true,’ he says quietly. ‘It matters to me.’
‘See?’ I tell Griselda. ‘Your way isn’t the only way. It doesn’t have to be about money, or status, or what looks best on paper.’
Her chin jerks up. ‘So it’s wrong of me to want a successful career? To want to be comfortable in life?’
‘Not if that’s what you really want. The problem is you want it for me too. Success is different for everyone. Art makes me happy … it’s what I’m good at.’
My words ring in the silence that follows. Wow. I did not imagine I’d be having it out with my sister like this. I mean, her being here in Venice is totallybeyond belief.
Mum rubs her eyes. ‘Right. I’m sure these ladies don’t want to listen to you two bickering.’ She turns to Dad. ‘Can we still get the train back to Florence?’ Then back to me again. ‘Do you need to pack?’
Panic skids through me. They want me to leave, now? But what about Leo? Will I even get to say goodbye? ‘Wait … I can’t go. My flight’s booked for tomorrow. From Venice.’
‘Actually,’ Dad says, ‘we booked you a new flight back with us. We have two double rooms at a B&B in Florence for the next two nights. It was supposed to be a nice surprise.’
The words hit both ways. They must have been excited about it: their first trip abroad, a secret surprise. And I’ve ruined it. Guilt hits hard – but so does the idea of leaving now. I can’t. Not when I haven’t even had the chance to talk to Leo properly. Not when there’s so much unsaid – about Rebel, about us, about everything.
‘It’s late,’ Veronica says gently. ‘You must stay with us. We have plenty of space. And, frankly, a lot more to discuss.’
If I ignore Griselda trailing behind us, arms folded and deliberately unimpressed, seeing my family react to Venice is like watching the wonder of my own arrival played back at me.
Dad actually laughs out loud when a UPS boat chugs past. ‘Look at that! I would’ve stuck with deliveries if I’d had a boat instead of a van.’
Mum’s craning her neck at all the buildings and bridges, whispering, ‘How?’ under her breath, while Veronica and Silvia explain the wooden piles and engineering tricks that keep them standing. Leo and my new friends aren’t all I’ll miss, I realize. This incredible floating city has become a part of me too. I do my best to memorize every detail of this last walk in the dark, until the palazzo comes into view.
Martino Ballarin is waiting at the door, and I honestly think Mum might drop a curtsey.
Leo’s right behind him, a smile breaking across his face when he sees me – relieved, like he’d been waiting, but softened by a quietare you OK?
Griselda clocks our silent exchange and rolls her eyes. ‘Might have guessed there was a boy involved.’
