Page 84 of Good Sisters

It hadn’t been. It was the local secondary school, the teachers were very average and only about thirty per cent of the girls went on to third-level education, so the bar was not set particularly high. I hadn’t enjoyed school. It had been something I’d needed to get through to achieve my goal,which was to study law at Cambridge. Julie had loved it and was in the thick of everything, sports, musicals, social life. Sophie was modelling part-time from the age of fifteen, so she had to deal with a fair bit of jealousy. She hadn’t liked school much either.

‘How are you getting on with the other kids? Is Jarlath being nicer to you?’

Clara picked Luna up and held her close. ‘No. He says I’m weird and useless at games, so he never asks me to play. I don’t mind, Mummy, I hate playing dodgeball. Why do people want to be hit by a ball? It’s so stupid.’

I laughed. ‘I agree. I always thought dodgeball was a ridiculous game.’

She smiled and I took the opportunity to tell her I was going away.

‘So, this weekend, Julie, Sophie, Granddad and I are going away for two days.’

Clara squeezed Luna tighter. I was on thin ice.

‘I’ll only be gone Friday, Saturday and back on Sunday. I’ll be back to tuck you into bed on Sunday night.’

‘Where are you going?’

‘Italy.’

‘Why?’

‘For a little family trip away.’

‘What time will you leave and come back?’

‘I’ll bring you to school on Friday, then pick up your aunties and go to the airport for a ten-fifty flight. I’ll be back on Sunday. My flight lands at six twenty so I’ll be home before you go to sleep at eight. Gavin will pick you up from school on Friday and bring you back to his apartment for two days, okay? You’ll be sleeping in his spare bedroom. I’ll drop off your blanket and your bedside lamp, your pyjamas, iPad and your headphones. Luna is going with you too.’

Clara was quiet.

‘Maybe you could help Gavin look after Lemon.’

‘I only like Lemon when she’s asleep.’

I laughed. ‘That’s how most people feel about babies.’

‘But I suppose I could help push the buggy.’

‘That would be great.’

‘And maybe sing “Fernando” to her?’

‘She’d love that. So are you okay about staying with Gavin and Shania?’

She nodded. ‘As long as I have Luna and all my things, it’s okay. But only two nights, Mummy, right?’

‘Yes, pet. Maybe you and I can go to Italy together some time.’

She shook her head. ‘No, Mummy, I don’t like airports. They’re too noisy and crowded. I don’t want to go to Italy.’

I needed to keep her calm and feeling secure. I was so wound up about the trip and meeting Marco that I wasn’t sure I could handle a meltdown.

I kissed her head gently. ‘Okay, sweetheart, we won’t go. Would you like a snack?’

‘Yes.’

‘Yogurt?’

‘Yes, strawberry.’

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