Chapter 51
A few hours later, the party’s in full swing. While Theo slips around the back of the house to set up the pizza bar, I mingle with the guests to check everyone’s happy.
I’m pleased to see various builders and diggers engrossed in conversation.
It turns out they didn’t get much chance to talk to one another while they were working, as one group was at the top of the hill while the other was at the bottom—but they’re making up for it now.
One older digger is sipping from a Castello Cosmo as he tells the Syrian builder about the pottery they found.
And the student has struck up a conversation with a builder from Hungary, ostensibly to ask for advice about her upcoming trip to Budapest, but it looks like her real objective is to flirt—and she’s succeeding.
Signor Mancini is one of the people I was worried wouldn’t know anyone, but he seems perfectly relaxed.
This is the first time I’ve seen him out of a formal suit and smart leather shoes, although he’s still doused himself in aftershave.
He’s come with his wife, a raven-haired, statuesque woman who recognized Luisa as their children’s history teacher and is chatting to her over Montemagno Margaritas.
They’re joined by Vito, who tells them he’s moving out of town and asks the Fiores how they like living in the village—in a break from cuddling and pawing Dom.
Dom steps away to get the two of them more drinks, and I take the chance to grab him and steer him to one side.
“I can’t get over you and Vito,” I say. “I didn’t even know you’d stayed in touch.”
“Yeah, we’ve been messaging ever since I got home,” he reveals. “I think this might be it, Adam.”
“Well, I’m really happy for you.” I take a sip of my Prosecco. “It may have come as a surprise but I’m loving the plot twist.”
“Me too. I’ve learnt that just because something was my story before, it doesn’t mean it has to be forever.”
I raise an eyebrow. “It sounds like you’ve been talking to Ian.”
“Why, did he tell you the same thing?”
“Yeah!”
We laugh.
“Well, he’s right,” says Dom. “I also think part of the problem was I only ever saw basic, boring relationships. But you inspired me, my sister. You showed me it’s possible to create something different.”
“Oh, Dom, that’s a lovely thing to say.”
His thoughtful expression gives way to a mischievous smirk. “Speaking of relationships, has Theo proposed yet?”
I move to elbow him but he holds up his glasses to defend himself.
“No!” I yelp. But now he’s mentioned it, I realize I would quite like Theo to propose. “I’m not going to let you tease me. Go and get those drinks!”
I hug him and move on to find Ian. I spot him sitting in a hammock, next to Kate.
When she arrived from her agriturismo, I worried my sisters wouldn’t be very welcoming, but I managed to take them to one side and tell them about our reconciliation.
After that, Ian made a special effort and it looks like he’s now switched into coaching mode: as I edge closer, I hear him and Kate discussing her career plans.
I decide not to disturb them and look around for Gloria, who towers over most of the guests so is easy to find. He’s chatting to Giuseppe and his wife, a ginger-haired woman called Judith, who has a strong Geordie accent.
“You know what I like most about this place?” Gloria asks her, Montemagno Margarita in hand.
“What’s that, pet?” says Judith.
“Your husband’s arms!”
Giuseppe laughs but Judith almost chokes on her polenta chip. I hope Gloria hasn’t overstepped the mark.
“Don’t get me wrong,” he goes on, swigging his drink. “The house is nice and everything but those muscles are something else.”
Judith breaks into a naughty grin. “The rest of him isn’t bad, either.”
The two of them cackle with laughter.
Gloria spots Angelika and excuses himself to rush over and launch himself at her. “I’ve been dying to meet you!” he erupts. “I’ve heard all your stories! I swear down, you are iconic!”
Angelika looks slightly overwhelmed and twists her rings round her fingers. “Well, thank you.”
“Go on,” says Gloria, “ask me if I’ve got anything to suck on.”
There’s a second before Angelika understands what he’s getting at, then a twinkle appears in her eye. “Have you got anything to suck on, darling?”
Gloria snaps open his fan. “Those builders aren’t bad!”
The two of them hoot with laughter and I decide it’s safe to leave them.
I look around for Dad and Debbie. When they arrived, they looked nervous, and I noticed Dad tipping back his first beer.
At first, he clung to Debbie’s side, apart from chatting to Giuseppe and some of the other builders, complimenting them on their windows.
Then Theo joined them and they struck up some banter about City versus United.
That’s something my younger self could never have imagined—seeing my football-obsessed dad chatting to my football-loving boyfriend.
But I liked it, and I think Dad did, too.
I spot him with Debbie, the two of them standing in front of the grain store, sharing one of the first pizzas to come out of the oven.
They’re chatting to Callum, who’s holding hands with Lina, and Mabel, who’s standing next to Freya, the two of them sipping Virgin Versilias.
I lean in to check they’re all getting on.
“We were horrible to Adam at first,” Callum is saying. “We pretended his food was minging.”
“One time I scrubbed the toilet with his toothbrush,” adds Mabel.
Debbie chuckles. “I wouldn’t worry about that. When Adam were your age, I saw him wipin’ my toast on t’ kitchen floor.”
“I didn’t know you saw that!” I break in.
Debbie looks at me and rolls her eyes. “’Course I did, love. I just didn’t say owt because you chickened out and chucked it in t’ bin. I don’t mind admittin’, part of me were disappointed.”
“I weren’t disappointed!” Dad pipes up. “But we had a right laugh about it, didn’t we, Debbie?”
The three of us have another laugh now and I’m relieved to see that everyone has loosened up.
Gloria moves in. “Addy, you didn’t tell me your dad was so handsome!”
I feel flummoxed and take a swig of my Prosecco. “Oh, urm, well …”
“Move over, Theo!” Gloria shouts out. “Mart, you’re my new favorite zaddy!”
Dad furrows his brow. “What’s a zaddy?”
“A hot daddy,” Gloria answers, with a snap of his fan.
Dad grins. “In that case, ta very much.”
Gloria turns to Debbie. “Respect, girl. What’s your secret?”
Debbie giggles bashfully. But before she can answer, Dad jumps in. “As if she needs a secret! Look at her—she’s beltin’ lookin’!”
Debbie continues giggling.
“Now I fancy him even more,” declares Gloria. “There’s nothing hotter than a man who appreciates his woman!”
That comment seems to delight both Dad and Debbie. And Callum pulls Lina closer and kisses her on the side of the head.
When Debbie asks Gloria to teach her how to throw a fan, I slip away.
I find Theo and he tells me Stefano has relieved him of his pizza-making duties.
But I don’t have the chance to commandeer him, as Mabel grabs him to announce the start of the treasure hunt.
Those who don’t want to play are invited to have a look around the house—and, while they’re at it, sign the visitors’ book.
I go into the larder to fill up my glass as everyone troops inside and up the stairs.
Then I follow them, drifting from room to room, listening to what they’re saying, happy to lap up their compliments.
While lots of people praise the renovations and décor, it’s Wilf and Arnaldo’s photos that attract the most attention.
“They’re absolutely lovely,” says Ian.
“And so moving,” adds Vito, wrapping his arm around Dom.
“I hope you’re listening, Willie!” drawls Angelika, glancing up at the ceiling. She turns to me. “You know, he’d love being at the center of a party. And Arnaldo could be a bit grumpy but I’m sure he would, too.”
She gives me a beam and I feel a rush of happiness.
When Angelika totters downstairs to pour herself another Castello Cosmo, I open the visitors’ book to read more compliments.
“To a wonderful couple,” Kate has written. “You’ve created a beautiful home and I wish you a long and happy future in it—all five of you.”
My happiness blossoms.
Just as I’m closing the book, Theo and Mabel announce that the treasure hunt is over and anyone who’s found any little Leaning Towers should come outside and hand them over.
When they’ve calculated the scores, Freya is declared the winner.
Freya and Mabel squeak with glee and treat themselves to another round of Virgin Versilias.
Next on the agenda is the orange-throwing competition, coordinated by Archie, who I quickly grab to wipe a smudge of tomato sauce off his face.
He hands out the oranges and directs each contestant to stand behind the line of stones he’s arranged along the ridge of the hill.
As each contestant throws, he judges how far the oranges travel by studying their impact on the tops of the trees.
The builders become very competitive, then unite in opposition to the diggers.
Signor Mancini must have drunk too many Montemagno Margaritas, as he loses his balance and his wife has to grab onto him before he totters over the hill.
And Callum draws his arm back as far as possible and flexes his bicep to impress a besotted-looking Lina.
When his orange arches through the air, clearing the top of the tallest tree, Archie declares him the winner. Lina rewards him with a kiss.
As the keepy-uppy competition is declared open, all those who didn’t win the orange throwing are keen to take another shot at glory.
Theo’s attempt to keep the ball up is admirable—not to mention sexy—but it’s Dom who manages to keep it up for the longest, as Vito watches, possibly even more besotted than Lina was with Callum. That is, until my dad steps up.
Dad starts by saying he’s had too many beers to do his best, then stuns the party with an incredible run of 423 bounces, to some extremely enthusiastic cheerleading from Debbie, Gloria and—once he passes 300—pretty much everyone.
Afterwards, my sisters lift him up onto their shoulders and parade him around like a hero.
Seeing this gives me an unexpected thrill.
When the games are over, Gloria takes charge of the playlist. The introduction to Bananarama’s “Venus” blasts out of the speakers and he lip-synchs along, directing an energetic, physically expressive performance at Angelika.
She stands watching, sipping on her cocktail and smoking a cigarette from her extravagant holder, then declares herself honored to be his goddess.
After kissing her hand to riotous applause, Gloria asks everyone to clear away the chairs and tables and transforms the patio into a dance floor. Under the disco ball, he teaches the guests a simple routine to “Mambo Italiano,” in a deliciously camp version by Bette Midler.
Theo asks Kate if she’ll dance with him, and she accepts. I watch the two of them laughing as they mess up the moves and feel another unexpected thrill.
I find myself dancing with Mabel and Archie—and Callum breaks away from Lina to join us. When Kate and Theo spot us, Kate takes out her phone to film it.
“That was great,” she says, once the song’s over. She hands her phone to Mabel. “Why don’t you post it online?”
As Mabel steps away to open her TikTok, I remain on the dance floor.
And, finally, I manage to commandeer Theo.
The two of us dance to song after song, enormous smiles on our faces, buoyed up by the party atmosphere but at the same time almost unaware of everyone else, our eyes fixed firmly on each other.
I dance closer to him and say into his ear, “We did this, Theo—you and me.”
He puts his arms around my neck. “I love you, Ads.”
“I love you, Theo.”
After a few more songs, we decide to switch off the music so I can make a short speech.
I tidy up my hair, wipe my forehead, and take up position on the edge of the lawn, the valley behind me.
I start by thanking everyone for coming and remind them to please post about the castello on their social media.
“But the main reason we’re throwing this party isn’t to launch the castello,” I go on. “It’s to thank you for all your help. Some of the jobs we’ve done we knew absolutely nothing about, so we’ve had to rely heavily on you all. And I’m embarrassed to say I still can’t speak a word of Italian.”
Stefano shouts something that fittingly, I don’t understand. Those that do, laugh.
“But I must say a special thank you to my gorgeous, brilliant, attentive, romantic boyfriend.” I turn to face him and take his hands.
“Theo, on our first night in Italy I hoped it would be the start of a special adventure—and it really was. Thanks for being at my side and for promising you always will be.”
He leans in to kiss me on the lips, to the sound of cheers from the crowd. As I turn back to them, I catch sight of Dad and he shoots me a grin.
“I also want to say a special thank you to our main helpers Callum, Mabel and Archie,” I continue.
“I think it’s fair to say we got off to a bit of a shaky start, but we soon hit our stride, and looking back I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Callum, Mabel, Archie, I’m so happy to have you in my life. ”
As the three of them run over to hug me, I hear a female voice hollering and I can’t be sure but I think it may be Kate’s.
“And everyone else,” I say, “this may be the end of our summer but it’s definitely not a goodbye. We’ll be back soon. And I may be crap at Italian but I did ask Luisa how to say that. Alla prossima!”