Page 49 of A Very Italian Wedding
‘Coco’s either in the olive grove or she’s hiding somewhere in the garden,’ Marco soothed as Luna let out a sob. ‘She’ll be fine,tesoro.’
His fiancée rounded on him, clearly close to tears. ‘You don’t know that,’ she spluttered. ‘An animal could get to her. She’s terrified, we need to find her now!’ She stumbled onto the gravelly pathway that led further into the garden.
‘But it is dark,cara,’ Marco said, sounding frustrated. ‘Surely she will come back by herself?’ His words were punctuated by another loud bang and a blaze of fizzing colours. They would have been beautiful in any other circumstances, but Ben knew each blast was like a nail in the coffin of his friend’s wedding. Unless he could help put this right.
‘How many fireworks are going to go off exactly?’ Luna asked Marco furiously as yet more rockets erupted.
‘Just a few more, they are on a timer,cara,’ Marco said. ‘They’re supposed to be a celebration of our love; I thought you’d enjoy them.’
‘Well, I don’t!’ Luna complained, stumbling again as she took another few steps along the uneven pathway. Behind them the rest of the family began to spread out calling for Coco. ‘I need to find her.’
‘Why don’t you change your shoes first?’ Rose suggested. ‘If you fall, you might get injured.’
‘Sìand Marco, while Luna is changing, you go and find some torches,’ Elena ordered, jogging over to join them as Leonardo and Cesare quickly disappeared into the garden. ‘We should all search for Coco. It’s important to your bride.’
Aurora nodded. ‘Aldo says we’ll find her where there is—’ She screwed up her face. ‘It’s difficult to understand. He is saying liquid. Something red or white. It’s not completely clear.’
Luna wailed. ‘She hates water. She won’t even swim with me.’ She turned to Rose, her eyes wide. ‘Where is she?’
‘Go and change into flat shoes,’ Ben repeated Rose’s advice. ‘Then check the grounds and pool. Rose and I will go to the olive grove now. There’s a lake…’
‘A lake.’ Luna paled, then she turned and ran towards the house, stopping momentarily as she passed Marco to shout. ‘If we don’t find my dog, the wedding is off!’
Ben watched Rose’s face as Luna disappeared into the front of the villa, and the family began to yell more orders at one another, further forced into action by Luna’s declaration, while Marco stood looking shell-shocked. Rose twisted round and pulled her phone from her pocket so she could switch on the torch and began to half trot, half run into the darkness.
‘Wait!’ Ben yelled, switching on his torch too as he stumbled after her. ‘Don’t you want to change your shoes too?’ He caught up and looked down at her strappy silver sandals. He paid attention, especially when gorgeous women wore heels. ‘You could trip.’
‘I’m fine,’ Rose said, her voice matter of fact. ‘We need to find the demon now. She’s not going to drown on my watch. Do you know where this lake is?’ She sped up again as another firework launched into the air, lighting up the sky in an explosion of colours. ‘I thought they were going to stop,’ she said, sounding angry.
‘The men programmed them to go off so Marco would be with Luna when they ignited. I don’t think there are many left now.’ As Ben said it, the sky fell silent. ‘The lake is this way.’He pointed left. He knew every inch of the Marinos’ property – could navigate it in the dark if necessary. ‘You should hold my hand; it gets rocky somewhere around here.’ He caught up until they were walking side by side.
Ben thought Rose was going to refuse; instead, she left her hand in his when he took it and linked their fingers. ‘We have to find the demon.’ She sounded worried. ‘Luna loves that dog. We have to find her; if we don’t, the wedding won’t go ahead.’
Ben squeezed Rose’s hand and led her on a path to their right. He knew they’d reached the edge of the olive grove – close to where Cesare had planted the tree for Isabella – and imagined he could smell burning even now.
‘As much as I dislike Coco, I love her in equal measure. Coco!’ Rose bellowed into the darkness.
They stopped walking and waited, listening to the silence. Ben could hear voices in the distance – recognised Aurora and Francesca’s dulcet tones. But Coco didn’t answer. ‘Do you think she’s okay?’ There was a crack in Rose’s voice, a hint of a tremor, and a measure of vulnerability he hadn’t heard until now.
Ben squeezed her hand again. ‘I think she’s fine,’ he said. ‘I’ll make sure of it.’ He frowned: he hadn’t made anyone a promise in a long time.
‘What is that smell?’ Rose tugged Ben’s hand, guiding him towards the far corner of the field. ‘It’s like ashes. Coco!’ She shouted. ‘You don’t think the demon would be attracted to it, do you?’
‘I’m not sure. It’s Isabella’s tree – what’s left of it.’ Ben shone the light from his phone onto the charred remains of the olive stump. Cesare had cleaned up most of the debris, but he hadn’t pulled out the roots. Perhaps he just couldn’t bring himself to do it? Maybe admitting the tree was really gone was the same as accepting his marriage was too? Ben knew Marco had offered to do it for him, but his grandfather had said no. Instead, he’dtended to the plant daily, watering the charred remains as if he hoped it would somehow reanimate.
Rose knelt beside the stump and waved her light. ‘It looks dead,’ she murmured. ‘No wonder Isabella’s so upset.’
There was a sudden burst of loud shouts in the far distance – in the direction of the house – and she jerked her head towards it. ‘Do you think they’ve found Coco?’
Ben listened carefully. ‘I can’t hear barking.’ He considered retracing their steps, but the lake wasn’t far, and if the dog hadn’t been found, they needed to check the water just in case.
Rose nodded, looking disappointed. ‘Coco would bark. Unless she couldn’t.’ She looked stricken.
Ben took her hand and squeezed it again, then led her in the direction of the lake. He could hear the soft whistling of crickets, could smell woody bark from the trees, and a combination of dust and hot night sky that had mingled with the familiar strawberry fragrance that made him think of Rose now.
He guided her closer and heard the quiet lap of water as the evening breeze blew across the lake. He could smell it now, but it was still too dark to see. He felt on edge, a little afraid of what they might find when they drew closer.
‘Coco!’ Rose shouted again as the laps grew louder. ‘Where are you?’
