What Happens in Tuscany... (30 page)

‘I think something's wrong.' Vicky looked across at Katie, squinting against the sun as she did so. ‘That day you were carted off to hospital he said he wanted to talk to me, but he never did. Do you think there might be some problem, something I've done, that's stopping him from replying?'

So he hasn't told her about her father and his mother?
For a moment Katie thought of using this as the reason for Paul's lack of communication, but she discarded the idea immediately. She remembered her promise to Nando not to tell, so she opted to keep it vague. ‘Listen, Vicky, it's a complicated situation. I think there are a couple of reasons. Next time you see Paul, ask him to explain what's going on.'

‘Something's going on?' Vicky looked puzzled.

‘There's stuff he's got to tell you. Ask him.'

‘Can't you tell me?'

Katie decided to be economical with the truth. ‘I don't really know much about it. I'd rather you got it direct from him.' Victoria's face fell, then she remembered something.

‘Martin said he saw him with a dark-haired woman this morning. It was quite early, while Martin was on his run, and they were coming out of Paul's house. Do you think Loretta's still staying with him?'

Katie felt a momentary stab of annoyance that Martin had told Vicky, but hadn't told her. Doing her best to ignore this, and the fact that Loretta was still staying with Paul, she searched for a way out of the corner into which she was slowly backing. Luckily, providence, in the shape of Martin, supplied the lifeline she was seeking.

‘Hi, girls, how's it going?'

They both looked up at the sound of Martin's voice. He had been out for a run and was stripped to the waist, his torso running with sweat. As always, Katie felt a warm glow of satisfaction at his appearance. A glance across at the equally warm smile on Vicky's face showed that she was not the only one. Not for the first time since returning from hospital, Katie found herself wondering if Tom's return to Britain might have altered Vicky's man target to somebody closer to home.

And it was true that Martin was spending an awful lot of time with Vicky these days. Of course, since her return from hospital, Katie was still a bit limited in what she could and couldn't do. She wasn't allowed to drive, and in fact they had given the Fiat back to the car rental people. The surgeon had also advised her to avoid bumpy car rides for a while. As the road outside was still very rough, this meant effectively staying put in the villa all day long. In consequence, for the past three days, Martin and Vicky had been travelling round the area in the car, seeing the sights, while Katie stayed at home with Rosina or, more often, Dante the dog.

She reached up and caught Martin's hand, pulling him down onto the sun bed beside her. He bent forward and kissed her gently on the cheek. That was about as far as physical contact went between them at the moment. They occupied different rooms and, even if she had decided to share his bed, her tender abdomen ruled out sex.

‘How's the sexy scar?'

She was wearing a one piece costume as she didn't want to end up with a little white patch on her belly when the dressing came off. ‘I'm not sure how sexy it's looking, but it doesn't hurt any more.'

He nodded and transferred his gaze across to Vicky. Katie followed his eyes. She had to admit that Vicky looked great in her bikini, her skin now tanned a light brown and her hair even a little bleached by the sun. ‘No scars on you, Vicky.' He was right of course. Vicky's body was unblemished, but Katie would have preferred it if he had avoided references to another woman's body in her presence.

‘You've got a few, though.' Vicky reached across the gap between the sun beds and ran her finger lightly across an old scar on Martin's thigh. He grinned.

‘Nothing too heroic, that one. An accident with the propeller of a model aircraft.' He turned back to Katie, unaware that she was grinding her teeth. ‘Still too soon to get you in the car?' He didn't wait for her reply, but glanced at Vicky. ‘How does the idea of a glass of wine over at the Villa Medici sound? We've got plenty of time to go for an aperitivo before coming back here for dinner.'

‘That's that rather posh place on the hill with the famous gardens, isn't it? It sounds great.' Vicky turned to Katie. ‘You don't mind if we pop out, do you? We won't be long.'

‘Of course not.' Katie smiled sweetly. She hadn't been in the local amateur dramatic group for nothing. ‘You young people go off and have fun.' Neither of them noticed a thing.

‘That's settled, then, if you're sure you don't mind, Katie.' Martin glanced across at Vicky. ‘I'll just go and have a quick shower.'

Vicky jumped to her feet and followed Martin back into the house. ‘I'll come with you. I think I'll have a shower as well.'

Katie shook her head and stood up gingerly. Showers were still a bit of a problem, as she wasn't supposed to get the dressing or the scar wet, so washing took considerably longer than usual. She was wondering what to do while the others went off and had fun, when a cold, wet nose goosed her bottom, making her jump.

‘Hey, you, I've told you about that before.' In spite of her protests, she smiled as she reached down and patted the dog. ‘You've come to visit Cinderella, have you? Well, the ugly sisters are going out and it'll just be the two of us in a minute.' Now that was an idea. She would go for a little walk with her big hairy friend. And he wouldn't mind if she'd had a shower or not. She ran her towel across her neck and shoulders and pulled her T-shirt and shorts back on. She would shower and change when she returned.

She walked back into the house and hunted around for a pair of sandals while the dog stood at the door and waited expectantly. She had been warned to avoid bending, so she slipped the sandals on and waited for one of the others to come downstairs and buckle them up for her. She sat down at the kitchen table and poured herself a glass of water. As she sipped it, she did her best to recover her cool. She didn't have long to wait.

‘You sure you don't mind if I take Vicky out for a drink?' She felt Martin's hand on her shoulder. She turned towards him with a smile. He was looking very smart in a light blue T-shirt, very handsome and, compared to her, very clean.

‘Of course not. I've just been telling the dog that he's got the pleasure of the company of Cinderella this evening. I think I might go for a little walk with him if you would be kind enough to buckle me up.'

He squatted at her feet and tightened the straps. ‘Cinderella, eh? So are these glass slippers, then?'

‘Oh, no they aren't!' She affected a convincing pantomime dame voice.

‘Oh, yes they are!' He stood up and slapped his thigh for good measure. ‘Anyway, we won't be long. Promise.'

She looked up at him affectionately. ‘That's all right. I wish I was coming with you, but I'd better do as I'm told. Hopefully it's only for a few more days.' A thought occurred to her. ‘What day are we today? You're going home soon.'

He nodded ruefully. ‘Today's Friday already. My flight home's on Sunday. Not long now.'

She grasped his hands. ‘I'm really sorry you have to leave so soon, and I'm really sorry this last week has been such a mess for you. You didn't even get to see your sister in Rome.'

‘That's nothing. The main thing is that you're all right after the scare you gave us. And anyway, Vicky's good company. I'm going to miss both of you.'

‘And we'll both miss you.' Vicky was standing in the doorway to the hall. ‘It's been such fun to have a man about the house.' Katie took a good look at her. She had chosen a short, tight-fitting orange dress that showed off her figure and her tan to perfection. Katie's eyes flicked across to Martin. The man about the house was clearly very taken by her outfit.

‘Wow, Vicky, you look great.' Then, remembering his manners, Martin turned to Katie. ‘And you look as gorgeous as ever.'

‘Give or take a shower, a bath and a change of clothes. Go on, off you go. The dog and I have plans this evening.' She shooed them out of the house and watched as they climbed into Martin's little Fiat. As they drove off, she turned to Dante and suggested a short walk. He wagged his tail and headed off up the track.

She walked slowly, picking her way carefully among the loose stones and tree roots. The torrential rain of some days earlier had disappeared without trace and the soil was once more as dry as a bone. Her feet and her sandals were dusty brown by the time she emerged onto the road. The dog stopped and looked back, waiting to be told whether to go up or downhill. She chose downhill, deliberately avoiding Paul Taylor's house. Only one vehicle, one of those three-wheeled little trucks beloved of Italian farmers, passed them as they walked down towards the village. Apart from that, they had the road to themselves. She saw Nando working in the fields with some of the men and she waved. She was almost down to the gates to their villa when she spotted a man jogging uphill towards her. He was tall and, even at a distance, she recognised him at once.

‘Oh, Marco, how are you?'

He raised his head and slowed his pace, stopping as he reached her. He was breathing deeply but, considering he had been running uphill, he was barely out of breath. He gave her a broad smile. ‘Oh, Katie, I'm fine, but it's you I should be asking about. We were all very worried the other day, with doctors and ambulances and emergency operations and all that. Here, my cheeks are not too sweaty. Kiss me and I'll know you're well again.'

She did as she was bidden, pleased to see him again. ‘You're looking very fit.'

He gave her a wink. ‘Staying beautiful isn't easy. But, of course, you know that, don't you? I must say you're looking remarkably good for somebody who's just come out of hospital.'

‘It was only a very little operation really, and I've been awfully well looked after.'

‘Paul said it was a very classy private hospital.' His face grew more serious. ‘And that reminds me. I've got a bone to pick with you. What did I say to you? I asked you not to break his heart and look what you've done.' He shook his head sadly. ‘You girls just don't understand how vulnerable we men can be. You think of us as hard and emotionless, but you're wrong.'

‘Me, break his heart?' Katie met his eye and held it. ‘I did nothing of the kind. He said all sorts of things to me that aren't right. And he wouldn't even listen to what I had to say.' In spite of herself she felt her eyes moisten and her voice crack. ‘He just stormed out, Marco. And I was in hospital. That's really mean.' Marco reached out and caught her by the shoulders.

‘Now, now. I didn't realise you felt that way. So it's worse than I thought; you've broken each other's hearts.' She shook her head, but he carried on anyway. ‘Well, it's your own business. I promise I won't get involved.'

He transferred his attention to Dante and spent a few seconds stroking the dog's ears while Katie tried to come up with a response. Her eyes were stinging and she wasn't really too sure why. She pulled out a tissue, wiped her eyes and blew her nose. After a moment, Marco stood up slowly and took her by the shoulders. ‘This is the last thing I'll say. I promise. Just this; if it hurts so much, maybe it's worth saving.'

Her head was spinning. Why was she so upset? Was Marco right; was there anything there to be saved? And, if there was, did she want to save it? Her thoughts were interrupted by his voice.

‘Now then, you know what you need, Katie? You need to be taken out for a drink. Let's go somewhere romantic. A glass of champagne with a man as handsome as I am has got to be every girl's dream, surely? How does that sound?'

Katie summoned a little smile. ‘That would be a great idea, but I can't. Martin and Victoria have just gone over to the Villa Medici. I didn't go because I'm not supposed to go on bumpy roads and this one here's so rough.'

He thought for a moment. ‘But if you just walk on down here for another few hundred metres, you'll be on a proper metalled road. No more bumps, or at least not many of them.' He held up a hand to stop her speaking. ‘No objections, it'll be good for you. Listen to Dr Marco, this is what we'll do. You walk on down the hill to the main road. I'll take Dante back up with me and hand him over to Nando who's working just opposite my place. I'll have a very quick shower and change and then I'll come and pick you up from the crossroads and take you over to Villa Medici. It's a beautiful place.' He stepped back and looked at her. ‘So, what do you say?'

‘But I'm dirty and sweaty and scruffy.' She glanced down at her dusty feet.

He shook his head. ‘
Carissima
, you look wonderful. Don't be so silly. Now, start walking slowly and I'll be down there in ten minutes. Come on, Dante, let's go and find Nando.'

Chapter Twenty-Five

Marco was as good as his word. Katie only had to wait a few minutes before his red Alfa appeared to pick her up. The hood was down and the sun was making fast work of drying his mane of hair.

‘Wow! That really was a quick shower and change.' She was impressed.

‘You know I used to be a male model?' She nodded. ‘Well, in that business, you learn how to shower and change in a matter of seconds. And, even so, I look wonderful, don't I? Come on, admit it, I'm gorgeous, aren't I?'

She lowered herself into the car and gave him a big smile. ‘Yes, Marco, truly gorgeous. And oh so modest as well.'

They set off along the old road, heading west towards the setting sun. As they drove past, he pointed down a narrow road between the houses to their right, leading into the medieval heart of the village.

‘Are you coming to the
Festa del Paese
tomorrow? It's Monte a Signa's big weekend. They close the old town centre to all traffic. There are games and competitions for the kids in the afternoon and then a big parade, followed by dinner and dancing in the main square. We go every year. It's brilliant. You've got to come. Bring the others; we can all sit on the same table.'