‘Oh …’ Grace paused, forgetting how direct he could be, but wondering what to tell him without having to explain it all and likely ruin the evening’s lovely ambience. She didn’t want anything to change the atmosphere, for she was feeling so relaxed, it was as if she had escaped to some place where nothing bad could ever happen. A bubble that she didn’t want to burst by talking about her real life. Not yet. She knew she would have to return to reality at the end of her time in Italy but, for now, she wanted to savour every second. ‘Well, it’ll be a tense conversation and I don’t want it to spoil the mood.’

‘Why is that?’

‘You really don’t want to know,’ she tried, but Ellis was having none of it.

‘Yes I do … and it might help to offload,’ he said, lifting one eyebrow.

‘OK,’ Grace sighed. ‘She’ll be calling to tell me off again,’ she settled on, hoping he wouldn’t pursue it, but of course he did.

‘Ah, does she make a habit of doing that?’ His forehead creased in concern.

‘Oh, yes.’ And Grace was just about to explain a bit more, if only to end the conversation and move it on to something else, when the phone rang again.

‘Guess you should answer, it might be important. It could be something to do with your mother …’ he said, and Grace stopped short as she hadn’t realised that he knew anything about Cora. She hadn’t talked about her in any of their previous conversations in the café, but there was no time to ask him how he’d heard about her as the phone stopped ringing, only to start up again almost immediately. Reluctantly, Grace pulled the phone from her bag.

‘Hi Bernie, how are you?’ she answered, the wine having relaxed her enough to attempt a more laid-back approach for a change.

‘Where on earth are you?’ Bernie started, skipping any pleasantries.

‘Italy. But I’m guessing you know that already or you wouldn’t be asking,’ Grace said, her buoyant mood deflating immediately.

‘Charming! And there’s no need to be flippant, Grace. It’s really not on, you know,’ Bernie huffed.

‘What do you mean? Being flippant, or me having some time off?’ Grace asked, glancing away from Ellis who was sorting out the second bottle of wine with the waiter, then topping up her glass and pouring some for himself.

‘You know what I mean. You swan off to Italy without so much as a courtesy call to let any of us know. Sinead and Mikey had no idea either. And Mum has been calling me, practically in tears. She’s devastated that you’ve gone off and left her with the neighbour. In fact, I couldn’t believe my own ears when she told me you had disappeared. What on earth possessed you to do such a thing?’