The Heavenly Italian Ice Cream Shop Part 16

Chapter 21.

After speaking to her sister, Imogen carried on walking along the seafront. It had felt strange, holding back from mentioning the letter and photo she'd found. It had seemed like a lie, to keep that from Anna, the person she was closest to in the world, and Vivien's other granddaughter. But what did Imogen really know? All that was certain was that the connection between Vivien and this man, this stranger, was so strong that she'd still been thinking about it years later, driven to get back in contact. She wanted to find out more before she risked upsetting anyone in her family over what might turn out to be nothing.

Imogen remembered her grandfather, Stanley Vivien had doted on him. She had been crushed when he'd pa.s.sed away in his fifties. Or perhaps Imogen and her family had got all of that wrong. Maybe all of the years she'd been with Stanley, and after his death, Vivien had really been yearning to be with somebody else.

Her grandparents' marriage she'd always a.s.sumed it was perfect. They had all the best ingredients, kindness, love, staying power . . . And yet they still hadn't made it. Not in the way that everyone had believed they had, at least.

She looked out at the ocean where her grandmother's ashes had been scattered. Her final resting place wasn't a resting place at all, but one in a constant state of ebb and flow. Maybe her spirit was unsettled, too.

'Who was he?' Imogen asked, under her breath, looking out towards the waves.

Imogen had to find out. And something told her that going out to Italy was the only way to do it.

That evening, Imogen was woken by Finn as he let himself into the house, showered and then came through to their bedroom. She checked her phone and saw it was after midnight.

'You were out late,' Imogen said, pulling back the duvet.

'Yes. It'll be like this for a while, I'm afraid. We're getting there, though.' He got into bed beside her.

She propped herself up on one elbow and faced him. He kissed her gently.

'I spoke to Anna today.'

'Oh, yes. How are they doing?'

'OK, I think. We didn't talk for long, but it sounds like they're settling in. I bet they're going to have a great summer out there. And let's be honest, they're hardly missing much here, are they?'

Summer hadn't quite found the south coast yet, aside from the occasional sunny day, and the grey days had started to get Imogen down.

'It's usually the other way round, you know. You off in some glamorous location and us here in the drizzle. It's Anna's turn.'

'I know.'

'You want to go out there, don't you?'

She thought of how much she missed her sister and then of the other reason she felt such a drive to go out to Italy: the letter that she'd found; the mystery around her grandmother that she felt compelled to get to the bottom of.

'Yes. I do. I really want to go.'

'Well, then you should,' Finn said. He seemed detached and quiet. The way he had seemed quite a lot, lately.

'Without you?'

He shrugged. 'I'd love to go, you know that. But with everything that's going on with the shop I really can't afford to take the time off. You're used to travelling on your own, aren't you?'

'Yes. Of course I am.' She hadn't expected to feel sad.

'More lamb, Imogen?' Jan said, offering the tray to her daughter.

'I'm fine, thanks, Mum.'

'Oh, come on, have some more. You've barely touched yours.'

That weekend, Finn and Imogen were at her parents' cottage in the town of Lewes, a short drive from Brighton. With jasmine around the front door, and her father's garden sculptures decorating the path, it was a place that would always feel like home to both Imogen and Anna. Which was comforting in some ways, Imogen thought to herself. But infuriating in others.

'It's true that you haven't eaten much, love,' Tom said, looking at the plate of half-eaten Sunday roast in front of her.

'I'm not that hungry today, that's all,' she said.

'Everything OK?' Tom asked her gently.

'Yes, absolutely fine,' Imogen said. 'We had a ma.s.sive breakfast this morning, that's all.'

From the corner of her eye she could see Finn glancing in her direction, and it made her feel more conscious of the lie. The truth was that over the past few weeks her appet.i.te had dropped. She couldn't put her finger on why, just that in the days since Anna had left, something had been out of kilter, and that feeling didn't seem to be resolving itself.

'I expect you'll be needing some fuel,' Tom said to Finn. 'I hear you've been working hard building the new shop.'

'Building that's a nice way of putting it,' Finn said with a smile. 'We've trashed the place, really. Walls down, plaster dust everywhere. Evie's been very understanding even dropping tea in to us while we work. I thought she might be upset, but she says in a way it's quite satisfying seeing the place change so completely. Anyway, by autumn we should have it all in good shape.'

'I'm sure you'll make a great success of it, just as you did with the surf school,' Tom said.

'It's something Andy and I have been talking about for a while, so we're really enjoying getting stuck in. It's costing quite a lot in the short term, but we're confident that it'll bring us a more solid income in the years to come.'

'That's good, isn't it?' Jan said. 'Don't you think, Imogen?'

'Yes, of course,' she said. 'It's going to be awesome when it's done.'

'A young couple like you need a bit of security when you're starting out, and your line of work, well, it's just not very reliable, is it, Imogen?'

Finn caught Imogen's eye over the table, seeming to sense her irritation.

'It's not, no, Mum,' she said.

'Small price to pay for doing what you love,' Tom said, smiling at his daughter. 'And, while it was a shame about that last project, I'm sure something even better will come through for you soon.'

'Thanks, Dad,' Imogen said. 'And it's not like Finn's paying my way. I've been doing studio work, weddings. I've even saved a bit.'

'Very sensible,' Jan said. 'I mean I'd still be happier if you weren't freelance it really is terribly insecure: no pension, no sick days but that does sound like better work. You should really think about an ISA. Tax-free savings can-'

'Actually I already know what I'm going to spend it on,' Imogen said bluntly. 'A flight out to Italy.'

'Oh,' Jan said. 'This all seems quite sudden. Have you spoken to Anna about it?'

'Yes, of course I have. She's excited,' she said.

'Sounds wonderful. Are you going, too?' Tom asked Finn.

'I wish I could. But with the building work I'm going to have my hands full here.'

'As well as seeing Anna, I think there might be some potential for photos especially out on Capri. I've always wanted to go there.'

'How nice,' Tom said. His eyes misted over. 'Your grandmother always said it was beautiful.'

Imogen thought of the letter she'd found, the complex web she seemed to have stepped into and hoped that out in Italy she'd be able to start unravelling.

'Well, as long as it's not just an excuse for a holiday, Imogen,' Jan said. 'Because you've had plenty of those.'

Imogen gave her mother a stern look.

'What?' Jan asked. 'Everyone has to settle down sometime. Even you. Now, anyone for dessert?'

Chapter 22.

Anna crossed the square and went into Luigi's restaurant. At ten in the morning, the place was quiet, and her neighbour in the Sorrento square was occupied with cleaning the tables, singing to himself loudly and cheerily, operatic songs that Anna knew vaguely from ice cream adverts.

'The English Lady!' he exclaimed. 'You have come to brighten my day once again, principessa.'

Anna laughed. 'I got some good news yesterday, Luigi. My sister's booked her flights to come out here to visit.'

Anna had received the confirmation in an excited text message from Imogen late in the evening.

'Fantastic! If she is anything like you, meeting her will be a delight,' Luigi said.

'Imogen's nothing like me,' Anna said, smiling. 'But all the better for it. You'll like her.'

'I'm sure I will. And it will be nice for you to have someone from home here with you, I imagine.'

Anna nodded. Loneliness had crept up on her, so stealthily she almost hadn't noticed it, and the thought of Imogen's visit had lifted her spirits.

'Bring her here for a meal,' Luigi said. 'I will get you the best table in the house.'

'Thank you. I will.'

'And today I could flatter myself that you came just for my conversation, but I know that you are a busy woman.'

'Actually, Luigi, you're right. I did come to ask a favour. We're all out of ice cream bowls, if you can believe it. Do you have any spare?'

'Of course, of course,' he said, motioning for her to come behind the counter. 'The shop is getting busier than you expected?'

'I thought it would take a while for us to get established,' Anna said. 'But we've had queues into the square today.'

'That is good news,' Luigi said, loading a tray with bowls for her. 'And you've earned it. The tourists? Well, they're not too choosy. But the locals will not come for just any ice cream, you know.'

'Yes, it's a compliment. How's your daughter getting on in her new job, by the way?'

'Very well, thank you. Long hours but she really enjoys the work and she studied a long time to get there. As it happens, we're all waiting for a phone call at the moment. Her brother, my son he works the land not far from here he and his wife are getting ready to welcome a baby to their family.'

'That's great,' Anna said.

'Any day now, I'll be a grandfather.'

'Wonderful. Let me know when you hear.'

She saw something new in him, that excitement in his eyes. She thought of her own father and the way he had cradled Bella in his arms when she was a newborn. It wasn't just her and Matteo's lives that had changed that day.

Later that afternoon, Anna prepared tea and cake, and Carolina came and sat with her and Matteo out on the balcony. With Elisa out with Bella that afternoon, Matteo had suggested they invite his sister round.

'How is Filippo's trip going?' Matteo asked. 'Mamma keeps saying how well his business is going.'

'Business is terrific,' Carolina replied.

'But?' Matteo said. So he'd detected the coldness in her voice, too, Anna thought.

'It's going so great that I don't think he'll be coming down here at all this summer.'

'That's a shame,' Anna said.

'Is it?' Carolina said, with a shrug. Anna noticed that there were dark shadows under her eyes.

'Are you OK?' Anna asked gently.

'Not really.' She shook her head. 'I don't know what I ever saw in that man, really.'

Anna froze for a moment, shocked. 'Are things really that bad?' she asked. Matteo looked equally concerned.

'Worse,' she said. 'I think our marriage is over.'

'What's happened?' Matteo asked.

'There were problems before Christmas, and then he said he couldn't come to England to stay with you,' Carolina said, her English clear and precise. 'But I thought we could work through them I thought our marriage vows meant something.'

'Is there someone else?' Anna asked, tentatively.

'Yes.' Carolina's eyes filled with tears.