Page 46 of The Island of Hopes and Dreams

Lola opened her mouth to reply, but before she could, an excited shout sounded from the hallway.

‘They’re here!’ Deni dashed past the open door in a flash of white linen trousers and a patterned blouse, looking more dressed up than she had the whole time she’d been here, as if she wanted to impress her husband.

‘I don’t know,’ Lola said in reply to Sarah’s question. She gestured at the flowers. ‘Get rid of these for starters.’

‘It wasn’t really the flowers I was talking about.’

Lola stood up, smoothed the creases from her dress and shrugged. ‘I’m not sure what I can do until I get home.’ She breathed long and hard. ‘For now, please keep it to yourself.’

‘Lola, you can’t ignore this.’ Sarah’s frown deepened. ‘This is out of order, not to mention more than a bit alarming.’ She lowered her voice as someone else walked past the open door. ‘He’s stalking you.’

‘What do you want me to do? Call the police? Try to explain my ex has sent me a couple of texts and some flowers?’

‘And cornered you while you were out.’ Sarah frowned. ‘I had no idea what a creep he was. He knows where you are and what you’re doing.’

‘Please, don’t say anything. Mirabel does not need to know. Rhys is fully aware of Jarek and what he’s like; now you are too.’

‘I’m telling Deni. She’s a force to be reckoned with, and if he even thinks about doing anything else…’ She clenched her fists. ‘I had no idea how bad things had got.’

‘That’s because I never told you all what he was like, not even Mirabel, although she had a pretty good idea.’

‘Okay, deep breaths.’ Sarah stood and squeezed her hand. ‘This conversation isn’t over, but let’s go see Polly and everyone else before they come looking.’

Sarah slipped the card into Lola’s bedside table drawer, grabbed the flowers and shoved them into the bin, then took Lola’s hand.

As they arrived in the central living area, Lola realised she’d never been more thankful for the bustle of people, for fresh faces to renew the energy in the villa, as she said hello to Jenny and her husband, then swept Polly into a hug and revelled in the happiness radiating off Deni as she and Mark chatted, their arms wrapped around each other.

For a short time, Lola was distracted from the game Jarek was playing. Although ‘game’ was the wrong choice of word, because wasn’t a game supposed to be fun and both players should know the rules? Despite him being on Sardinia, she refused to let him get the better of her, even if it meant shoving that worry and fear deep down to deal with when she got home.

* * *

Something had happened. Rhys would put money on it that it had everything to do with Jarek. With extra people at the villa, there’d been little time to spend with Lola or talk to her properly. But he’d noticed the way her friends swarmed around her, as if protecting her, which made his heart both soar and ache. She had the support of her friends, but she hadn’t sought him out. It was too late now anyway, because after the shock of Giada’s hospital visit and the two sets of parents making a tentative peace with each other, they’d finally listened to Fabs and Mirabel’s wishes. The fancy night-before-the-wedding meal had been cancelled and in its place a quiet afternoon and evening at home had been suggested – with a twist. All of the women were going to Villa Sereno to get their nails wedding-ready, followed by an evening of music and food, while the men were staying at the guest villa for drinks and games, which of course meant he wouldn’t have the chance to see Lola this evening either. Mirabel and Fabs were keeping things traditional by not spending the night before the wedding together, yet all Rhys could think about was how much he wanted to spend the night with Lola. That was beginning to seem more and more unlikely, even if the memory of her teasing breath and smooth supple skin pretty much consumed him.

Mirabel gathered her friends together, while her dad, Fabs’s papa and Deni and Jenny’s husbands were brought into the fold by Freddie and Barnaby offering to make them cocktails. As Rhys watched Sarah and Deni pounce on Zoe, he realised he hadn’t once thought about her or Freddie over the past couple of days.

‘Of course you have to come with us!’ Deni was adamant, despite Zoe’s horrified face as she glanced back towards Freddie and the rest of them. Rhys couldn’t help feeling smug and a little mean thinking that her having only male friends had backfired when they’d be enjoying themselves without her. Zoe was still looking like a deer caught in headlights as Deni began steering her away.

Lola was on their heels, but she paused to glance back, her eyes flicking across the crowded living room until she met his gaze.

‘You okay?’ he mouthed.

Her nod and uncertain smile was the only answer he got. Sarah clamped her arm around her shoulder and manoeuvred her in the direction the others had gone.

Rhys sighed at the sight of her retreating back.

Fabs appeared next to him. ‘You’ll see her again tomorrow.’

Was it really that obvious how much he wanted to follow Lola out of the door like a lovesick puppy? He exhaled and focused on his friend rather than the woman who set his heart spinning.

‘I do think we may have an easier time of it tonight.’ Rhys cast his eyes around the room at their mates, Fabs’s Italian friends and the male members of Fabs’s family. ‘The combination of your mum, Mirabel’s mum, yournonna, Sarah, Zoe. Part of me wishes I could be a fly on the wall.’

‘Ha, yes!’ Fabs laughed and rested his arm across Rhys’s shoulders. ‘Although most of me is glad I’m here with you lot!’

27

By eight that evening it looked as if a dressing-up box filled with feathers and glitter had exploded all over the terrace at Villa Sereno. With the music cranked up – a mix of Euro pop hits – Mirabel’s friends and family were twirling and dancing about with colourful feather boas draped around necks and ostentatious costume jewellery decorating hair, ears and arms. Fabs’s sisters really had brought out their old dressing-up box. Even Giada and Felicity joined in, their feud behind them as they swayed together with matching red lips and purple feathers in their hair, beaming as Deni took their photo.

Embraced in the warmth of two loving families, Lola felt safe among her friends. She was grateful for the distraction, but she knew that was all it was. Jarek hadn’t come to Sardinia just for the hell of it, but to break her spirit, yet surrounded by such vibrant women, she felt invincible. Someone draped a turquoise feather boa around her and Lola found herself next to Mirabel, who was sparkling in chunky gold jewellery with a tiara perched on her head. Deni, Sarah and Polly joined them, flinging their arms around each other, shouting ‘cheese’ as photos were snapped.

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