An hour later, she was dressed in a stylish pencil skirt and heels. A string of pearls draped from her neck and a matching pair of earrings dangled from her ears.

Ed was on the couch going through the newspaper when she emerged downstairs again. This was often the way. Two ships passing in the night.

“Where are you off to?” he asked as he looked up.

“I told you on Wednesday that I was going shopping with your mum, then we’re going to have lunch in Mayfair,” she stated.

“You did, but I thought you said Saturday?”

“Ed, it is Saturday,” she replied.

He looked perplexed. “It can’t be.” He closed the paper quickly, checking the date on front, then promptly jumped to his feet. “Damn! I was supposed to meet the boys at the tennis club for brunch. I can’t believe it.”

Colette watched as he picked up his phone and swiped quickly through his contact list.

She sighed. Her husband was wonderful, just too busy sometimes. If he wasn’t dashing around the city for business, he was traveling around the world on business.

Sometimes his clients demanded he personally check out the companies in which they were interested in investing. It came with the trappings of the life they had. But still she wished that the pace of that life could just slow down a little now and again.

Leaving Ed to call his friends, she made her way out to the hallway, then stopped as the post on the bureau got her attention. Ed must have picked it up earlier when coming in from his run.

She stood, absently flipping through the envelopes to see if there was anything important. A crisp white envelope addressed to Colette and Ed Hargreaves caught her eye.

It wasn’t so much the letter, but the fact that it wasn’t addressed to “Mr. and Mrs. Ed”—her name was actually included this time. Turning the envelope over, she pried the flap open and unfolded a piece of paper emblazoned with a familiar logo.

Enjoy La Dolce Vita!

Kim Weston and The Sweet Life family cordially invite you to join us for the launch celebration of

Villa Dolce Vita Wellness and Cultural Retreat

on the glorious Amalfi Coast.

A smile spread wide across Colette’s face as she skimmed over the invite, pushing her cheeks almost up as far as the lower rim of her reading glasses.

The timing of this almost made up for the disappointment of earlier. As if her old friend had somehow known she needed a boost.

Still smiling, she glanced back at the envelope and saw that there was something else inside. Two airplane tickets to Naples and a weekend reservation at a five-star Sorrento hotel, as well as a handwritten note.

Can’t wait for you guys to see what I’ve done with the place!

Perfect excuse for a long overdue reunion?

K xx