Page 124 of Good Sisters

‘You were a little dote,’ Dad agreed.

‘I cannot wait to meet all of your childrens also,’ Marco said. ‘Clara tells me about her cousins.’

‘Well, Marco, if you’re around next week, you’re welcome to come and watch my three grandsons shine on the rugby pitch,’ Dad said.

‘Really? I like rugby very much.’

‘Well, it’s just a match, really,’ Julie muttered.

Harry looked at the floor. That was strange. Harry was normally delighted to tell people about the triplets. They seemed out of sorts.

I whispered to Sophie. ‘Did one of the boys get dropped?’

‘Don’t think so,’ she replied, under her breath. ‘It looks like something’s up, though.’

‘But,’ Marco continued, ‘I have to get back to my olives. I cannot leave them for too long. Also, to my mother, Anna. But I am hoping that Clara will come to visit me one day.’

‘Maybe in the future, but definitely not now.’ Clara was firm.

‘Of course,tesoro mio, only when you are wanting to.’

The men began to talk about rugby.

Clara asked if she could leave the table and go to her room. ‘I’m bored now, Mummy.’

‘Of course, darling. I’ll check on you in a bit.’

Sophie pulled her chair closer to me. ‘You have Marco well briefed. He’s doing so well,’ she said.

‘Yes, he is, but I’ll be happy when he goes. It’s been stressful. I’ve been so worried about how Clara would react that I’ve barely slept. I’m thrilled it’s gone well, but I need some down time now.’

Sophie put an arm round me. ‘It’s been a huge strain foryou and a worry. But, honestly, Louise, I think it’s the best thing you could have done. Clara really seems to have taken to him. She’s very relaxed around him already.’

‘Yes, she really is and that’s such a huge relief.’

Julie scooched her chair over as well. ‘What are you two whispering about?’

‘How it’s gone with Marco, and how wrecked Louise is. Can you take a few days off next week to get some rest?’ Sophie asked.

‘I wish. No, work is nuts and I’m still trying to figure out how to get rid of bloody Zoë, who keeps swanning in late, making mistakes and is completely and utterly wrecking my head. She’s really got under my skin. Never spoil your kids. They’ll turn out to be entitled arseholes.’

Julie picked at her slice of cake. ‘You’re right there. But all kids are tricky, and they get trickier as they get older. You have to watch them like a hawk. I think it’s good for you to have Clara’s father in your life to help you when she enters the teen years.’

‘God, yes, Julie’s right. You need two of you to manage teens.’

‘How is Jess after the whole Pippa fiasco?’ I asked.

‘She’s okay. She’s been nicer to me, actually, and she’s really sweet with Robert. I think she’s realized I’m not so bad after all.’

‘Has Pippa started rehab?’ Julie asked.

Sophie nodded. ‘She went in on Thursday. It’s an intensive course, so fingers crossed it works.’

‘You’re amazing, Sophie, taking on Robert full-time,’ I said.

She shrugged. ‘What choice do I have? He’s an innocent victim in all this. I want him to have as much stability as possible. To be honest, I’m not sure if Pippa’s going to get better,and even if she does, whether she’s fit for motherhood. I think she saw a baby as a fun accessory, and the reality, as we all know, is hard slog.’

‘You’ve a lot on your plate,’ Julie said.

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