Page 109 of I Knew You Were Trouble

Adriana seems to snap out of her trance. ‘Vodka with orange juice. Have a seat. I’ll make you one.’

The rest of us sit around the table, Lucia next to me, while Adriana sloshes some vodka into a glass freehand, then tops up the glass with orange juice. As an afterthought, she adds two ice cubes, splashing liquid onto the benchtop.

She’s nervous, I think. Completely understandable, considering I’ve felt the same way at least a dozen times over the past few weeks.

‘Here.’ She sets the drink in front of Lucia, then takes a seat opposite her.

‘Thank you – and for letting me come,’ says Lucia.

‘Sure,’ Adriana replies, as if she’d invited Lucia here herself.

‘But I have to say,’ Lucia continues, ‘it’s weird, meeting you. Same as when I met Kate last night… Sorry, I don’t mean that as an insult,’ she adds quickly.

‘It’s okay, it’s the same for me,’ says Adriana. ‘Kate too, right?’ she directs at me.

‘Surreal doesn’t even begin to describe it – even now and I’ve known the longest.’

Lucia laughs. ‘So, you’re saying it doesn’t get easier with time?’

‘I bloody well hope it does!’ I say emphatically, which makes the others chuckle.

‘Right,’ says Lucia, looking between us, ‘who wants to listen while I tell Jon I’m not in Verona?’

‘Oh, that’s right,’ I say, checking the time. ‘His plane will have landed by now.’

‘Uh-huh,’ replies Lucia with a mischievous grin.

She stands and retrieves her phone from her duffle, then returns to her chair, sitting cross-legged. She sets her phone on the table, then dials Jon and puts the call on speakerphone.

‘Hello, darling,’ he answers, and I shiver with disgust. How did I ever love that man?

‘Mio amore!’ Lucia exclaims. Then she waggles her brows at us.

* * *

Lucia is masterful on the call with Jon, lying to him with an ease that makes me wonder if she’s ever done any acting. She certainly sounds more natural than I must have when I last spoke with him.

After he begs her to return to Verona for the third time, she says, ‘I wish I could, but my grandmother…’ Her voice breaks convincingly. ‘This may be our last time together. You understand, don’t you?’

He acquiesces reluctantly and Lucia ends the call. She reaches for her drink, then sits back against her chair with a satisfied sigh.

‘That was amazing,’ says Margot, awestruck.

‘It really was,’ I agree. ‘And I hope this doesn’t come across the wrong way, but you’re a very good liar.’

She shrugs. ‘I studied theatre before I changed to fine arts. My father says I get my dramatic side from mynonna.’ She smiles. ‘She was a tiny woman – even tinier than me – but what aforce. Andeverythingwas OTT with her. When we’d visit her in Italy, I’d go with her to the butcher, to buy fresh produce… and at every shop, it seemed like she and the shopkeeper were arguing. But she was just getting the best meat, the best tomatoes –andthe best price.’

‘She sounds like an incredible woman,’ I say.

‘Oh, she is.’

Adriana, who has been quiet until now, speaks up. ‘You seem…okay,’ she says to Lucia, eyeing her curiously.

‘You mean about Jonny?’

Adriana nods.

‘Well, I’m massively pissed off with the bastard. As long as I stay mad, I’ll be fine. I can cry when all this is over.’

---