An Italian Dream

‘So, I’m asking you, how well do you know him? I mean, do you know what he’s really like?’ Her eyes were wide and imploring as if she wanted to make Stella understand what she was trying to say without having to spell it out. The trouble was, Stella knew exactly what she was getting at and could see how much she was struggling to put the truth into words. Amber held her gaze. ‘You know too, don’t you?’

‘About what?’

‘About Dad having an affair.’

Even though it was the truth, hearing the words out loud and from Amber made everything close in around Stella. The picturesque surroundings might as well have been four grey walls at that moment. Fear twisted her insides. ‘How do you know?’

‘I walked in on Dad and some random woman a couple of years ago. Mum was away visiting Ruby at university. I was supposed to be staying at a friend’s but hadn’t felt very well so came home. They’d kinda stopped by the time I appeared in the bedroom doorway, but they could hardly hide what they’d been up to.’

‘Oh my goodness, Amber. I had no idea. I mean, I didn’t know about that.’

‘You’re honestly saying you believed my dad had never cheated on my mum?’

‘I don’t know what I’m saying…’ Her heart thumped. There were so many lies to unravel, so much that needed putting right.

‘I find it so hard to talk to Mum about anything because of this stupid thing hanging over me. I want Mum to know the truth. I hate knowing this when she doesn’t. I’m annoyed at myself for getting angry with her, it’s just I’m cross that she doesn’t see it. I know I know, but it’s, like, majorly obvious what he’s doing and although I’ve not caught him again – mainly cos I’m away at uni most of the time – I’m sure he’s still messing around. I want to make Mum see what’s going on without having to actually tell her, because Dad made me promise n—’

‘What are you two whispering about?’

Chloe’s voice made them both jump. She walked across the terrace towards them.

Stella leaned closer to Amber. ‘Keep this to yourself for now.’ She stood up and smiled at a bikini-clad Chloe. ‘I’m going to go phone Fern.’ She grabbed her bag and walked towards the tunnel of green that led to the villa.

‘The yacht is amazing,’ she heard Chloe say as she disappeared inside.

Stella’s heart pounded and her head rang with Amber’s words. She was also worried about Fern. Even if Amber hadn’t bluntly said the truth, she’d said enough to upset her mum. She pulled her mobile from her bag and rang Fern. It went straight to answerphone. Stella cursed, tucked her phone back in her bag and collided with Violetta.

‘Mi dispiace,’ Violetta said, gathering the pile of laundry from the tiled floor. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘No, it was my fault. Totally wasn’t looking where I was going.’ She scooped up a towel and handed it to her. ‘I don’t suppose you know if Fern’s come back?’

Violetta nodded and gestured along the hallway. ‘I think she’s in her room.’

Stella headed that way, her brief relief swiftly replaced by nerves as she reached Fern’s closed bedroom door. She knocked and waited. She knocked louder when there was no answer.

‘Come in!’ a distant voice called.

Stella pushed open the door. The room was empty, but the French doors were flung open. Stella walked across the room and went outside. Fern was sitting on a large cushioned chair with her feet tucked beneath her. A book was open in her lap and her eyes were red-rimmed.

‘Hey,’ Stella said gently as she perched on the low wall next to her.

Fern stared past her to the plants shading the terrace. It was completely hidden, a private oasis in the middle of the garden. Close up, Fern’s eyes looked puffy and Stella noticed a tissue scrunched in her hand.

‘I’ve just had a chat with Amber… She sort of told me what happened.’ She’d told her a lot more, but nothing she was ready to divulge to Fern right now. ‘Are you okay?’

Fern sniffed. ‘I’m fine.’

She looked and sounded anything but fine to Stella. ‘Do you want to talk about it?’

‘Not really, no.’ She took a deep breath and turned to her. ‘How did your day with Chloe go? Did you go to the yacht?’

‘Yes, we did. It’s bloody amazing. They’ve invited us for a cruise along the Amalfi Coast for a couple of days. They seem like pretty decent and friendly blokes.’ Fern’s hand tensed on the tissue. ‘But we don’t have to talk about it now. We don’t have to decide until later in the week.’

Stella suddenly felt uncomfortable. She stood up, her movement sending a robin flying into the safety of the holm oak that shaded the terrace.

‘If you want company later, come and find me. I think the girls might go out for a bit this evening…’ She didn’t know what else to say. Fern looked so sad. She squeezed her arm and retreated from the terrace, leaving her to her thoughts.

Paul had a lot to answer for, but he wasn’t the only one.