Chapter 14
Something had changed. Lola couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but Rhys was subdued the next morning.
Even the glances in their direction from Zoe and Freddie over breakfast did nothing to lift her niggling worry that she’d made Rhys uncomfortable last night.
Although she’d struggled recently to be confident in big social situations, she knew Rhys wasn’t an extrovert.
That was who she was – at least who she used to be.
Rhys was far chattier, funnier and more open when there were only a couple of people around.
She could see him shutting down when he was in a large group, suddenly going quiet.
Perhaps she had pushed things too far last night.
She imagined it through his eyes and grimaced at how idiotic she must have looked banging her feet against the headboard to pretend that they were having…
Ugh, she didn’t even want to think about that.
She’d come to care about Rhys as a friend, a feeling he seemed to reciprocate.
She hoped she hadn’t messed up their friendship, not when they’d bared their souls to each other.
Lola wasn’t alone in her worry because Mirabel looked pensive over breakfast, as if she had stuff playing on her mind too, which wouldn’t be surprising after the tension between the two mothers yesterday.
Much to everyone’s relief, the day had been planned out with the friendship groups sticking together.
Rhys was heading on a boat tour along the coast with Fabs and his friends, while Lola would be joining Mirabel and her friends and family for a stroll through Bosa for a spot of shopping, lunch and sightseeing.
If there was any awkwardness between her and Rhys, they wouldn’t have to deal with it until they returned to Villa Capparis later that evening, although she didn’t envy him having to spend the day with Freddie and Zoe.
By mid-morning Lola was exploring the medieval heart of Bosa.
The narrow cobbled streets made her want to hold her breath when a car squeezed by.
She’d only got as far as having a handful of driving lessons in her early twenties and had never got round to taking a test, but her anxiety soared at the idea of navigating a car through streets that had only been intended for a horse and cart.
Some buildings were so close together that Lola imagined people could reach across to each other from the opposite balcony.
In the really narrow streets, leafy green plants decorated the doorsteps instead of colourful flowers, probably because the sun rarely reached the cobbles with the houses so close together.
With potted palms outside doors and trailing foliage cascading from balconies, the backstreets were an oasis of green amid stone walls, some crumbling in patches.
Lola was enjoying strolling through the town, getting a sense of the real Sardinia away from its picture-perfect beaches.
One of the reasons for coming to Bosa – besides Giada wanting to show off more of her beloved island – was for Mirabel to choose her wedding jewellery, and Lola was pleased that Giada had sensibly allowed Felicity to take charge.
The excitement for the upcoming wedding ramped up the moment the friends stepped inside the jewellers to find a treasure trove of earrings, rings, bracelets and necklaces.
Filigrana Vadilonga specialised in traditional Sardinian filigree: delicately textured small spirals reminiscent of embroidered gold that gave each piece of jewellery a unique and eye-catching look.
The love and pride on Felicity’s face was heart-warming as they browsed the display cases, all of them pitching in with ideas about what Mirabel should go for.
‘How about a heart-shaped one?’ Deni suggested as they wandered round the compact shop.
Lola’s eye was drawn to the ones without any jewels: a threaded gold pendant sun and a tiny round filigree pendant designed with four concentric circles.
Sarah spun round. ‘This four-thousand-euro choker is so me, don’t you think?’ She gestured to a display cabinet containing a statement necklace made from gold rosettes and delicate tear-drop pearls.
Mirabel baulked at the price.
‘This is our gift to you,’ Felicity insisted as she tucked her arm in her daughter’s. ‘We want you to choose what you love. Forget about the price. It’s something we want to do for you. From us,’ she stressed.
‘Perhaps not the choker though,’ Sarah whispered.
After the hotel lobby stand-off the day before, they understood how important buying the wedding jewellery was for Mirabel’s mum.
With all of them coveting something different, Mirabel eventually chose a delicate pearl and yellow-gold pendant with a teardrop blue topaz at its centre and earrings to match that was expensive but not eye-wateringly so.
They left the shop in a flurry of voices, their shopping spree a much-needed reminder that they weren’t just on Sardinia for a holiday.
‘Only five days to go till your wedding!’ Deni said as they stepped onto the street and into blazing sunshine.
* * *
After lunch at a nearby pizzeria, Mirabel’s parents headed back to the hotel for a siesta, while the friends climbed the steep stone lanes towards the top of Bosa, where Malaspina Castle overlooked the town from its perch on the hill.
Sunshine bathed the lanes and they were all puffing by the time they reached somewhere they could stop and admire the view.
A heat haze rippled towards the hills that edged the town.
The terracotta-red tiled roofs soaked up the sun, while the colourful pastel stonework of the houses brought warmth to the valley which was enclosed by hills and the sea.
The low wall in front of them was packed with pots blooming with flowers and swarming with bees in the September sun.
It was the perfect time after the intense heat and crowds of the summer; something that Sarah and Polly always complained about.
With school-age children, they missed out on the blissful quiet away from peak season.
They continued on up the hill. ‘Your mum seemed happier after going shopping this morning,’ Lola said as she tucked her arm in Mirabel’s and they followed after the others. ‘And all the parents were okay at dinner last night.’
‘Only because they were ignoring each other,’ Mirabel said.
‘I think this place tipped Mum over the edge. It’s one thing them staying at the family house and you lot at one of their villas, but this night away has felt unnecessary even if we did combine it with shopping for the wedding.
I know Giada wants to show off the island, but it’s come across as them flaunting their wealth and connections by putting everyone up here all for one night.
That wasn’t their intention because I understand they’re not like that, but for my parents, knowing they’re spending this sort of money…
’ She shook her head and clasped Lola’s arm tighter.
‘And Mum and Dad really can’t afford that jewellery?—’
‘They can or they wouldn’t have and it’s something they wanted to do for you when so much else is out of their hands.’
They continued on in silence, their calf muscles aching with the climb, the gentle heat wrapping around them.
‘What does Fabs think about the whole situation?’ Lola eventually asked.
‘Fabs is being Fabs and trying his hardest to keep the peace, but I feel trapped in the middle. This should be a joyous time, but it’s just a melting pot of tension.’
They’d trailed behind the others but caught up when they reached the top of the hill. The stone walls of the imposing castle came into view.
Mirabel paused and tilted her head towards the sun, while the others continued across a narrow road and began the climb to the castle.
‘I told you it was a bad idea having everyone come out so far in advance. Our parents are already at each other’s throats; imagine how awful it’ll be by the actual wedding.’
‘You’re talking about family, but not your friends.
If it’s any consolation, I’ve never seen Sarah look so happy, and this time away for Deni has already taught her a thing or two about getting a little more balance in her life.
Everyone is having a good time, although none of that matters if you’re not. ’
‘Oh, it’s not that I’m not enjoying myself, it’s just there’s a pressure I can’t shift. I’m constantly trying to please everyone. It’s exhausting.’
‘Come on, you two!’ Deni’s voice from further up the path floated down. ‘Stop gossiping about Lola’s helluva night with Rhys!’
Lola cringed at the confirmation that it hadn’t been just Freddie and Zoe they’d managed to put a show on for last night; no wonder Rhys had been out of sorts this morning.
Mirabel smiled knowingly as she pulled Lola close and they started up the last bit of the path.
‘Remind me why we climbed this flipping hill?’ she muttered as they followed after the others, their pace snail-like.
‘For the view and to see the castle.’
‘Cocktails by the river might have been preferable.’
‘You were the one who seemed keen to walk things off this morning.’
‘I was, I am, it’s just… Ugh. I’m tired, that’s all.’ Mirabel’s shoulders dropped. ‘I needed to get out. Get away.’
Lola nodded. ‘Maybe have a word with Fabs about easing back on big days out, keep it simple. Just spending time together at the villa is more than enough.’
‘We have a restaurant booked for tomorrow evening, just friends mind, but yeah, no big plans after that until the evening before the wedding. Maybe he can try to rein his mum in.’ Mirabel gave her a look that suggested she wasn’t at all convinced by that idea.
‘Come on, let’s go see this castle. At least it will be downhill on the way back. ’
‘And a cocktail or two waiting for us, I’m sure.’
* * *
The sun was retreating towards the horizon by the time they returned to Hotel Melis.
The river, reflecting the golden sunset, glistened amber, while the tightly packed lanes in the old town were lit up with light spilling from windows, and the open doors of restaurants enticed with welcoming warmth and fragrant scents.
But with their whirlwind trip to Bosa at an end and the nearly two-and-a-half-hour journey back to Villa Capparis still to go, cocktails on a picturesque terrace had been replaced with a glass of Malvasia wine from the family’s vineyard in the hotel bar.
Lola sipped her glass of dessert wine while they waited for the taxis to pick them up.
She wondered how wise it was to have everyone waiting together.
There was an obvious division with Fabs and Mirabel’s families sitting on opposite sides of the bar, while the friendship groups were clustered together.
She couldn’t tell if Rhys was purposely avoiding her or if he was just too embarrassed to talk to her with everyone there.
The idea that her actions had put a wedge between them upset her more than she thought possible.
Downing the remainder of the wine and leaving her rucksack with Deni and Sarah, Lola nipped to the bathroom off the lobby.
She slicked on lipstick, ran damp fingers through her hair, pushed open the bathroom door and came face to face with Zoe.
Instead of letting her through, Zoe paused in the doorway, her head cocked as if studying her.
‘Having fun with Rhys?’
On the surface, it was an innocent enough question, but it was a loaded one.
Her tone was edged with bitterness, or perhaps annoyance.
The tightness of her lips and a cool steeliness overpowered her delicate features and made Lola hesitate, unsure how to answer. Zoe was like a cat with her claws out.
Annoyance flared within Lola. Someone who had dumped Rhys, who no longer wanted to be with him and had hooked up with a mutual friend of theirs had the audacity to look pissed off that someone else was with her ex.
Lola placed her palm on the door and leaned in close. ‘Actually yes, a huge amount of fun, thank you.’ She pushed past and didn’t look back as the door swung closed.
And she’d been telling the truth; she was having fun with Rhys, just not in the way everyone was assuming.
However Rhys felt about it, she hoped to God she’d managed to wipe the smarmy smile off Zoe’s face.
From what she’d seen and everything Rhys had said, she was convinced he was well shot of his ex; she just hoped he realised it too and learnt to move on properly rather than waste any more time and effort on someone who should remain in the past. That was what she was trying to live up to herself.