“There is one person who can help,” she said, lifting her chin. “One person, if you’ll let me ask.”
33.
The kitchen fell silent. Rafa, Clementine, and Grey stared at Marina in amazement. “Who?” Grey asked. He thought they had explored every avenue.
Marina looked embarrassed. “An old friend.”
Grey frowned. “What do you mean, an old friend?”
“It’s complicated. He’s someone I knew a long time ago.”
“Well, where is he?”
She hesitated, knitting her fingers. “Italy.” The word was released into the air for them to gaze on in astonishment. No one was more astonished than Marina.
“Italy?”
“Yes.”
“Who on earth do you know in Italy, let alone someone capable of bailing you out?” Grey gazed at her across the table. “Darling, this is a big surprise. Why didn’t you tell me about him before?”
The corners of her mouth twitched with emotion, and she took a deep breath to steady her nerves. “You have to trust me, darling, and not ask any more questions. Please. It’s a long story. I wouldn’t have even considered him if I wasn’t desperate. But I am desperate.” In the silence that ensued she felt something pull in the deepest depth of her heart. She realized she had been desperate for a very, very long time, and only now, as she teetered at the frontier where past and present collide, did she recognize the real motive behind her plan—and it wasn’t the Polzanze. The little shoebox hidden away at the top of her cupboard surfaced again, and her eyes welled with tears.
Grey was appalled by her plan. “I won’t have you crossing Europe to beg for money from a man I have never met.”
“This is different, darling—and I won’t be begging.”
Grey pulled out a chair and sat down. He didn’t like the idea of his wife keeping secrets from him, especially when it came to money. He looked at her steadily. Then he saw something in her eyes that changed his mind—the same longing he had seen when he had comforted her after her nightmares, the same craving that drove her to pace the beach and stare for hours across the water. He knew then that the root of her unrest lay in Italy, and for that reason, she had to go.
“All right,” he conceded gently, taking her hand. “But I can’t go with you.” She understood that he wasn’t comfortable asking a stranger for help. “This is your business, Marina.”
“I’ll go on my own. I’ll be fine.”
He smiled at her fondly. She didn’t realize how fragile she looked. “Darling, I don’t think it’s wise to travel alone. Why don’t you take Clemmie with you, or Jake?”
“No, really, I’ll be fine,” she insisted.
“I’ll go with you,” Rafa suggested. Marina and Grey looked at him. They had almost forgotten he was there. “I speak the language, for a start.” He shrugged. “And I’m a good chauffeur.”
“That’s very generous of you to offer, Rafa,” said Grey. He turned to his wife. “I think that’s a sensible idea. I’d be much happier if I knew you had someone with you.”
“Then that’s settled,” said Marina. She smiled weakly, as deflated as a tire that has run many thousands of miles and can run no more. “It’s our last chance.”
Grey nodded. “If it’s unsuccessful, we will agree to sell to Charles Rueben. We can set up again somewhere else.” But Marina wasn’t listening. She was already in Italy, walking back down the avenues of her past.
Later, when Clementine and Rafa walked Biscuit along the cliff top, they discussed the extraordinary episode in the kitchen. “What was all that about?” Clementine asked.
“I have no idea. It’s bizarre.”
“Who’s she going to see in Italy? An old lover, perhaps?”
“Anything’s possible.”
“You must text me. I’ll be longing to know.”
“He must be a very special old lover if she’s hoping he’ll write her such a vast check.”
“Who has that sort of money to toss away?” She was aware that he was looking at her strangely. “Why can’t she just call him up? If he’s such a good friend, why doesn’t she just telephone him and ask for a loan?”
“Clementine, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said suddenly. She turned to find his face had grown pale, right down to his lips.
“Are you all right?”
“No.”
Clementine didn’t want his confession. If he was Baffles, she’d rather not know. He could go on robbing in secret, and their friendship could continue undisturbed. She liked the way things were. If he confessed, he’d ruin everything.