Perhaps she should have gone with him, even though Milan was not her favourite place—too many frenzied fashion shows. But spending some time at Lake Como sounded far more attractive. It would be their last chance to see the Lakes before autumn. And by spring she would be back in London.
Heaviness pressed at her. She did not want to think about the end of her time with Salvatore. Wanted only to go on enjoying this time with him. While she had him.
She shook her head to clear such pointless thoughts, tugging her swimsuit up her legs, over her hips and tummy. She had to stretch the fabric to do so, and looked down at herself again. The roundness of her tummy seemed accentuated, and she frowned again. She was definitely putting on weight—quite a lot, it seemed. She almost looked—
In mid-tug, she froze, eyes widening in shock. Something Laura had said to her that very first time she’d met Salvatore’s friends was suddenly in her head.
‘You won’t ever get away with hiding even the tiniest baby bump!’
The words hung there, like a hammer suspended over her head. She was unable to un-hear them...
Instantly into her head came denial. No, of course she wasn’t! She couldn’t be. It was impossible. More than impossible.
Unthinkable.
Because it would change everything—everything!—between Salvatore and me...
Blindly, she pulled her clothes back on and walked back up to the palazzo, feeling her heart thudding in her chest. She had to know! She would go to a farmacia...buy at testing kit. Right now—this afternoon. Tension racked through her as she hurried indoors, seeing a maid, asking for a car to be brought round for her straight away.
I have to know. I have to know for certain. I just have to.
Salvatore put down his phone, frowning. Lana wasn’t picking up. He texted her instead, saying he wanted to show her where they’d be staying on Lake Como, right at the lake’s edge. She was going to be flying up to Milan tomorrow afternoon, and then they’d set off for the lake.
A bit less rustic than our last lakeside holiday!
He’d ended by attaching a photo of the luxury villa hotel with its ornate frontage and boat dock.
He waited for her reply. It did not come. He phoned her again. No answer. Only voicemail. He left a message, asking her to phone him back.
After forty minutes of fruitless waiting, he phoned home. Spoke to his housekeeper.
‘But the signora set out this morning to join you!’ Signora Guardi told him. ‘She said she wanted to surprise you—’
Salvatore froze.