Page 143 of Good Sisters

‘Well, at least she has a nice new pair of warm gloves anyway.’ Gavin grinned and cheered on the boys.

Gavin and I did a discreet fist pump. Ding dong, Dolores the witch was gone.

34. Louise

Clara put on the top Marco had sent her. It was soft, had no seams and had blue and white Breton stripes. He had completely understood what she liked to wear and she loved it.

‘I want to wear it so he can see it arrived in the post and I like it,’ Clara said, as I set up my laptop for her Zoom call with Marco.

We dialled the number at the prearranged time of eight p.m. He answered immediately and his smiling face filled the screen.

‘Buonasera, tesoro,’ he said.

‘Buonasera, Marco.’ Clara smiled at the screen.

‘Your smile is like the sunshine,’ Marco gushed. ‘It fills my heart with love.’

Clara giggled. ‘How is the farm? How are the cats?’

‘The farm is good. I am working very ’ard. I cannot wait for you to come and visit.’

‘I want to come but I hate flying. It makes me anxious.’

‘I know Claretta, but my mother is too old to come to Dublin, so can you thinking about it?’

‘You mean, can I think about it?’

From behind Clara, I shook my head at him. I didn’t want Marco putting any pressure on Clara to travel over. I had told him not to push it. I knew his mother was eighty-three and not in good health, but I didn’t want Clara to feel any kind of guilt or obligation to have to go.

Catching my cue, Marco said, ‘Yes.Esattamente. But you only do what is right for you. You only come if you are notfrightened. I can come to you and you can talk to Mamma on the Zoom.’

He called his mother and she came shuffling into view.

‘Claretta,’ she cooed. ‘Mia bellissima nipotina.’

Clara greeted her grandmother in Italian. Anna then began to talk fast as Marco tried to translate.

‘You’re so beautiful and brave. I love you. I want to hold your face and kiss you before I die,’ Marco translated.

Clara gasped. ‘Is Anna going to die like Granny did?’

‘No!’ I jumped in. Jesus, Marco, come on.

‘No.’ Marco realized his mistake. ‘She is healthy woman. She is excited to meet you. This is just her way of saying this.’

Clara’s breathing settled and she chatted to Marco and Anna for another ten minutes before saying she was tired.

They blew her kisses and waved as I closed down the call.

Clara was quiet as I tucked her into bed. I knew my daughter like the back of my hand and I knew she was mulling something over in her beautiful, complicated mind.

‘Are you all right, sweetheart?’ I asked.

‘I really, really want to go and see Marco and Anna. I want to see the farm and the olive trees and the animals – except the big dog.’

‘I know you do, but if you’re worried about the flight and the travel, then wait until you feel calmer about it. There’s no rush. They’re not going anywhere.’

‘But Granny died. I thought she would be by my side for ever, but she’s gone now. What if Anna dies too? I need to go over, Mummy. I have to be brave and just go.’

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