Chapter Twenty-Two #3
Now focused on hearing what Gran had said to the others, Jade passed her letter over and Erin read it out.
Her voice tightened over My dearest, dearest Jade and don’t grieve, my darling.
I had a long and mostly happy life. It grew stony when she reached I think that he literally can’t bear responsibility . . . a suffocating box . . . no way out.
She did wobble when she came to the part about herself though. All I know about the child is that she’s called Erin Ferguson and she’s about three years younger than you.
When she reached Donna died when Rosalie was four, Rosalie choked back a sob. ‘Mum was only twenty-four herself.’ Her sniffles turned into a gasp when Erin read the part about Gran considering taking Rosalie to bring up alongside Jade, and she stared at Jade with wide, astonished eyes.
Erin’s mouth wobbled into a smile when she reached Mairead declaring tax a damned shame. Finally, she came to the end – I’m grieved that I’ll never meet Erin and Rosalie, but I hope that perhaps a little of my huge love for you will somehow filter through to them – and finished with a giant sniff.
Jade grabbed a box of tissues from the window ledge and handed them round.
‘I wish I’d known her,’ said Rosalie, who was still sniffling, while Erin wiped her eyes and nodded vigorously. Jade had to fetch three glasses of water before they moved on to the next letter.
‘Right.’ Erin sounded as if she were energising a lagging meeting. ‘This is what Gran wrote to me.
‘Dear Erin,
‘This letter is about wishes and hope.
‘I’m sure the communication from my solicitor, Mary Smith, has been a shock.
I understand from Joey, my son and your father, that there’s no contact between you.
I’ve had only sporadic and superficial contact with him myself since he left Como when he was eighteen, but my love for him has never dimmed.
I wished very hard to meet you, but Joey said he’d cut ties if I tried to find you.
Isn’t he odd? I’ve always said he must be a fairy child.
If he IS, then it’s a shame more of my wishes don’t come true.
‘You’ll know from Mary that of my three granddaughters I know only Jade Beretta, who I have cared for since she was a baby and love like a daughter.’ Jade gulped.
Erin continued. ‘She’s three years older than you.
Rosalie Beretta is six years younger. As you’ve never met, you might think there’s no bond at all, but I named the pensione Three Sisters in honour of you all.
Jade might think it unfair that I’ve ensured Mary Smith knows you and Rosalie exist so you can inherit.
She’s worked at Pensione Three Sisters beside me, and it’s her home, so I hope you’ll understand if she’s disappointed at having to share – but that’s what I’m wishing for.
If you’re reading this letter, then Jade’s now alone.
To be alone when you have two sisters seems an awful waste.
My last wish – and I’m wishing SUPER-hard – is that you three sisters will somehow learn to love each other.
‘At the very least, please travel to Como and meet your sisters with an open mind and open heart.
‘It could be life-changing for you all.
‘Your loving grandmother,
‘Mairead Campbell xx
‘PS. It’s a wee bit odd to be writing a letter to someone you love, but haven’t met.
Even odder that if she’s reading it, you’re dead.
But Jade can tell you that I don’t discount the existence of ghosts, so you never know .
. . ha ha. Or mwahaha, whichever feels more appropriate.
I once told Jade I’d try and haunt Pensione Three Sisters, so see you there.
’ Erin had to gulp before going on. ‘And she drew a smiley face at the end.’
All three women laughed through tears. Jade’s head swam. ‘So, this is why you came and why you wouldn’t let me buy you out. It was so typical of Gran to worry about any of us being alone. It was as if she was trying to give us to each other, like gifts.’
Rosalie sniffed inelegantly again and shoved her letter at Erin. ‘Here’s mine.’
It was much like Erin’s, except when it came to:
‘Rosalie, you’re the one who’s shared her life with Joey. You lived with him for eighteen years, the same as I did. That’s weird, but Joey IS weird. Fairy child or not, I hope he was a good, human dad for you. I think he might have been OK at it, at least.
‘As you’re the only sister who had a relationship with Joey, try to understand if Jade and Erin are negative about him. None of you has walked in the others’ shoes.’
Jade blew her nose hard. ‘Darling Gran.’
Rosalie wiped streaming eyes. ‘And she called us sisters. I like it when you occasionally drop your guard and call us sisters too, Jade.’
Erin sniffed. ‘Agree.’
Jade sighed. ‘Gran really thought about what must be in our hearts – that I’d resent you both and that you might need pointers as to why. That Erin and I would feel weird about Rosalie knowing Joey. I’m glad she wrote the letters to help us understand.’
Oddly, it did seem as if hearing Gran’s wishes for each of them, her chirpy voice coming through in the letters, washed away Jade’s resentment, jealousy, disappointment and even some of her grief.
It was a spark of light in the darkness of losing Leo.