She laughed incredulously. “In that case, Jake, let’s consider Devil’s to be our first date.”
Devil’s was warm and smelled of freshly baked cake. They sat at a table by the window and ordered scones and tea. Jake was delighted to see her tuck into the cream and jam with healthy abandon. “I like a woman who’s not afraid to enjoy her food,” he said.
“Oh, I couldn’t deny myself this,” she enthused, licking a creamy finger.
“You look very good on it, I must say,” he added, admiring her full bosom as it strained against the stretchy fabric of her dress. “So, why’s a beautiful girl like you not married?”
She looked down at her ringless finger and sighed. “I’m divorced, actually, yet to find the right man. I’m an old-fashioned girl at heart. You see, I believe in Big Love—the kind of love that sweeps you away, like in those romantic novels. There’s no point compromising. I’d rather be alone than with a man I don’t love.” She grinned as she thought of Clementine and what she’d say if she could hear her now. “I want the fairy tale,” she added firmly. “And nothing less.”
Grey motored the little fishing boat into the secluded bay. Seagulls dropped out of the sky to swim beside it, hoping to share the spoils of the picnic Marina had prepared. The water was calm, the sky cloudy but for patches of bright blue that gave them the occasional, fleeting glimpse of heaven. The wind was autumnal, and Marina pulled her coat around her shoulders and shivered, hugging Biscuit closer to her body to keep warm.
Grey steered the boat onto the sand and switched off the engine. He leapt out and pulled it farther up the beach, making sure that it wouldn’t slip back into the sea. Marina handed him the rugs and the picnic basket, and laughed as Biscuit jumped over the stern and began to sniff the rocks excitedly. Grey gave Marina his hand and helped her down. “So, this is it,” he said proudly. “The place I’ve dreamed of bringing you.”
“It’s lovely,” she enthused, taking a blanket and shaking it out onto the sand.
“It doesn’t look like anyone ever comes down here.”
“Then it will be our secret place.”
“I like the sound of that.” He sat down beside the basket. “What’s in here?”
“All your favorite things,” she replied, joining him on the blanket.
“Ah, bread, pâté, smoked salmon, cheese, and chocolate mousse.” He laughed. “Darling, you think of everything.”
“Most importantly, the wine.” Snug in a cooler was a chilled bottle of Sauvignon Blanc. Grey pulled out the glasses and poured the wine. He raised his glass. “To absent friends,” he said meaningfully.
“To absent friends.” She took a sip. “I miss them, but in a happy way.”
“They sound like they’re having a wonderful time traveling around South America.”
“That’s the great thing about e-mail. In my day we had only letters, and they took ages to arrive.”
“You never told me you still have all the love letters I wrote you.”
“I keep everything. I can’t help it. It’s in my nature to hold onto all the evidence of my life.” She grinned at him wistfully. “Probably because I’m always a little scared of losing it.”
“Clementine has a beautiful diamond engagement ring, thanks to your magpie instincts.”
“It was strange seeing those pieces of jewelry again. They had meant so much to me at the time. Now they are just pieces of jewelry.”
“But Clemmie will imbue them with her own associations, and they will be special to her in the same way that they were once so special to you.”
She took his hand. “Grey, darling, you’ve been wonderfully understanding through all of this.”
“Don’t forget how many years I waited for you to open up.”
“Patience, then, is your most admirable quality.”
“I’d have waited forever if I’d had to. But you know, it would have been so much easier if you had told me at the start. I’d never have judged you.”
“I know. But it was so raw, it was unspeakable. Now I can talk openly about my son.” She smiled contentedly and took a deep, satisfied breath. “My son—the words are very sweet on my tongue.”
“Who’d have thought, Rafa and Clementine? Your son and my daughter.”
“I’m going to have to suffer your ex at the wedding in May.”
“She’s going to have to suffer the wedding being held at the Polzanze; I think that’s worse.”
“And I’m going to meet Maria Carmela.” She trembled with excitement. “She’s going to bring photos of Rafa when he was growing up. How lucky that he fell into such a nice nest. I owe Father Ascanio so much, and Zazzetta, who I’d always believed to be the bad guy.” She took another sip of wine. “You know, my life has been so rich because I have lived twice. If it wasn’t for that one terrible twist of fate, I wouldn’t have met you, Clemmie, and Jake—or Biscuit,” she added as the dog lay down on the rug and began to sniff the basket.