Chapter 5

“If we got married to each other,we’d have four hundred people showing up to spit on us, not celebrate.”

“Speak for your own family,” Rob said. “Mine are okay, actually.” Chez didn’t look convinced. And perhaps Rob could only say that about his parents and his sisters, and maybe his somewhat eccentric Aunt Livia, who was a sculptor. “Well, some of them,” he conceded.

They drank their tea in silence for a while, Rob enjoying basking in the sunshine as it warmed the lush grass sprinkled with daisies and buttercups.

“Better summer this year,” Chez said. “The last two…hell’s bells.” He grimaced.

Rob hated to imagine the damage the washout summers of the last two years had done to the Bianchis’ already faltering business. Come to think of it, it was right at the end of summer the year before that Teo had done his little disappearing act.

“Right,” Rob said, his mug empty. “I’d better get set up.”

“Me, too. Rob…thanks again for sending this booking my way.”