Matt’s eyes darkened as a spasm of pain shot across his face, causing his forehead to crease and a contrite Hollie to rein in her enthusiasm.
‘Yes, and that might be what Rachel’s research is about, but Livvie’s task, on the other hand, is to explore what makes marriages last, enduring relationships, ever-lasting love – and I need to hear that advice.’
‘So, what’s on the itinerary after Malta?’ asked Matteo, keen to move the conversation on.
‘Well, would you believe it’s a strike from my bucket list? Although, actually, I had expected to go there with Nathan at some point …’
A sharp spasm of pain shot through her chest as she thought back to the plans she and Nathan had made when they were first married to visit the tropical island, surf the waves on the famous Waikiki Beach, sample the exotic cocktails and generally chill out to recharge their depleted batteries. Now she was facing making the dream trip on her own and a deep chasm of loneliness opened up before her, whipping the breath from her lungs.
She realised that Hollie and Matteo were watching her closely and the sympathy on their faces almost caused her to crumble, but with effort, she managed to squash her emotions back into their dark, pain-filled box and snapped the lid tightly shut. There was a time and place for self-recrimination, and Harvey’s wine bar wasn’t it.
‘Where did you expect to go?’ pressed Hollie.
‘Hawaii!’
‘What? Wow! That’s fantastic! But why Hawaii? How is that part of the mix?’
‘I asked the same question. Rachel did have New York on her list as one of the US states with the lowest divorce rates. I know, I didn’t believe it either, but it’s true. I’ve been to Manhattan and the place is frenetic; a workaholic’s paradise! But Rach has a friend, a former postgrad student at UCL, who lives in Hawaii and who’s been issuing invitations for her to visit for years, and the US state of Hawaii is up there in the top five.’
‘I bet I know which state has the highest divorce rate. And why!’
Matteo had adored a recent stag jaunt to Las Vegas and still raved about the brash, over-the-top, in-your-face metropolis where couples could exchange their wedding vows in a drive-through chapel in front of Elvis, Tom Jones or the Blues Brothers. It wasn’t a city that ranked high on Olivia’s wish list, though, especially after Matteo had regaled them with the details of his friends’ alcohol-fuelled exploits.
‘So, a couple of trips and a written report back to Rachel. By when?’
‘Rachel has asked for it by the end of November as her paper has to be submitted before Christmas, but I’ll need to give her progress reports along the way. And anyway, I’m due back at Edwards & Co on the first of December – if I have any clients left, that is. Miles Morrison is somewhat of a loose cannon.’
‘Miles might be a misogynistic worm, Liv, but I’m sure he’ll cope,’ said Hollie, mildly.
‘So you’ll have plenty of time to come to Italy with me, then!’ added Matteo.
‘Well, it’s not definite yet, but there could be other trips.’
‘Like where?’
‘There’s a Danish Professor of Law in Copenhagen that Rachel has scored an interview with. Apparently, he’s really difficult to pin down but she’s managed to finally get an appointment. She might want to go herself, though. Understandably. But that’s not until the end of October. And the last trip will be to Paris.’
Olivia had mumbled the last sentence, her throat constricting as she prayed that her friends would not pick up on the significance of the final destination on her itinerary. She had no chance, though, and prepared herself for the renewed onslaught of pain.
‘Ooh, “The City of Lerve”? Hey, isn’t that where you and Nathan honeymooned?’
Matteo caught the scorching glance Hollie sent in his direction and slapped his hand over his mouth in contrition for inadvertently straying into delicate territory.
‘Oops, sorry, Liv.’
‘Are you sure about going there?’ asked Hollie gently.
‘We are getting divorced, Hol. In fact, the proceedings might even be finalised by then.’
Matteo, clearly keen to make amends for his faux pas, switched back to his previous topic.
‘You know, a round-the-world trip is definitely not complete without a stop-off in Italy: the land of sunshine, good food, celebrated wines, and handsome men with oodles of charisma, a stylish sense of fashion and a devout addiction to their skin-care regime.’
‘Oh, God, Liv, you have no idea how jealous I am!’ announced Hollie, leaning back against the sofa and folding her arms across her chest. ‘I absolutely insist on regular updates via email, Facebook and Twitter. You’ve got to set up an Instagram account as well. But, if it’s going to be a truly global jaunt, you’ll need a stop-off in Asia. Just to complete the set, as it were.’
‘Why don’t you drop in on my mate Connor in Hong Kong?’ suggested Matteo, referring to his banker friend who had joined them on the stag weekend in Vegas and had ended up getting his nose pierced, much to his wife’s horror.
‘No! No! I’ve got it!’ cried Hollie, scooting forward again to re-enter the conversation. ‘My brother starts his new job at the Pan Pacific in Singapore on the first of May. You can visit him, save on accommodation costs, and Elliot can show you around. I’m sure he’d love to see a friendly face on those days when he’s not ordering his staff around the kitchen like a demented Sergeant Major. Mmm, I’m not sure what the divorce rate is like in Singapore, though.’
‘Hollie, I don’t think …’
‘Look, it’s perfect. If you fly over there straight after Hawaii, it’ll be mid-July and he’ll be grateful for a visit from his fabulous sister’s best friend. You two always did get on.’
‘Yes, we do, but …’
‘You know it’s a great idea, and you’ve got the cash. When was the last time you took a holiday, anyway?’
Finally, Hollie noticed Matteo flicking her the daggers.
‘What?’
‘Singapore is where Nathan is based now,’ he said through gritted teeth.
‘Ah … yes … sorry, I forgot. Have you two spoken since he got there?’
‘No, not spoken exactly, but I’ve had a couple of emails: one with the address of his company’s flat and the other to confirm his agreement of the valuation on our apartment. All very polite and business-like. No animosity here!’
Olivia had tried to keep her reply to Hollie’s question light and upbeat, but the truth was that she was desperate to hear Nathan’s voice, to ask him a kaleidoscope of questions that she had added to every day since the divorce petition had been thrust into her hands until she would need a whole day to listen to the answers. Despite the fact that they’d spent very little quality time together in the months leading up to that dreadful day, she had still felt his presence next to her every minute and every hour of each day, and he was in her thoughts constantly, even now. No, more so now, and whilst she wasn’t going to admit it to Hollie and Matteo, she missed him tremendously.
‘Singapore is a huge city. You don’t even have to tell him you’re going, if you don’t want to. It’s not like you’ll bump into each other,’ urged Hollie, still pursuing her mission to include an Asian stop on her worldwide expedition chasing down love.
‘Maybe …’
‘And haven’t you always wanted to travel