An Italian Dream

Amber stood, took Fern’s hand and pulled her to her feet. ‘Are you going to come back with me to the villa?’

‘Yep, I can’t hide away here forever. We’re supposed to be celebrating our birthdays tomorrow.’ She laughed bitterly. ‘Got to face the music sometime.’

‘About that. I kinda put my foot in it with Dad on the yacht the other night. I was drunk and angry and texted him to say that I was going to tell you the truth, then totally chickened out of it. He said he’d managed to book a ticket and was coming out here with Ruby. I’m so sorry.’

A chill flooded through Fern along with even less of a desire to return to the villa. ‘So he doesn’t know that I know everything? About him and Stella too?’

‘No, he doesn’t know that; he panicked because he thought I was going to tell you. He asked me not to. Stella’s been trying to get hold of him to stop him flying out.’

‘I bet she has.’ Fern glanced at her watch and took a deep breath. ‘Right, we’d better get back then.’

The prospect of coming face to face with her best friend and husband, the two people in her life she’d trusted the most, and the two people who had betrayed her the most, was inevitable. There was no point in putting it off any longer.

* * *

Fern said goodbye to Matteo and Edith but promised them, and herself, that she’d come back and say a proper goodbye before leaving the island for good. The confusing emotions that had been churning her insides returned on the taxi ride back.

Enclosed within its lush gardens, the villa at least had a calming effect on Fern. The peace reminded her of the retreat and then of Tuscany, and yet again a wave of sadness washed across her.

Amber went ahead and pushed open the large wooden front door. Fern took a deep breath and stepped inside.

‘We’re back!’ Amber called, her voice echoing around the entrance hall.

Fern had planned to slip in and go straight to her room for a shower, but perhaps Amber announcing their arrival would get the inevitable out of the way. Although how she and Stella were supposed to move on from this, she had no idea.

Footsteps tapped across the tiled floor and Stella appeared in the living room doorway with puffy eyes and frown lines. Fern’s immediate reaction was to hug her, but she stopped herself. This was all Stella’s doing. No, not just hers, Paul’s too, but Stella was the one standing in front of her.

‘Hey,’ Stella said quietly.

Chloe appeared behind her mum, brushed past her and flung her arms around Fern. ‘Glad you’re back.’ She released her, gave a weak smile and beckoned to Amber as she headed towards the stairs.

It was no surprise that Chloe was emotional; they’d all grown up together. Fern was like an auntie to Chloe, the same as Stella was to Amber and Ruby. She could only imagine how conflicted Chloe must feel about her mum having slept with Fern’s husband. It wasn’t as if Chloe didn’t know Paul either; they’d all spent so much time together over the years: birthday parties, days out, barbecues in each other’s gardens, holidays, sleepovers… the list was endless, which made everything all the more heart-breaking and difficult to comprehend.

Amber kissed Fern on the cheek and followed Chloe upstairs.

Fern and Stella eyed each other across the hallway. There was nothing for it now.

‘I hear Paul will be turning up shortly.’

Stella’s tanned cheeks reddened. She shook her head. ‘I’ve tried calling him but there’s been no answer.’

‘Funny that.’

‘Has he contacted you?’ Her voice was filled with fear.

‘I have no idea, but I doubt it. I’ve only spoken to him once since we’ve been here and that was because he wanted something. But maybe this is the best thing. Him being here as well will get everything out in the open. He can’t hide the truth any longer.’

Stella took a tentative step forward. ‘I am so sorry, Fern. If I could turn back time and do things differently, I would.’ Her cheeks clenched as if she was trying to control her emotions. ‘Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine.’ Fern folded her arms. She knew she was trying to convince herself that it was true.

‘I’m glad you found comfort with Matteo.’

Rage swept through Fern. ‘Don’t you dare.’

‘What?’ Stella held her hands up.

‘Insinuate the way he comforted me.’ Fern shook her head. ‘It’s so far from the truth and my reason for going there. I needed to escape you. And yes, it was a comfort to talk to Matteo and Edith, people who aren’t involved in this… this… mess. Because that’s what it is. A total mess, Stella. How could you?’