Page 95 of The Seven Sisters

‘You can say that again,’ I smiled ruefully.

‘At some point, I’d like to know more. Especially about your father. He sounds like a very interesting man.’

‘He was.’

‘So, tell me, are you feeling a little calmer than you seemed this morning?’ he asked me gently.

‘I am. And you’re right, of course, that the shock of losing the person I loved most in the world is only just beginning to dawn on me. It’s easier here because I can still imagine Pa at home. But to be honest, the thought of returning to the reality of him not being there when I leave Rio turns my stomach.’

‘Then stay a while longer,’ he encouraged me.

‘Well, I’ll see what happens tomorrow when I meet with Yara,’ I answered, batting away his comment. ‘But if that leads nowhere, I’ve decided that I’m not going to battle to find out the truth any more. After all, Senhora Carvalho has made it perfectly obvious that she doesn’t wish to know me, whether I’m her granddaughter or not.’

‘I can understand how you would see it like that. But Maia, you don’t yet know what happened in the past to provoke her reaction to you,’ Floriano urged me. ‘Or what herownchildhood was like.’

‘Maia’ – Valentina’s head poked round the door – ‘can you come and help me, please?’ she said in a loud whisper.

‘Of course,’ I said, as I rose from the table and followed her down the stairs to the kitchen. Where, amidst the chaos of burnt saucepans, stood a cake with candles on the top. Valentina picked it up carefully.

‘Can you light them for me? Papai won’t let me use matches. I’ve put twenty-two candles on it because I’m not sure how old he is.’

‘I think twenty-two will be fine,’ I smiled. ‘Let’s light them at the top of the stairs so they don’t blow out on the way up.’

On the top landing, we crouched outside the door to the roof terrace and I lit the candles carefully, feeling Valentina’s eyes upon me. They held the same perceptive gaze as her father’s.

‘Thank you, Maia,’ she said when I’d lit the last one. As she prepared to parade through the door with the cake, she smiled up at me. ‘I’m glad you’re here.’

‘So am I,’ I said. And I realised it was true.

*

I left the two of them half an hour later, having noticed that Valentina was yawning and angling for a story from Floriano.

‘So, am I taking you tomorrow, or would you prefer to go to the Casa alone?’ he asked me as he opened the door to the apartment.

‘I’d really like you to come,’ I admitted honestly. ‘I think I need some support.’

‘Good. Then I’ll see you at one o’clock tomorrow.’ Floriano kissed me formally on both cheeks. ‘Goodnight, Maia.’

29

I slept well and peacefully that night, my body having finally adjusted to the new time zone. I woke at nine, and crossed the road to Ipanema Beach for what was becoming a habitual daily swim. Then I returned to my suite to reread the letters, making notes of any questions I wanted to ask Yara. Upstairs on the hotel roof terrace, I drank a glass of wine with lunch in an attempt to steady my nerves. I knew that if Yara refused to elaborate, or, in fact, didn’t know herself how I’d ended up being adopted by Pa Salt, I’d have nowhere else to go.

*

‘Feeling hopeful?’ Floriano asked me as I climbed into the Fiat.

‘Yes. Or at least, I’m trying to.’

‘Good girl. You have to believe that Yara can help you until you know differently.’

‘The problem is,’ I said, ‘I’ve suddenly realised how much this matters to me.’

‘I know,’ he agreed. ‘I can see it.’

When we arrived outside the Casa, we saw with relief that, although the gates were still drawn shut, the padlock had been removed.

‘So far so good,’ said Floriano. ‘I shall wait here for you until you’ve finished.’