Whose fault is that?Fern refrained from saying it out loud. It would only upset her even more. ‘We’re going to Giardini di Augusto,’ she said instead. ‘Hopefully the stunning gardens and views will be worth it.’

‘Great,’ Amber said with sarcasm.

Fern accepted that she wasn’t going to win with Amber today. At least it wasn’t far from their destination now, and after they’d explored, perhaps a boozy lunch and some shopping would cheer her up. She loved Amber, but it didn’t mean she had to always like her. She reminded herself that today was about rebuilding bridges. However hard it felt, surely it was a positive thing to be spending time with her?

They left behind the quiet roads for pedestrian lanes filled with tourists. A narrow paved lane wound past cream-coloured buildings and a restaurant with a small outside seating area. Tall stone walls lined each side and the sun glinted through the trees. Amber seemed more interested the further they walked; it was hard not to be buoyed by glimpses of blue sky and hot pink flowers against creamy stone walls while the delicious smell of coffee permeated the air.

The path opened out on to a small, paved area where a throng of people stood chatting in front of a low stone wall. Fern gazed past in wonder, taking in the different greens and the snatches of fuchsia and burnt-orange flowers decorating the gardens below. They went through a gate and down a handful of steps lined with miniature domed hedges. Olive trees and the darker evergreen of cypresses dominated the horizon.

‘Worth the walk?’ Fern glanced at Amber as they followed the path beneath a leaf-covered pergola.

‘Yeah, it’s not bad.’

That’s an understatement, Fern thought as they continued on in silence. At least there was enough beauty surrounding them to focus their attention away from each other. Fern was frustrated that trying to start a conversation with her own daughter had become this difficult. Oh well, she thought, if it’s going to be difficult, might as well say what I think.

‘You really want to go on this yacht with—’

‘I know exactly what you’re going to say.’ Amber stopped and held up her hands. ‘Just don’t. Stella’s going to meet them today. She’s not young and impressionable like me and Chloe…’

‘I wasn’t going to say that.’

‘Well, whatever you were going to say,’ she said, sounding even more annoyed, ‘Stella will suss them out. I know you don’t like the idea of it.’

‘I like the idea of sailing along the Amalfi Coast, just not with people you met while drunk in a bar.’

‘It wasn’t like that. We talked for most of the evening.’

‘Oh well, that’s okay then.’ Now Fern couldn’t keep the annoyance from her voice. She was deemed to be the bad guy because she was the one being sensible, questioning the idea of them swanning off with a bunch of Italian blokes. She was also worried that although Stella was older and should therefore be more sensible, she was likely to throw all caution to the wind and say yes because she craved adventure.

Amber walked ahead, along the shady path, overtaking strolling couples and avoiding groups of people coming from the other direction. Tall pines cast shadows across the path as they strained to reach the light. The air was perfumed with flowers and pine, and a citrus scent drifted on the breeze.

Fern sighed and picked up the pace. Even with surroundings this beautiful, it seemed as though Amber would have preferred to stay back at the villa sunbathing on the pool terrace. So much for a lovely mother-daughter day out.

‘You just don’t know how to have fun,’ Amber said the moment Fern caught up with her.

‘What? Of course I do. I’m having fun right now.’

‘Great, if you consider this to be fun.’ Amber crinkled her nose. ‘I’m talking about being spontaneous and saying yes to an amazing opportunity. Living the millionaire lifestyle while we’re here. I bet you anything Stella will meet them today and say yes. She knows how to live.’

Not knowing how to respond, Fern pursed her lips and walked away. A viewing point overlooked the sea. She leaned on the railing and gazed out. It was true; Stella did know how to live. She was always up for a good time, while Fern preferred a quiet night in to going out. Her confidence had diminished over the years; her spontaneity too, but then that hadn’t been surprising as a young mum of twins. Fern sighed. Did Amber see in Stella what she wished for in a mum?

Fern tore her eyes away from the view. Amber was sitting on a bench scrolling through her phone, oblivious to the beauty around her.

She breathed deeply, walked across the path and joined her. Changing the subject and focusing on food would be the best thing.

‘What do you want to have for lunch?’ she asked brightly.

Amber glanced up from her phone and shrugged. ‘Pizza and ice cream.’

‘Great, let’s find somewhere before it gets too busy.’

Amber stood up and tucked her phone away in her bag. They didn’t say much else as they walked back towards the piazzetta. Amber was hard work and Fern didn’t want the holiday to be like that. How refreshing would it be to walk the winding tree-lined paths without a grumpy Amber. Time to herself was what she craved. It had taken being here to realise that.

* * *

They found a restaurant with a free table not far from the piazzetta and had a Neapolitan pizza each and shared a bottle of white wine after Amber insisted her hangover would be cured with more alcohol.

Fern’s mobile buzzed. She glanced at the screen – finally, a reply from Paul about the photos she’d sent him yesterday.

Tags: Kate Frost Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net