Chapter Nineteen
1088 Words
I must have built four sand castles by the time Luca came back. He looked almost blue. It wasn't cold, but it wasn't warm either. The sea must have been freezing, judging by the colour of him. He landed hard on the sand beside us, still dripping wet. I couldn't help but think he would regret that later on when he tried to get the sand off. "I'm going to go and do some shopping if you two will be OK alone for a while."
"We will be fine. What are you shopping for?"
"Gifts for everyone back home. We have quite a hoard of relatives these days."
"I suppose that is true. Don't forget your mother and papi."
It was so hard to find something thoughtful for everyone, but I knew we were running out of days. I grabbed a beautiful colored serving dish for Nonna and a bottle of Cava for my mother. It was odd buying a bottle of wine given where we lived, but it wasn't like my mother lived there. I picked up a Barcelona football shirt for David and a matching kit and ball for Amiee. I knew Em and her dad used to play football a lot when she was younger and guessed it would be something he would like to continue with Amiee. It was a shot in the dark, but I didn't know him that well. Finally, I picked up the most gorgeous pair of handmade espadrilles for Aurora. They were wedged and had cream silk on the top.
Considering it to be a job well done, I headed back to the beach. Luca had dug a hole in the sand and Isabella was propped up inside it with her little head poking out the top. "You two look like you are having fun."
"We are."
"What time are we checking into the hotel?"
"We aren't."
"So, where are we staying tonight?"
"That would be telling, but all will be revealed at half-past nine tonight."
"That's late."
"We will be queuing from about half-past eight and I've booked us in for dinner at six. Relax Dolcezza. Everything is organised and thought it all through." I smiled back at him. I didn't mean to be a pain. I just wasn't used to putting so much in someone else's hands. He had done such a good job. It was unfair of me to doubt him.
Dinner was yet another overly lush affair, but was at least a much smaller portion. Luca insisted on ordering several starters just because he was intrigued. "I've never actually had Spanish cuisine before."
"Is this the only place in Europe you haven't been to?"
"No, but I admit it's well overdue. I just want to try a few things, get a feel for the favors, don't look at me like that."
"You are very cute, but I am going to need to go on a diet when we get home."
"Good luck trying to get that idea past Mamma."
"She doesn't cook for me much at all anymore."
"She will still know. How many times do I have to tell you that she knows everything?" I tried a little of everything, but I was saving myself for the mains. I ordered seafood paella. It would be rude not to and I couldn't wait to tuck into it. I loved Spanish food. It wasn't my first time in the country or even my fifth. There was always something so refreshing about Spanish food and the amount of seafood used was always a positive for me. It was a nice change from the heavy, rich food I was used to.
It was also nice to not be expected to automatically drink wine with the meal. The bottled water with fresh lemon and ice was amazing. I just felt more level-headed. The sun was starting to set, and we were right on the beach. It was beautiful and rather romantic. Well, it was until Isabella started whinging right as the mains were placed on the table.
I busied myself with grabbing her bottle and feeding her. "I can do it."
"I'm fine. You eat." Luca had ordered the sea bream, but he was eyeing up my paella. "You can try some. Trust me, you will be impressed, but avoid the lobster."
"Why? Is it not very good?"
"It's epic, but if you eat my lobster, I will kick your ass." He found it highly amusing, but I wasn't joking. By the time I got my food, it was tepid but still amazing. I savored every last morsel.
"Come on you, it's time to go."
"Are you going to tell me where we are going?"
"You will find out soon enough. It's not far." He was right. We were barely in the car five minutes before he joined a queue of traffic. I could see from the signs that we were heading into a ferry terminal. I couldn't contain my anxiety. My last ferry trip had hardly gone well. I was still convinced that the fall down the ferry steps was the reason that I had gone into labour so early. That my stupidity had been the thing that put Isabella at risk, and I would never forgive myself for that.
"Luca?"
"I know, but it's fine." He leaned into the back of the car and passed me yet another pink gift bag. They literally must have mass brought them. "This one is from Em and only Em. Do not blame me for its contents." I opened it cautiously. Luca clearly expected me to take whatever it was badly. Inside there was a pair of trainers and a hoodie. I couldn't contain the laughter. "I thought you would be cursing her. I'm not even sure why it's funny."
"Trainers, so I'm less likely to slip on wet steps and the hoodie is because being cold was what led me to the gift shop that day. If I hadn't been cold, I never would have been outside when I fell."
"How did Em know that and I didn't?"
"You knew I went to the gift shop."
"Yeah, but not why. I never thought to ask."
"Well, Em did. You know what she's like. She needs to know everything." I was still nervous, but Em's gifts had lightened the mood and I guessed that was her intention. The fact that she had even considered that I would be nervous was touching, nevermind trying to find a way to make me less anxious.
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