Page 71 of A Place in the Sun
I did know. I knew as soon as I met Marco that life was never going to be the same. It was a roller-coaster of a ride. But now?
‘How about coffee?’ I point to an outdoor table andchairs. The children are nearby with theirgelati, and a couple of students pull up seats beside them.
‘This might seem like I’m taking a leaf out of your book, grabbing life when I can, but … I wondered if there might be another chance for you and me, and the children too, of course.’
At the next table, the children are playing Rock, Scissors, Paper with Walt and Glenda, who has let her hair down, quite literally, and is wearing a baggy shirt that may or may not be one of Walt’s.
‘It’s … certainly something to think about.’ I can’t give an answer there and then. ‘I don’t know how I’d feel about that yet.’
‘Of course not. Sorry, just got caught up in the heat of it all, so to speak.’ He takes off his hat and wipes his brow. ‘Silly of me, rushing in like that. I wanted to be impulsive. Go for what you want!’
‘And we should. If I’ve learnt nothing else over the past couple of years, it’s that there are no certainties in life. We have to go with what will make us happy in the here and now. Forget coffee. Let’s have something stronger!’
Once again I think of Giovanni, encouraging me to enjoy myself. And I am. I could do this more often, I think, sipping the Aperol Spritz I’ve ordered, while Sebastian has a beer. I’ve come a long way in the last year or so and I’m finally climbing out of a black holeinto the sunshine and it feels very good – very good indeed.
‘Really, I didn’t mean to rush at that. I feel clumsy, just wanted to grab the moment.’
‘I know. And thank you.’
‘Just think about it,’ he says gently. ‘It could be a very happy solution for both of us.’
And isn’t that what I want, what I’ve wanted all this time, just to be happy and content again? For life’s roller-coaster to slow down and turn into a scenic train ride, rocking through pleasing countryside?
‘Just think about it. I’ll say no more.’
‘I will, Seb,’ I say, and sip my drink, wishing I could stay in this moment, enjoying the what-if. What if I did?
33
Back at Casa Luna, Giovanni and the boys are clearing up. The house is finished.
‘It looks … amazing!’ I say, dazzled by the blank-canvas white walls, ready to have the new owner’s personal touches added when someone buys it. I run my hands over the newly painted window frames. The light is pouring in. And now that just the essential furniture is in here, not all of the stuff that littered the place when we arrived, it feels airy and much bigger.
‘Just these last few chairs and the table to take up to La Tavola, if you’re still happy for that?’ says Giovanni.
‘Yes,’ I say. ‘We could use them tonight, eat outside. What do you think?’
‘Perfect.’
Summer is coming to an end, like my time here. Thehouse has had a facelift and is ready for a new beginning. For new hopes and dreams.
We leave the house, Enrico and I each picking up a chair while Giovanni and Alessandro carry the table between them. At La Tavola we arrange them under the big olive tree.
‘I made more bunting,’ says Caterina, ‘from the old clothes at Casa Luna, and cushions!’ Stella is there, admiring Caterina’s handiwork.
‘Oh, wow! That’s fantastic!’ I say, fingering the lovely cushions. ‘Let’s get this place looking its best.’ Right now, I could do with the distraction rather than contemplating Sebastian and his suggestion. But it’s there, turning over in the back of my mind as we all work together to string the bunting across the courtyard and arrange tables, candles stuck into bottles, Stella taking charge. How proud Marco would have been. I’m doing everything I can not to think about Sebastian and his offer, though I know I should, when suddenly he’s there, in the courtyard.
‘This looks amazing!’ he says, gazing at the bunting strung from the olive tree.
‘It does,’ I say, with a sense of shared pride in the place.
‘Hey!’ says Giovanni. ‘Good time at the market?’
‘Great,’ Sebastian answers. ‘I thought I’d come over and give you a hand setting up for this evening. The youngsters are sitting by the pool, having a siesta. Thought I could make myself useful.’
‘You certainly can,’ says Giovanni. ‘We have a few more tables and chairs to bring up from Casa Luna.’
‘Of course,’ says Sebastian. ‘Happy to help.’ He smiles at me and I smile back. Giovanni gives me the merest wink, making my insides flip, which isn’t helping me make my decision.
