An Italian Dream

‘And this one did?’

Stella nodded. ‘It certainly did.’

They wandered around in silence. Stella’s heart thumped as she watched Fern take in the spacious, white-walled rooms filled with pale winter light streaming through patio doors and windows. Although it was empty of furniture, there were splashes of colour in the floor tiles and the duck-egg blue painted doors.

Stella turned to Fern. ‘What do you think?’

‘It’s… it’s beautiful.’

‘You haven’t seen the best bit yet.’ She led the way through a covered terrace to a colonnaded walkway with raised flower beds on either side. Even in winter, the beauty of the garden shone through, the promise of spring colour and scent just a few months away.

Fern stopped halfway along the walkway, her face morphing into a frown as she turned to Stella. ‘I don’t understand. How much did this place cost?’

‘Two point five million euros,’ Stella said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Fern’s frown deepened. ‘But you won a million. How…?’

‘I actually won twenty-seven and a half million.’

‘Are you kidding?’ Fern sat down with a thump on the low curved wall of the raised border. She shook her head. ‘You told me you won a million.’

‘I know how it looks; something else I’ve hidden from you, but actually, apart from Luca, I haven’t told anyone the full truth, not even Chloe or Jacob. You’re the only other person.’

‘It’s a lot to take in.’

‘Almost everyone now knows I won the Lottery. A million is a number people can cope with and comprehend. The amount I’ve really won is, well, insane. It’s taken me all this time to even begin to get my head around it and to make smart decisions about how to spend it and what to invest in.’

‘People are going to start questioning things with you splashing money like this. You’re not going to be able to keep it secret forever.’

‘I know.’ Stella joined Fern on the wall and shivered as the cold seeped through her skirt and tights. ‘Can you imagine, though, how lush this place will be in summer?’

‘It’ll be incredible. You did say you wanted a place in the sun. So, you have a holiday home on Capri.’

‘No, I don’t.’ A lump had formed in Stella’s throat and her eyes blurred with tears. ‘You do. I didn’t buy it for me. It’s yours.’

She watched Fern carefully as the words sank in.

Fern opened her mouth, closed it again and shook her head. ‘No. You have to be joking?’

‘I’m serious, Fern. This place is yours.’

Fern scrambled to her feet and paced along the paved path to the wall at the end of the garden with its view over Anacapri. She turned and walked back. Her breath fogged the air. She stopped in front of Stella and fixed her with a stern gaze. ‘If you’re doing this to buy back my friendship, you don’t need to. Yes, things have changed between us, things that we may never be able to fix, but you’re still my friend. You’re like a bloody stupid infuriating sister, Stella.’

Stella looked away as she fought back sobs. Her jaw clenched and she swiped at her eyes. ‘You’re too good, Fern. You know that right? I’m sorry for every bit of hurt I’ve caused you.’

‘I’m not condoning your behaviour, but your actions made me not only see sense but changed my life for the better. Paul was toxic and I’m well rid of him.’

‘I know you are,’ she said quietly. ‘I’m just sorry it went that far.’

‘What’s done is done.’

‘But seriously, I’m not doing this in an attempt to win you back.’ She stood up and looked at her best friend of nearly thirty years. ‘This is something I want to do for you, because you deserve it and because I can. I have more money than I know what to do with and by investing wisely, I’m set for the rest of my life. Chloe and Jacob too. This place is yours to do what you want with. I want to see you happy, Fern. I’ve made horrible mistakes that I can’t erase. I’m all too aware that money can’t buy happiness, but this place might give you the freedom to change your life for the better. To follow your heart and take a chance on love, if that’s what will make you happy.’