Page 99 of Good Sisters

We climbed out of the car and were all swept up in big hugs. When she got to me – ‘Louisa’, as she called me – she clung on. It was awkward as her head was squashed against my boobs and I’m not a big hugger, especially not with strangers.

Thankfully, Marco peeled his mother off me and showed us into the house. Despite my earlier threats to silence Julie, I was so glad that she, Sophie and Dad were there to keep theconversation flowing and try to make this crazy situation seem normal.

‘Anna.’ Marco’s mum pointed to her chest.

‘Julie.’

‘Sophie.’

‘George.’

‘Louise.’

‘Our mother was called Anne,’ Sophie said.

‘My wife,’ Dad explained.

Marco translated.

‘Is she also coming to Italy?’ Marco asked.

‘No, she’s dead,’ I said.

‘Morta,’ Marco said to his mother.

‘Le mie condoglianze,’ Anna said, her eyes filling with tears.

‘Thank you,’ I said.

She looked at Dad and tilted her head to one side. ‘Mi dispiace per la tua perdita.’

‘I think that means “I’m sorry for your loss,”’ Sophie said.

Dad put his hand to his heart and said slowly and loudly, ‘Thank. You. Very. Much.’

‘She’s Italian, not deaf,’ Julie whispered.

Anna said something. Marco translated. ‘My mother say she know how you feels. My father die ten years ago. Her heart was breaking.’

Dad tried to fight back tears while Anna patted his hand.

It was all too much. I could feel my own emotions welling up. I felt Julie’s hand on my back.

‘Breathe.’

I did as she said, and regained some control.

We sat down at their big kitchen table on wooden chairs covered with checked blue and white cushions. The house was bright, airy, clean and uncluttered. Clara would like that.

Marco made us coffee while Anna produced a freshly baked lemon ricotta cake from the oven.

When we were all sitting down, Anna, who had perched beside me, looked over at Marco and said something in Italian.

‘My mother would like to see photo of Clara.’

I pulled up my briefcase and handed her the photos.

‘Dio mio,’ she exclaimed. She looked up at Marco. ‘Tua zia.’

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