Page 113 of Good Sisters

‘Grazie.’ Marco beamed. ‘You are very clever girl already speaking Italian. You are intelligent like your mother.’

‘Yes, Mummy is very clever. Are you clever? Did you get top marks in school?’

Marco laughed. ‘Not clever in school. Marco bad in school but good with the nature. I growing beautiful olives.’

‘I hate olives,’ Clara told him.

Marco shrugged. ‘You have not tasted Marco’s olives. I think you will like.’

Clara sighed. ‘No, I won’t. I hate the taste. It makes me want to vomit.’

Thankfully, I had warned Marco about Clara’s lack of filter. He was unfazed.

‘Do you like dogs?’ he asked.

‘Only small ones. Only quiet ones. I hate dogs that jump on you or bark loudly.’

There was a pause in conversation. I tried to think of something neutral to say. I didn’t get the chance.

‘Do you want to be my daddy?’ Clara blurted out.

My hand flew up to my mouth.

Marco’s eyes welled up. ‘I want to be your daddyverrrrrrymuch.’

Clara fiddled with her napkin. ‘I’m not like other kids. I’m different.’

‘I like different.’

‘Some people think I’m weird.’

‘What is weird?’

‘It’s, like, strange.’

‘I like strange. Normal is boring. Strange is good. Marco is also strange. Peoples think I am strange because I live with my mother. I love my mother and I love my olives so I am happy. I do what makes me happy.’

‘I don’t think it’s strange that you live with your mother. I live with my mummy and I want to live with her for ever.’

Marco smiled. ‘See? We the same.’

‘Well, we have one thing in common.’ Clara was going to make Marco work for her love and I was proud of her.

I was watching her carefully and she was calm. Marco was handling this first meeting really well. He had kept his emotions in check and allowed Clara to lead the conversation.

‘We have the same nose. I can really see it now you’re here in front of me. Granny always used to say I had a beautiful nose,’ Clara said.

‘Your granny was right. It is beautiful nose. Marco has no hair so it’s good that Romano nose is beautiful.’ He grinned.

‘I have Mummy’s eyes.’

‘Yes, beautiful blue eyes. You arebella, bella.’ Marco blew her a kiss. ‘You will have every Italian boy wanting marry you.’

Clara looked horrified. ‘I’m never marrying anyone. I’m staying with Mummy and Luna.’

Marco looked panic-stricken at having said the wrong thing. He needed a bit of help. ‘Marco is only trying to say how beautiful you are. You don’t have to marry anyone, pet. That’s your choice.’

‘Marco not marry any more and Louisa not marry anyone so Clara not marry anyone. We all not married and happy. Okay?’ He was trying desperately to smooth things over.

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