Chris refused to make a scene in front of Spencer and Violetta and left the room.
Spencer took a deep breath. ‘I am glad Grace isn’t here. I think she has had enough news today.’
Violetta put her hand over her mouth; she knew what was coming.
‘I received a call before the meeting,’ he said slowly. ‘The tests results are back.’
Carlotta looked at Violetta and then back to Spencer. ‘What? What did they say?’ she asked.
Spencer smiled at her and then at Violetta. ‘It seems that I am indeed your father.’
35
‘One week till Christmas,’ Carlotta said from the safety of Violetta’s apartment, looking at the grey skies that threatened to bring snow.
Violetta smiled. ‘I think I might organise something for us all.’
‘Shit, don’t you have enough to do?’ asked Carlotta, as she lounged on her sister’s sofa. ‘With Pajaro going crazy, how can you keep up with everything… and that dinner for the hospital you are planning?’
Violetta shrugged. ‘I like to be busy. Anyway, Pajaro is fine, the stock is selling, thank God. And the dinner is on New Year’s Eve, so I have time.’
‘Well, if you want to do it, then go ahead. I’m not much use, I’m afraid,’ Carlotta said, adjusting her wristbands.
‘Do you think Chris and Alexia would like to come to Christmas dinner?’ asked Violetta carefully.
Carlotta was silent for a moment. ‘I don’t know,’ she answered.
‘Have you told him?’ asked Violetta, looking at her flat stomach.
‘Nope.’
‘Fuck, Carlotta, the man deserves to know.’
‘I know, I just haven’t found the time,’ Carlotta said with a frown.
‘Find the time then. You don’t do anything all day except annoy me,’ said Violetta good-naturedly.
‘I will, I just have to find the right moment. I think Frank’s little outburst taught me a thing or two about timing.’
‘I know. How is Grace, have you spoken to her?’ asked Violetta.
‘She’s OK, she’s disappeared somewhere, refuses to tell me where in case I blab to Frank, which I wouldn’t do,’ said Carlotta peevishly.
Violetta was quiet, thinking about the receipt from the drugstore she deliberately had left Chris with. He must have worked it out by now and yet he hadn’t made any attempt to try to speak with her sister. Men, she thought, and then she thought about Jeff and smiled to herself.
‘What are you smiling about?’ asked Carlotta lazily.
‘Nothing,’ said Violetta, blushing.
‘Your doctor?’ teased Carlotta.
‘He’s so great, Lotty. Really, I can’t wait for you to talk to him outside of the hospital. I really like him.’ She beamed at her sister.
Carlotta smiled at her sister’s joy. ‘I’m happy for you, sweetie.’
‘I’m so sick of the TV thing though. We can’t go out anywhere because it would be bad for Jeff and bad for the TV show, so we have to sneak around everywhere. It’s so boring. I want be real, you know?’
‘How long do you have to go till it’s finished?’ asked Carlotta.
