Page 84 of Sunrise By the Sea

‘Not much,’ said Marisa. ‘Good tomatoes, lots of garlic, onions, olive oil, salt, a bay leaf and a lot of thyme.’ She thought for a second. ‘And really, the bay leaf is mostly for luck.’

Polly dipped a spoon in and tasted it.

‘Oh my God, that’s amazing!’

‘Thyme is the best bit.’

‘It’s so rich!’

‘A good sauce and a good base . . . but that doesn’t mean anything if you don’t have a good oven,’ said Marisa. ‘Andboydo you have good ovens.’

The twins came cantering round the back, home from school.

‘What did you learn today?’ said Polly.

‘Health and Well-being!’ recited Daisy.

‘Mummy, do you SMOKE?’ said Avery, looking panicky.

‘Have you ever seen me smoke?’ said Polly, confused. Daisy came up to her and took her hand gently and with an air of very mature concern.

‘Do you smoke, Mummy?’

‘Of course I don’t smoke!’

‘Because if you smoke you will die.’

‘TODAY,’ said Avery, his face looking frightened.

‘And it will kill us also!’ said Daisy, hers grave.

Polly knelt down.

‘I don’t smoke,’ she said. ‘And even if I did, I wouldn’t die today.’

‘YOU! WILL! DIE!’

‘I don’t smoke.’

‘You promise?’ said Daisy, her face a mask of despair. ‘Never ever?’

‘I think if I haven’t started now I’m probably all right,’ said Polly. Marisa thought back to Alexei’s little cigarillos with a fond smile that quickly turned into a wince.

‘Promise,’ said Daisy and Polly took them both in her arms and hugged them and promised faithfully never to smoke and they bounced off to play with the new door with an Empire biscuit each while Polly watched them go.

‘I think that’s the easiest win I’ve ever had,’ she mused. ‘Good old Health and Well-being.’

‘Well, it will be until we have our fag break,’ said Marisa and Polly stared at her for a couple of seconds, then smiled.

‘Well,’ she said.

‘I know,’ said Marisa. ‘Oh my God, I made a joke. Not a very funny joke,’ she added.

‘I know, but . . . I mean, that’s a good sign, isn’t it? I mean, I’m not an expert . . .’

Marisa held up her hands. ‘I’m here, aren’t I?’

Polly smiled. ‘You are. DON’T GO NEAR THE OVENS!’ she shouted in at the children as if this wasn’t something that hadn’t been drummed into them since they were nine months old.

---