Carlotta walked into the bedroom. ‘I rang Spencer. He had just heard and was heading to a meeting with Leon’s lawyers. Apparently he hadn’t changed his will, so the money he took is being returned to Pajaro. Melanie is a fool. Now she has nothing and her precious son is in jail,’ she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
‘How was Grace when you told her?’ Carlotta asked.
‘Detached. Odd. I don’t know what to do about her. I hope she’s not drinking again.’
‘Have you heard from Frank?’ asked Carlotta.
‘No, you?’
‘Nope,’ said Carlotta.
The sisters sat in silence and then Carlotta stood up. ‘I’m going.’
‘Where?’ asked Violetta.
‘I’m going to see Chris.’
‘What?’ Violetta’s mouth dropped open. ‘Why now?’
Carlotta shrugged. ‘Because there is so much bullshit in this family right now, I thought I should add to the drama.’
Violetta smiled at her. ‘I understand, you want to get it out of the way.’
Carlotta touched her stomach. ‘I think I want to keep it,’ she said, her face flushing.
Violetta stood up and hugged her sister. ‘I’ll support you whatever you want.’
Carlotta clung to her. ‘I love you.’
‘I love you too,’ said Violetta.
Carlotta rang Chris as she left Violetta’s apartment but he didn’t answer so she left a message. As she walked along Madison, she looked at the shop windows. It felt good to be out after hiding inside for so long.
She stopped at the window of Bonpoint. She had never looked inside a children’s store before, and she pushed open the door and entered a French provincial dream. As she wandered about touching the cashmere wraps and the tiny cardigans and knitted hats, she wondered at the size of them and if her baby would be that small.
Without thinking, she found herself buying a small linen horse with a bell around its neck. As the girl wrapped it carefully in tissue and boxed it, Carlotta felt the moment was surreal.
She took the elegant bag that the girl handed her and walked from the shop and back onto the street. Chris still hadn’t phoned her back and she resigned herself to him not calling her ever again. She had all but formally resigned from Pajaro. Grace had disappeared. Violetta was the only one who wanted to stay there.
Carlotta glanced at her reflection in the mirror as she passed another shop. She looked fine, not a hint of pregnancy. Five weeks, the doctor had said. Thank God it wasn’t Berconi’s, was her first thought, and then she had thought of Chris. She knew he didn’t want children or marriage or anything remotely pedestrian. But somewhere deep down, Carlotta did want that. Not for anything else than losing the loneliness that followed her around.
As she walked towards her own apartment, she checked her phone again. Still no word from Chris. She sighed as she took the elevator up to her mother’s apartment. As the doors opened, she was shocked to see Chris sitting on the floor outside her door.
‘What the hell are you doing?’ she asked.
‘You rang and then my cell ran out of charge and I figured I would meet you back here,’ he said sheepishly.
Carlotta opened the door and stepped over him. ‘Well, come in then,’ she said, and put the shopping bag on the floor.
Chris got to his feet and walked inside, shutting the door behind him.
‘So what’s the deal?’ he asked. ‘Why are you avoiding me?’
‘I’m pregnant, Chris.’
‘I know,’ he said, putting his hands in his pockets.
‘How do you know? Why didn’t you say something to me?’ she demanded.
