Page 94 of Back in the Saddle

She wanted and needed more.

Caroline bit her lip, thinking how naive she was. But she hadn’t known any better. Hunter had showed her pleasure, in its fullest meaning. When they were together, she felt drunk on the ecstasy. There was nothing that could compare to that moment, right before she came. When it felt like every single nerve cell in her body was on fire.

Sometimes, she wondered whether meeting Hunter was the biggest blessing or the most horrible curse. He had showed her exactly what she’d been missing. Before, she’d had no idea. But knowing it now, could she see herself giving it up?

Caroline was sitting in her bedroom, looking over the ASH agenda and highlighting which sessions she wanted to attend, when the doorbell rang. She didn’t get up as she knew Anna was in the living room. But then it rang again.

‘Caroline! Can you get it? I’m busy with something just now.’ Anna yelled over the high-pitched sound.

Caroline pushed herself away from the desk and strode through the hallway to open the front door. As soon as she did, her jaw dropped in a mix of shock and delight.

‘See, I told you Anna and Gian kept the secret! Car, you look like you’ve seen a ghost!’

The taller, older woman chuckled as the younger one, who looked so like her, elbowed her, clearly amused.

Caroline realised her mouth was still open, so she closed it, still gaping at her sisters.

‘Oh, come on, I know we don’t look the best after travelling all the way from Dublin, but I thought you’d be happy to see us.’ Caitlin shook her head with mock disapproval and pulled her into an enthusiastic hug.

Once she let go of her, Caroline looked at Clara. ‘Of course I’m happy to see you but … What are you doing here? Who’s staying with Vic?’

‘She has a father, doesn’t she?’ Clara shrugged, wide grin moving across her lips. ‘It’s great to see you, Car. We’ve missed you.’

‘I’ve missed you too.’ Caroline observed Caitlin moving their suitcases into the hallway. ‘But I don’t understand, why are you here?’

‘Well, they wanted to spend Thanksgiving with us.’ Anna walked out of the bathroom, beaming at the sight of all three of her nieces. She hugged both Caitlin and Clara in greeting. ‘I can’t believe how grown up you are, Cait!’ she exclaimed. ‘Remind me, how old are you now? I swear you were like ten when I saw you last.’

‘I’m twenty-six, and you saw me at Caroline’s wedding. It wasn’t that long ago.’ She rolled her eyes, but Caroline noticed a barely noticeable smile tugging at her lips.

‘Four years,’ Caroline whispered, more to herself than to anyone else.

They all looked at her.

Clara was the first one who broke the charged silence. ‘Anyway! We’re here now, and that’s all that matters. We’re staying for a week, and hope to stay up late, see the sights and hear all about your adventures.’

Anna shot her a meaningful look.

‘And your work, of course,’ Clara added.

Caroline walked up to her and threw an arm round her shoulders. ‘This is the best surprise ever.’ Then she looked down at Clara’s baby bump. ‘And you’re pregnant!’

Clara laughed, putting her palm on her belly. ‘I am! Twenty-two weeks yesterday.’ Her eyes glowed with happiness.

Caroline beamed at her. ‘You look so great.’

‘She won’t shup up about the miraculous anti-sickness pills she’s been taking this time round,’ Caitlin supplied. ‘Honestly, I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve heard about it.’

‘Well, they literally kept me sane in the first trimester.’ Clara shrugged.

With that, Anna took them to another guest bedroom, which she’d managed to get ready for their arrival without Caroline noticing.

Caroline’s cheeks hurt from smiling and laughing. She couldn’t remember the last time they had spent so much time together, just the three of them. It must’ve been before Clara’s wedding. Caitlin was still too young to drink. They’d gone to Croatia, passing the days with sightseeing and trying local cuisine, and the nights dancing under the stars.

The memory of that week made her pensive. So much had changed since then, but when she looked at Clara and Caitlin, she realised that all these changes made them who they were today. The best sisters a woman could ask for.

‘Why are you so quiet, Car? Hope you aren’t secretly plotting how to ditch us.’ Caitlin popped another black olive in her mouth and turned round, trying to locate a waiter to order more wine.

They’d come to a family-owned Italian restaurant in the neighbourhood. Their chicken parmigiana had quickly become Caroline’s favourite dish since her arrival. They’d invited Annaand Gian to join them, but they had refused, saying they needed to finish preparations for the party. Caroline suspected that they were trying to give the sisters time to enjoy one another’s company.

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