Page 49 of Best Laid Plans
‘Why not?’
‘Because I’m fine.’
‘But you lost a child too.’
‘I’m fine.’
‘I get it now,’ Indigo said, screwing up her face in sympathy.
He gave her a puzzled look. ‘Get what?’
‘The enforced solitude in Italy. You were making yourself walk the coast path alone as a penance – because you were punishing yourself for not doing more to save your marriage.’
‘I didn’t do a very good job of being on my own, though,’ he said, forcing irony into his smile.
‘Perhaps that’s because, deep down, you knew there was nothing you could have done to make things better, but you felt like you should punish yourself anyway.’
‘Or I just couldn’t keep away from you, no matter how hard I tried.’
‘I’m glad you didn’t,’ she whispered, looking deep into his eyes, and he knew for sure at that moment – it hadn’t been a mistake to come here. She loved him as fiercely as he loved her. He could see it there, written plainly on her face.
And now he wanted to show her how much she meant to him.
‘Are you hungry?’ he asked. ‘You must be after working with food all day.’
‘A bit,’ she said, giving him a baffled smile.
‘Good, because I managed to get hold of the recipe for that pasta dish you liked so much in the beach restaurant in Nerano. I have all the ingredients in there.’ He pointed to the black shopping bag he’d left on the kitchen counter.
She stared at him, clearly shocked at this revelation. ‘You persuaded them to tell you their secret?’
‘Oui.’
‘And you’re going to cook it for me?’
‘Sure I am.’
She raised an eyebrow at him, the expression in her eyes wary. Clearly, she still wasn’t entirely sure what he’d come here for.
‘Are you trying to woo me with your culinary skills?’ she asked hesitantly, confirming his suspicions.
‘You might want to taste my food before you decide whether it’s woo-worthy. I’m not as experienced as you. To be honest, I very rarely cook.’ He flashed her a smile. ‘But I like a challenge.’
‘I’m sure it’ll be delicious,’ she said, her eyes wide with badly concealed bewilderment, ‘but I’m happy to lend a hand.’ She started to get up from the sofa.
‘Non.’ He held up a finger, gesturing for her to stay where she was. ‘You sit down and relax. I’ll fetch you a glass of wine and you can watch me work.’
* * *
Indigo watched in baffled pleasure as Julien made a production of opening an expensive-looking bottle of wine, searching through her cupboards till he’d found her paltry selection of glasses, pouring a large measure into one of them and handing it to her, then going back to the counter to unpack the bag he’d brought with him.
There was something wonderful about watching him moving around her kitchen, preparing and cooking a meal especially for her. Being the one who was looked after for once.
‘I’m moving to London, Indigo,’ he said suddenly as he dropped pasta into a pan of bubbling water. ‘I’ve decided to branch out and set up a new arm to the business that focuses on providing affordable housing for first time buyers and low wage families.’
She stared at him. ‘Wow, that sounds amazing.’
He was moving? Here, to London? Her heart tripped over itself at the news.
