couldn’t be an elegant man of the world, ready to fall at my feet like the others, could he? Oh, no! I had to pick an awkward curmudgeon who’s fighting this as hard as I am.
When she found him gone that morning, her thoughts became positively grumpy.
‘How did I let this happen? Gee, if I have unluck! Not just bad luck, but
She discovered that Berta was looking at her in alarm, and realised that she must have spoken aloud. Thank goodness Berta’s English was still basic.
The two of them used the next few days to put the downstairs bedrooms in order. Sam and his nurses would be here soon, and now Angel explained everything to Berta, who was sympathetic.
‘Poor old man,’ she said. ‘I cook a special meal for him.’
On the appointed day Angel prepared to drive herself to the airport.
But, when she tried to start up her car for the journey, it died a death.
Berta’s face showed what she thought of someone who seriously expected the battered object to complete a long journey, or even to start it. But the next moment she was smiling, pointing, and calling, ‘There!’
Looking around, Angel saw, with relief, that Vittorio’s car was heading for them.
‘Thank goodness,’ she gasped, running down the path and waving her arms.
He stopped so sharply that he swerved. Putting his head out, he yelled, ‘Have you gone crazy?’
‘Yes,’ she said, bounding into the seat beside him. ‘I need you to take me to the airport. My car’s given up and I have to meet Sam. Please hurry. I simply can’t be late for him.’
Leaning out of the window to give a thumbs-up to Berta, Angel missed Vittorio’s grimace as he swung the car around, and his muttered, ‘I see.’
‘They should land at eleven-thirty,’ she said. ‘And I thought I was all right, but I’ve wasted so much time trying to get that car to start-can’t you go any faster?’
‘Not on these roads,’ he said, jerking his head to indicate their route along the cliffs.
After a while he said, ‘How many are we collecting?’
‘Three.’
‘How are we going to get three people plus luggage into this little car?’
‘We won’t have to. I’ve arranged things the same way I did when Mack and the photographers came. A hire firm at the airport is providing a car big enough for them. But this time I want to be there.’
‘To meet Sam?’
‘That’s right.’
She answered casually, but in the silence that followed it dawned on her that Vittorio had spoken with an ironic edge to his voice.
Of course, she thought, he didn’t know who Sam was. Was it possible that he actually believed…?
Glancing sideways at his fiercely set face, Angel decided that it was possible. He thought Sam was her lover. And he minded. He might deny it until kingdom come, but she knew with ancient, instinctive wisdom that he was jealous.
Well, he would discover the truth in an hour or so. Until then, she thought cheerfully, let him suffer. Serves him right! She wasn’t sure exactly what Vittorio had done to deserve suffering, but she would think of something. For the moment she only knew that the sun shone more brightly and the air was singing.
‘I’m sorry if I urged you to go too fast,’ she said. ‘It’s just that I can’t wait to be with Sam again. It seems so long since I saw him. We talk every day, but it’s not the same.’
‘I’m sure.’
Apparently oblivious to the discouragement in his voice, Angel chattered on. ‘I’ve done all I can to make things perfect for him.’
‘I’m sure he’ll appreciate that.’
‘And it’ll be wonderful being able to be with him all the time. In the past-well, things have been difficult.’
‘I wonder how your husband felt about him,’ Vittorio said grimly.
‘Well, he wasn’t happy, but he knew that Sam couldn’t be dislodged from my life. Can we go a little faster?’
An hour later they were pulling in to Naples airport a few minutes after the plane was due to land. She went first to the car-hire firm to secure their vehicle, then hurried to the exit from the customs area, through which they must come.
‘Have we got time for a coffee first?’ Vittorio asked.
‘You go. I’m going to stand here to catch the first glimpse of him. I don’t want to miss one second.’
‘Fine, we’ll both stay.’
After that Angel seemed to glue herself into position, her eyes fixed eagerly on the people coming through the doors. Watching her, Vittorio realised that she had forgotten him. She had no attention for anyone but the man who was about to arrive and transform her world. The glow in her eyes, her air of vibrant happiness, told its own story.
For the hundredth time Vittorio asked himself why he allowed this woman to make a fool of him.
But this was it. This was the last time. He’d drive her and her paramour home, then he’d vanish from sight. He’d tend the estate and communicate with her at a distance.
‘There he is!
He was roused from his thoughts by Angel’s delighted shriek. She was waving at someone who was emerging from Customs. Vittorio saw an extremely handsome young man wave back, smiling straight at her. He waited for Angel to run and throw herself into his arms.
Then Vittorio saw that the young man was not alone. He was accompanied by another man, elderly and frail, who gazed around him as if puzzled.
‘It looks like he’s brought his grandfather,’ Vittorio observed.
‘That’s not his grandfather,’ she breathed. ‘It’s mine.
Before his astonished eyes, she darted forward and threw her arms around the old man, while her glad cry of, ‘Sam, oh, Sam!’ floated back.
Vittorio watched them, feeling the world right itself again, the sun come out and the birds start to sing right there in the airport.
The young man had been joined by another, and the two of them were taking care of a lot of luggage, which seemed to include a wheelchair.
Sam appeared confused, merely patting Angel vaguely and barely returning her greeting. But she seemed oblivious, her delight at seeing him so overwhelming that it blotted out all else. She began to lead him forward, but he looked around for the young men, whose presence evidently reassured him.
‘Vittorio,’ Angel said, approaching him, ‘this is my grandfather. This is Sam.’
Vittorio extended his hand, which the old man took, but vaguely.
‘And these are Roy and Frank, his friends.’
She said the last two words carefully, and he understood that these were carers.
Walking slowly, they guided Sam out to the cars.
‘I’ll take Sam with me,’ Angel said.
‘It might be better if you don’t,’ Roy said quickly. ‘The journey’s left him a bit disorientated.’
‘But he’s got me now,’ she said happily. ‘It’ll be all right.’
Hugging Sam’s arm, she began to draw him to the car, but he looked nervous.
‘Who are you?’ he asked in a trembling voice. ‘Where are you taking me?’
‘Home, darling.’
‘But I don’t know this place.’
‘Don’t worry,’ she said, looking at him fondly. ‘I’m here. You’ll be all right.’
He stared at her. ‘Who are you?’
‘I’m Angela, your granddaughter. And I’m taking you home.’
Sam cast a worried look at Frank and Roy, but he didn’t argue further, and allowed himself to be led away.
‘Tell your driver to follow me,’ Vittorio said, and joined them in the car.
