Free Loving Alex by Sarah Elizabeth Ashley

chatting about the morning, Gia enthuses about some
of the things she’s seen in Harrods, as I listen to her my hand drifts to the
Tiffany diamond pendant that James gave me. I’ve really not taken it off since
I put it back on, following our “ tiff” , when he came home with that
mark, that love bite and I asked him to leave, something that I said I would
check him out on but haven’t, I believe him, I think, I hope.
    “I’ve got something for you Gia.” I say when she takes
breath, allowing me to get a word in.
    Reaching down into the Harrods bag I pull out the Mulberry
dust bag that holds the handbag she was so clearly wanting. I hand it to her,
“This is for you Gia, thank you for coming with me, for being such a good
friend.”
    She takes the bag from me. I think she knows what it is
before she opens it.
    “Oh Alex, I can’t accept this, it’s much too much!” I’m sure
that’s a look of disbelief on her face.
    “Don’t be silly, you’ve done so much for me in such a little
time, it’s the very, very least I can do. Please – I’ll be so offended if you
don’t take it.” I’m insistent, flapping my hands at her as she attempts to give
it back.
    She stands and walks around to me, bending down she gives me
such a hug, a proper hug like the one’s my mum used to dole out from time to
time.
    When she returns to her seat I talk about Ramiro, “I was
thinking of asking Ramiro to come here for a few days, but I’d need you and
Roberto to be on board, I couldn’t entertain him on my own, we just couldn’t
communicate!”
    She smiles broadly and nods, “I think Roberto would be more
than happy. If Ramiro agreed it may be best if he stayed with us anyway, that
way there wouldn’t be a major language problem, he could come and see you each
day, you could pick him up. He’d like that big car! Do you want me to talk to
Roberto first?”
    “Umm, I think that would be a good idea and I’d love him to
meet Anna before she goes to university and I’m sure she’d like to meet him
too!” I take a drink of my wine as we chat.
    “It’s a lovely idea.” She agrees, I’m so pleased.
    “Maybe we can arrange a family meal or something like
that?” I suggest as I take another drink of my Merlot.
    “That would be great. Really good.” She enthuses.
    Our food arrives interrupting us from our plan making.
    As I work my way through my salad and Gia through her
glorified toastie we talk about plans, about James, what he was like as a
teenager –wild by all accounts! Oh yes, Gia certainly fills in one or two gaps
in his history, but I suppose most teenagers can be a bit strong willed and
coupled with losing his dad at such an early age it’s no wonder he was a little “off the rails” for a while, almost understandable.
    “I can’t believe that James hasn’t been snapped up by some
young attractive girl.” I think out loud.
    “You’re right Alex - although not for want of them trying!”
She laughs, “always someone on the phone before he went to America. I bet I
used to take two or three calls a day from different girls “ is James there…
Can I speak with James…Where is he?” It used to make me and Roberto laugh!”
She giggles as she recounts the stories of the many phone calls received for
James.
    “But nobody special?” I ask.
    “No, nobody. Only you! He thinks the absolute world of you
Alex.” She’s serious, her expression changing.
    “How do you know?” I push my salad around my plate, looking
at her. Looking for signs that what she says is real, truthful.
    “I just know – the way he looks at you, he cares about you.
I can just tell. Remember, I’ve known him pretty much all of his life, Lucca
and Roberto started Amici when James was, oh I don’t know, maybe two or three,
of course we knew them before then anyway, Roberto and Ramiro were great
friends with Lucca back in Italy, the families knew each other. I remember his
mother disappearing, it was a tough time for Lucca,