“Not sure about green,” he said crossly.
“But I love it.”
He ignored her theatrical doe eyes. She was clearly enjoying herself at his expense. “Take it off,” he snapped.
The salesgirl unclipped it, looking confused. “What about blue?” she suggested cheerfully.
“I love blue,” Clementine gushed.
Mr. Atwood asked to see another tray. When the salesgirl went to the back of the shop, he rounded on Clementine. “Quit the monkey business. I’ve got a reputation in this town, you know.”
“I’m only teasing!”
“Well, stop it.”
“Anyway, what color suits your wife?”
He hesitated. “Red.”
“So, let’s have a look at rubies. You’re very generous.”
“I know. Have to keep the little lady sweet.”
“Oh, she’ll be sweet all right.”
Clementine managed to restrain herself while they looked at gold bracelets with ruby cabochons. They were very pretty. Still, she didn’t think she could sleep with an eggy-smelling man, however many gold bracelets he bought her. She thought of Joe and imagined him buying her jewelry, but the emptiness of that thought convinced her that no amount of jewelry could take the place of true love.
Finally, they chose the gift and waited while the salesgirl wrapped it in a red and gold box and tied it with ribbon.
“Lucky Mrs. Atwood,” said Clementine, thinking how very unlucky she was.
“Indeed,” Mr. Atwood agreed, shiftily.
“That will be fifteen hundred pounds, please, sir,” said the salesgirl, smiling again at Clementine. “Is it your birthday?”
“No,” Clementine replied. “He’s just pleased with me.”
“Oh,” said the salesgirl. Mr. Atwood handed her his credit card. “Thank you.”
“And thank you, Daddy,” said Clementine, taking the bag off the counter. She gave her sweetest smile, which the salesgirl mistook for genuine affection.
Mr. Atwood inhaled through dilated nostrils, punched in his PIN, then tapped his fingers on the glass impatiently, eager to leave the shop as quickly as possible.
Clementine laughed all the way back to the office, which infuriated Mr. Atwood even more. “I’m teasing,” she repeated. “If you weren’t so serious, I wouldn’t find it all so funny.”
“If I didn’t owe your father for all the clients he’d sent my way, I’d fire you for insubordination.”
“You love me, really. I know you do. You just don’t want to admit how funny you think I am.”
“I don’t think you’re at all funny, Clementine,” he huffed, which made Clementine laugh all the more.
* * *
That evening she returned to the Polzanze with a bounce in her step. Rafa was on the terrace having tea with Marina, Grey, and four old ladies, who Clementine presumed were the four painters from the year before. The sight of Rafa caused her heart to expand with joy. They were all talking at once, isolated in their mirth. They didn’t even notice her as she walked towards them.
When she reached the table, her father looked up. “Ah, Clementine. Come and join us?”
“You haven’t met my ladies, have you?” Marina interjected.
Clementine swept her eyes over their expectant faces and smiled only because Rafa was watching her. If it hadn’t been for him, she would have avoided meeting them altogether. Marina introduced each one, and Clementine shook their hands. She was grateful that her father squeezed a chair between him and Rafa so she didn’t have to waste her time talking to them.
“So, how was your day?” Rafa asked, drawing her away from the general conversation, which had revved up again.
Clementine basked in the warmth of his eyes. He had a way of looking at her with such intensity, as if she was the only woman in the world he really wanted to talk to.
“My boss took me shopping to help him choose a bracelet for his wife. Though we all know she’s never going to see it.”
“Ah, he has a mistress?” asked Rafa.
“Yes, though I can’t imagine anyone wanting him.”
“There is someone for everyone.”
“That’s the miracle of life.” She smiled. “Lucky, eh?”
“Are we going out in the boat this evening?”
“Of course,” Clementine enthused, although she knew it wasn’t possible to go just the two of them, as she wasn’t sure how to work her father’s boat. “I’ll have to ask Dad,” she added, prodding Grey.
Her father turned round. “Yes, darling?”
“Will you take Rafa and me out in your boat this evening?”
Grey’s face lit up in surprise. “What a good idea. Beautiful evening for it.” He looked out over the calm waters and clear sky. “We can go to Smuggler’s Cove and do a bit of crabbing. What do you say?”