Chapter 11
When Monday morning rolled around, Beth found herself jumping out of bed before her alarm had even gone off.
Before, even though she loved her job, there’d still been days when she hadn’t really fancied getting out of bed and spending the day in a freezing cold gallery.
She didn’t know how long this feeling would last, but she did know that owning her own business and living by her own timetable was definitely something she was enjoying.
Plus, Cesca was starting at the boat today and she wanted to be there early to ensure everything was ready and to grab pastries on the way to show her thanks.
Dressing in her usual outfit of trousers and a jumper, and tying her hair in a ponytail, Beth caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
Her hazel eyes were bright and her skin was glowing, freckles dancing across her nose, but when had she started dressing so conservatively?
So … boringly? Even in the height of summer last year Beth had stuck to her uniform of (if she were honest) unflattering trousers, swapping out her jumpers for a vest top or T-shirt, but still wearing a blazer over the top so people took her seriously.
She wore low-heeled boots every day and everything was black or grey – dull, muted colours that showed no personality. Everything was corporate.
It was time for a change. As soon as she had enough money, she’d treat herself to some new clothes – just a few bits that were bright and cheerful and didn’t make her look like someone’s great-nan.
She picked up a bright red scarf she’d bought on a whim last year and swung it around her neck, adding an extra layer of warmth and a pop of colour against the boring black coat.
It instantly made her skin look brighter, her lips pinker.
It wasn’t much, but it was a start, and she nodded at her reflection before grabbing her keys and Polo’s cat carrier.
He’d been fast asleep on the armchair when she returned to collect him after seeing Marco and hadn’t been bothered at all. Beth was beginning to like his independent personality, which was very much like her own.
Cesca was already waiting at the barge as Beth arrived with two takeaway coffees and a bag of pastries in one hand, the cat in the other. A pile of tools were laid out at her feet.
‘You haven’t been here long, have you?’ Beth asked. ‘It’s freezing! I feel bad now.’
‘No, only a minute or so. I had to come as soon as I woke up. I couldn’t wait to get started. Did you row this morning?’
‘Not this morning. I might go later though.’
‘You really should try the water and not the machines in the gym.’
‘I will. I’m just … working up to it. Coffee first, yes?’
Cesca grinned. ‘Of course!’
Beth placed the cat carrier on the ground, found the keys and opened up, letting Cesca in first and then handing over the treats.
Beth lit the fire saying she could put it out once Cesca got to work, but for now they both needed to warm up.
As they sat in the two small armchairs, Polo having a roam around, Cesca said: ‘Did you enjoy the rowing club party the other night?’ Her left eyebrow rose slightly and Beth ignored her friend’s unsubtle enquiry into the time Beth had spent with Marco.
‘I did. It was fun.’
‘You and Marco were talking for a very long time. He barely spoke to anyone else all evening.’
‘I think he felt sorry for me. Not wanting to leave me on my own.’
‘Yes, yes, that was it. Nothing more.’ Cesca’s tone was teasing, and hope rose that maybe Cesca was right. But then, why had he acted so strangely when they were having a drink the other night?
‘What about you?’ Beth asked, raising her eyebrows in return. ‘You seemed to be enjoying yourself.’ When Cesca didn’t reply, and instead watched Polo sniff then leap up the steps and head outside, Beth added, ‘Emilio’s a very handsome man.’
Cesca’s cheeks coloured, turning her gorgeous olive skin ruddy. ‘Is he? I hadn’t noticed.’
‘Oh come on!’ Beth laughed. ‘I might have forgotten what it’s like to flirt with someone, but you two were flirting like crazy.’
‘No, we weren’t!’ Cesca wasn’t smiling and Beth felt a heavy weight in her stomach. ‘We’re just friends. Nothing more.’ Cesca suddenly swallowed the last of her coffee and stood up. ‘I better get started.’
Beth frowned in surprise. What was it with this family? First Marco shifting from friendly to super-professional and now Cesca?
What had she said? What had she done to upset her friend? She followed Cesca as she made her way out onto the canal path and began organising herself.
‘Oh, okay. Sure. I—’ The cool air bit at her skin since she’d left her coat inside. ‘Cesca, I’m sorry if I spoke out of turn. I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s none of my business.’
With her back still to Beth, Cesca stopped and took a deep breath. Beth watched her shoulders rise and fall, then her head drop.
‘I really am sorry, Cesca. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Is – is everything okay?’ she asked tentatively.
Finally Cesca turned, looking defeated, and Beth’s heart shot up into her throat. ‘There’s something I need – I want – to tell you. Emilio and I – we’re not just friends. We’re … together.’
‘Oh!’ Beth felt the wrinkles forming on her forehead as she frowned in confusion. ‘Have you had an argument or something?’
‘No. We’re very happy.’
‘You don’t look it.’ In fact, Cesca, who was always cheerful and the life and soul of the party, looked like she was about to cry.
‘No, I am. We are.’ She wiped at her nose.
‘Then what is it?’ Cesca lifted her head, but didn’t speak, her eyes glassy with unshed tears. ‘Shall we go back inside?’
Cesca nodded and they both marched back to the armchairs and the warmth of the fire and flopped down.
‘Emilio and I are very happy. We’ve been together for a few months now and it’s going well, but …’
Beth waited, hoping whatever Cesca had to say wasn’t that serious or was something easily sorted, but from her reaction so far, that didn’t seem to be the case.
‘It’s Marco,’ Cesca continued. ‘He doesn’t know. No one knows.’
‘Why not?’ Beth clasped her hands together between her knees.
‘Because Marco would hate the idea. All my family would. Emilio – he’s had a few girlfriends in the past, sometimes more than one at once.
He’s not like that anymore and what we have, it’s been growing between us for a long time.
But Marco, he knows what a … a … playboy he’s been and will be angry.
He’ll think that his best friend is taking advantage of his little sister.
Italian brothers they … they can be very overprotective of sisters. Especially younger sisters.’
‘I’m sure that’s true of brothers everywhere. And I get Emilio might not have had the best past, but why would he think that? And anyway, you’re a grown woman able to see who you want. It’s not really any of his business is it?’
‘We’re Italian, Beth,’ Cesca replied, deadpan. ‘Everything is everyone else’s business.’
A small smile pulled at Cesca’s lips and Beth’s too. ‘Oh yes, I forget that.’
‘Marco’s very protective. He’s had some knockbacks, you would say.
He finds it difficult to trust people and he’ll see it as a betrayal.
I know he doesn’t want me to get hurt but he won’t believe Emilio’s changed, even though I know he has.
He’s shown me he has, and I trust him implicitly. He’s told me he loves me.’
Beth’s eyes widened. That was a big thing to say. ‘And do you love him?’
Cesca nodded. ‘But you cannot say anything to anyone, especially Marco. I just … I just had to tell someone. You’re the only real friend I have.
My brothers scare off friends as well as boyfriends.
’ She smiled at Beth and Beth cocked her head, reaching out and taking her hand.
‘The girls I grew up with on the island, they’re nice enough but they wouldn’t understand.
They’ve known us both for too long. They still only see the Emilio he was before, but people change. ’
Beth knew that herself. Look at how much she’d grown over the past month, but the thought of keeping Cesca’s secret from Marco didn’t sit well. She hated lying to people. But Cesca was her friend and had been before she’d even seen Marco. She had no choice but to keep her friend’s secret.
‘I promise I won’t say anything, but you should think about telling your family, especially Marco. I’m sure they’ll understand.’
Cesca scoffed. ‘I wish that were the case. With Marco trying to get Papa to move into the twenty-first century there’s enough tension at home without adding anything else. Telling them this will be like setting off a bomb.’
‘But you can’t keep it secret forever, and if you think this is the real deal then at some point you’ll have to tell them.’
‘I’ll find the right time. When they’ve seen for themselves how Emilio has changed. It just might take a while as he’s always travelling to competitions.’
‘You know your family better than I do,’ Beth conceded. ‘But I’m here if you ever need me, okay?’
‘Thank you,’ Cesca said. ‘So, shall we get started?’
Suddenly brighter after unloading her secret, Cesca began work in a flurry of activity, but Beth found it harder to move on from their conversation.
She felt torn and reminded herself that Marco was a business partner and his and Cesca’s family life was none of her business.
All she could do was encourage Cesca to speak to them sooner rather than later.