Page 95 of Good Sisters

‘You need to rest, pet. You look exhausted.’ Dad and Louise disappeared inside the hotel.

‘Well, I for one need a drink.’ Sophie let out a long exhale.

‘Me too. Let’s go in and order a bottle of wine. I’m high on adrenaline after that.’ My heart was pounding with excitement and nerves.

‘That was the maddest and most amazing thing I have ever witnessed, and I’ve seen some mad things with Pippa.’ Sophie shook her head.

‘Do you think he’s a good man?’

‘Yes, I do. He seems very genuine, but … we need to see where he lives and if he is truly someone Louise can allow into Clara’s life.’

‘Agreed. You can tell a lot by someone’s home and Louise needs to have a calm and very direct conversation with him about boundaries and access to Clara and all of that.’

‘I know a lot about access to children and it is not, in any way, shape, manner or form, straightforward.’ Sophie sighed. ‘Louise needs to be very careful.’

‘It’s Louise,’ I reminded her. ‘She was emotional tonight, but tomorrow she’ll have Marco wrapped up in so many legal documents that he won’t know what hit him.’

‘I hope it works out. I think Clara could really benefit from having a second parent, as long as he’s not a nightmare like Pippa.’

I nodded. ‘Now, let’s get that wine.’

Sophie and I sat up all night in our bedroom talking, high on emotion, until the sun came up and we finally drifted off to sleep.

23. Louise

I slept badly. Seeing Marco in the flesh had floored me. It wasn’t just that he had Clara’s nose, he had her smile – her beautiful crooked smile that she didn’t give away easily, but when she did, it was as if the sun was shining on you. Obviously I was glad Marco seemed like a good, steady man, but now I had to deal with the reality of introducing a stranger – albeit her biological father – into Clara’s life. His English was poor, he’d have to work on that, and Clara and I would have to learn Italian.

I also had to be very careful about Marco’s expectations. He needed to understand that I would be controlling access, and that if Clara did not warm to him, he would be out of her life again. Her happiness was the only thing that mattered. My head throbbed from lack of sleep and stress. I had worked so hard to give Clara the best life and to get her to the best place. I was terrified of Marco messing things up. I’d really have to assess his suitability today. I wished for the millionth time that Mum was still alive. She would give me the best advice and help calm my nerves about this whole palaver. It was nice having Dad there, but he had behaved very oddly in the bar, like some kind of Mafia boss. I don’t know what got into him, but I needed him to calm down and let me do the talking today.

I gave up on sleeping and got up early to go for a run. As I ran up the narrow, cobbled lane away from the hotel, the sun rose from behind the distant Apennine mountains. The golden light spread across the surrounding hills, which werecovered with olive trees and grape vines. It was utterly breathtaking. I stopped and took it all in. I breathed deeply and began to feel less anxious. I could do this. I could make it work. I had no choice now. I had done what Clara had begged me to do. I had taken the note as a sign from Mum and I had found Marco. I’d told him about his daughter and now I had to make him comply with my terms.

By the time I got back from my run, showered, dressed and headed down for breakfast, it was almost nine. Dad was sitting at the table looking like he hadn’t slept much either, but there was no sign of my sisters. I drank the rich dark coffee, embracing the kick it gave me, and ate the warm, freshly baked bread slathered in butter.

‘How are you feeling this morning, pet?’ Dad asked.

‘Shattered and apprehensive about meeting Marco. I’ve been texting back and forth with him this morning and we’ve agreed that I’ll go over to his farm at ten to meet his mother, see the olive farm and have a private chat with him. He’s desperate for me to meet his mother and show her the photos.’

Dad stirred sugar into his coffee. ‘I reckon it’s a good sign that he’s close to her and wants her to be involved in the discovery of his daughter. It shows that he respects her. Sure, look at Gavin and your mother. They were very close.’

‘I suppose so, but is it not a bit strange that he lives with her? He must be fifty-plus.’

‘It’s different with farms. In rural Ireland lots of different generations of families live together on farms. They all help run them.’

He had a point. This wasn’t suburban Dublin: it was a small village in the hills.

‘I’d forgotten how spectacular Italy is. I came here with your mum before you were born. We spent a few days in Rome and then we came to a village like this one, but not asfar out, for two nights. Great memories. We always said we’d come back, but sure, life got in the way and it won’t happen now.’

Dad and I were not touchy-feely, but I reached out and held his hand. ‘I feel her close to me,’ I admitted. ‘I feel her here, cheering me on. Does that sound mad?’

‘Not at all. I talk to her all the time.’ He smiled sadly.

‘I’m glad you’re here, Dad.’

‘Me too, pet, and from the little I saw of Marco, he seems like a decent enough fellow. We’ll know more today when we see how he reacts to your terms.’

I rubbed my eyes.

‘You look worn out. You need to get some rest. Could you take a few days off when you get back?’

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