Page 83 of Minha Dona

“She’s also very, very attractive, which you neglected to mention.”

Helena smiled. “Would you have preferred advance warning?”

“I would have preferred not to be ambushed by a gorgeous twenty-three-year-old with incredible curls who clearly adores you.” Caitlin’s tone was light but Helena caught the undercurrent… not jealousy exactly, but the natural human reaction of meeting the physical reality of someone your partner was sleeping with before them.

“She doesn’t adore me. She likes me, I like her and look… we had a very serious conversation about how anything romantic between us was impossible. She’s thrilled for me that I’ve met someone.” Helena came to stand in front of Caitlin and took her hand. “You have nothing to worry about.”

“I’m not worried. I’m just recalibrating.” Caitlin thought for a moment. “She’s just very… present. Very warm. I can see why you enjoy spending time with her.”

“I enjoy her the way I enjoy a good sparring partner. I enjoy you the way I enjoy breathing.”

Caitlin looked at her. “That might be the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me.”

“It’s true, that’s all.”

Caitlin leaned across and kissed her playfully on the cheek. “Now let’s get these drinks to the weary travellers before you sister decides I’m hiding.”

***

They all soon gravitated towards the pool and spent the rest of the afternoon not moving far from it. Mariana was the natural host, organising and directing, making sure that everyone had drinks and towels, not to mention breaking out the inflatable unicorn that she’d stored away last time she was there. Thiago was easy-going and funny, while Camila was sharper and dryer, a lawyer-in-training who clearly enjoyed being the cynical counterpoint to Thiago’s enthusiasm.

Caitlin was being careful to integrate herself gradually. She talked to Thiago about consulting, discovering that they had overlapping professional interests, and then to Camila about a case she’d been working on, asking insightful questions. With Mariana, she complimented her on the house, asking about its history with genuine interest.

Helena watched from a lounger, ostensibly reading but actually anxiously monitoring every interaction. Caitlin was doing well by making people feel interesting and valued simply by paying attention to them.

Mariana, though, was holding back. Helena could see it… politeness that wasn’t quite warmth, and a slight distance in her manner with Caitlin that she didn’t have with anyone else. Mariana was testing, watching, forming her opinion in her own time, and she wasn’t going to be rushed.

Late in the afternoon, when Caitlin was in the pool with Juliana and Camila, Mariana walked over to Helena’s lounger and sat on the edge.

“Walk with me,” Mariana said.

They walked through the garden to the far side of the property, out of earshot. When they were alone Mariana stopped and turned to her sister.

“She’s not what I expected.”

“What did you expect?”

“I don’t know. Someone more… intimidating? Someone who matched the months of misery you put yourself through.” Mariana pushed her sunglasses up. “She’s lovely, Helena. She’s smart, she’s friendly, she’s clearly besotted with you. I can see why you’ve been longing for her.”

“I haven’t been longing for her.”

Mariana gave her a look that said, I’ve known you since the day I was born and you cannot lie to me. “You’ve been longing for her. Isabella told me. I saw how you were checking your phone when you got back from Houston, and we all knew there was her in the background.” Mariana’s expression softened. “She’s good, Helena. I can see it. I just needed to be sure.”

“And are you?”

“She cancelled her holiday to come here to be with you. That tells me everything I need to know about how she feels about you. I needed to see it for myself.”

Helena felt a rush of emotion… gratitude, relief, reassurance that her sister could see in Caitlin at least a little of what she saw. “Thank you Mariana.”

“The ankle bracelet,” Mariana said, nodding towards Helena’s ankle. “That’s new.”

“It is.”

“It matches Caitlin’s necklace.”

“Very observant of you.”

“That’s so sickeningly cute.” Mariana was grinning. “I suppose it’s time for me to lose the ice maiden attitude.”