Second Chances in Chianti (Escape to Tuscany Book 2) by T.A. Williams (online e reader .TXT) 📕

of being like you when I was growing up.’ It would appear that Carrie was a good bit younger than Alice had first thought – maybe mid-twenties or even less, which would make her a good bit younger than she was – or Richie. ‘I even used to try to dress like you, but my mum kept forbidding me from buying the stuff I wanted. She said it was too provocative.’

‘I take it you mean you tried to dress like Polly in Pals, not me.’

‘Yes, sorry, I meant Polly.’ Her eyes strayed to Alice’s T-shirt, shorts and dusty trainers. ‘So you don’t dress like her normally?’ She sounded quite disappointed.

Alice shook her head. ‘It’s taken five years, but I’m gradually getting the message across that Polly and I are two very different animals.’

‘Oh…’ Carrie looked even more disappointed now, but she soon snapped out of it. ‘Well, I’m still really pleased to have met you, Alice.’

‘Me too.’ Alice returned her attention to Richie. ‘We’re waiting for Millie, and I’m surprised to hear that Harry’s also coming – is that definitely true?’

‘He’s coming. He called me a week or so ago to see if I was up for it. When I told him I was coming, he said he would, too. I think he mentioned that he was flying over to Switzerland first to stop over with a friend, but he’ll be here, I’m sure.’

No prizes for guessing the gender of the friend with whom he would be breaking his journey. So, Alice thought to herself, all five of the cast – plus Benny – had elected to come to this meeting, which meant all of them, to a greater or lesser extent, were at least considering getting involved with Pals Forever. No doubt Conrad Chesterfield would be well pleased, although it seemed clear from talking to Benny and Layla that the show would only go ahead if Zoë were no longer at the helm. Alice wondered how that little conundrum was going to work itself out.

Together, they walked back to the villa and, just as the other two disappeared up the stairs, the front door opened. Paolo appeared, pushing a trolley holding two big suitcases, and was followed, just a few paces behind, by Millie.

‘Hi, Al. What a gorgeous place.’ She gave Alice an enthusiastic hug, kissed David’s cheeks and then turned back to the door, glancing out into the twilight. ‘Harry, Alice is here. Come and say hi.’

So they were all here. The pals were reunited.

Chapter 5

Millie appeared at Alice’s door just before eight, all dolled-up in a dress that must have cost a fortune – which she most probably didn’t have – and refused to let Alice go down to dinner in her dusty T-shirt and shorts. Under pressure, Alice reluctantly changed into a relic of her former life, a light summer dress by Stella McCartney which had been hanging at the back of her wardrobe for over five years. It felt really strange to be wearing something so pricey and, for that matter, revealing. She had completely got out of the habit of wearing the sort of clothes that young Carrie would no doubt have identified as ‘Polly’ clothes, and she found herself apprehensively checking her appearance in the mirrors in the hallway before walking through to the dining room. French windows at the end of this fine room opened onto the terrace, where a dinner table had been prepared outside, illuminated by a line of imposing silver candlesticks running all the way down the centre of the table.

The atmosphere on the terrace when they got there was uncomfortable. Zoë was standing by the door, clutching a glass of champagne and greeting each of them as they emerged into the warm evening air. As Millie, Alice and David walked past, she raised her glass in a little toast, even summoning a smile.

‘Thank you for coming. Millie, you look charming. And you, David.’ Zoë’s smile even warmed a little at the sight of him, but she pointedly ignored Alice.

Millie gave her a kiss on the cheek. As Alice had already been through these formalities, she just carried on out of the door and into the open air. The first person she saw was Layla, who had also changed and looked stunning – and knew it. She was wearing a silk dress that reassured Alice she wasn’t going to be the one with the most skin on display tonight. Yes, she reflected as she walked over towards Layla, those boobs were definitely bigger now. At her side, she caught an intake of breath from David and she almost giggled. If he had been feeling star-struck before, he was no doubt feeling blown away now.

Next to Layla was Antonia, and Alice settled at her side. Benny and Harry were standing a bit further up the terrace, drinking bottled beer and, from the expression on Harry’s face, feeling no less uncomfortable than Alice herself. Benny had made an effort with his appearance, although Harry hadn’t changed and was still wearing the same jeans and polo shirt he had been wearing upon his arrival. Nevertheless, he was still the same handsome heart-throb he had always been in the Pals group. He wasn’t looking at Layla and she was studiously avoiding looking at him. Alice wondered if they had at least shaken hands.

‘Alice, what a delightful dress.’ Antonia sounded as if she meant it. Beside her, Layla proved that she had a good memory.

‘I know that dress. You wore it to the last of the end-of-series parties, didn’t you?’

Alice accepted a glass of champagne from Paolo, thanked him and then nodded towards Layla. ‘And this is its first outing since.’

By this time Millie had joined them. ‘Are you telling me you never wear smart clothes these days, Al?’

‘Smart, sometimes, but not this kind of thing. You don’t find many university students wearing designer clothes, at least not in Britain.’ She gave Millie a grin. ‘I’d have stuck out like a sore thumb. In