Jules Wake - From Rome with Love - Escape the winter blues with the perfect feel-good romance!

‘Lisa, Lisa, Lisa.’ Giovanni’s sing-song Italian accent rang out across the pub as he loped across the room, a broad smile filling his too-handsome-for-his-own-good face. ‘Bellissima. You look bellissima.’

An exaggeration, Lord love him, as she’d come straight from work. Knackered from a day on her feet dealing with a bunch of energy-sapping demons otherwise known as ‘early-years children’, everything drooped and her get up and go had got up and gone, but Giovanni’s blatant, eager charm did good things to her ego, especially with Will in sight.

‘Hey, Giovanni, how you doing?’ She greeted him with a grin.

He gave her an exuberant hug and kisses on each cheek.

‘Glad when your British summer arrives. I have a small little problem with all this rain.’

He lifted his feet to show sodden trouser hems, which had clearly had a bit of a dunking. ‘Piddles everywhere.’

‘Puddles,’ corrected Lisa, stifling a laugh at the disgruntled expression in his dark-brown eyes. ‘Hopefully, the summer will arrive soon. You have to remember all this rain is what makes this country a green and pleasant land.’ She nodded her head towards the view through the French doors. The hillside rose, coated in a blanket of brilliant green, the trees rounded and full like plump broccoli.

‘Hmm,’ said Giovanni, not looking the least bit convinced, but then he flashed his model-boy smile at her. ‘Can I buy you a drink? Are you staying?’ The hopeful look made her pause.

‘Sorry, not tonight.’

When his face fell, she added quickly, ‘I popped in to pick Siena up. Jason’s away. As soon as we finish these, we’re heading back to hers.’ Lisa winked. ‘She’s making me dinner.’

‘Ah,’ Giovanni gave her a mournful puppy-dog look. ‘I miss my mother’s cooking. Home cooking. And female company.’

Lisa laughed and punched him on the arm. ‘Sorry mate, girls’ night. And don’t give me that. You eat here all the time. Don’t let Al hear you say that. He’ll try out one of his concoctions on you.’ Giovanni lived in the flat above the pub and ate with the rest of the staff, including resident-chef Al, who had moments of gastronomic brilliance interspersed with extraordinary creative flashes of culinary lunacy.

Giovanni shuddered. ‘I’m still getting over the beetroot-jelly-and-horseradish-with-beef combination.’ He shot a quick look towards the kitchen before leaning down and whispering with a teasing laugh, ‘Thank goodness Will is opening a proper restaurant with real food.’

‘Yes, he’s got great plans,’ said Siena, arriving back from the ladies, pushing him out of the way and plonking herself down at the table. ‘Although Al is sulking that he doesn’t get to play too.’

Giovanni beamed at her, although Siena had that effect on most men. ‘And I am very thankful for that. He was suggesting pizza kedgeree.’

‘Please don’t tell me …’ Giovanni nodded gleefully. ‘Smoked mackerel and boiled egg.’

‘Yuk,’ chorused both Siena and Lisa.

‘Ah, ladies, I must go.’ Giovanni grinned as Will yelled. ‘Get your arse over here and stop flirting with the help.’

‘The boss is calling.’ With that he shot away, waving his hands in a placating manner that simply made Will scowl even more.

‘My feet are killing me. You might have to carry me out to the car, Lisa.’

‘No chance,’ she responded. ‘I’ve been with the tiddlers in reception class today. Have you seen the size of the chairs in there? My thighs are knackered, crouching down all day. Roll on the school hols.’

‘Yes, you lucky thing. Six whole weeks off.’

Lisa winced. ‘You’re kidding. I was hoping Will might give me a few shifts.’ With a pained sigh, she glanced quickly over Siena’s shoulder. ‘Needs must. God he’s a bad-tempered sod.’

‘Not to me he isn’t,’ said Siena with a sly, piercing look her way, which Lisa ignored.

‘I suppose I’ll have to grovel, but some extra cash would be handy. I might have been able afford to go on holiday, except now it looks as if I’ll have to go tyre-shopping instead.’

At Siena’s amused expression, Lisa poked her in the ribs. ‘Don’t look like that.’

‘You must be desperate,’ teased Siena.

‘I am, believe me.’ She picked at the beer mat on the table. ‘Clearly a case of better the job you know. Besides, I like it here.’ The pub drew people from miles around with its renowned gastro menu. ‘And most of the staff are lovely. No make that all of the staff, with one exception.’

Siena didn’t say a word, just smiled serenely and chinked her glass against Lisa’s. ‘Salut.’

‘Cheers.’

‘What do you think I should do?’

Lisa sat at Siena’s kitchen table, the open ring box in her hand.

‘Keep it,’ said Siena, taking it out of her hand and dancing across the kitchen, holding the ring up to the light so that the diamond sparkled.

‘Really?’ Lisa sat up straighter.

‘No, not really,’ Siena’s mouth turned down in sympathy. ‘It’s gorgeous. That’s a lot of carat.’

Of course, Siena would know.

‘It’s real?’

Siena nodded. ‘I’m pretty sure.’

Lisa had explained the whole story to Siena and although she didn’t voice the bewilderment that her mother hadn’t left the ring to her, Siena had picked up on it and given her hand a quick squeeze. ‘Maybe your mum felt because they’d split up it should go back to his family.’

A lump formed in Lisa’s throat. She was his family. His daughter. Although he’d clearly forgotten that. Anger flared and she lifted her chin. ‘I am family. I’d like to remind him of that.’

He might have forgotten but, she gritted her teeth, when Nan went he would be all the family she had. Goosebumps prickled her skin. Nan had plenty of years left in her. She didn’t need to worry about that just yet.

Siena’s face softened. ‘Who knows? Maybe your mother thought that if he got the ring after she died, he might come for you? Does he know she died?’

‘You’re too nice, Siena.’ Lisa sighed. ‘He wasn’t interested in having me. He came to the funeral. Nan didn’t like him much but she did let him know. He came. And left straight after the ceremony.’ She took in a breath, keeping her voice steady and fighting to contain the hurt. Left without her.

‘But,’ said Siena, handing the ring back with a rueful smile on her face, ‘I think you’ve already answered your own question, n’est ce pas ?’

Lisa’s mouth tightened. It was the right thing to do. She could do the right thing even if her father hadn’t been able to. A brief, unhappy smile lit her face at the thought of being able to take the moral high ground. Yes, she should return the ring and tell him exactly what she thought of him. She didn’t need him, or anything from him.

She tapped the photograph. ‘He can have the ring back. I don’t want it. But I need to find him first. This photo is years old. The house might not even be there any more.’

‘You could go to Rome and find out.’

Lisa whipped her head around and glared at Siena.

‘Yes, why didn’t I think of that?’ Her voice dripped with sarcasm. ‘I’ll hop on a plane and go to Rome. Silly me.’ Lisa rolled her eyes and shook her head, softening her next words. ‘I forgot you were an international jetsetter once upon a time. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple for us mere mortals, unless you have a handy jet standing by that I could borrow. And I don’t particularly want to meet my father. Just give him the ring back.’

‘Okay, not the best idea,’ said Siena with her usual understanding shrug. ‘But you could check the electoral roll. See if the Vettese family still lives there. That’s what I would do.’