‘It’s nice to have you here.’ Jonathan looked out at the horizon. ‘We’d rather see you, you know,’ he said tentatively, turning to Luca. ‘Even if it means rows.’
‘You don’t have enough aggro in your lives?’
‘We’d rather you came round for a fight than not at all.’
‘Fun for all the family, huh?’ Luca laughed and Jonathan joined in.
‘Maybe that’s the best we can do,’ he said wryly.
‘Sorry,’ Luca said seriously. ‘I don’t want to be mean. I just think it’s probably better for everyone if I stay away.’
‘She does regret that bloody book, you know.’
‘Really?’ Luca ran his thumb around the edge of his mug. ‘She’s never said sorry.’
‘Have you?’
Luca raised his eyebrows in acknowledgement – it was a fair point. ‘She just winds me up every time. I try to be nice and not lose it but—’ He broke off, sighing in frustration.
‘I know you do. But she tries too. You have to give her a chance.’
‘Well, she started it,’ Luca said, aware of how childish he sounded. ‘What did she mean by saying Claire wasn’t what she expected?’
‘It wasn’t an insult. You have to admit, most of the girls you’ve been with have been a bit more… well…’
‘What?’ Luca knew exactly what Jonathan meant, but he couldn’t imagine him actually saying it. What word would he use? Sluttish? Tarty? Jonathan was far too dignified and courteous to call a girl anything like that.
‘Well, more… outgoing,’ he finished awkwardly.
Luca grinned. ‘Claire’s very reserved.’
‘She seems lovely.’
‘She is.’
They sat in silence for a while, drinking their coffee as the sun rose in the sky, sending a streak of yellow across the bay.
‘I’m not an alco, you know,’ Luca said eventually. ‘Just by the way.’
‘I know you’re not.’
‘Then why can’t she see it? Why does she have to accuse me of that in front of everyone and treat me like a lush who’s fallen off the wagon? It’s not fair!’
Jonathan sighed. ‘Your mother has… issues about drinking. Her father was an alcoholic.’
‘I know, but it’s not as if we’re related. She doesn’t have to worry about it running in the family.’
‘That’s not the point. Things were very bad for her growing up. And you had the drug problem. She doesn’t think there’s any grey area. It scares her, that’s all. You have to make allowances.’
Luca drained his mug. ‘I’d better go and see if Claire’s awake,’ he said, getting up. As he stood, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. ‘Oh my God, did you see that?’
‘Is it a dolphin?’ Jonathan jumped up, looking out to sea.
‘There – look!’ Luca pointed as it arced out of the water again. ‘Wow, that’s amazing! It’s so close.’
‘We’ve seen them a few times in the last couple of weeks.’
‘I must go and get Claire.’
