In the car, Gloria and Dom relive last night’s adventures.
“I can’t believe that go-go dancer binned me off,” Gloria moans, “for some skinny white boy with a face like a chewed caramel.”
“That’s outrageous!” we chorus.
“At least one of us got some action,” Gloria says. “Come on, Dom, spill the T.”
“The T is we went for a walk on the beach,” Dom says. “And Vito’s great. He’s really interesting.”
“‘Interesting’?” teases Gloria. “Since when have you given a fuck about ‘interesting’? Come on, did you show him your Leaning Tower?”
Dom grins. “I may have done.”
“How about your Trevi Fountain?” jokes Ian.
We all screech with laughter but, intriguingly, Dom doesn’t answer.
Once I’ve parked the car, my sisters greet Theo and the kids. Everyone seems more relaxed than at our first meeting. And I observe each of my sisters slip into a slightly different persona—just as I do. But Theo and I still haven’t chatted since our argument. When I got back last night it was late and, just as I was waking up this morning, Mabel burst in wailing that she’d found a patch of skin cancer—only for Theo to examine it and tell her it was a large freckle.
It’s a beautiful morning and the usual sound of crickets and birdsong is accompanied by the distant ringing of church bells, these setting off the barking of dogs. I serve a buffet of local cheeses, cooked meats and breads I picked up from the bakery in Camaiore. There’s also smoked salmon with dill and capers, a tomato and basil salad, and a huge pan of creamy scrambled eggs. Everyone helps themselves and chats in little groups, which is what I was hoping, as it must be less intimidating for the kids than speaking to a table full of intent faces.
Archie is soon full and starts studying a pack of Top Trumps cards. “Adam, did you know ‘the Gigantosaurus could run for long distances at great speeds due to its shock-absorbing muscles’?”
“No, I didn’t but that’s fascinating.” I lean in and rest my forehead against his temple. “You know, Ian loves Top Trumps.”
He pulls back. “Really?”
“Yeah, he told me that when he was a kid it was his favorite game.” Ian did actually reveal this after spotting a pack of the cards while I was showing him round the house. “Why don’t you ask if he wants to play?”
Archie jumps up and toddles over. When Ian smiles in agreement, he starts dealing the cards.
Dom, meanwhile, is mixing himself a protein shake. As he glugs it back, I notice Callum watching. He looks like he wants to ask a question but is lacking the confidence.
“You know, Dom’s a personal trainer,” I tell him.
Callum gives his head a jerk of acknowledgment.
“I used to be the skinny, weedy kid,” says Dom, wiping some shake off his moustache. “When you’re already deaf in one ear,that’s not great. So when I was around your age, I started packing on muscle.”
“How did you do it?” asks Callum. “How did you get that rig?”
As Dom shares information about exercise and nutrition, I treat myself to some mortadella.
Mabel, on the other hand, isn’t mixing at all but skulking behind her hair, sticking to the side of her dad. I scour my brain for interests she may share with my sisters. Again, I think how tough it must be for her as the only girl.
When Gloria’s finished eating, he takes out a compact and tops up his lip gloss. I remember Mabel’s interest in skincare and decide to take a chance.
“You know, Gloria’s fab with makeup. If there’s anything you want to ask …”
Gloria snaps his compact shut. “Girl, you’ve got a sensational bone structure.”
Mabel pulls more strands of hair over her face. “As if.”
“Hush your mouth! I wouldloveto practice on you!”
She writhes in her seat. “Would you?”
“Hell, yeah!”
