Chapter 47

Once the church was empty again, the curtains on either side of the priest’s confessional drew back and Violetta and Fiorella emerged into the sunlit aisle.

“Luciana will be disappointed about her moment,” Violetta said unhappily.

“Yes, but the good news is she still has it to look forward to,” Fiorella said. “It could have been a lot worse, after all. Imagine if Lily had driven over the goats, not that I particularly care for goats, although the cheese has possibilities, but she could be headed to Rome by now and on to America never to be seen again. She talked to him, didn’t she? And he’s very good-looking, isn’t he? And she’s staying, isn’t she? Your plan was successful.”

“Well, it wasn’t unsuccessful,” conceded Violetta.

Fiorella pushed her spectacles up her little pug nose. “Do you like me now, just a little bit?” she asked.

“I don’t dislike you,” Violetta said as they wandered out to the front of the church. The truth was Fiorella was growing on them all like a toadstool in the winter. Luciana had been right, the League needed a breath of fresh air and Fiorella was definitely that.

Also, she was good on the texting.

“You’d better get in touch with Del Grasso to tell Mario to find Carlotta and bring Francesca to the pasticceria.”

“Good plan!” cried Fiorella, clapping her hands together. “Sounds to me like more amorucci!”