Page 48 of The Seaside Cocktail Campervan

Relief flooded through Lucy as she walked across to Jack then, who still had the little dog in his arms. ‘Oh Jack, thank you so much for finding her.’ Despite her embarrassment, she felt so happy to have her precious dog back safe and sound. He passed the soft, warm creature across into Lucy’s open arms, where Daisy received the biggest hug ever.

Once the dog was back safely in her pet bed, and with the boot of the vehicle firmly closed and checked, Lucy couldn’t help but dash across to where Jack was packing away his fold-up chairs, outside of Ruby. He’d really gone the extra mile, searching high and low for the little dog. ‘Thanks again,’ she gushed, suddenly overcome with emotion. And as he stood tall, she couldn’t help but give him a big hug too.

It felt a little surprising and yet so very natural as they became wrapped in each other’s arms, holding tight for a few seconds, the rise and fall of their breath slowing together. The rest of the partygoers seemed to recede for a few moments. Just the two of them stood in the warm glow of campervan Ruby’s stage-bulb lights. And even more natural was the kiss that followed, brief but tender. The little dog that had pulled them apart just two weeks ago, had very much brought them together tonight.

For a few precious moments they stayed like that, lips to lips, mouth to soft, giving mouth. Then, Lucy pulled back, as if realising what was happening. ‘Oh.’ The alarm bells ringing very loudly in her head.

‘Oh …’ Jack echoed, adding, ‘Well, that was nice.’

‘Yes, well, it was just to say thank you,’ Lucy stammered awkwardly, coming back down to earth. ‘I-I’d better get packed up, sorted out … ready to head home,’ she blurted out, already dashing off. Leaving Jack bemused but smiling broadly.

Chapter 26

For all her good intentions of steering clear of anything vaguely romantic with Jack, she’d only gone and bloody well kissed him! What had she been thinking? Well, she hadn’t, had she? She’d just been too relieved about finding Daisy, that was it. She’d been overcome with emotion. But why, almost eight hours after that midnight kiss, was she still thinking about him … and about how nice it had felt? To be in a man’s arms again, after such a long, and yes, she had to admit it, sometimes lonely time.

He’d smelt gorgeous too, all fresh citrussy aftershave with just a hint of male end-of-a-work-night sweat. It was quite a heady combination up close, when factored with a hug that melted her to him.

Well, it wasn’t going to happen again, that was for sure. Her guard was going straight back up. She’d get on with life, go visit her mum like she’d promised to today, and catch up on the family news over a bite of lunch and a good old natter. Perhaps Nonna might come along too. She could easily pick her up on her way through to the little town.

Sofia, Lucy’s mum, had never remarried. She’d had a couple of on–off relationships since Lucy’s father, but nothing that had lasted. Her parents had split up when Lucy was fourteen, but she’d told Lucy several years later that she was far happier and felt much more settled on her own. She’d been there, done that and got the T-shirt with Lucy’s dad, as well as having two wonderful children to show for it.

When Lucy was going through a particularly bad patch with Liam, Sofia had warned that romance wasn’t all it was geared up to be. Hah, maybe Lucy was destined to go the same way. To live a simple yet contented life with her little dog, walking on the beach, running her own catering business, seeing her friends and family, with no ties. That was a good life, a purposeful life.

Yet, why did the life she was carving out for herself suddenly feel a bit empty of late? And why, last night, lying in her bed alone, had she allowed her thoughts to imagine Jack lying there beside her, tracing firm but gentle hands all over her body. Bloody hell, she really did need to buck up and back off.

She popped on her sandshoes and leapt into the Jeep with Daisy, promising herself not to dwell any longer on this crazy nonsense.

Settled outside with Nonna, Mum, and a large pot of tea in Sofia’s sheltered back garden, life seemed much simpler.

Nonna was desperate to know all the details about the party with the Italian cakes, and Lucy was more than happy to chat. Neither Mum nor Nonna knew anything about Jack, and that was exactly how she intended it to stay.

‘So, for the Clementine and Limoncello, you made the orange zest crème fraiche too, yes?’

‘Of course, Nonna. And it went down a treat. Lots of happy customers, thanks to you.’

‘Perfect, pet. Oh, I remember eating that for the first time, sat outside a little restaurant with your Papa in Sorrento. We’d gone over for a holiday. He so wanted to show me his birthplace, his family ties.’ Nonna smiled nostalgically. ‘Ah, I still can see that sea view. Beautiful. And the sea and sky over there. So vivid, such a deep, deep blue. And so hot, not at all like our North-East.’

‘It sounds perfect.’ Lucy was caught up in the description, picturing her grandparents there. The pair of them so happy. They didn’t have a lavish lifestyle at home by any means, yet it was always one full of warmth and love. A holiday abroad would have been extra special.

‘Oh, and the cake – summer sunshine on a plate!’ Nonna continued her reminiscing. ‘I loved it so much, and Papa knew the café owner’s family, so they wrote the recipe down for me. I’ve been making it ever since.’

‘Well, we’re glad of that, aren’t we, Lucy,’ Sofia smiled.

‘Absolutely.’ Thinking of her grandparents, their marriage of Newcastle and Italy made Lucy smile. Two very different young lives, and yet the love they shared, and the life they had lived together, became one. Nonna and Papa’s marriage had been good and solid – maybe not every relationship was doomed.

‘Do you remember when we went across, Lucy? That trip to Naples and Sorrento?’ Mum took a sip of tea.

‘Yeah, course I do. It was wonderful. The food, the people, they were all so friendly. And Pompeii, how weird, yet amazing was that!’ All those people’s lives set in stone. Mothers, babies, schools, shops, brothels, it had totally fascinated her and her brother. With Mount Vesuvius still smoking ominously in the distance.

‘Oh yes, you ghoulish pair were intrigued by all that. It was like history coming to life before our eyes. Interesting, mind.’

They’d had a five-night stay, not long before Dad had finally left. A holiday for patching up, that had apparently only showed more ripped seams. It had still been good, her parents keeping their problems under cover as they day-tripped as a family and sipped white wine and Fanta Orange in little Neapolitan cafés, and ate pasta and pizza under warm starlit skies.

They chatted some more, the three generations sat in a Northumberland garden, warmed by Mediterranean memories.

Italy had obviously crept into Lucy’s heart and stayed there. Perhaps that was why, when life folded for her, when reality became all too much, her dreams took her to Papa and his pizzeria.

Chapter 27