Page 61 of The Island of Hopes and Dreams

‘No, he didn’t.’ Lola gazed across the herb garden. Her friends were quiet, watching her, waiting. ‘But I found I could talk to Rhys. Because that was all we were doing. That first night we made a love pact.’ Lola laughed. ‘It sounds ridiculous now, but at the time it seemed like a good idea and a way to help each other out.’

Sarah folded her napkin. ‘So you pretended to be together?’

Lola nodded.

‘And you didn’t do anything that first night apart from talk?’ Deni asked, her eyebrows furrowed.

‘Nope.’

‘Oh shit, the night in Bosa when I rearranged the room so you two could share!’ Deni put her face in her hands.

‘Yeah, thanks for that.’ Lola laughed. ‘We had an understanding and everything was pretend until it wasn’t.’

‘Oh my good God!’ Sarah grinned manically. ‘This is the best love story – please tell me it has a fairy tale ending.’

Polly nudged Sarah in the ribs and raised an eyebrow. Of all Lola’s friends, she understood that nothing was straightforward, and a fairy tale ending after what Jarek had pulled would have been a miracle.

‘Something changed that night with Rhys. Nothing had really happened, but I think he began to see me in a different way and then when I kissed him that night at the restaurant…’

‘You realised he meant something to you,’ Polly said quietly.

‘Yeah, and after that I don’t think either of us understood what was pretend and what was real. And we talked. Like, really talked. I told him stuff that I hadn’t told anyone, not you lot, not even Mirabel. And when Mirabel ran off that day, it was Rhys I asked to drive me there to find her, and when Mirabel persuaded Fabs to find us somewhere to stay, it was so completely different sharing a bed with him to the first time. And stuff did end up happening; we desperately wanted each other and I’m pretty sure of the direction that night was going until Fabs got the call about?—’

‘His mamma. Fuck.’ Deni huffed. ‘That was what stopped you two from getting it on?’

Sarah grimaced. ‘Oh my God, I’m sexually frustrated on your behalf.’

Polly’s hand brushed the top of Lola’s as she leaned closer. ‘And last night?’

‘We kissed and talked and cuddled. But last night I went to him because I was scared, after… well, you know.’ She waved her hand in the air, not willing to sayhisname or go into the full details about the letter he’d left or his final message. ‘It was not the right time. I don’t know, there’s so much expectation and we’ve shared so much over the last few days. I treasure his friendship and I really don’t want to mess that up.’

‘But on the flip side we’re going home tomorrow.’ Deni gave her a firm look that she imagined she used quite often with her clients when she didn’t want them to argue back. She folded her arms. ‘If you really think about it, what do you have to lose?’

Nothing, Lola thought, particularly if she didn’t want to leave Sardinia with any regrets.

36

After brunch, Fabs and Mirabel said their goodbyes. Lola thought she’d never stop crying after waving her best friend off. They would talk properly and she’d catch Mirabel up on everything that she’d already shared with Deni, Sarah and Polly once Mirabel got back from her honeymoon, but it wouldn’t be the same video-calling instead of gossiping over a glass of wine at a bar after work.

It was late afternoon by the time they returned to Villa Capparis. Everyone was subdued and there was a definite air of melancholy, with their time on Sardinia about to come to an end. The flights the next day were staggered, with Lola, Deni, Mark, Polly, Sarah, Jenny and her husband flying to Heathrow and Barnaby, Rhys, Gareth, Freddie and Zoe to Bristol. Tonight was their last together. Not only did Lola feel partied out, but she was emotionally exhausted from the events of the last few days.

‘I’ve never known such a miserable fucking bunch!’

Of course it would be Gareth who would try to instigate some much-needed enthusiasm when everyone was feeling decidedly hungover and sombre.

‘It’s our last evening here.’ He swept his arm around as they trooped into the main living area. ‘Let’s have some fun!’

Chef Carlo appeared in the doorway, greeting them with a breezy smile and a nod.

‘Fabrizio say you may be sad.’ He gestured towards the garden. ‘So if you come with me.’

He pushed open the doors to the terrace and they were greeted by the sight of the table set for dinner with cream plates and brushed gold cutlery laid out on a muted floral tablecloth with vases of blue and dusky-pink hydrangeas interspersed between bottles of oil and vinegar. The enticing smell of grilling meat drifted from somewhere in the garden.

Gareth dropped his overnight bag in the living room and strolled outside. ‘Now we’re talking!’

‘Boy am I going to miss you.’ Deni shook Chef Carlo’s hand and planted a kiss on each of his cheeks. ‘Thank you for looking after us so well.Grazie.’

‘You are welcome. Now enjoy.’

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