The Vine (25 page)

I don’t know why—out of curiosity, maybe—but I briefly lock my gaze on his other hand. No wedding ring. I’m surprised he’s not married; he’s got to have a girlfriend, as looking like that, one wouldn’t stay single for long…unless he’s a player.

Luca’s voice knocks me out of my reverie. “Do you mind if I order for everyone?” He takes complete dominance of the situation, and seems quite relaxed in doing so. Stefano and I shake our heads, signalling we don’t mind at all. Mainly I’m fine with it because at this precise moment, I couldn’t speak even if I wanted to.

While Luca is ordering, Stefano whispers in my ear in a singsong voice, “Awkward.” I just nod. “I feel like I shouldn’t be here,” he continues, and at this I quickly turn to him.

“Don’t you dare leave me! Please, don’t leave me,” I beg as panic starts to set in.

“I won’t; I promise,” Stefano reassures me, rubbing my arm to ease my anxiety. I would have been quite happy to see Luca again, as he seemed lovely and caring when I met him on the plane, but he wasn’t very honest with me. I can sort of excuse that, because I was in a fragile state, and he might have thought it would be too much information for me at the time. But now he’s arranged this lunch, and with Stefano commenting “he must be pretty taken with you”, my walls have immediately gone up, and it doesn’t help I’ve had the strangest feeling over the last couple of days that I’m being watched. I know it sounds silly, but I have felt like eyes are on me all the time when I’m not in my hotel room, like I’m being stalked or something, and it’s all a bit too coincidental for my liking.

Luca is an attractive guy—
understatement of the year
—and any girl would be blind not to see that, but if he thinks by following me around and organising lunches for me we’ll become anything more than friends, then he’s truly mistaken.

While I sit and have my internal conversation, Luca and Stefano chat away and I eventually force myself to join in. I have convinced
myself I am being ridiculous, and probably reading far more into it than I should; there’s no reason we can’t all be friends, as long as Luca doesn’t think there’s any more to it than that. I will tell Stefano, he can have a word with Luca for me and then that will be that.

The rest of the afternoon at the restaurant turns out to be a nice enough day; although I don’t give too much input into the conversation, the guys don’t shut up, and their stories are funny and entertaining. As we are leaving, Luca shakes hands with Stefano, and pulls me in to kiss me on both cheeks.
He smells divine
, I think to myself as his soft lips touch my cheeks. He pulls away and strides off confidently into the city.

Stefano and I walk slowly arm-in-arm back to the square, where we are going to plot up for a few hours and have a drink. I saw Luca stride off ahead of us, so why do I keep looking behind me, still feeling like I’m being watched. It’s unnerving to say the least.

“Are you okay?” Stefano asks.

“Yes,” I reply with a smile, “I’m great.” I’m unwilling to burden Stefano with all my worries; he seems to live such a carefree life.

“There is one thing,” I begin as Stefano looks at me, “Will you mention to Luca that if he has any intentions towards me of a romantic nature, I’m not interested—so basically, just don’t?” I smile at the last bit.

Stefano smiles too and says, “Yeah, I’ll be sure to tell him, but you need to be aware if Luca Goretti wants something, he normally gets it. No fluffy gay boy getting in the way will be able to stop him.”

I giggle at his comment. “I really don’t think he will be too bothered about not getting a date with a boring old bookworm like me, do you?” I ask, but before Stefano can answer, I continue, “I mean he could have his choice of any model in the world.”

Stefano sighs. “True, he can and probably has, but you, my darling, underestimate just how beautiful you are—inside and out.” I smile; putting myself down in front of Stefano is useless. He’s turning into a good friend and will always see the good in me and defend me, just like Katy always had, although, he probably
wouldn’t want anything to do with me if he knew what really happened to make me leave London.

The rest of the afternoon is pretty uneventful—we drink, we people watch and then we make our way home. It’s still daylight, so I tell Stefano there’s no need to walk me home, so we hug and go our separate ways. I get to my hotel room and quickly shut the door behind me. If I wasn’t just followed the whole way home; then my instincts are severely letting me down. I felt eyes on me the whole time I walked back here, but when I looked around me, nothing seemed untoward, so maybe I am imagining it, or going mad or something.

Anyway, I’m home safe now, and I’m so looking forward to climbing into bed with a good book and getting an early night. I have a busy day at the café to contend with tomorrow.

As I stand up out of my seat for about the hundredth time, I hear Katy moan at me yet again. “For crying out loud, Lucas, keep still, will you? You’re fidgeting like a five-year-old and it’s making me nervous!”

I give her one of my signature dirty looks, trying to frighten her and get her to back off a bit. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to bring Katy with me; she hasn’t stopped bitching at me since we arrived at the airport. It makes me realise even more why I miss my Angel so much—she’s so kind and gentle to me, and even if she does get cross with me, one look at that protruding pouty lip of hers and I melt.

When I smile at Lizzy, she always smiles right back at me; it’s as though she just can’t help herself. Then we’ll embrace—or huggle, as she likes to call it—in our special way, which apparently has a mixture of the strength of a hug and the loving feel of a cuddle. I must be smiling to myself, as I hear Katy sigh, saying, “Oh, God, you’re not thinking about her again, are you? No, in fact, don’t even answer that, because I know you are; it’s the only time you smile.”

Mellowing, I look down at Katy. “I miss our huggles,” I say, and then I laugh as I see Katy roll her eyes, muttering ‘sap’ under her breath. I plonk myself back in my seat as I think of our plans for when we hit Verona. One of my first stops will be a bespoke Jeweller; I’ve already contacted the owner on our way to the airport.
I searched the house briefly for Lizzy’s engagement ring but it was nowhere to be found, and in my haste to get to the airport I gave up the search and decided to order a new one to collect upon our arrival in Verona. I consoled myself with the fact that as beautiful as it was, the old ring was tainted since the accident and Lizzy’s disappearance. Now I’m one step closer to finding my Angel, I have to make sure I’m prepared because if or when I find her, I don’t intend to waste another second of our lives apart.

I already called the owner of where Lizzy and I were meant to be staying, and he informed me that no one had ever arrived. So I know she isn’t there, which didn’t surprise me too much; I would never have been able to stay there without her either.

Katy had called and booked us into a hotel for our indefinite stay in Verona. I had given Katy’s salon manager a raise to take complete responsibility of the salon for as long as we need, and as soon as I mentioned this trip, and without me even asking, Smyth and Cole told me they would take care of my side of the business, as they both knew I wasn’t planning on leaving Verona without Lizzy. Katy and I have a plan of action, and it will start immediately. We are planning to call or visit every other hotel in Verona to see if Lizzy is staying there, and hopefully, we will find her.

“I can’t wait to find her and see her again; I just need her in my arms. I can’t even imagine what that moment will feel like when my Angel is finally with me again—like a piece of my heart’s puzzle fitting back into place, making it whole again,” I say out loud, expecting yet another sigh from Katy, but instead, she takes my hand and squeezes it, and as I look over to her, I realise Katy needs Lizzy back in her life almost as much as I do. We both smile knowingly at each other.

“What’s our plan, Lucas?” Katy asks.

“You know what our plan is.” I laugh. “We get to Verona, book in our hotel and then get straight to the task of looking around hotels to find our girl.” I’m still smiling, looking at Katy like she’s lost her mind.

“I know that, Lucas,” Katy says more seriously, “but then what?”

Obvious
, I think to myself. “We bring her home,” I state aloud.

“Lucas, I really don’t think you’re getting what I’m saying.”

“No, I’m not, so spit it out, Katy. What exactly are you saying?” Annoyed now, I roll my eyes at her.

“For Christ’s sake, Lucas, Lizzy thinks you’re dead! You’re not exactly going to be able to walk up to her and say,
‘Hey babe
,
Surprise! No, you’re not seeing a ghost; I’m alive and I’ve got our tickets booked to get you home.’
Katy’s tone is sarcastic and incredulous. I look away from her, panicking. I’m such a fool. I’ve been so excited about going to find her, I hadn’t even thought about that. Katy must see my reaction, as her voice softens when she says, “Do you understand what I’m saying now? You could give the girl a heart attack or something.” I nod. “Lucas, she may have even started to make a life for herself there. I know Lizzy—when she’s grieving, she’ll need to keep herself busy.”

I nod again. I can’t speak. After Katy’s words, my mind is running away with me, and I’m imaging my Angel creating a new life without me. She’s got to be staying somewhere; she’ll probably have a job if she wants to keep herself busy. She’s such a wonderful person—everyone loves her on meeting her—so she’ll have no problem making some friends. Maybe she’ll even have a boyfriend helping her get over me.
Oh, God, I feel sick.

Katy senses my panic and says, “Lucas, calm down. You look like you’re hyperventilating over there. All I’m thinking is, it would probably be better if when we do find her that I go in first. I’ll tell her I have come to Verona to find her, and then I can explain to her about you. And of course, once she knows, she’ll be dying to see you as much as you are her,” she smiles.

My heart rate starts to regulate at Katy’s smile; her idea is a sensible one. I don’t think sensibly when it comes to Lizzy. I lean back and close my eyes as I calm myself further with thoughts that I’ll soon be in Verona, and in a closer proximity to Lizzy. I will check in at our hotel, and then we’ll start searching.

I will find her. I have to.

Saskia

I lay back on my bed smiling as I think how lucky I have been with my photography today. I have seen Elizabeth Maynard with my own eyes over the last day, and she seems to have moved on. She has a job in a café, which she seems happy with—only God knows why. Who in their right mind would want to work in a café? It just proves to me even more she is not in mine and Lucas’s league. She also has the campiest gay friend I think I have ever seen, and to top it off, he is as common as muck—although he does seem to adore Elizabeth. Then there’s the absolutely stunning Italian gentleman, who is clearly besotted with her.

This bitch seems to land on her feet every time. She meets a man like Lucas and she becomes his world; then, when things get rough, she swans off to Italy, only to land a job—even if it is just as a waitress, she certainly seems happy enough. She has made instant friends, and has the most unbelievably attractive Italian god just waiting for her to drop her knickers. And to top it all off, she’s got Lucas willing to give up everything in his life just to find her.

What is so great about this girl? She looks awfully plain to me, and why do people keep calling her Ella? I mean, seriously, who the fuck does she think she is? I can feel my blood pressure rising and I’m getting angry; I need to calm myself down. I can’t lose control, at least, not yet.

I calm myself as I start to think about the rest of my plan. I will show Lucas the kind of girl she really is, and that she has moved on. And with these wonderful thoughts running through my mind, I upload all the photos I have taken to my laptop. I flick through them again and smile to myself, imagining his face when he sees them. I have pictures of her smiling and laughing with customers at the café. I have pictures of her walking along arm-in-arm with her flamboyant male friend laughing, and it doesn’t matter how obviously gay he looks, Lucas will still be jealous as
hell. Then there’s a great one where Elizabeth is having lunch with her friend and the Italian god, and she is laughing like she hasn’t got a care in the world.

The greatest photograph captured though, is of the god kissing her. Now, the reality of that kiss was a typical, European goodbye kiss on both cheeks. The handsome man hadn’t lingered; he just kissed her confidently and walked away. But in my still shot, his lips are heading to her, and her eyes are closed in anticipation—like she’s sensually awaiting his lips to touch hers.
Lucas will blow a gasket when he sees these
, I think and chuckle.

In the subject line of an email from a newly-created address, I just write: YOU’RE WASTING YOUR TIME. IT LOOKS LIKE SHE’S MOVED ON. MAYBE YOU SHOULD TOO. I attach the photos, and then I click
Send
. Job done.

I only wish I was a fly on the wall when he sees them, now for the next part of my plan.

I have a day off of work today; Isabella insisted on it, as the weekend is expected to be busy, and also, it’s my turn to be in extra early on both days to open up. Isabella always used to open up, but it was my idea we take turns to give her a little bit of a rest. After a relaxing morning, which basically consists of me waking up late and staying in bed with my bed partner—my Kindle, I eventually get up and take a shower to liven myself up a bit.

By the time I’m dressed and ready, I notice it’s nearly lunchtime.
No wonder my stomach is growling at me.
I decide today I’ll have a little mooch into the main square. I have days when I really don’t want to be on my own, and this is one of them. I even called Stefano earlier, but he’s manic at the salon today. So that’s why I’ve decided to go and eat in the square. With the hustle and bustle there, you never feel quite alone.