Colette looked at him in surprise. “Just like that?” she whispered. “Don’t you want to check the price first?”

He smiled. “I’m sure it’s fine. Hold on to this for me for a moment,” he instructed Anastasia. “I’m still helping my friend.”

Several minutes later, Colette walked out of the store with her purchases in hand and a smile on her face.

The selection had been much easier with Ed there to help her. And fun, too. She turned to thank him again as he stepped out the door behind her.

“It was my pleasure.” He grinned. “Like I said, us Brits have to stick together. Though I must say, I was impressed when you started chatting to Anastasia in Italian at the end there. I know a few words, but felt like such a clueless tourist compared to you.”

Colette laughed. “I studied the language at uni and it’s nice to get the chance to practice.”

They chatted more then about their respective educations and where they’d studied. As Colette suspected, Ed was the product of private education, which suggested he came from a wealthy upbringing.

Though their roots seemed miles apart, it was still nice to find common ground in their nationality.

“I better get going,” she said, shielding her eyes from the late-afternoon sun. The shops were getting ready to close for the afternoon. “It was nice meeting you, Ed. Enjoy the rest of your time here.”

“Very nice to meet you, too, Colette, and likewise. Perhaps we’ll bump into each other again before we leave.”

Chapter 34

Then

“Heading out with lover boy again tonight?” Colette asked later that evening as she peeked around the doorframe of Annie’s room.

“Yep,” the other woman answered with a coy smile. “What about you?”

“Luca’s usually busy with work on weekdays...” Colette replied, settling herself on the corner of the bed.

Annie thought she noted a hint of hesitation in her tone, but then became distracted by the small purple box tied with white ribbon she was holding.

“What’s that?” she asked, expertly running straightening tongs through her hair.

“It’s a present.”

“From who?”

“Me to you,” Colette answered simply.

She laughed in surprise and delight, and went to sit beside her. “A present for me? Why?”

Colette shrugged. “You and Kim helped me so much after the accident, and with Luca, of course. I just wanted to get you both something to say thank you.”

Annie took the box in her hands and pulled the end of the ribbon to untie it. She flipped the top open and nestled among soft white satin was a gorgeous silver bracelet with a single oval-shaped turquoise stone at the center.

“You got this for me?” she asked in disbelief. Her life really was full of surprises these days. First Felicity’s bequest, then the three girls’ unlikely friendship. And Harry, of course.

And now lovely Colette was buying her gifts.