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

been asking myself the same question for years, but it’s inexplicable. He must have his reasons, but they’re beyond me.’

After their drinks, they set off to pick up the rental car. On the way, Alice stopped at a bank and took out the money to pay Signor Innocenti the balance of the rent on the little house. The car rental office was in a narrow street near the station and from there, not without difficulty, Alice threaded the little Fiat through the heavy traffic until they were out of town and onto the autostrada, following the signs pointing south.

As they drove down to the Chianti turn-off, Antonia made a suggestion. ‘How desperate are you to get back to the villa? I must admit I’m reluctant to sit down to a meal with Zoë tonight – and I daresay you feel the same way – so how about I buy you dinner to say thank you for today? I noticed a nice-looking little restaurant at the side of the road as we drove past Strada in Chianti. How does that sound? I can contact Paolo and tell him not to worry about preparing dinner for us tonight.’

Alice nodded approvingly. ‘That sounds perfect, thank you. It’s still early, so I’ll be back at the villa in good time to see David and tell him about the little house I’ve rented. I’ll text him to let him know, so he doesn’t worry.’ Although, it occurred to her, he hadn’t taken the trouble to tell her about his excursion to Siena. Men!

The restaurant turned out to be fancy and expensive, but Antonia’s gold card didn’t bat an eyelid. They had an excellent meal although to Alice, after five years as a student, it was all a bit over the top. They opted for a self-indulgent starter of scallops served with Jerusalem artichokes and foie gras, which was exquisite. They decided not to have a pasta course after this and chose grilled venison with roast fennel as their main. For dessert they shared a chocolate soufflé with spicy chilli pepper ice cream which was… interesting. As she was driving, Alice only allowed herself one glass of a good Chianti Classico, but Antonia drank much of the rest of the bottle, and by the end of the meal she was looking and sounding very relaxed. So relaxed, in fact, that she took Alice into her confidence.

‘There’s something I want to tell you, Alice.’ Antonia was suddenly sounding serious. ‘Do you know what I did this lunchtime, before coming to Florence with you? I quit.’

Alice looked back at her in considerable surprise. ‘You’re leaving the company? But you’ve been there for ages, haven’t you?’

Antonia nodded. ‘Twenty-seven years, but I’ve had enough. I’m off – with immediate effect.’

‘And what are you going to do?’

‘That’s what I’m going to be talking about in London this weekend. The time’s come to think about working for myself, or at least in a company where I’m calling the shots. This whole Zoë business has brought home to me how powerless I really am here.’

Alice reached out and grasped her hand for a few seconds. ‘Well, I think you’re doing the right thing. Life’s too short for accepting second best and for working alongside people like Zoë. I wish you the best of luck. Do, please, let me know how it all pans out.’

Antonia squeezed her fingers. ‘Of course I will, and you must promise to do the same for me.’

When they got back to the villa, Antonia went up to bed, while Alice looked for David. Although she had sent him a text to let him know where she’d been, she had received no reply, and she was beginning to get a bit worried. Finding no trace of him downstairs, she went up to their room and it was then that it all suddenly became surreal.

There was no sign of David, and the first thing she noticed was that his bag and all his clothes had gone. The second thing she saw was a note lying on the bed.

Dear Alice,

Sorry to do this by letter, but maybe it’s for the best. Now that I know you’ve decided not to take the job in Hollywood, I assume you’ll be staying in the UK. The problem is that I’ve decided I want to go to Hollywood and I’m on my way there now.

Layla’s been giving me the names of some of her contacts in LA and I really think I might be able to find myself a job over there in the movie business, doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve got almost two months’ vacation, so I’ve decided to fly over and see what emerges.

Not sure what this means as far as you and I are concerned. If I decide not to stay in the States, maybe we can pick up again from where we left off.

Sorry again for making this so impersonal.

Love,

David.

Alice just stood and stared blankly at the sheet of paper in her hand. How on earth could he write her a message like this, effectively telling her he was dumping her in favour of some vague possibility of a job in the US, and still have the gall to insert the word love before his signature? And as for picking up again where they had left off! Suddenly, his detached air and his absences made sense. Presumably, when he had gone missing, he had been talking to Layla… or maybe doing more than talking? Yesterday afternoon he had claimed to have been stuck in the summer house because of the rain, but had he been alone? Might he and Layla have hooked up? And, of course, that would explain his unwillingness to take advantage of Alice’s offer of a bit of physical comforting when he returned.

Whether anything had happened between Layla and him or not, one thing was now crystal clear – this letter had effectively answered the question she had been hoping to resolve over the coming