Page 153 of Good Sisters

‘Good for you,’ I said.

‘Part-time is the perfect solution,’ Sophie added.

‘Yeah, and Shania misses Lemon, so if I can help her out more in work, she’ll get more time with Lemon, so it’s a win-win.’

‘It’s never easy,’ Sophie said. ‘Whether you stay at home, work part-time or full-time, it’s still a constant juggling act, but you guys will work it out.’

‘Kids are a fucking drain emotionally and financially,’ Marion said.

‘Yes, but they’re also wonderful and worth it.’ Sophie beamed at Jess and Robert.

I was very proud of my sister and how she had embraced Robert. Sophie had a huge heart.

‘Okay, silence again, here they come,’ Dad said.

The second half got under way.

‘Nooooooo!’ Harry, Dad and Jack shouted.

Rockford had just scored, from their first touch. We watched over the next thirty minutes as the match slowly slipped away from Castle Academy.

Then it was over.

I cried as I watched my three brave sons sobbing their hearts out on the pitch. They hugged each other and their teammates.

Harry was speechless. Dad patted him on the back and said, ‘The boys were a credit to you and the school. They couldn’t have done more.’

‘They gave it everything,’ Jack said.

‘They were the core of the team,’ Gavin added. ‘Born leaders, the three of them.’

Marion said, ‘Fuck Rockford Manor and every prick who goes there.’

We all burst out laughing and the sting of losing was slightly lessened.

37. Louise

Clara gripped her blanket as the plane took off. ‘How long exactly until we land?’ she asked, eyes wide.

‘It should be three hours and five minutes, but it depends on winds and air traffic.’

‘What if we get stuck in the sky?’

‘Clara, planes don’t get stuck in the sky. There are flights every day from Dublin to Rome. They always land.’

‘Planes can crash, Mummy.’

‘I know, but they very, very rarely do.’

‘I wish Luna was here.’ Clara’s hands began to flap.

‘Christelle and Kelly will look after her so well. She’ll get lots of cuddles.’

‘She’ll miss me.’

‘Yes, pet, but we’ll be back in three days.’

‘Seventy-six-and-a-half hours.’

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