Maeve nodded. ‘For once in your life, Nuala, you’ve opened that big galloping trap of yours and something intelligent has come out. After all the money your education cost, that bit of talk was like balm to me poor spirits.’

Everyone laughed at this. It broke the tension in the room. The second youngest Brunos son, Stephen, smiled at Donna.

‘I have a business degree, as you know. I’m quite willing to help you out in any way. We all are. As I see it, the building business is best put into the hands of a competent manager, then you can learn from them. As for the cars, Georgio is in partnership with Davey Jackson. Davey will keep that sorted until you can get actively involved. He only has a twenty-five percent stake in the company so you have what’s known as the controlling interest . . .’

‘Jaysus, Stephen, what did you have for breakfast, a company report? Leave the girl alone. There’s plenty of time for all that once the shock wears off.’

Stephen shook his head. Taking off gold-rimmed glasses, he began cleaning them on a table napkin. ‘All I’m saying is, there’s a lot of money involved, Mum. Our Georgio had many business interests; his accountant is a known face in the City. I don’t think it would be a good idea to leave it too long. It’s been left for nearly nine months as it is. The sooner someone starts sorting everything out, the better. Georgio can run his business from prison, through Donna.’

‘I don’t know if I could, Stephen . . .’

‘Of course you can, Donna. Georgio would be over the moon to think you were looking after things for him,’ Nuala said with finality. ‘We’ll all help in any way we can.’

‘Then once he wins his appeal, everything can get back to normal.’ Patrick’s voice was full of forced joviality.

‘I’ll drink to that.’ Stephen held up his glass of milky Ouzo, and everyone followed suit.

‘To Georgio’s homecoming.’

Donna lifted her glass and forced back the tears once more. She had these people, they were her family. With all of them behind her, things couldn’t really be that bad.

‘Eighteen years? The dirty bastards!’ Dolly’s voice was low, shocked. ‘I heard it on the local News. Nearly fainted away, I did. How’s his mum taken it?’

Donna sipped her tea. ‘Surprisingly well actually, Dolly. Maeve is strong. Stronger than people realise. Pa Brunos has taken it badly, but that is to be expected. Georgio was his pride and joy. Proof of all his adopted country has to offer. There’ve been a few phone calls from Rhodes. The papers there carried the story and, well, word gets round. I think he feels ashamed.’