The Cuckoo's Call by Lily Morton

Author:Lily Morton [Morton, Lily]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-11-19T16:00:00+00:00

Later on, showered and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, I sit beside Teo in the Jeep as it barrels along the road. I feel sleek and like every atom in my body is buzzing.

“Where are we going?” I ask again.

He grins at me, his teeth white in his tanned face and the sun glancing off his sunglasses. “We’re going to Cala d’Or.”

Excitement stirs. “Ooh, are we going out on the boat again?”

He shakes his head regretfully. “No. We don’t have time, Wren. A friend closed the boat down for me for the winter as I’m leaving. Our flight is at three.”

I bite my lip. “I can’t wait to see Venice, but I’m a bit sad to leave Majorca.”

“Me too.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand. “But you’ll love Venice. I promise.”

“What’s it like?”

“It will appeal to your dramatic little heart.” He chuckles as I pinch his fingers. “It is beautiful and melancholy and full of a sense of its place in history.”

“Very different from here.”

“Here is bold and bright.”

“So why are we going to Cala d’Or?”

“We’re going to a little shop that I know. You’ll love it.”

“Will I? I’m not a huge shopper, Teo.”

“Do you not like it?” he asks with concern.

“I don't know. I’ve not had much reason to shop in the past, unless you count Sainsbury's and charity shops.”

“Well, you’ll like this place. It’s a lot better than Sainsbury's.”

I wonder what he’s buying for himself and then dismiss the thought. We’ve got the whole day together. I don’t care what he’s shopping for.

“You know Sainsbury's?” I ask.

He chuckles. “Of course. I went to university in Durham.”

“Really? What did you take? Was university nice?” I stop talking, feeling my cheeks warm. “Sorry,” I mutter. “I just have so many questions, Teo.”

He chuckles. “Ask me anything you want. Let me see if I remember all that long list.” He laughs as I pinch him. “Yes, the university was nice. Durham is a beautiful city. I took Business Administration, but I think I really excelled in drinking in the university bar.”

“Well, that answers something I’ve been thinking for ages.” He looks at me enquiringly. “Your English is very good, but it’s more the fact that you understand little cultural references to do with British TV and such. I’ve wondered where it came from.”

“I came back with that and some excellent friends. You’ll like them.”

“I’ll meet them?” I can’t help my surprise.

“Yes,” he says, looking at me cautiously. “Of course you will, if they visit. You’ll certainly meet my Venetian friends. Do you not want to?”

“Oh no. It’s not that at all,” I say immediately, and his shoulders relax. “I suppose I just thought I’d be kept separate from your real life.”

“My real life is going on right now,” he says evenly. “And I think they’ll like you.”

“Do they meet your usual men?” I ask.

“Of course.” For some reason, that depresses me. For a wild second, I’d thought he was stepping outside his standard rules for me. I shake myself and turn to the stereo.

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