Her son threw his arms around her and hugged her, not letting go as she peppered his head with kisses.
Soon there was someone else standing there. Isabella was watching them, her back straight as Martina placed a hand on her shoulder. Delphine’s first instinct was to run and envelop them both in a warm hug, but instead she nodded politely to Martina and held out her hands for her daughter.
‘Isabella, my sweet Isabella,’ she said, bending low so that she could encourage her forward, into her arms. ‘You’ve grown as much as your brother has, and look at your long hair!’
It took a moment for Isabella to come forward, but when she did, she crashed into Delphine’s legs and wrapped her arms around her.
‘You look different,’ Tommaso said, studying her as she hugged his sister. ‘Are you still sick?’
‘No, my love, I’m fine now,’ Delphine said, forcing a bright smile. ‘I’m just so glad to be home with the both of you.’
‘Papa says that we’re moving soon,’ Tommaso said. ‘He said it’s ridiculous to still have this house here, that we should be in Geneva.’
‘Then we shall return there,’ Delphine said. ‘So long as the three of us are together, that’s all that matters.’
The children jumped up and down and proceeded to tell her hundreds of stories all at the same time, speaking over one another, each sibling clearly trying to outdo the other. But she didn’t mind; these children were her life and soul, the children she knew she’d been destined to have. But in that moment, as she smiled and nodded, as she tried so desperately to be present, a tear escaped and slid from the corner of her eye, down her cheek.
‘Mama?’ Tommaso asked, his voice husky with concern. ‘Mama, what’s wrong?’
‘I’m fine, I’m just so happy to be back with you both. It’s been so long since I got to hear your lovely voices or see your beautiful faces.’
Martina stepped in then, her smile wide as she addressed the children. ‘Come along now, my loves. We need to let your darling mama get changed. It will have been a long drive for her.’
Tommaso didn’t look convinced about leaving, but when his sister skipped off, he reluctantly followed her. She watched them go, waited until they were both outside before dropping into the closest chair as she began to cry.
‘We need to get you up to your bedroom and changed into something more comfortable,’ Martina said. ‘Come, let me help you. Perhaps you might want a bath first?’
Delphine didn’t say a word as she let Martina lead her, as she took her upstairs and sat her down on the bed. Next, Martina took out clothes and touched up her make-up, before leaning forward and reaching for her hands.
‘I’m sorry,’ Martina said. ‘I can’t imagine the pain you’re in.’
‘Thank you,’ Delphine whispered. ‘But she’s gone now, and I have to do my best to forget about her.’
‘It was a little girl?’
Fresh tears clung to her lashes. ‘A little girl. A gorgeous little girl who looked so much like her big sister that it made it all hurt even more.’
‘Would you like me to tell the children you’ve gone to bed for a rest?’ Martina asked. ‘I can always?—’
‘You will do no such thing,’ Delphine said. ‘If I’m to accept my decision, I need to make the most of every day I have with them. I’m going outside to play whatever they want.’
‘To play with them?’ Martina repeated, as if she were positively mad.
‘Do you know where Giovanni is?’ Delphine asked, changing the subject.
‘I believe he’s at his place. He’s had the children to visit but?—’
Delphine shut her eyes, trying to ignore the pain of what she was hearing. His children were right here in London, without their mother, and he still hadn’t bothered with them.
‘Send word to him that we’ll be returning to Geneva. Switzerland is our home, and I intend to buy a property by the lake just as soon as we return.’
‘Of course. I’ll have word sent immediately,’ Martina said. But as she spoke, she held out her hand and took Delphine’s palm in hers, tears spilling from both their eyes as they stared at one another. ‘They’re very happy to have their mother home,’ Martina whispered.
Delphine nodded. ‘And she’s very happy to be home with them.’
Or at least I would be if I could find a way to accept what I’ve done. She just had to keep telling herself that she’d made the only decision available to her, and trust that Hope had found a loving, wonderful home for her baby daughter. Because if she couldn’t believe that? Then she knew there was no way she could ever live with herself.
26
