New Moon

12; 04; 53

51

Marina and I waved and blew kisses as we watched Maia leave Atlantis. Her two suitcases were filled to the brim with her most treasured possessions. And three hundred Twinings English Breakfast teabags, which she said were impossible to find in Rio. Even though she’d assured us she’d be back very soon, somehow we knew she wouldn’t be. And so we both felt emotional as we watched my big sister disappear from view to begin her new life.

‘I’m so happy for her,’ said Marina, surreptitiously wiping her eyes as we turned and walked back to the house. ‘Floriano is such a lovely man, and Maia tells me his young daughter is beautiful too.’

‘It seems as if she’s found herself a ready-made family,’ I commented. ‘Maybe it will make up for what she lost.’

Marina shot me a glance as we entered the house. ‘Maia told you?’

‘Yes, yesterday. And I admit I was shocked. Not so much by what had happened, but by the fact she’d kept it to herself for all these years. As a matter of fact,’ I said, ‘selfishly, I felt very hurt that she’d been unable to trust me with her secret. Presumably you knew?’ I asked Ma as I followed her into the kitchen.

‘Yes, chérie, I was the one who helped her. Anyway, what’s done is done. And Maia, finally, has found herself a life. To be honest,’ Marina admitted as she switched the kettle on to boil, ‘sometimes I despaired she ever would.’

‘I think we all did. I remember her being so happy and positive when she was younger, but then she seemed to change overnight. I went to visit her once when she’d returned to continue her third year of university at the Sorbonne. She was so quiet . . . closed,’ I sighed. ‘It was a very boring weekend because Maia didn’t want to go anywhere, whereas I was sixteen and in Paris for the first time. Now I understand why. You know how I idolised her when I was younger. It really upset me as I knew she had shut me out.’

‘I think she shut us all out,’ Marina comforted me. ‘But if anyone can bring her back and teach her to trust, it’s that young man she’s found herself. Tea? Or something cooler?’

‘Water will be fine, thanks. Honestly, Ma, I think you have a serious crush on Floriano!’ I teased her, as she passed me a glass of water.

‘Well, he’s certainly very attractive,’ Marina agreed without guile.

‘I can’t wait to meet him. But now Maia’s gone, what will you do here?’

‘Oh, don’t you worry, I have lots of things to keep me busy. It’s amazing how often you girls fly back to the nest. Usually at short notice.’ She smiled at me. ‘I had Star here last week, as a matter of fact.’

‘Did you? Without CeCe?’

‘Yes.’ Marina tactfully refrained from commenting further. ‘But you know it’s a pleasure to have any of you at home with me.’