Sisters - Michelle Frances Page 0,15

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?’

Abby shrugged, non-committal. ‘Nothing much. Just hanging out, you know.’

Matteo wrapped his arms around her and fixed his eyes on hers. ‘So, what’s the big secret?’

Abby faltered. ‘What do you mean?’

‘I think it is obvious. There is something, a history, in your family. The way everyone was a little bit on edge tonight; because you don’t really talk about them so much. And trust me, I was as happy as you to have a nothing wedding—’

‘Nothing?’ exclaimed Abby, in light protest.

‘You know what I mean. No fuss. But I do not know of any girl in Italy who would do the same.’

Abby wondered about telling him then. It would be so nice to confide in this man who filled her heart in a way she’d been searching for since childhood. To confess everything she’d been shouldering for so many years.

She looked at him. ‘I will tell you. Just not now.’

‘Why not now?’

Abby ran her fingers lightly over his chest. She knew exactly how to distract him. ‘Because I’d rather be doing something else instead,’ she said as she kissed him softly on the lips.

NINE

The sound of the crickets had faded as the night had worn on and now – Ellie turned her head very slowly towards the clock on the bedside cabinet – at three a.m., they were almost silent. She shifted her head back, wincing as the pain throbbed behind her temples. It had only been a couple of glasses of wine. It didn’t seem fair that she had such a pounding headache.

Maybe it was the stresses of the day that had exacerbated everything. Seeing her sister again for the first time in ages. Seeing her house. And her husband. Abby had rarely had time for boyfriends when she was in London – she’d worked all the time. Matteo seemed quite a catch and Ellie had been surprised. He was easy to talk to and good-looking – how could she help but notice the latter when he’d been standing in front of her at the sea in all his near-naked glory?

Abby was also on edge and now, with Susanna here, she’d got worse. Ellie didn’t know why Abby always had to be so cool towards their mother – carrying her childhood resentments around like a pile of rocks on her shoulders. OK, so Susanna had had less time for Abby when they were young, but she had been pretty preoccupied. And now Susanna was trying so hard with Abby, had been so complimentary about the house, but Abby had just blanked her. It had felt a little weird, in fact, her mother being so attentive to her big sister. Usually it was her, Ellie, who got all the affection.

And then there was that strange conversation in the kitchen earlier. For a moment Ellie had thought her sister and her mother were keeping something from her. She’d gone along with the explanation about a visit to the beach the next day but they’d seemed cagey and she felt there was more to it.

Argh, tomorrow! There was this boat trip too, something she had to be up early for. At this rate, with no sleep and now feeling nauseous, she was going to miss out. Maybe a glass of water would help.

Ellie