Page 60 of A Place in the Sun
He nods. ‘And her too, I’m sure.’
I’m stopped in my tracks. He’s right. None of this is her fault, but I have no idea how to make that better.
‘I’m going to La Tavola, to start getting ready for the cookery class,’ I say.
‘Mamma?’
‘Yes, Aimee?’
‘Does this mean Stella’s our sister? I’ve always wanted an older sister!’
There’s a knock at the door.
‘Stella!’ says Aimee and throws herself at her. I’m at a loss to know how to handle the situation,
‘Hey, how’s things?’
Aimee slides her hand into Stella’s. ‘Are you my new sister? I’ve always wanted a big sister! Now I have you!’
No one else says a word.
‘You told them, then?’ she says at last, her usual sass not in evidence.
‘We heard you andMammatalking last night,’ Luca says.
Stella looks at me. And it’s almost as if I’m looking at Marco. It’s all so … messed up. Where is he when I need him?
Stella smiles at Aimee. ‘I am … if you’d like me to be. Actually, I brought you a present.’
‘Yay!’ says Aimee, and even Luca, although he’s standing back warily, is intrigued.
‘I just wanted to say,’ she looks at me again, ‘I knowthis was all a bit of a shock. I’m sorry you found out like this.’
There are so many things I should be saying right now, like no, I’m sorry she had to find out about Marco this way, and asking so many questions.
When Stella smiles, it could be Marco’s smile. She pulls open the basket she’s carrying, puts her hand into it and scoops out a little white kitten.
‘Ooooh!’ Aimee’s in raptures. ‘Can we keep him? Is he for me?’ She reaches forward and takes the kitten before I can step in, and it’s love at first sight. Mr Fluffy drops to the floor.
I rush over and pick him up.
‘Mamma,look! He’s beautiful! I love him!’ She holds him to her face. I hold Mr Fluffy to mine as frustration swells in me.
‘No, Aimee, sorry, we can’t. Not with us going back to Cardiff. It wouldn’t be fair!’
I’m furious that I’m now having to take the little furry bundle from my daughter.
‘We can’t!’ I say, feeling wretched.
‘I thought it would help with the Mr Fluffy thing.’ Stella nods to the sad, worn-out rabbit I’m holding. ‘I found him in the hedge. The mother gave birth but she seems to have moved on.’
‘You can’t just give people pets! They’re not toys. They mean responsibility. We’re not going to be here.’
‘I was just trying to do something nice!’ she shouts.
‘Can I keep him,Mamma, pleeeease?’
Stella looks between Aimee and me. ‘Look after him for now, yeah? I’ll look after him once you’ve gone.’
