‘Claire,’ he answered immediately. ‘Thank you for calling me back. Look, all that stuff on?—’
‘Mark,’ she broke in, ‘my mother died last night.’
There was a moment’s silence. Then, ‘Oh, Christ, I’m so sorry. That’s awful.’
‘Yeah. That’s why I didn’t answer your calls. I only got your messages just now.’
‘What happened?’
She went through the story once more, reciting it by rote.
‘Oh, Claire, I’m sorry. When’s the funeral? I could try and get back early?—’
‘It’s on Monday, but don’t worry about coming. Really. So what was it you wanted to talk to me about?’
‘Oh, don’t worry. It’ll keep.’
‘Okay. Well… I’d better go. I’ve got a funeral to arrange.’
‘I’m really sorry, Claire. If there’s anything I can do, just let me know.’
‘Thanks.’
The day passed in a blur of arrangements, phone calls, visitors and endless cups of tea as people called to offer their condolences and to sit around reminiscing about Espie. Everyone brought food, and Claire was running out of space to store it all, the fridge groaning under the weight of lasagnes, quiches and casseroles, the worktops covered with cakes of every size and variety. Each time she had to talk about her mother, Claire started crying again, and she felt completely drained and exhausted by the evening, longing for the time when everyone would be gone and she could just curl up in bed with Luca.
‘Oh, it’s you,’ Michelle said, when she opened the door to Luca that evening, stepping back ungraciously to let him in.
Claire’s other sister-in-law was in the kitchen, but everyone else seemed to have gone.
‘Where’s Claire?’ he asked.
‘She’s having a lie-down,’ Michelle said, and pursed her lips disapprovingly.
‘Okay. I’ll just… go up and see if she needs anything,’ he said, heading for the stairs.
‘I hate to say it,’ he heard Michelle whisper loudly as he left the room, ‘but I think Claire’s being a bit of a drama queen.’
Luca stilled, one foot on the bottom step.
‘Well, her mother has died,’ Liz said.
‘Yes, but she’s not the only one. Neil and Ronan lost their mother too and you don’t see them carrying on like that. I think she’s milking it a bit, making it all about her.’
‘It’s not a competition for who’s the most upset. Claire lived with Espie. They were very close. It’s only natural?—’
Luca was about to carry on upstairs when Michelle said something else that stopped him in his tracks.
‘And what’s the story with this Luca? Why is he suddenly around all the time? Has he moved in or what?’
‘He’s just being supportive to Claire. I think it’s nice that she has someone.’
‘She has her family. If you ask me, he thinks he’s onto a good thing here. Did you see his face when I said the house would have to be sold?’
‘He was just concerned about Claire. It was rather insensitive to bring that up today.’
‘Well, I wouldn’t trust him as far as I could throw him. I think one of us should have a word with Claire, put her on her guard.’
‘Oh, come on. Claire isn’t stupid.’
