Summer on the Italian Lakes by Lucy Coleman

Author:Lucy Coleman [Coleman, Lucy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Head of Zeus
Published: 2018-12-27T05:00:00+00:00

*

We head off to our respective rooms with hardly a word. Divorce law is an unknown to me. However, I find it mind boggling that both parties aren’t expected to work to support themselves if they split up. Obviously joint assets should be shared, regardless of who worked and who didn’t. Behind every successful man, or woman, as the saying goes. But having a share of pre-existing assets? And the court expecting one of the parties involved to maintain the standard of living for the other person after the divorce? That’s insanity unless there are children involved, which is an entirely different matter.

After a few minutes I’m getting angry; throwing myself into the manuscript is the only way to stop my mind from whirling.

I keep a careful watch on the time, and when it gets to just after five, I stop, have a shower and change. The minibus will no doubt be heading back to town to collect the group and I have no idea whether Arran will reappear tonight. I fleetingly wonder if the driver has been informed he’s picking up only six people now, but there’s nothing I can do about that.

Wandering downstairs, it’s quiet and I have no idea where Arran is right now, or even if he’s in the house. Then I remember the library and I make my way outside, crossing the garden and keeping out of sight as best I can. I approach the building rather cautiously. Some of the louvres are tilted, so I know he’s in there. Quietly, I head back to the house.

By the time the minibus returns it’s a quarter to seven and people head straight off to their rooms. Arran’s absence isn’t noticeable, thankfully. Tonight, everyone has ticked the list to eat at La Pergola again and after that the plan is to laze around the pool. I ring the restaurant to book a table for six, saying that Arran is tied up on an important phone call and I have that manuscript to work on. No one seems too bothered as they’ve obviously had a good day and I think tonight might be a late one. There’s a bit of a party mood going on, which is a great diversion. It’s a relief in one way, although I’m not sure how Arran will feel about it if the noise level rises later tonight. As soon as they all leave, I head back across to the library.

Peering inside, Arran is sitting in one of the winged armchairs. I think he’s reading a book. I turn the door handle, gently inching it open, and step inside. He immediately looks up.

‘Sorry. What time is it?’ As he says the words he checks his watch and jumps to his feet, sending the book crashing to the floor. ‘Is everyone back?’ He sounds appalled.

I bend to pick up what I can now see is a photograph album. A few photos have fallen out and I pick them and the album up, handing the pile to him.

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