Butwhydon’t I? Besides the obvious – that our trip’s completely ruined and I’ll have to console her – there’s another reason I can’t quite put my finger on.
I plop onto the sofa, replaying my earlier conversation with Delaney – the part about relationships and marriage. Twelve yearsisa long time to date someone, which is why, five years ago, I finally proposed.
Finally. What a loaded word. I suspect it’s a clue to what’s really going on, only I’m not in the right frame of mind to delve deeper. Not yet. Maybe not ever.
Before I talk myself out of it, I take my phone out of my pocket and make the call.
‘Heya,’ Pippa chirrups, sounding much cheerier than she did a few hours ago. That won’t last.
‘Hi. So, you have your room sorted, I hear?’
‘Yes, they’ve been brilliant. We even got an upgrade – very kind of them considering it wasn’t their mistake. And theview! Oh, Nick, you’re going to love it here.’
She obviously doesn’t know about the volcano. And Ididtell Delaney that if Pippa’s heart is set on Iceland, then I’d go. But is it fair of her to assume? It’s not like we’ve discussed it – we haven’t even been in touch with True North yet.
‘You are coming,right?’ she asks, filling the silence. I’ve done it again – let my thoughts get away from me. ‘Capri’s supposed to be beautiful,’ she continues, a slight waver in her voice, ‘but we can go next summer.’
My mind snags onnext summer– and I feel like a right shit for making her doubt me – but I set both aside and get to the reason I’m phoning.
‘Pip, you mustn’t have seen the news.’
‘What news is that?’ I can picture the exact expression on her face.
‘Mount Etna erupted. They’re expecting an enormous ash cloud across southern Europe, impacting boat traffic and grounding flights. I’m afraid I’m stuck on Capri for the foreseeable future.’
‘What?’ she squeaks. ‘But you can’t—Theycan’t. I’ve got all these plans, Nick. Youhaveto come. Please tell me you’re having me on this time.’
My chest tightens at the pleading in her voice. ‘I’mnot, Pip, I prom?—’
‘Wait a tick – I’m putting you on speaker. Oh god,’ she says a few moments later, ‘you’re being serious.’ She must have checked the news.
‘Yes.’
She sighs loudly. If only I was there to give her a hug – she says they’re better than a warm bath and a cup of tea for making everything right – but if Iwerethere, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
‘It’s a good thing no one’s been hurt,’ she says eventually. That’s Pip – always considering others. She’ll be donating to the Red Cross the moment she gets off the phone.
‘I really am sorry, Pip. I know you’ve been looking forward to this for ages.’
‘Yes, I have – for a very long time,’ she replies, her voice low and gravelly. ‘Look, I’ve got to go. Phone me if anything changes.’
She ends the call without sayinggoodbyeand I take the phone away from my ear and stare at it, stunned. In all the years I’ve known Pippa, she’s never once been that abrupt with me.
Something’s going on. And it has nothing to do with a volcano.
* * *
After the call with Pippa, the room became stifling, so I’ve taken myself for a walk, ending up at the marina. A lot of the chaos seems to have died down, and there are only a handful of smaller ferries waiting to depart.
Funnily, Delaney is at the restaurant where I had lunch earlier, a half-drunk Aperol Spritz in front of her.
‘Mind if I join you?’ I ask.
She looks up, her mouth falling open before stretching into a smile.
‘Be my guest,’ she says, and I take the chair next to hers, then signal for the waiter to bring me the same.
‘So, change your mind?’ she asks with an amused lift of her brows.