Page 44 of Good Sisters

‘Are you lonely, Granddad?’

‘I am, pet, but I have a lovely family, so I’m lucky.’

I stopped stirring the soup and tried not to cry. Dad sounded so sad.

‘If you only had one child, then they’d be your favourite,’ Clara said.

‘That’s true. You are your mum’s favourite and Jess is Sophie’s favourite.’

‘But Jack loves Jess and Robert the same.’

‘I think so, yes.’

‘I wish I had a daddy.’

Silence. I froze and held my breath.

‘I wish my mummy could find my daddy. I’d be his favourite then too.’

‘Well, now … I suppose … it’s a bit like … Well, not everyone has a mummy and a daddy. Some people only have a mummy and some only a daddy and some have great parents and some have not-so-great parents. But you have the best mummy in the world, so that’s lucky for you, isn’t it?’

‘I know, Granddad, but I would like to meet my daddy and see what he’s like. If I like him, he can be my daddy. If I don’t like him, he won’t be.’

‘It’s a little more complicated than that, sweetheart, and I suppose if your mother said she can’t find him, then … well … that’s it.’

I needed to get in there and save Dad.

‘Lunch is ready,’ I called.

We chatted about everything and nothing over lunch, andwhile Dad and I were having coffee, Clara went to her room to snuggle with Luna.

‘Did you hear what she was asking me?’ Dad asked quietly.

I nodded.

‘She seems set on it, Louise. Have you no way of finding him?’

‘No. I looked up the hotel online, but it’s not a hotel any more. It’s a block of apartments.’

‘And you remember nothing?’

‘Not really, no. I was so excited about the promotion to partner that I got very drunk, which is unlike me, and I … well, I ended up in bed with a man.’ It felt very strange to be having this conversation with my father.

Dad sipped his coffee. ‘It’s the most un-Louise thing I’ve ever known you to do.’

I smiled. ‘I know, and what were the chances that I’d get bloody pregnant? But, then again, look at what I have now.’

‘She’s a little dote. You wouldn’t be without her.’

‘Clara’s my world.’

Dad looked down. ‘Anne was mine.’

I reached across and put my hand over his. ‘Oh, Dad, I’m sorry you’re lonely. Is there anything I can do?’

‘Nothing at all. Sure you’ve all been so good to me. It’s life. I’ll get used to it, in time. It’s just very quiet in the house without her.’

‘I’m so glad I got closer to her in the last few years.’

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