Return to Amalfi
HELLO! UK|August 28, 2023
In Carol Kirkwood's atmospheric story, Stevie suspects she's missed her chance for romance, but who is waiting to welcome her back to Italy?
Return to Amalfi

Stevie felt a thrill of excitement. As the ferry approached the small port of Amalfi, the tight jumble of bleached white houses with their terracotta roofs looked every inch as beautiful as she remembered. They seemed to be stacked up the side of the mountain like wonderful wedding cakes and as the azure blue of the Mediterranean sparkled like a jewelled sea in the afternoon sunlight, Stevie had to resist the urge to whip out her sketchbook right away, but she stopped herself; there’d be time for that in the next few days.

As she stepped off the boat, along with a collection of day-trippers, holidaymakers and a few locals on their return journey from Salerno, Stevie congratulated herself on making it here at all. It would have been easy to finish the trip in Naples after her best friend and travelling companion, Joanne, had been forced to cut short her trip and travel back to England.

Her beloved elderly father, living in sheltered housing, had suffered a seizure and Joanne wanted to be near him.

“I’m coming with you,” Stevie had insisted.

“You are not!” Joanne had been equally determined that she shouldn’t and had eventually won the argument. “You must finish this journey for both of us.”

They’d been looking forward to their Italian trip for ages now their children had flown the nest; Joanne’s youngest son had a job in Manchester and Stevie’s daughter had won a prestigious music scholarship to study in America.

Stevie was torn between feeling proud of Emily and feeling utterly bereft, and was prone to crying herself to sleep.

“It’s your time, Mum. A chance for your own adventure,” Emily had told her on a FaceTime call.

This story is from the August 28, 2023 edition of HELLO! UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 28, 2023 edition of HELLO! UK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM HELLO! UKView All
STARS TURN OUT FOR THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE THE PRINCE OF WALES ROYAL HEADS TO CAPE TOWN FOR PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS CEREMONY
HELLO! UK

STARS TURN OUT FOR THE EARTHSHOT PRIZE THE PRINCE OF WALES ROYAL HEADS TO CAPE TOWN FOR PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS CEREMONY

The Prince of Wales's love for Africa is well known: it is where he spent his gap year before heading to university.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
FAMOUS NAMES TURN OUT FOR HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NIGHT STARS GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR SPOOKY STYLE
HELLO! UK

FAMOUS NAMES TURN OUT FOR HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NIGHT STARS GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR SPOOKY STYLE

It may have been spooky season, but that was no excuse for stylish celebrities to abandon their sartorial flair.

time-read
1 min  |
November 11, 2024
BIDDING A BITTERSWEET FAREWELL TO 'VENOM' TRILOGY TOM HARDY ON FLYING HIGH, LOSING HIS TEMPER AND BEING INSPIRED IN HIS CHILLING MARVEL ROLE BY SON LOUIS
HELLO! UK

BIDDING A BITTERSWEET FAREWELL TO 'VENOM' TRILOGY TOM HARDY ON FLYING HIGH, LOSING HIS TEMPER AND BEING INSPIRED IN HIS CHILLING MARVEL ROLE BY SON LOUIS

When Tom Hardy attended the UK premiere of Venom: The Last Dance in London, he was accompanied by a very special fan.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
STARRING IN A NEW LOVE STORY WITH LIAM HEMSWORTH LAURA DERN TALKS OF THEIR CONNECTION - AND WHY VULNERABLE WOMEN ARE SUPERHEROES
HELLO! UK

STARRING IN A NEW LOVE STORY WITH LIAM HEMSWORTH LAURA DERN TALKS OF THEIR CONNECTION - AND WHY VULNERABLE WOMEN ARE SUPERHEROES

The beautiful and dramatic scenery of Morocco's Atlas Mountains is the backdrop for Laura Dern's new film Lonely Planet, a love story in which she plays novelist Katherine opposite Liam Hemsworth's private equity hotshot Owen.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
GRANDDAUGHTER OF LADY PAMELA HICKS MADDISON MAY BRUDENELL AND BRET KAPETANOV UNITE THEIR DIFFERENT WORLDS! IN SOCIETY COUNTRY WEDDING
HELLO! UK

GRANDDAUGHTER OF LADY PAMELA HICKS MADDISON MAY BRUDENELL AND BRET KAPETANOV UNITE THEIR DIFFERENT WORLDS! IN SOCIETY COUNTRY WEDDING

In a heartwarming ceremony filled with love, Lady Pamela Hicks's granddaughter Maddison May Brudenell said: \"I will\" at a 15th-century village church in one of the most extraordinary society weddings of the year - and HELLO! was there to witness the historic occasion.

time-read
9 mins  |
November 11, 2024
SPEAKING OUT IN POWERFUL NEW DOCUMENTARY THE QUEEN SHOWS HER PASSIONATE COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND THEIR FAMILIES
HELLO! UK

SPEAKING OUT IN POWERFUL NEW DOCUMENTARY THE QUEEN SHOWS HER PASSIONATE COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE AND THEIR FAMILIES

The Queen has vowed to keep fighting for victims of domestic saying: Keep until I am able to no more.\"

time-read
3 mins  |
November 11, 2024
PRINCESS BEATRICE AND NUTRITIONIST GABRIELA PEACOCK
HELLO! UK

PRINCESS BEATRICE AND NUTRITIONIST GABRIELA PEACOCK

HOW THE FRIENDS ARE SHARING THEIR PREGNANCY JOURNEY TOGETHER

time-read
5 mins  |
November 11, 2024
AMERICA'S STYLE ELITE IS OUT IN FORCE FASHION'S FINEST A-LISTERS DIAL UP THE GLAMOUR TO HONOUR TOP DESIGNERS IN NEW YORK
HELLO! UK

AMERICA'S STYLE ELITE IS OUT IN FORCE FASHION'S FINEST A-LISTERS DIAL UP THE GLAMOUR TO HONOUR TOP DESIGNERS IN NEW YORK

Hollywood stars rubbed shoulders with New York's style elite as America's fashion industry gathered to honour some of its top designers.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024
LEGENDARY DANCER WAYNE SLEEP REFLECTS ON A LIFE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND HOW BALLET LED HIM INTO SHOWBIZ
HELLO! UK

LEGENDARY DANCER WAYNE SLEEP REFLECTS ON A LIFE IN THE SPOTLIGHT AND HOW BALLET LED HIM INTO SHOWBIZ

He has danced with some of the greatest legends of ballet, partied with the biggest names in showbusiness and performed with royalty.

time-read
5 mins  |
November 11, 2024
SPORTY, INTELLIGENT AND SHOWING AN IMPRESSIVE SENSE OF STYLE LADY LOUISE SHINES LIKE A JEWEL IN THE ROYAL CROWN AS SHE TURNS 21
HELLO! UK

SPORTY, INTELLIGENT AND SHOWING AN IMPRESSIVE SENSE OF STYLE LADY LOUISE SHINES LIKE A JEWEL IN THE ROYAL CROWN AS SHE TURNS 21

As she celebrates her 21st birthday this week, Lady Louise Mountbatten Windsor is growing up into an engaging young woman.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 11, 2024