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‘I’m sorry. That must have been difficult, to have to see and watch. At least I was part of my father’s life.’ She shook her head. ‘I used to take photos of them all. It gave me something to do and later on I’d study them, try to work out what to do. Maybe if I did my hair like my younger sister, if I started to like superhero comics like my brother, would it help?’
‘Did it?’
‘Nope. In the end I figured it was best to stay invisible. And now it is all too late. They are
still all a unit. They still have each other and they still don’t need me. I have tried, truly I have, but I still can’t figure out how. The bottom line is that they aren’t really interested in me. That is their choice.’
‘Maybe that will change, perhaps it’s not too late—to forge some sort of bond. For you,’ he added hastily.
‘Then why is it too late for you? I know you don’t need to. You and Jodi have each other, are a unit. But maybe you and Ava could form some kind of bond.’
‘I don’t think I can.’ He heard the sadness in his own voice. ‘There is too much history between Ava and me, even if we only met recently. Too much of that history is still with us. Ava loved her dad, loved and respected a man who tore my mother’s life apart and deserted his children. There is no getting past that fact.’
‘Not unless you want to,’ Emily said softly. ‘Unless you make the choice to try.’ As her siblings hadn’t. ‘Because otherwise Ava is being punished for something she didn’t do. And so are you. Missing out on getting to know someone who is your family by blood.’
As her siblings were missing out on a chance to know this woman.
‘Look, please think about it. Not walking her down the aisle, but maybe just meeting up for a cup of coffee next time you are in London.’
‘I’ll think about it.’
‘Good.’ Her smile was so sweet and full of satisfaction that he couldn’t help but smile back and then her smile widened. ‘And now I think reality has intruded enough. I think we should go back to bed.’ Now she wiggled her eyebrows. ‘We’ve been messy. Now let’s get dirty.’ The words were said with an exaggerated huskiness, and without further ado he rose and pulled her to her feet and swept her up in his arms and carried her to the bed.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
LATER THAT DAY Emily glanced across at Luca as a car drove them out to the cocoa-bean farm, felt a sense of replete satisfaction mixed with the surreal. As she studied the strength of his face, his sculpted body, the shape of his hands she gave a small shiver of remembered pleasure. He turned his head and she saw his eyes darken, knew he could read her expression. Though that was hardly surprising; there was every chance she was drooling.
The car pulled to a stop and they climbed out with a quick thank you to the driver and headed towards the house. Emily smiled as Shamini pulled the door open with a welcoming smile. ‘Come in. We are so happy you are doing this for us.’
Emily clocked the quick glance the older woman darted between her and Luca and wondered if she’d seen the kiss at the dance. ‘So where would you like the photograph to be taken?’ she said hurriedly.
‘Let me make you a cup of tea and I’ll explain my ideas. Luca, you can head to the lounge, where the family is gathering.’
As they headed into the cool interior a small girl hurtled towards Shamini and wrapped her arms around her legs in a hug. ‘This is my granddaughter, Amelia,’ she said. The girl peeped up shyly and then hid her face in the folds of Shamini’s brightly coloured sari.
Emily glanced round the whitewashed kitchen, with its stone worktops and swept tiled floor and the lingering scent of spice in the air. Pans hung from the ceiling and she glimpsed a larder with jars full of rice and dried lentils and herbs.
Once tea was made she followed Shamini and Amelia into a large lounge.
‘I think the photo should be in here, as it is here we have most space.’
Emily blinked—she knew that Samar and Shamini had four children and eight grandchildren, but knowing and seeing were two different things. The room was a hubbub of noise and children, a bright swirl of saris and western dress. Until Samar spotted them, picked up a bell and rang it loudly.
The noise levels subsided and everyone turned to the doorway.
‘This is Emily, who has very kindly agreed to take our picture. Emily, what would you like us to do? We’re still waiting for my youngest daughter and her family, but we can get started.’
About ten minutes later Emily had sorted people out into a group and figured out lighting and backdrops, moved various things around and taken a few informal shots to warm everyone up.
The peal of the doorbell indicated the arrival of the final participants and minutes later a young couple walked in. ‘I am so sorry we are late. Amitabh needed a nappy-change just when we were ready to leave,’ the dark-haired woman said.
Emily saw now that the man held a baby in his arms and Shamini swept forward and took the baby, presented him proudly to Emily.
‘The latest addition to the family.’
Emily gazed at the baby and from nowhere grief screamed towards her, hit her so hard that she almost stepped back. This was what her baby would have looked like. Her baby who had kicked inside her, the baby she had wanted so badly, had already loved so much.
‘He’s beautiful. How old is he?’ Her voice was slightly strangled and she sensed Luca glance at her.
