For the first time in hours, Phil cracked a smile.
41
Cate had an hour to kill. She’d caught the waterbus far too early, terrified of messing up and being late but also yearning for time to sit by herself amongst the trees and flowers, safe in the knowledge that Nat was keeping a careful eye on Phil over at thesquero.
She entered the little park on Mazzorbo, heading for the same bright-red bench she and Nat had sat on just days before. So much had happened since the two of them had strolled through here on their way to Burano. She cringed at the memory of visiting the house where she’d believed her mother lived, her foot in the door, the way she’d almost barged her way upstairs into a stranger’s bedroom. Now she was going back to Burano by invitation, but still her emotions whirled like chunks of fruit in a blender. Phil’s revelations, Natalie’s relief that her attacker was no longer free to prey on others – yesterday was a day she’d never forget.
Of course, Cate hadn’t shared Phil’s own story; she’d only told Natalie about the prowling school pervert and his downfall. It was up to her husband to decide when – if ever – and with whom he wanted to share the episodes that had caused him such anguish. How thankful she was that she’d never shared Nat’s suspicions that Phil had been her attacker. How Phil would have reacted was anyone’s guess but the possibility that she might have irreparably damaged their marriage didn’t bear thinking about.
Cate checked her phone. Again. Her new half-sister, Belinda, had promised to confirm the name of the café where her mum, Lina, would be waiting. Her own mother! But did Cate really want to hear her mum’s excuses for staying away all these years? Wouldn’t it be better to let the past lie? Dealing with her husband’s anxiety about seeing Raj – who’d surprisingly messaged Phil straight back agreeing to meet – should be her priority, not chasing foolish dreams.
Cate sighed. She’d been wrong to come. She should go back to the waterbus, back to the man who loved and needed her, not sit here waiting for the woman who’d upped and left.
She picked up her bag. Her phone beeped. A message from an Italian number. It was Belinda.
We are early, Mamma was too excited to wait. La Ciambella on Piazza Baldassarre Galuppi.
Her heart leapt. Despite her cool logic, Cate knew she couldn’t just turn around and go. Not now. Maybe it was wrong to try and second-guess the reasons her mum had stayed away. She typed quickly, her message brief and to the point. She wasn’t ready to share her emotions yet.
I am early too. See you very soon.
She clickedsendbefore she could change her mind. A message pinged through straight away but it wasn’t a reply from Belinda. The message was from The Evergreens, asking her to contact them. Cate frowned. Dad had been fine when she’d checked last night. It couldn’t be anything urgent; they would have called if it was. Anyhow, she couldn’t stop and deal with it now; she’d be on the phone forever with chatty Sally on reception. Dad had kept her and Mum apart before. He wasn’t going to do it again.
She stowed her phone in her bag and set off in the direction of the little bridge that led to Burano.
* * *
Cate had no memory of being with her mum, but she knew, even before Lina rose from her seat, that this slim, dark-haired woman was her mother, her own flesh and blood. Cate pushed her sunglasses up into her hair, wanting nothing, not even a layer of tinted glass, to come between them in this precious moment.
‘Cathy, oh, Cathy!’ Her mum clung to her, rocking her slightly from side to side as if she was still the baby she’d once soothed in her arms. Cate allowed herself to be held, feeling her toned arms and strong shoulders collapse against Lina’s angular body like a half-baked souffle.
Eventually, Lina let go. She lifted Cate’s hair away from her face. ‘You are so beautiful – and blonde now too.’
‘A good hairdresser.’
‘Every woman’s secret weapon,’ the young woman standing alongside Lina said. ‘I am so pleased to meet you, Cathy. I have always wondered about you.Che bello! How beautiful it is that we meet.’ She swiped tears from her eyes.
‘My daughter, Belinda,’ Lina added. The two younger women embraced. ‘Please sit down. Let us have some coffee together.’
Cate sat. Belinda ordered the coffee, smiling broadly as if to reassure the waiter who was looking a little alarmed by the sight of three weeping women.
For a while, none of them spoke. Cate gazed at Lina, searching for traces of her own features in her mother’s face.
‘I am sorry, I cannot help crying like this.’ Lina sniffed. ‘I have dreamt of this day for many years. Every year on your birthday, I have made a wish that you would come and find me.’
Youcould have come and foundme, Cate wanted to say, but this wasn’t the time for recriminations. She fiddled with the handle on the espresso cup the waiter had quietly set before her.
‘I am so pleased to meet you,’ Belinda said again.
Cate squirmed on her metal chair, not knowing where to begin.
Lina flicked her hand towards her untouched coffee cup. ‘I do not know what we are doing here, amongst all these tourists! We must welcome you to our home.’
‘You are right, you must come to the house.’ Belinda peeled a note from her purse and wedged it under the sugar bowl.
‘Thank you, that’s very kind.’ Cate said, getting up. She was glad to escape the curious looks from the family at the adjoining table. She pushed down her sunglasses and let her new half-sister link arms as they walked the short distance to the little square where her mother lived.
The marmalade cat she’d seen by the orange house was lying on the doorstep. Belinda scooped it up under one arm as her mother unlocked their front door.
