Page 51 of Far from Home
The first thing she did when she got back to l’Ospedaletto was to dump her bags, change into shorts and a T-shirt and head across the road to see Signora Grande and Max. Both of them greeted her effusively. The dog, in particular, looked positively ecstatic to see her and when he came out of the door into the street he started jumping up and down and running around in circles like a wild thing, growling and yelping happily. His joy did not go unobserved by the old lady.
‘Just look at Max! He’s so happy you’ve come back.’
‘And I’m delighted to see both of you.’
‘Does this mean you’ve made up your mind to stay and live in Sant’Antonio full time?’
Amy nodded. ‘Yes, and I wanted to tell you that I’m very happy to look after Max whenever you like, or even to take him off your hands completely, if that’s what you prefer.’
To her relief, the old lady beamed at her. ‘That would be absolutely wonderful, Amy. If you’re sure, then I’d be delighted if you felt like taking him on. I’m just too old now to give him the sort of exercise he needs and I’m sure not having him around will be a relief for Felix.’ She pointed back into her garage where the cat was sitting on top of a cupboard, staring blankly at the dog’s excited antics out in the street. ‘He’s getting on a bit, just like me.’
After being cooped up at the airport and in the aircraft most of the day, Amy was only too happy to take Max and set off up through the vineyard for a long walk in the warm summer air. Being back here felt so very good and she knew she had made the right decision. The temperature was high but there was a pleasant little breeze blowing in from the sea and she relished the warmth in the air along with the blissful silence after a week in the big city. Needless to say, her thoughts very soon turned, yet again, to Adam, and she wondered how he was getting on in Somalia. He had told her he was going for ten days, so hopefully he would be back by the middle of next week.
She received confirmation of this later that day when she went for dinner at the Corona Grossa. It was early July now and she realised as she got to the restaurant that she should have booked in advance. From the look of it, most of the diners were visitors, and the tourist season was well under way. Almost all the tables out on the terrace were taken and she was just standing there with Giuliano, who was trying to work out how he could fit her in, when she heard her name being called and looked up to see Danny and Pierpaolo coming across the square towards her. They were delighted to see her and insisted that she join them at the table they had had the foresight to book. They made a fuss of Max and both were far more affectionate towards her than Danny’s big brother had been.
She insisted on getting a bottle of the local spumante and telling them all about the solution her employers had come up with and both men approved. Danny, in particular, looked delighted for her.
‘You’re obviously good at your job and it’s clear they don’t want to lose you. Sounds like a perfect solution.’ He raised his glass and clinked it against hers. ‘I know you’re doing the right thing. We’re so pleased you’re here to stay, and when Adam gets back on Thursday, I know he’ll be over the moon.’
She couldn’t help shooting him a sceptical glance. ‘You think?’
He grinned back at her. ‘I definitely think.’
Pierpaolo added a bit of clarification. ‘He’s crazy about you, didn’t you know? Anybody can see it.’
Amy blinked and took refuge in her glass of wine, taking a big mouthful without thinking. The bubbles went up her nose and she found herself spluttering. Pierpaolo leant over and helpfully slapped her on the back while Max looked up from her feet in concern. Finally recovering her voice, she queried what she had just heard.
‘Either you two are talking about the wrong guy, or you know something I don’t. The impression I get from Adam is that we’re friends, hopefully good friends, but it doesn’t go any further than that.’
Pierpaolo held out his open hands towards her in exaggerated amazement. ‘What’s wrong with you, woman? Like I say, it’s so obvious.’
Danny started to explain but at that moment Giuliano arrived to take their orders. The two men both chose the same thing, mixed antipasti followed byfritto misto, and Amy followed suit blindly, much more interested in what Danny might have to say.
‘The thing you have to realise, Amy, is that Adam’s been badly burnt.’ Seeing the expression of shock on her face, he clarified. ‘That’s emotionally burnt, I mean. Hasn’t he told you about Jennifer?’
‘Jennifer…? Who’s she?’
‘She was his fiancée until it all went belly up four or five years ago. That’s why he left LA and came over here.’
Pierpaolo joined in. ‘I never met the woman, but from what Adam’s said, it’s quite clear he was madly in love with her.’
Amy was gradually beginning to make sense of what she was hearing. ‘So what happened?’
Danny picked up the story again. ‘You know the work he does. He’s away a lot and he goes to some pretty scary places, and she couldn’t handle it any longer.’
‘So she dumped him?’
Pierpaolo gave a little snort. ‘She broke his heart, poor man. Callous bitch.’
Danny once again stepped in to clarify. ‘That’s not the way it was, Pierpaolo. You don’t know the full story.’ He returned his attention to Amy. ‘She gave Adam an ultimatum: either the job or her. When he chose the job, she called off the engagement. It was tough for Adam, but it must have been just as tough, maybe more so, for her. I met her a few times and I liked her. I’m quite sure she was just as deeply in love with Adam as he was with her.’ He took a mouthful of wine before continuing. ‘It can’t have been easy for either of them.’
The sinking feeling in the pit of Amy’s stomach ever since Danny had started speaking was becoming worse and worse. The truth was now emerging. Presumably Adam, if he really did like her a lot, knew that there could be no future in a relationship with her, and he didn’t want either of them to get hurt. On the one hand, this demonstrated a lot of consideration and wisdom on his part, but it didn’t bode at all well as far as anything more developing between her and him was concerned. Even the arrival of the bruschetta, some topped with chopped tomato, others with chicken liver and some with roast aubergine and goat cheese, did little to cheer her up. Lucy had been right. There had been another woman in Adam’s life, but that wasn’t the reason he was keeping his distance. He had already once had to make a big decision, and he had chosen his job. From the way he was behaving towards her it was clear that he still felt the same way.
Thefritto mistowas as good as ever and in the company of the two men Amy gradually cheered up again – to a certain extent. By the end of the meal she felt able to put into words the way she was feeling.
‘There’s something about Sant’Antonio. Sitting here now with you guys I know I’ve made the right decision. It’s so good to be back. I’m looking forward to seeing Adam again and I know he’s going to continue to be a really good friend, but I can be happy with that. I’ve got my wonderful house, my new brother, my new job, you guys and, of course, my four-legged friend.’ She shot an affectionate glance down at the big dog sprawled at her feet. ‘What more could I ask for?’
Pierpaolo gave her a cheery smile. ‘That’s the spirit, Amy.’ He then changed the subject. ‘Now, I seem to remember you promising to throw a party, but then you scampered off to London. Now you’re back I think it’s only fair that you keep your word.’
