'I went to see him yesterday. He stared out the window the whole time. I don't know if he even recognised me.'
'What do the doctors say?'
'They think it will be a long road, but they're hopeful he'll recover from the breakdown.'
'And the girls?'
'Camilla wanders round the house like a lost soul. But Alicia went to see Rick the other day.'
'Gosh, was he okay with that?'
'She said she held his hand and he smiled at her.'
'That's a breakthrough. But it's a shame about Flavia's university place.'
'It's only deferred,' Grace said. 'She might still go next October.'
'What about Alicia's boyfriend?'
'Gary comes over most days. He's a lovely boy, Bel. Really looking after Alicia.'
Isabel smelt burning and carried the phone over to the cooker. She'd caught the sauce just in time. 'And you're staying up there? No hope of reconciling with Franco?'
'I'm filing for divorce.'
'Still planning to go to America?'
'One day. I've waited this long, I can wait another couple of years. But we're rattling around in this big house. I've been thinking of shutting it up and moving to that bungalow Rick bought for Mum.'
'Worrying about that seems a long time ago.'
'I'd better go,' Grace said. 'I can hear Camilla calling me. Oh, forgot to ask—have you heard from Mum?'
'Eduardo phoned to say they'd arrived. Apparently Mum got a film star's welcome.'
'She'd have enjoyed that.'
'Just before you go, Grace…' Isabel hesitated. Now it had come to it, she didn't know how to tell her sister. What her reaction would be.
'Come on, Bel. I've got to see what Camilla wants.'
'I've decided I'm going to look for him.'
'Who?'
'The baby that was adopted. Our half brother.'
'Wow! That's a big decision.'
'I've talked it through with Simon, and he agrees I should.'
'It will have repercussions. Look how it's blown our family apart.'
Isabel could tell Grace didn't approve, but she'd made her mind up—it was something she had to do. 'It was the secrecy that caused that. I need to find him if I can.' Isabel took a deep breath. 'I think it might help heal some of the wounds.'
'I can hear you're determined, so go ahead and I'll support you.'
Isabel shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes. She added some basil and sprinkled black pepper on the salad. Brian hated basil. 'Smells like cat pee,' he used to say. Simon liked the same food she did. Simon. He would be here soon, and she was hot and grubby from packing. She left the sauce simmering and went to the bathroom. It didn't take her long to shower and then it was time to decide what to wear. She picked out the dress Simon had bought for her birthday. It was a rich midnight blue and the velvet was soft against her skin as she slipped it over her head and reached over her shoulder to pull up the zip. She picked up a brush and glanced in the mirror. The dress set off her hair and eyes. Even she could see she looked good these days. She thought of Simon's face when she opened the present. His eyes had that warm soft look that made her shiver. She leant over to kiss him and he pulled her closer. 'I love you,' he'd said.
Isabel stopped, hairbrush in mid-air. Heat flooded through her body as she remembered. The sex with Brian. She still hadn't told Simon her dirty little secret. She thought of what he'd said about her parents: 'The trouble with secrets is that they come back to haunt you.'
She'd been telling herself for weeks that she had to confess about Brian. But the time was never right. It would have to be this evening or she'd need to keep quiet forever.
The Piano Player's Son Page 27