Page 94 of The Wedding Proposal

The sun made Elle squint as she crossed the courtyard and she realised that her hat and glasses must still be upstairs with her swim things. She’d try to remember them when she returned.

As she stepped out into the street, she met a small whirlwind travelling in the other direction.

‘Carmelo!’ She laughed. ‘You nearly knocked me over.’

Carmelo, panting, wiped sweat from his forehead. ‘You are leaving,’ he said, accusingly. ‘I did shopping for Nonnu and so I am late.’

‘The computers are still on.’ But Elle could read disappointment in Carmelo’s expression. He never hid the fact that he liked the computer room to have Elle in it. With a little squeeze of her heart, she took a liberty with Joseph’s twenty euros. ‘Joseph’s just sent me out to buy ice lollies. Would you like one?’

Carmelo’s eyes brightened but he said, ‘I do not have money today.’

‘It’s Joseph’s treat just for people who are at Nicholas Centre this afternoon,’ Elle assured him. ‘I have to buy one for Oscar, too.’

‘And for Lucas?’ suggested Carmelo.

‘Lucas isn’t at the centre. By the time I see him again, the ice lolly will have melted.’ She let her mind wander over the prospect of seeing Lucas again. Her heart rate increased at the thought. Nothing was settled between them, nothing was certain, but two people on one smallish boat couldn’t ignore each other forever. And she was achingly aware that the next move was down to her.

It wasn’t long before they were walking back across the courtyard, Carmelo sucking energetically on the tip of a big lemon ice lolly, pausing only to slurp up escaping drips from the sides. It was pleasant to step back into the comparative cool of the big hall and into Joseph’s office.

‘Thank you.’ Joseph beamed as he stripped off the jolly yellow paper from the lolly.

Elle gave him back his change. ‘I’ll take Oscar’s to the games room.’

Joseph turned back to his desk. ‘He ran up to the computer room a couple of minutes ago, I think.’

‘OK, I’ll take it up. I’ve left a bag up there, anyway. He’ll have to come away from the machines if he wants to eat it, though.’ Elle opened her own lolly as she turned for the staircase, enjoying the refreshing lemon zing as she slowly made her way up. Carmelo matched her steps, absorbed in not allowing any ice melt to escape. They crossed the landing together.

Oscar was alone in the computer room, engrossed in what was on the screen.

‘Joseph’s bought you a lolly,’ Elle announced from the doorway.

Oscar leaped to his feet, face redder than Elle had ever seen it. ‘I didn’t hear — Thank you, you are most kind.’ He hurried to intercept her.

She stepped back. ‘You’ll need to eat it somewhere else.’ She pointed to the No food or drink sign on the door.

Oscar halted, hand half extended to take the ice lolly from her. ‘Of course, I—’ He hesitated; then, with a sudden jerky movement, reached back to the machine he’d been using and pressed the button to switch off the monitor.

Elle tried not to show any surprise. But her heart picked up pace.

‘Thank you,’ he said again, as he took the now dripping ice and hovered on the landing to eat it.

Moving a step towards the stairs Elle said, experimentally, ‘It might be best if we eat these in the courtyard so we don’t drip all over.’

Oscar remained where he was. ‘No need. I’ll eat it very quickly.’

Carmelo was concentrating on his lolly so Elle shrugged and leaned against a wall. She asked after Polly, and made desultory conversation about the dive centre. When she straightened and shifted her position she noticed that, without actually blocking her way, Oscar kept himself more or less between her and the computer room.

Once all that remained of her lolly was the stick, she took out a tissue to wipe her hands, and turned away. ‘Well, I’m finished for today.’ Then she swung back and dodged past Oscar, not giving him a chance to react. ‘I’ll just get my bag. Wait on the landing, please, Carmelo.’

She was conscious of Oscar’s eyes on her as she made for the far corner where her bag still stood. Then, with another sudden change of direction she swooped on the computer monitor where Oscar had been sitting. Her finger found the on button.

‘What are you doing?’ Oscar made a sudden lunge to switch it off again, eyes wide in panic.

But it was too late. It took only a second for the monitor to blossom back to life. The image on the screen told Elle everything she needed to know.

Oscar froze.

Shakily, Elle lifted her voice. ‘Carmelo, stay out there, won’t you? I’m nearly ready. Don’t come into this room with your hands all sticky or Joseph will tell me off.’ Then in a quite different voice she hissed at Oscar, ‘What is wrong with you? Children use these machines. A child could have come in here at any time.’

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