The Secret Kept from the Italian

‘Yes...’ She shook her head slowly as she let out a laugh. ‘I don’t know what to say.’

‘Say yes.’

‘Okay.’ Maisie grinned; suddenly it seemed easy. ‘Thank you.’

Antonio pulled her close for a kiss. ‘My pleasure.’

An hour later Antonio’s driver dropped her off at a luxurious-looking spa, Ella asleep in her car seat next to Antonio in the back of the limo.

‘I hope you’ll manage,’ Maisie said with a bit of a grimace. ‘She’s been grumpy for the last few days... I think she’s coming down with a cold.’

‘We’ll be fine,’ Antonio assured her. ‘I think I can manage twelve hours or so, if only just.’

‘Right.’ She was fussing, but only because this would be the longest she’d been away from Ella since she’d been born. ‘Thank you,’ Maisie said, and with one last kiss she slipped out of the car.

Within minutes of stepping through the elegant tinted glass doors of the spa she was swept away by several glamorous assistants, and in only a few more minutes Maisie found herself in a dimly lit room with soothing music playing in the background, sipping a fruit smoothie as someone massaged her feet. She’d expected to feel awkward and nervous, but what she felt was sheer bliss.

She couldn’t remember when she’d last been able to properly relax, to let herself be pampered. She leaned her head back against the seat and closed her eyes.

The day flew by in a whirlwind of treatments—manicure, pedicure, massage, facial, haircut. As Maisie sat in a deep armchair waiting for her toenails to dry, one of the staff handed her a stack of magazines to look at and a foaming cappuccino sprinkled with chocolate. Bliss.

She’d checked in with Antonio a few hours ago, and he’d assured her that all was fine. Now she flipped open the gossip magazine and happily immersed herself in the fairy-tale world of celebrities.

By the time the day of treatments was finished, Maisie was glowing on the outside but feeling restless and a little bit anxious to see both Antonio and Ella again. She wanted their arms around her, to revel in the warm embrace of her daughter and the man she loved.

Antonio had arranged for a car to fetch her and take her back to the villa, and she slid into its sumptuous interior with a breath of relief, happiness buoying inside her at the thought of seeing them both soon.

When she arrived back at the villa, however, the house was empty and dark. Her joyous expectation soured to unease. It was nearly seven o’clock, Ella’s bedtime. Why on earth was Antonio out, and where was he? The stroller was in the front hall, so he hadn’t taken Ella for a walk. Where could he have gone?

Maisie combed through the entire house and garden while she rang Antonio’s mobile over and over, only to have it switch to voicemail every time. Where was he? Where was her daughter? Unease gave way to panic as unlikely yet terrifying scenarios ran through her head, fuelled by the uncertainty that was always seething under the surface, waiting to strike.

Had Antonio just left? Left her? Had he taken Ella somewhere, decided he’d had enough? Maybe the spa day had been some sort of awful ruse.

Maisie told herself she was being ridiculously paranoid. She knew she was, that no matter how remote Antonio had seemed sometimes, she had no reason to distrust him that much. She loved him, and she hoped in time he would love her.

And yet. And yet.

Once before the playing field of her life had been torn up. Once before everything she’d thought certain had been swept away in a single moment. It was hard, so hard, not to fear it happening again. Not to brace herself for it, because that was what life did. It turned on you, pulled the rug right out from under you and left you flat on your back, reeling and devastated.

Twenty minutes after she’d returned to the darkened house Antonio finally rang. Maisie answered with a gasp of relief.

‘Where are you?’ she demanded before either of them had had a chance to say hello. ‘Where have you been?’

‘Maisie—’ Antonio’s voice broke and Maisie went cold.

‘What’s happened?’ she asked numbly. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘It’s Ella,’ Antonio said, and Maisie?

??s legs turned weak as she swayed where she stood.

‘No,’ she whispered. ‘No, please.’

‘We’re at the hospital. I didn’t have time to send a car, or ring you, or anything...’

‘What’s happened?’ Her voice rose on a cry of pure terror. ‘Antonio, what’s happened to my baby?’

‘They’re saying it’s meningitis.’