Page 12 of Sisters

Matteo grinned. ‘Susanna. I amItalian.’ He waved a hand. ‘Anyway, enough about us. What about you, Ellie? Are you dating?’

Ellie placed her fork primly on her plate. ‘Not at the moment.’ She stood, started to stack the empty plates. ‘I’ll clear away,’ she said.

‘I’ll give you a hand,’ said Abby, taking some of the dishes.

Susanna went to get up as well but Matteo stopped her by pouring some more wine into her glass and insisting she stay at the table. ‘I want to know about your life back in London,’ he said. ‘Tell me about your job. Abby tells me you work in a clothes shop.’

Thank God for Matteo, thought Abby as she walked away, even though he was unaware of the favour he’d just done her. She wanted a moment alone with Ellie, something that Susanna seemed determined wasn’t going to happen.

She followed her sister into the kitchen, started to rinse the dirty plates before placing them in the dishwasher. ‘I was thinking it would be nice to go on a boat trip tomorrow. What do you think?’

Ellie handed her another plate. Shrugged. ‘Sure, why not? Mum would enjoy that too.’

‘I was thinking just you and me,’ said Abby quickly.

‘Oh. Seems a bit mean to leave Mum out?’

‘It’s not like that. I was just thinking we could go early. Before the beach. You know what Mum’s like; she doesn’t rise till mid-morning if she doesn’t have to. We’ll be back by the time she gets up.’

Ellie paused for a moment, plate mid-air. ‘OK. Why not?’

Abby smiled with relief. ‘Great! Only...don’t mention it, will you? Otherwise she’ll only feel like she’s obliged to come. I don’t want her to miss out on her lie-in.’

Ellie looked at her suspiciously for a moment, but Abby held her gaze and then the moment passed.

EIGHT

It had been a relief to shut the bedroom door that night. Retire to the privacy of her room with just her husband for company. Abby finished brushing her teeth and came from the en suite into the bedroom where Matteo was tidying away his police uniform – discarded in the early hours when he’d come in from his night shift. She got into bed, enjoying watching her naked husband as he went about his domestic duties. He put his jacket and trousers on a hanger, punched in the code on the safe that was in the wardrobe and put away his police-issue gun, then leaped dramatically onto the bed, making Abby smile.

‘So, finally I get to meet your family.’

Abby braced herself, waiting for criticism.

‘They’re nice,’ he said, smiling as he noticed her reticence.

‘Yeah?’

‘I think your mother believes I am some sort of hero. That you call the police and I rescue you from the big bad world.’

‘She’s just caught up in the romantic idea of it all. She’s lonely. Has been for a long time. I think all her life she’s been hankering after a strong man to look after her.’

‘Your father wasn’t that man, no?’

‘Danny? I seriously doubt it. She hardly ever talked about him, but from what I understand, he was charming but flighty. Her parents didn’t approve and when she ran off with him, they cut her off.’

Matteo turned to face her. ‘You didn’t tell your mother how it really happened that night.’

‘No...’

‘And your sister didn’t even know about it.’

Abby looked apologetic. When she’d spoken to Susanna about the mugging she’d deliberately underplayed it, relayed only the facts. A man had put a knife to her back; another had run off with her bag. Matteo had handled the case and he was the only person who really understood what had happened to her. ‘Thanks for not saying anything.’

Sensing her discomfort, he kissed her. ‘Families, eh? Why is your mother here early? I thought it was supposed to be you and Ellie for two days.’

‘It was.’

‘What did you have planned with your sister?’