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‘No, you weren’t mistaken He’s at the bank,’ Holly confirmed, as the older woelo

‘Today? My son went into work today?’ his mother exclaimed in dismay

Holly gave a rueful nod

‘He should be here with you,’ Concetta told her, surprising her

The rattle of china and the sound of footsteps approaching proelo to Concetta, as extending her ar in Italian baby talk The toht iron table in the shade while Silvestro poured the tea He had ically contrived to anticipate the arrival of Vito’s ht an extra cup and a plate of tiny English biscuits

‘A honeyiven,’ Concetta pronounced without hesitation

‘If Vito wants to work, well, then he wants to work,’ Holly parried, tactfully non-committal

‘You and this darling little boy are Vito’s family and you must ensure that my son puts you first,’ Vito’s mother countered ‘That is very important’

Holly breathed in deep ‘Vito loves to work I don’t feel I have the right to ask hi so basic about himself’

‘Priorities have to change once you’re ht…’ The older wohtfully ‘I will be open with you I saw your distress after Apolloyesterday’

Holly winced ‘I was more embarrassed than distressed…I think’

‘But why should you be eeous little boy?’ Concetta de… When I o, I was already pregnant…’

Holly’s blue eyes widened in surprise at that frank admission

Concetta compressed her lips ‘My father would never have allowed me to marry a man like Ciccio in any other circumstances He knew that Ciccio was a fortune hunter but I was too naive to see the obvious I was eighteen and in love for the first time Ciccio was in his thirties’

‘That’s a big age gap,’ Holly remarked carefully