What Happens In Tuscany.... T A Williams

      Victoria looked across at Katie. ‘So you’re not on the lookout for another man? I thought you told me there was one on the horizon.’

      Katie glanced across at Jenny. ‘There’s Martin. He’s a nice man.’

      Even Victoria realised that “nice” was a bit feeble. She caught Katie’s eye. ‘Is that all?’

      ‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to make it sound like he’s boring. I like him a lot.’ She addressed herself to Victoria and did her best to explain. ‘He’s tall, handsome and clever. He’s a solicitor and he plays rugby as a hobby. He would make a really good choice for a boyfriend; maybe more.’

      ‘So, why the hesitation?’ Victoria was having trouble working it out. Had she but realised, so was Katie, and she had been for the last week.

      ‘I don’t know. I thought I’d chosen a satisfying career in teaching, but it all went belly up’ Katie checked Victoria’s expression to see that she had understood the analogy. Reassured, she went on. ‘I’m thirty and I’m at a crossroads in my working life. Nice as Martin is, I get the feeling he’s looking for something serious; maybe thinking of settling down. I really don’t want to hitch myself up at this stage to a life as a housewife; dinner parties, driving the school run every day, taking the dog to the vet. I’m looking for more out of life.’ As she spoke, she could see from the expression on Victoria’s face that she would have welcomed the attentions of a tall, handsome man. But maybe she had just found one in Tom, the army officer. Katie was quick to reassure her.

      ‘Now if, on the other hand, I was an attractive twenty-five-year-old on the pull, that would be a very different matter.’ Although this expression hadn’t cropped up before, she could see from Victoria’s blush that she had understood its significance. Katie couldn’t resist a little dig. ‘Like a certain handsome army officer for example.’

      They chatted until Mrs Milliner came to tell them that dinner was served. Over roast lamb with all the trimmings Katie and Jenny reminisced about Bournemouth, from the time they were schoolgirls together right up to the present day. Katie couldn’t help noticing Victoria’s interest as they discussed the series of boys and young men with whom they used to hang out. She found herself wondering yet again just how it might feel to have grown to adulthood without any of these experiences, not even school dances or sleepover parties.

      After dinner they sat by the fire and Victoria insisted upon opening another bottle of champagne. As the level in the bottle dropped, Victoria began to loosen up. As she talked, Katie gradually began to realise why she had appeared a bit low earlier on that evening. It was because her brain had been working overtime.

      ‘We went to a party this afternoon,’ Victoria was explaining to Jenny, although Katie had already told her most of it. ‘Do you know something? I’m twenty-five years old and that was my very first party.’ She glanced at Katie. ‘Apart from a few kids’ parties while my mother was still alive.’ Turning back to Jenny, she continued. ‘It was the strangest thing. For a while this afternoon, I felt almost like an alien. You know, somebody from another planet just looking on, studying the behaviour of these strange beings.’

      ‘One of whom was a very handsome being.’ Katie was determined to keep the mood positive. She was, however, fascinated to hear Victoria talking about the way she felt. Up till then, apart from the admission that she had tried to run away as a teenager, she hadn’t given much away. Katie was pleased to see two spots of colour in Victoria’s cheeks appear at the mention of Tom.

      ‘Yes, one of whom was very handsome.’ She glanced at Katie. ‘Although I found it difficult to talk to him. After all, I couldn’t really just say, “Oh, Tom, you’re so handsome.” Or is that what girls do these days?’

      ‘Only after a lot more booze than we’ve had this evening.’ Jenny was smiling. ‘Anyway, it’s only natural to feel a bit strange the first few times you go out in public. You’ll get the hang of it soon enough.’

      Katie joined in to help raise her spirits. ‘You may not realise it yet, but you’re going to be fighting the men off before long. And, if it helps, I found myself feeling pretty much like you at the party this afternoon. I didn’t know anybody there and I’ve never been to a garden party before. I haven’t had little sandwiches with the crusts cut off since I was a toddler and some of those hats wouldn’t have looked out of place on a witch doctor.’

      Victoria giggled. ‘Even Tom was embarrassed by his mother’s hat.’ Katie was delighted to see her smile and vowed to do her best to keep her happy. As it turned out, she needn’t have worried. As they were talking, Victoria’s new phone whistled. She had received her first text message. And, if that weren’t exciting enough, she saw that it was from Tom. Victoria’s smile broadened.

      ‘How do I do it, Katie?’ The other girls smiled to see her hopping up and down like a youngster. Katie leant across and showed her how to open the message and then sat back as Victoria read it. Her cheeks reddened as she read it through two or three times.

      ‘So…? He didn’t waste much time, did he?’ Katie and Jenny exchanged glances.

      ‘He says he loved meeting me and he looks forward to seeing me in Tuscany.’ Victoria looked embarrassed. ‘And he signs it, “xx Tom”. That’s good, isn’t it?’

      Katie nodded. ‘That’s good; xx is definitely good. Talking of Tuscany, when are you going to contact your man about our visit?’

      Victoria looked up. ‘I’m sorry, I should have told you. I phoned him this evening before you two came back. There’s nothing special to keep us here, so, it that’s all right with you, we could travel over in a few days’ time. I was going to ask you, Katie; how would you feel about driving over, rather than taking the plane? You see,’ she turned to Jenny apologetically, ‘I’ve never been abroad and I’d love to see a bit of France on the way.’

      ‘That sounds like a great idea.’ Katie glanced across at Jenny. ‘We’ll think of you when we’re lying in the sun.’

      ‘With a glass of wine in your right hand and a…’