Page 160 of Good Sisters

‘Hang on, it’s nice and all, but we’re not staying more than a week.’ Leo looked horrified at the prospect of being stuck in a remote village.

‘We had a deal, Mum,’ Liam reminded her.

‘Like, it’s a bit dead,’ Luke said.

Harry took charge. ‘Why don’t you go and grab a cold drink and talk to the birthday girl?’

The triplets took Robert to where Clara was introducing Miracolo to Tom.

The puppy was sitting in her lap. ‘You have to be extremely gentle. He’s still only a puppy and he doesn’t like meeting new people, just like I don’t.’

Tom reached over and very gently stroked him. ‘You’re so lucky,’ he said. ‘I wish we had a dog, but Mum said our house is already like a zoo, so we’re not getting one.’

‘My daddy says I can have as many animals as I want. He’s so nice. Look, Miracolo likes to be scratched behind the ears.’ Clara showed her cousin.

‘He’s so cute,’ Liam said.

‘My daddy says we can get a dog when I’m a bit older,’ Robert said.

Clara nodded. ‘I think you need to be at least nine before you can get one, because you need to look after them and take them for walks.’

Jess stood beside her mum, happy to chat to the adults for a while.

‘I see you’re wearing your gran’s necklace again,’ Julie said to Jess.

‘Yes. It was only on loan to my mum for her wedding.’ Jess touched the Tiffany heart necklace that her granny had given her on her thirteenth birthday.

Sophie kissed her daughter’s head. ‘When Jess said I needed something borrowed for the wedding and gave me her precious necklace, I was so touched. Honestly, if it wasn’t for waterproof mascara, I would have arrived at the registry office looking like Alice Cooper.’ She laughed. ‘It was such a gorgeous thing to do.’

‘That’s our Jess, thoughtful and kind.’ Jack put his arm around her. ‘Just like her mum.’

‘Oh, God, you’re all loved up after the wedding. How long is this mushy stuff going to last?’ Julie fake-groaned.

‘Hopefully for ever.’

Sophie laughed. ‘Okay, Jack, let’s be realistic.’

‘I am. I’ve always loved Sophie, but I’ve been blown away by how incredible she’s been about the whole Pippa and Robert situation. She didn’t sign up to be a full-time mum to him, but she’s been unbelievable, and I’m so grateful. I’m crazy about her.’

‘Julie was incredible about Christelle too. These Devlin women are pretty special,’ Harry said.

‘Agreed. Julie has been the best stepmother ever.’ Christelle was effusive.

‘Yes, and Louisa is so kind to share Clara with me,’ Marco said.

‘Yeah, yeah, the women are all amazing. What am I, then?’ Gavin demanded.

‘You’re great too, babe.’ Shania patted his back reassuringly. ‘You’re just outnumbered three to one.’ She laughed.

As they sat in the beautiful garden, overlooking the hills, Julie watched her niece playing with Tom and Robert.

‘Clara seems so happy,’ she said. ‘I’ve never seen her look like that before, to be honest, so relaxed.’

Clara had lost her pallor and the anxious look in her eyes. She had colour in her cheeks, her eyes sparkled and she seemed happy. Genuinely happy.

Louise’s face lit up. ‘She is. She’s spending more time outdoors than ever before. She helps Marco on the farm and he gives her little jobs to do, which she loves. We also spent the week doing up her bedroom in the farmhouse and making it Clara-friendly. We added lamps and soft rugs and I brought over her second-favourite blanket and copies of her favourite books. And we painted the room a pale lilac, so the whole feeling when you enter the bedroom now is of calm. Clara loves it.’

Dad squeezed her shoulder. ‘That’s fantastic, Louise. You did the right thing finding Marco.’ He turned to Marco. ‘You’re wonderful with Clara and we all appreciate it.’

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