Page 8 of A Scottish Teashop in Napoli

‘May I recommend the fresh salt fish accompanied by our traditional dish of fungee?’ said the waiter, pouring her a glass of complimentary wine.

Fungee? That sounds disgusting.

‘Actually, what I’d really like is—’

Where’s your sense of adventure, Lucy?

‘That sounds—’ She cleared her throat. ‘—delicious. Thank you.’

She opened her book and tried to read, but it wasn’t long beforeher thoughts turned to home. This time tomorrow she’d be landing on Scottish soil. The stark reality of having to face everyone was now starting to sink in.

Had Stewart given any thought to the impact their break-up was going to have, not only on her, but their families and friends?

A sharp pain seared her heart. The only person she’d confided in was Jamie, her brother. Having served in Afghanistan, he was used to dealing with earth-shattering catastrophes, so she could rely on him to deal with the news calmly – though just to be sure, she’d pre-empted the conversation with, ‘Before I tell you what’s happened, I want you to promise me not to tell Mum and Dad and to let me deal with Stewart my own way.’

She had part-dialled her parents’ number numerous times at the start, but immediately hung up, as she couldn’t trust herself not to cause alarm by bursting into floods of tears or by launching into an angry and uncharacteristic tirade of unsavoury language that was bound to shock and worry them.

Her phone had therefore remained off for the last couple of days, but tomorrow she had no choice but to let the outside world back in.

She took a huge gulp of wine, and immediately choked on it.

All eyes swerved in her direction.

‘Madam?’ said the waiter, setting down her plate of food then pouring her a glass of ice cold water with an empathetic smile.

‘Thank you,’ she spluttered.

The light was starting to dim. Candles flickered inside huge hurricane lanterns. The buzz of tree frogs filled the warm air.

Instead of bolting down her food in order to make a quick exit, she found herself savouring the unusual and surprisingly delicious flavours.

As the steel band began to play, the dance floor quickly filled.Lucy found her foot tapping to the beat and her body swaying to the rhythm.

She asked herself why it had taken until the last evening of her solo honeymoon to finally pluck up the courage to dine alone.

‘Lucy!’

She turned to see Jacinta, breathlessly zigzagging her way through the tightly packed tables.

‘I’ve been looking for you. I hoped to find you here.’

‘I’m so glad you did. I’m leaving tomorrow and wanted to thank you for being so kind on the day I arrived – and to wish you a wonderful wedding and a long and happy marriage.’

‘How did you know?’

‘The lady at the spa told me this afternoon.’

Jacinta smiled and rolled her eyes. ‘She is such a gossip.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

‘You were so sad and I—’

‘Do you want to know a secret?’

Jacinta raised an eyebrow. ‘What?’

‘I’m beginning to realise that my husband-to-be did me a favour by not boarding that plane. Now, will you join me in a celebratory drink?’