“For me?” Annie asked skeptically when the other woman finished her spiel. This was weird. “You don’t have to do anything for me, Felicity. Really, I’m doing grand.” She wasn’t about to let on about her struggles.

“Please. Don’t argue. Just...keep an eye out for something in the post from me soon. Can you let me know your address?”

Annie’s brow furrowed afresh. “Felicity, no, I appreciate you thinking of me, but really, I don’t need anything...”

Felicity was having none of it, insisting she pass on her address or she’d just get it from Rose at the salon anyway. Indeed, she seemed just as stubborn as Annie was.

“OK,” she finally conceded, “but you really don’t have to do this.”

“I know that. But promise me this: just accept it, OK? For me.”

Reluctantly agreeing, Annie said goodbye to Felicity, put down the phone and once again curled up in her bed. What was the woman on about?

Just accept it?

Accept what?

Annie rolled onto her back, her eyes staring up at the ceiling, now wide awake, her thoughts whirring.

“What are you up to, Felicity?”

Chapter 11

Now

The drive back from the restaurant in Sorrento had been a silent one. Kim knew Antonio wanted her to confide more in him but she couldn’t.

She and Gabriel weren’t him and Emilia. There were some major differences in their relationship. Kim idolized the older woman, who might soon no longer even remember her.

Right from the start, Emilia had inspired and encouraged her. She had facilitated everything that Kim had achieved with The Sweet Life, had pushed her out of her comfort zone, and encouraged her to break away from the hold her parents had on her.

After all these years, Kim wished she could thank whatever god was smiling on her the day she’d met her and Antonio. His wife was someone Kim admired and adored, but definitely not one she could compare with.

Emilia was the best of women.

“Are you going to be grumpy for the rest of the day? If so, I might as well fix us both a drink.” Antonio’s voice again interrupted her musings.

They were back at the villa now, sitting at a patio table outside on the terrace, next to the adjoining lawn that was to be the center’s yoga area.

“I don’t think my being grumpy is the reason you want a drink,” Kim drawled, briefly checking her phone.

“Perhaps, but it is the reason I’m going to use.”

Still his words brought a smile to her face. The Italian knew the right things to say at just the right time. He had for as long as she’d known him.