Never too late, p.12
Never Too Late, page 12
Although all she could see of him was his head and his bare shoulders, she couldn’t ignore the feeling of attraction he aroused in her. There was a hint of a smile on his face today and for the first time she found herself looking into his bright blue eyes at close range. There was no getting away from the fact that he was very appealing, but she warned herself not to do anything silly. Men like him needed a WARNING sign on their foreheads. Besides, as she recovered from the demise of her own relationship with Ethan, the last thing she needed was to get involved with another man, particularly when he was the son of the man who could materially advance or destroy her career, and a womaniser to boot. No, it was much safer to avoid Robert, although her head and her heart weren’t necessarily in complete agreement over this.
Back at the beach Cesare and Donatella, assisted by members of the yacht’s crew, had set up trestle tables and heaped them with food until there was a vast selection of cold dishes to choose from. There were bottles of wine and beer in ice buckets along with soft drinks on one table and another laden with a mouth-watering choice of desserts. Gradually they all helped themselves and took their plates to convenient spots to eat their lunch. Steph toyed with the idea of slipping off somewhere to change out of her wet bikini first, but almost everybody else was just in swimming gear – apart from Cody Havergill’s bodyguard who was looking decidedly uncomfortable in his suit – so she decided to let the sun dry her, and on a spectacular day like today she knew that wouldn’t take long.
She looked around and saw Robert and his faithful dog sitting with the dark-haired woman from the yacht. Steph had no intention of interfering with him and what might prove to be his latest conquest, so she looked over to where Keith and Faye were with Sky and Tom, chatting to Cody Havergill, but decided against intruding on them. Rather than go and sit somewhere on her own and maybe risk another approach from Denver or assault by Willow, who was now stripped to a bikini that looked as if it had been designed to fit Barbie, she went over to a long flat slab of rock where Ben and Lottie were sitting. He was looking relaxed and happy, and, beside him, Lottie was still wearing the broad smile on her face that had been there almost since day one. They welcomed her and as they chatted, Steph gradually brought the subject around to music, but stayed studiously away from Ben’s music and the prospect of him returning to the band.
‘I’ve just been talking to Robert. He tells me he’s doing a concert in a Roman amphitheatre near Florence on Sunday afternoon. I was wondering about maybe going to hear him play.’
Lottie looked up with interest. ‘That sounds like a super idea.’ She turned to her husband. ‘Benny, how would you feel about a bit of classical music for a change?’
‘I’d love that. Rob plays so beautifully, and I like the idea of a performance in a Roman amphitheatre – reminds me of when we did that gig at the Arena di Verona all those years ago.’ For a fraction of a second Lottie caught Steph’s eye and winked. Clearly, she viewed her husband talking about the band as progress. ‘Why don’t we have a word with Keith and see if Cesare might be able to take us in the minibus?’ His wife looked delighted to hear him sound so positive.
At that moment, Steph’s phone bleeped, and her heart skipped a beat when she saw that it was an email from the hospital in England. She opened it and as she read through the letter a cold numb feeling descended on her. It was couched in formal medical terms, but the upshot was that an appointment had been made for her the following Tuesday at the hospital for a biopsy. The letter indicated that this was a routine investigation to exclude anything serious. She had limited experience of mammograms, but she wondered if this really was as routine as it sounded. Presumably they had spotted something that didn’t look right.
‘What is it, Steph? Bad news?’ Lottie must have seen from Steph’s face that something was wrong. She reached over and caught hold of her hand and gave it a squeeze. ‘Can I help?’
Steph slipped her phone back in her pocket and looked up, debating what to say. In the end the sympathetic expression on Lottie’s face convinced her to reveal everything, including her fears about the significance of the biopsy. Lottie’s grip on her hand tightened.
‘It’ll be all right, you’ll see. It’s just that they want to be sure. I had a biopsy on a suspicious lump ten years back. I was terribly worried for a few days, but it all came back negative and I’m sure it’ll be the same for you.’
Steph gave her a grateful smile. ‘Thanks, Lottie, that’s really helpful.’
Ben leant over towards her and added a bit more reassurance. ‘If you knew the number of medical procedures I’ve had over the years, you’d realise that a little thing like a biopsy’s nothing. It’s good that they’re being thorough, but try not to worry.’
A bit later, after Cesare and Donatella had cleared away all the rubbish, the launch ferried everybody back to the yacht again. By this time even the Labrador had completely dried out in the sunshine and Steph herself was able to simply slip her clothes back on over her bikini without having to hop on the spot somewhere to get changed under a towel. On the way back towards La Spezia, Keith made a little speech, thanking Faye for thirty years of devotion and thanking his three children for their love. Steph couldn’t help glancing across at Denver’s face when his father said this, but there was nothing in his expression that reflected the anger he had demonstrated the other day. Whatever his father had said to him, it appeared to have cooled his temper. Of course, maybe Keith had given him a car…
They docked briefly at La Spezia where the celebrities and their entourages all left, stepping straight into a fleet of ostentatious, if anonymous, limousines with tinted windows. As Cody was helped unsteadily down the gangway by his bodyguard, he waved kisses and shouted fulsome thanks and farewells. Steph was surprised and impressed to see him still standing after everything he had drunk but, of course if the tabloids were right, he had had a lot of practice. Down on the main deck, Ethan was looking very pleased with himself. Being able to make contact with a rock legend like Cody was all he had ever wanted, and no doubt today had provided him with some excellent leads which wouldn’t do his business any harm at all. Whether Steph would still be involved with his business when that time came, was another matter entirely.
She took advantage of a quiet moment on the way back to the villa to inform Ethan she had to go back to the UK for a medical appointment on Tuesday, bracing herself for disinterest or even an annoyed outburst, but was pleasantly surprised to find him most supportive when she told him what was going on.
‘You should have mentioned it before, Steph. I didn’t realise you were having problems. How long do you think you’ll be away?’
‘The appointment’s on Tuesday at eleven thirty, so if I fly home last thing on Monday I can get a flight back to Pisa on Tuesday late afternoon or evening so I should only miss one day’s work. I’ve just been checking flight times and it looks like there are still seats.’
‘Then go ahead and book. I’m sure Cesare will give you a lift to the station, if not to the airport itself.’
Back at the villa that evening, on Keith’s instructions Cesare and Donatella organised another barbecue for the family. Steph protested that she and Ethan should duck out and give them some privacy, although she could almost hear Ethan grinding his teeth as she spoke, but Faye and Keith insisted they join them. Interestingly, tonight Robert was also part of the group – minus the dark-haired woman who had disembarked at La Spezia – although Steph could see him making sure he steered clear of his big brother. In fact, when they all sat down around the big table on the terrace, she saw Robert wait until Denver and Willow had taken their seats before placing himself at the opposite end of the table, where Steph also happened to be sitting chatting to Sky.
As he sat down she felt a warm body rub against her thigh and she looked down to see two big eyes reflecting eerily green in the candlelight as they gazed up at her.
‘Ciao, Waldorf. Had a good day?’ In return she got a nudge from a cold wet nose and a reply from his master.
‘He’s had a great day. I shudder to think how much he’s had to eat. I saw Cody’s bodyguard feeding him stuff all day long. Whatever you do, don’t let him persuade you to give him any more or he’ll explode. What about you? Enjoy yourself?’
Steph was surprised to hear him sounding relatively relaxed. She was also mildly surprised to find that he had chosen to sit near her, although she knew it was simply because he was trying to get as far away from his brother as possible. It actually worked out quite well that he was sitting alongside her, rather than opposite her; that way she didn’t have to run the gauntlet of getting dragged in by those magnetic eyes of his. She concentrated her attention on the table in front of her as she replied. ‘Definitely. This is a beautiful part of the world. I can see why you decided to put down roots here. You live up on the headland, don’t you?’
‘Yes. The year after Dad got this place I saw it up for sale, so I bought it. You’ll never guess who used to live there.’
‘Somebody famous? Byron or Shelley, maybe?’
He shook his head. ‘Somebody closer to my heart – Paganini himself.’
‘Wow, arguably the most famous violin player of all time! I can see why it appealed to you.’
‘I felt an immediate connection with the place. Plus, it’s in an amazing position.’
‘It certainly is. I was up on the opposite headland the day after the storm, and I couldn’t help thinking what a wonderful view you must have from your house. Did the place need much work?’
‘It needed a lot of work. I did quite a bit of it myself. I enjoy getting my hands dirty.’
Steph was surprised and impressed: somehow she had assumed that his mega-rich father was the owner of the house or that he had gifted it to his son, and so, the idea of a world-famous musician getting involved in a bit of DIY was unexpected. Clearly Robert was trying to make it on his own two feet.
‘What happens to Waldorf when you go off to play all over the world? You don’t take him with you, surely.’ Or did one of his many women move in for the duration? The answer was closer to home.
‘No, I leave him with Cesare and Donatella. It’s so convenient having them living close by.’
‘It must be nice to be near your family.’ She saw him glance towards the other end of the table, but he made no comment.
They chatted over dinner, which was a magnificent mixed grill comprising everything from Donatella’s fabulous homemade burgers to lamb chops, coils of spicy sausage and huge chunks of steak accompanied by a mountain of fries and sumptuous mixed salads. For those who weren’t fans of so much meat, there were slices of aubergine, pecorino cheese and courgettes, all grilled on the barbecue as well. Steph tried some of each and found them delicious.
By the end of the meal her opinion of Robert had risen. In spite of his lurid reputation there was no denying that he was bright as well as good-looking. He also sounded remarkably grounded and free from the pretentious attitude of his older brother. Nevertheless, she reminded herself, he was best avoided, not that there was any reason to believe that he had any great interest in her anyway. He did at least appear more communicative now that they were getting to know each other, but she couldn’t sense anything more than friendly interest.
She had an unexpectedly pleasant evening chatting to him on one side of her, and to Sky on the other, and when eleven o’clock arrived she was feeling very relaxed. When the party broke up, she thanked Keith and Faye for the invitation and thanked her dinner companions for their company. It had been a good day. She wandered back down to her room and collapsed into bed. After all the fresh air she should have dropped straight off to sleep, but the thought of the email she had received from the hospital dispelled the memory of what had been an exciting day and replaced it with a cold nagging fear deep down inside.
Chapter 12
Robert’s concert on Sunday turned into a group outing for the family. Not all the family, as Denver and Willow abstained, as did Ethan, which came as no surprise to Steph. Classical music, along with history and art, had never been among his interests. Cesare drove all three band members and their wives to Florence in the minibus, along with Tom and Sky who were going to get on a train to Milan to catch their flight back to Manchester. Because Steph was unsure how much longer she would be staying in Italy, she travelled to Florence by train early that morning so that she could take a quick look at the sights. Cesare arranged that he would pick her up from Florence main station at two o’clock when he came to drop Sky and Tom off in time for the Milan train. Cesare would then take the remainder of them to the concert in Fiesole on the outskirts of the city.
Florence was heaving with people when Steph emerged from the station. It was another beautiful September day and crowds of tourists filled the streets, admiring and photographing the wonders of one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Making her way past Renaissance palazzi, medieval churches and designer shops, and heading towards the duomo, she reflected on Sky’s final words to her just before she had set off. They had hugged goodbye and Steph had wished her all the best for her wedding day, knowing she would miss her. They had formed a close bond in a short space of time, but it was what Sky had said that was still resonating inside her head.
‘Take good care of Rob. I can see that he likes you, and I think the two of you could be good together.’
Steph had been flabbergasted, but she felt she had to express her reservations. ‘I can’t say I’ve noticed any great attraction on his part, but I’ll be quite honest, Sky, I’m not sure he’s the kind of man I want to get mixed up with. I’m sorry if that sounds rude and I take your point that it takes two to tango, but the fact remains that he has got a bit of a reputation.’
‘I know what you mean – the playboy virtuoso and all that – but like I said before, deep down he’s a good guy, and I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother. He’s been a bit of a lost soul for the past few years, but he’s changing, I can feel it. There’s something about the way he looks at you that tells me this time it’s different.’
As Steph squeezed between a group of Chinese tourists and a troop of Boy Scouts who sounded as though they were from somewhere in Eastern Europe, the thought that Robert might like her was still uppermost in her head. She was amazed that Sky thought there might be anything there. Steph wasn’t the most experienced of people in matters of the heart, but she felt sure she could read greater affection in the eyes of his Labrador than in those of the man himself. Could his sister be right?
And if she was, so what?
Even if he was somehow a changed man as his sister had indicated, his dubious reputation with women, the disparity between their backgrounds and the itinerant lifestyle imposed on him by his career would make it hard to sustain a relationship. Add to that the uncertainty of her future from a professional point of view, and it all became terribly complicated. And of course, there was also the lurking fear of a cancer diagnosis that made her future even more uncertain, but she made a valiant effort to keep that submerged for now. As her mum had told her when she had phoned to pass on the news about Tuesday’s biopsy, there was no point in worrying about something over which she had no control.
Easier said than done.
She stopped as she reached the Piazza del Duomo and stood there, eyes ranging over the ornate marble façade of the cathedral with its pillars, arches, statues and decorative lines of different coloured marble, but barely registering the beauty of the scene. She had no idea whether Sky might be right and her brother really did like her, but it made no difference. Nothing could or should happen between them and that was that. Whether he was still a womaniser or not, he had his life and she had hers. And by keeping him at arm’s length she would save herself the heartache of ultimate separation.
She didn’t have time to visit the interior of the duomo, so she moved on through the busy streets to Piazza della Signoria and fought her way close enough to the massive statue of David to take a few photos. From there she walked on further weaving with difficulty through the crowds to the Ponte Vecchio, where she bought a little necklace for her mum. By this time it was already lunchtime, and she was getting peckish. She was relieved to find a table outside a gelateria where she could sit under a parasol and enjoy a bowl of strawberry, peach and white chocolate ice cream. She sent a few photos to her mother and before long it was time to set off for the station to meet Cesare.
She was still thinking about the biopsy and Robert as she waited by the station at two o’clock. Cesare arrived barely a few minutes late to offload Sky and Tom so they could catch their train and Steph took their place in the minibus. Sky added further coals to the fire by whispering in Steph’s ear as they hugged one last time, ‘You and Rob: I can see it happening. You’ve got my phone number. Please keep me posted.’
Fiesole lies on a hill, just a handful of kilometres outside Florence. As the car climbed the winding road out of the city, Cesare told them to look back behind them, and the views over Florence were indeed stunning with its mass of red roofs punctuated by spires, towers and the unmistakable cupola of the duomo standing out above all else. When they got to Fiesole, they found it was a charming little town with an open-air market in the main square selling all sorts of lovely looking handcrafted objects. The Roman amphitheatre was impressive, far bigger than Steph had been expecting. Surrounded by beautifully kept grounds and facing away from Florence into the Tuscan countryside, it had been remarkably well preserved, and they found themselves sitting on the two-thousand-year-old stone seats among a thousand other people.
Despite the concert being sold out, Rob had got them seats right in the middle near the front. They sat looking directly onto the stage and, beyond that, there were just olive groves and the Tuscan hills. The seats were completely exposed to the afternoon sun and Steph was glad she had heeded Cesare’s advice to bring sun cream. Beside her, the three surviving members of Royalty wore baseball caps and the inevitable dark glasses, and nobody appeared to recognise them or, if they did, they were too polite to say anything. As a souvenir, Steph bought herself a T-shirt with Robert’s face on it, advertising the concert. At least she would have something to remember him by when she returned to England.
