Page 101 of Italy and Forever

‘Sorry! I’m glad I made it.’

‘The flight has landed already,’ Cillian chided him, earning a ruffle of his hair.

‘Hang on, we were in Departures last time,’ Kira said with a frown as she scanned the airport signage.

‘You were completely unnecessary last time,’ Rhys pointed out.

‘They just wanted to be here in case interference was needed,’ Ginny defended – ever the kind one. ‘And because they’re nosy,’ she added.

‘We care, all right?’ Kira said with a huff. ‘Be thankful we were there in case either of you had screwed up. It was a finely balanced thing. You nearly let him leave the country!’

‘At least there’s no suspense this time,’ Toni pointed out.

‘There will be if we can’t get the sign unrolled before they come through the doors!’ Kira pointed out.

‘Do you think this welcome will mean she comes back to work?’ Ginny asked, falling into step beside Reshma. ‘I know it’s probably too early to think about it and they’re only back for a visit.’

‘Ah, I have some ideas about that. Don’t worry.’

They bickered about where to stand so the sign would be immediately visible and Rhys could get a shot of the happy family, and it was only when passengers began filing through the sliding doors that they quieted and got into their final positions to wait.

And wait.

Finally, when Kira’s foot was tapping and Ginny was fidgeting for England, the fussy cry of a baby alerted them a few seconds before Sophie and Andreas emerged. Although it had been only five months since Reshma had last seen them, they’d aged at least a year. Sophie’s hair was shorter, Andreas’s look wilder.

On his chest, he was juggling the tiny form of his daughter, who was throwing her arms out and grizzling. When Sophie saw her gathered colleagues, she burst into tears. She rushed straight into the sign, something ripping when she curled her arms around Ginny and Tita and held on.

‘It’s so good to see you.’

‘We missed you,’ Ginny said emphatically.

‘There, there, sweetheart,’ Tita soothed her.

‘I’m sorry we’re in a bit of a state. Flying with a baby is… Well, you can see.’

‘Don’t the rest of you want to meet her?’ Andreas called out, affronted. Only Rhys was taking any interest in the baby, nudging her tiny hand with his finger and then lifting his camera to take some shots.

Sophie smiled indulgently. ‘He’s completely smitten. I just know I’ll have to be the disciplinary parent.’

As Kira, Toni and Tita left their partners to hold the banner while they went to meet the baby, Sophie turned to Reshma. ‘Hey, boss. It’s nice to be back.’

Reshma held out both of her hands and was more touched than she’d ever admit when Sophie took them and squeezed. ‘I’m just glad to see you. Later on, when you’re ready, we can talk work, hmm? You’re keeping okay?’

Sophie nodded. ‘It’s intense, but I was aware of that. She’s settling in all right.’

‘One more addition to the I Do family,’ Reshma said softly, making Sophie look up with a watery smile before she returned to her husband and daughter.

A nudge at her side told her without looking that Will had approached. She leaned into the light press of his shoulder.

‘The kids are all right,’ he murmured, making her laugh.

‘You feel a familial responsibility to them?’ she asked him.

He nodded effusively. ‘Don’t you?’

‘I suppose we’re parents, in a strange way.’

It was Will’s turn to laugh. ‘We gave birth to something very special.’ His arm slipped around her for a subtle squeeze. ‘And I think… the baby’s growing up?’