The Italian Matchmaker(113)

‘Great name,’ he conceded.

‘Great man.’

‘Has he made you happy? Or will there only be one Fitz?’

She pushed him playfully. ‘I’m afraid I can’t tell you what you want to hear. I’ll tell it the way it is. He’s the love of my life. Who knows what would have become of us had we danced off into the sunset, but Panfilo has made me very happy.’

Fitz struggled to hide his disappointment. ‘I’d rather you told me you’d been miserable for the last thirty years!’

‘And then what? You’d leave Rosemary, I’d leave Panfilo and we’d start a life together? You know that would be impossible.’

‘I can’t say I haven’t thought about it.’

‘You are funny.’

‘I’m an old man now. I’m entitled to dream.’

‘You’re not old! There’s no excuse for that sort of dream. You made your bed, now you must lie in it.’

They reached the olive tree and sat down. ‘So, where’s Viv these days?’

‘She’s dead, Alba.’

‘Good God!’ Alba blanched at the news of her old friend. ‘Viv, dead?’

‘She died about ten years ago.’

‘She was my one true friend. She stuck with me through thick and thin, the only person I could talk to. It’s sad we lost touch. But let’s not dwell on sad things. Tell me about England. It’s years since I’ve been back. Tell me about you.’ She lay on her side, holding her head up with her hand. ‘I’m listening. I want to hear everything. This is the only chance we’ll get.’

‘Oh, I don’t know. If Rosemary finds us, we’ll have the rest of my life!’

Eugenio drove the car through the gates of La Marmella. ‘Why do you think she’ll be here?’ Luca asked Rosa.

‘If she’s not here I don’t know where she’ll be.’

‘Oh, God!’ he groaned. ‘If she’s not here I’ll slit my throat!’

The car rattled up the drive. Lemon trees glimmered in the evening light. Flies hovered among the leaves and a spray of small birds took off to the skies. Luca felt sick with worry. He knew how fragile she was. Cosima must think he had betrayed her. That he was a liar. That he had used Francesco to get to her like some low-life fraud. He silently prayed that she was here with Manfreda, the one woman who could vouch for his integrity. The car stopped outside the front door and Luca climbed out and rang the bell. He shuffled from foot to foot with impatience. The few seconds it took for Manfreda to reach it felt like a lifetime. When she finally opened the door, Luca practically fell in with eagerness.

‘Manfreda!’ he exclaimed. ‘Is she here?’

‘Of course she’s here,’ she replied calmly. ‘Come in.’ She stood aside to let him pass. ‘Hello Rosa, Eugenio.’ She chuckled. ‘You’ve brought everyone!’

‘Is she okay?’

‘She’s fine,’ said Manfreda gravely. ‘But you, young man, have a lot of explaining to do.’ She waggled a bony finger at him.

‘I know. Where is she?’

‘On the terrace.’

She turned to Rosa. ‘Violetta has made the most delicious limoncello. Come, let’s have some. It’s in the kitchen.’ She led them away. Rosa looked over her shoulder, wishing she could be present for their making-up. Eugenio couldn’t have cared less. The prospect of a glass of limoncello was infinitely more enticing than watching a reunion   between Cosima and Luca.

Luca walked on to the terrace. There at the table sat Cosima – and Francesco. Luca did a double-take. For a split second he thought the child was real, but then he recognised the luminous quality of his body, as if he were made of transparent colours, like a rainbow. He decided now wouldn’t be the moment to mention his presence.

Cosima looked at him with a distant expression in her eyes. A barrier had grown up between them behind which she sat stiffly, like a stranger.

‘I’m sorry, Cosi. I should have told you about Freya.’

‘I’m listening.’

‘She’s an old friend. My oldest friend. I didn’t behave very well when I last saw her. I’ve never liked her husband. He’s an ass. So I flirted with her, knowing that she was married and unavailable. I told her she was the only woman I’d ever loved, that now I was divorced I could see that the woman I have always looked for had been right by my side all along. Then I came out here and met you.’ He reached for her hand, but she withdrew it, placing it on her lap. He persevered. ‘Now she’s discovered her husband is having an affair. I invited her out to cheer her up. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to upset you and I needed to tell her about you in my own time so I wouldn’t upset her. I guess I tried to please you both and ended up hurting the woman I love the most. Down on the beach I broke it to her that I’m no longer available. That my heart is with you.’ He took a deep breath. ‘I didn’t imagine it would be like this,’ he said, taking out the little jewellery box. ‘I fantasised that we’d be in some romantic spot.’ Her eyes fell on the box. ‘I showed this to Freya. I wanted her to know how serious I am about you.’ He pushed it towards her. ‘I love you, Cosi. I’ve never lied to you. And I never will. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.’