Page 86 of All Mine
‘Thank you,’ Etienne said, returning to the bench. ‘I don’t think even I knew how much I needed that.’
His eyes were brighter, his shoulders back.
‘Sometimes you just need to let other people help you,’ she said.
‘Maybe,’ he said, not looking convinced.
‘You’d do anything for your friends,’ she said. ‘They’d do anything for you. You don’t have to do everything on your own.’
‘You’re a fine one to talk,’ he said, with the first real smile of the day. ‘Ms Successful and Single.’ They turned to leave. ‘Anyway, thank you,’ he said and pulled her in for a hug. She felt her stomach turn over as he held her against his chest for a second, warm and briefly protected from the wind. The old man in the leather jacket was still watching them from his graveside. Maybe he was wishing he had someone with him.
‘You’re a real friend,’ Etienne said as he let her go and she had to remind herself that he was right. The wind whipped around her face again and her heart sank, but she managed to hide her disappointment in a smile.
Mia Famiglia WhatsApp group
Mamma: We’ve been offered an off-road camping trip with a native guide!
Papà: And we’ll get to trek with elephants and follow the jungle trail.
Mamma: It’s the only time to go because of the weather.
Papà: But it’s the week of your launch. . .
Isabella: Follow your dreams! That’s what you always tell me to do!
Mamma: But we feel like we’re letting you down.
Isabella: Not at all. There will always be a table for you at Tutto Mio.
Papà: Thank you, my darling.
Chapter Forty-Two
Etienne
Several hours later, they arrived back in Honeybridge and Etienne watched Isabella head back across the square. Even now, today of all days, he couldn’t help but admire her bum. The thought made him grin involuntarily. Again. In fact, Isabella had been responsible for all of his smiles today. Not that there had been many of them, but they’d chatted on the way back, and some of the heaviness had disappeared as she told him about other epic car journeys.
Like when she and Gabi had decided to do a camping holiday through France. Neither of them ever having put up a tent or speaking a word of French. And how she made Gabi put her feet out the window as they drove because they smelled so bad.
‘It was a long time ago,’ she’d reassured him. ‘She never smells now.’ It had made him smile. The easy way she chatted about Gabriella, and the obvious love she had for her. It reminded him of how close he and Alex used to be.
The thought of Alex brought back the gnawing in his stomach. The worry. The money– or lack of it. And he had to admit he didn’t like it one bit that the Dougalls now knew of his existence either. They were the kind of people it was much better if they never knew you were alive. And you certainly didn’t want to cross paths with them. But he couldn’t let Alex face them alone. He was going to find a way to go too. Although there was something he needed to do first. He watched as Isabella closed the door to her flat behind her and imagined her running up the stairs, hips swaying. Then he pulled his phone out of his pocket.
Fox was rocking a three-day stubble with his checked shirt and looked like he needed a good night’s sleep. Walker had just come off shift and was looking like he wanted a beer. Etienne was somewhere in the middle, wanting both.
‘Tough day today, mate,’ Walker said, knocking Etienne’s shoulder with his own as he came into Fox’s kitchen. It wasn’t a question, simply an acknowledgement. The friends knew it was the anniversary of his parents’ death. Fox looked questioningly at him from his position at the fridge, which was now covered in hand-drawn paintings of pumpkins.
Etienne nodded. ‘The usual,’ he said, as he accepted the beer Fox held out to him, but then he caught himself. It hadn’t been the same as other years. He hadn’t sat on his own and disappeared into a well of grief, or not for long at least. And he hadn’t drunk too much of his own wine cellar this year. He realised he’d done something more positive with his day. He’d celebrated his parents rather than grieved them.
‘Boys in bed?’ Walker asked.
Fox nodded. ‘Both asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow. Reggie’s been to River Rats and George tried ballet dancing at the community centre, so they’re both exhausted.’
Etienne grinned. ‘Is my godson going to be the next Billy Elliot?’
Fox laughed. ‘He can’t decide between ballet and Meccano club. They both take place on Wednesdays so he’s trying them both.’
‘Is that why you look so tired?’
