‘You made me look nice.’
‘I didn’t make you look anything,’ her father said gently. ‘You’re beautiful. No extra effort was required. Silly.’
He put a big hand on her knee.
‘I’m so proud of you, darling. You’ve got good friends and you found lovely friends for Emily as well.’
They watched Toni race after one of the smallest of the group, who had spilled her drink and was speeding to the water’s edge to wash her hands. The sea was rougher now and they all knew it was important to keep a close eye on all their charges.
‘I wish Toni had been able to experience this: being a parent,’ said Bob sadly. ‘I can understand that she didn’t want it but it’s so special.’
‘Not all women want the whole child experience, Dad,’ replied Lou. ‘Look at Gloria. Never married, never had children.’
Her father had stared into the distance. ‘Yes, of course,’ he’d said, a little absently.
The car went over a Sicilian pothole and jerked Lou out of her reverie.
Darling Dad. She so wished she could tell him she loved him just one more time – but then, she spoke to Mim all the time and why not her father?
Love you, Dad, she said silently. Finding Angelo is like finding a piece in a puzzle, but he will be a piece and you were always much more than that.
‘Are we here?’ she asked, as Toni slowed down.
Lillian from her nightmare spoke to her again.He won’t like you. Why would he like you?
If only she could quieten that hideous voice. She could feel her heart rate increase. She had to do this, but it was hard. She reached out to grab Toni’s hand.
‘It’s going to be fine,’ said Toni gently. ‘If he doesn’t like you, he’s crazy. Because you are one of the most amazing people I know.’
She stopped the car on the side of the road and turned to look at her sister. Lou knew that if she’d pulled the car over, she was serious – Toni never stopped moving. Her sister’s face was earnest, her usual wry cynicism nowhere to be seen.
‘Lou – you’ve been a second mother to me. You’ve raised Emily to be the most beautiful human being in the world and Ned, for all his daftness and inability to show it, adores you. Plus your real dad,ourreal dad, loved you so much.’
Toni glanced into the back seat of the car, then reached over and smoothed an unruly strand of Lou’s wild hair down.
‘You’re even taking care of Trinity. You are warm, wise and wonderful. But not everyone appreciates that. If they don’t, that’s their loss. So, if Angelo Mulraney does not appreciate you, we will leave here with our heads held high.’
‘Thank you,’ said Lou, feeling tearful. This maelstrom of emotions was exhausting but, despite everything, she’d never doubted her sister’s love for her.
‘Ready?’
Lou nodded.
Her sister re-tied her sleek blonde ponytail, glanced in the mirror and pulled out towards their destination.
Lou breathed deeply. She was going to meet her father. Toni was by her side. Whatever happened, she’d cope with it.
Villa Iascaigh was along a headland of olive trees. As they approached, they could see a stone wall and, behind it, a very simple but large seaside villa with olive trees planted all around and a beautiful path made of old stone in a mosaic pattern.
‘This is definitely the right place,’ said Toni, smiling. ‘Iascaigh is the Irish language version of Easkey – it means “place where there are many fish”.’
There was a low gate with an electric intercom, so Toni got out of the car, rang the intercom, spoke and then got back in. ‘OK,’ she said brightly.
‘Who answered? Was it a man or a woman?’ Lou leaned out.
She hated the unknown and this was all so unknown.
‘Female,’ said Toni, ‘sounded young, maybe someone who works for him or ...’ she stopped.
