His eyes filled with heat. ‘I have quite a few ideas of my own about how to make you happy but I certainly wouldn’t have wanted to share them with your dad.’
Sofia giggled. ‘He would have been thrilled that we came back to Montelibertà for our honeymoon.’
Levi’s gaze was suddenly intent. ‘We could come back here to live, if you want. Now Wes is back on board at The Moron Forum I could work from here – I’ve already talked to him about the possibility and now Octavia’s found some other poor mug to haunt he’s up for it. You could work with your family.’
‘Are you serious?’ Sofia could scarcely believe her ears. She felt as if her heart was galloping all over the terrace, whooping with joy. ‘But what about your own family? And Bettsbrough?’
‘I’ve talked to my lot. They understand. It will take a big adjustment for them but they’ll visit. Probably quite a lot, if I know my mum and daughter. You’ve no idea the trouble I’ve had making Amy keep the possibility to herself! She’s nearly given it away a hundred times but I wanted to suggest it to you here, back where it all began.’
‘Wow.’ Sofia could hardly breathe for joy. She gazed across the valley and took a moment to savour the pleasure of being back. Then she turned to Levi, the man who had changed all her plans but now was offering to give them back to her. ‘How about we try it for two years? The two years away from the UK I promised myself? Then we can talk about where to base ourselves permanently.’
‘Here, there, wherever you are,’ Levi repeated her words of a year ago, raising his glass. ‘To Aldo. The man who, by demanding promises from his daughter, sent her to Italy. And to me.’
Sofia touched his glass with hers, then raised it to the sky, eyes turned to the blue deepening to lavender. ‘I kept all my promises. Especially the one about being happy. Salute, Papà.’
Leaning across the table to give her new husband a kiss, she didn’t think she could get much happier. It just wasn’t possible.
Acknowledgements
This book has seen me shamelessly hitting up friends old and new to help me bring you the story of what happened One Summer in Italy, and I welcome this opportunity to express my gratitude. Neil Hesman, who runs my website www.suemoorcroft.com, advised me on all things website-related, especially The Moron Forum, whilst Paul Matthews gave me The Moron Forum’s name. Sara and David Moody of Arte Umbria, the little patch of Italy where I have run many happy courses and writing retreats, provided information on local matters and seasonal employment; unlike Benedetta, they have a fair and responsible attitude to their summer workers! Angela Petch kindly supplied me with other information Italian; Ross Warren answered my questions relating to hotels and hotel staff; Gilli Allan on watercolour painting; and Kev Moorcroft on Germany and the ex-pat family.
Mark West, brilliantly supportive fellow writer and entertaining conference buddy, read an early draft of One Summer in Italy and provided his usual perceptive feedback. Emanuela Anechoum generously read the manuscript to correct the Italian. I so appreciate the input of both. Pia Fenton/Christina Courtenay and Myra Kersner/Maggie Sullivan were perfect sounding boards on our writing retreat at Pia’s house.
The amazing support for my books from the members of Team Sue Moorcroft is a joy. Credit for naming characters and places to Susan Baker (Beth), Sue Sharp (Grace), Tracy Shelley Stokes (Serena) and Neil Slade (Via Virgilio).
It’s a joy and a pleasure to work with my wonderful agent Juliet Pickering of Blake Friedmann Literary, TV and Film Agency and Team Avon at HarperCollins. You power my books to new heights!
Heartfelt thanks to you all.
No acknowledgements would be complete without also expressing my appreciation of the Facebook friends and Twitter followers who enter into fascinating conversations on research matters; all the wonderful book bloggers who review my books, join in my blog tours or invite me onto their blogs; and, most of all, my fabulous readers. Thank you.
In theory, nothing could be better than a summer spent basking in the French sun. That is, until you add in three teenagers, two love interests, one divorcing couple, and a very unexpected pregnancy…
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About the Author
Sue Moorcroft writes award-winning contemporary fiction of life and love. The Little Village Christmas was a Sunday Times bestseller and The Christmas Promise went to #1 in the Kindle chart. She also writes short stories, serials, articles, columns, courses and writing ‘how to’.
An army child, Sue was born in Germany then lived in Cyprus, Malta and the UK and still loves to travel. Her other loves include writing (the best job in the world), reading, watching Formula 1 on TV and hanging out with friends, dancing, yoga, wine and chocolate.
If you’re interested in being part of #TeamSueMoorcroft you can find more information at www.suemoorcroft.com/street-team. If you prefer to sign up to receive news of Sue and her books, go to www.suemoorcroft.com and click on ‘Newsletter’. You can follow @SueMoorcroft on Twitter, @SueMoorcroftAuthor on Instagram, or Facebook.com/sue.moorcroft.3 and Facebook.com/SueMoorcroftAuthor.
Also by Sue Moorcroft:
The Christmas Promise
Just For the Holidays
The Little Village Christmas
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One Summer in Italy Page 31