A room had been set aside for Archie, and they headed there. Lying him down on the changing table, Dora began unbuttoning his dungarees.
‘You are such a mucky monkey. Now, lie still while your big sister Lei gets you dressed.’
Heart leaping, she watched as Lei gently changed him into a clean top and shorts. It was none of Dora’s business, but she had learned from experience that it was misguided and ultimately pointless pretending that something was okay when it wasn’t.
‘How long have you been trying?’ she asked quietly.
She felt rather than saw Lei flinch, and knew that she had said too much.
‘Nearly two years. There’s nothing wrong. We’ve had tests.’
The flatness in the other woman’s voice made her heart contract. It reminded her of how Della had sounded: defeated and sad.
‘I don’t know what I’d do if it was me. Probably give up.’ She gave Lei a small, tight smile. ‘I’m not brave, like you. You’re fighting for what you want, and that means you will get a baby—somehow, some way. And in the meantime you can practise with Archie.’
Lei was staring at her. ‘My brother is lucky to have you.’
Dora felt her skin grow tight. She knew her face was flushed—knew too that she wanted to confide in Lei as she would have done with Della. But honesty was not the best policy here.
‘And Archie is lucky to have you,’ she said.
‘Lei.’ It was her husband, Thomas. ‘Your mother is here.’
And just like that the intimacy between them was gone and the guard was back up. ‘I should go.’
Dora nodded. ‘Yes, go. I’ll be out in a second.’
Their eyes met and then Lei was gone. Dora heard the door close and, needing to shift the tightness in her throat, she picked Archie up and kissed his neck, making him squirm and giggle.
‘He looks like Charlie did at that age.’
Startled, Dora spun round and felt her stomach drop.
Nuria Rivero hadn’t arrived by the time she and Lei had slipped away from the party, but she was here now.
Dora swallowed—or rather tried to swallow past the panic swelling in her throat.
‘I hope you don’t mind me intruding, Dora. I just wanted to meet the woman who is going to marry my son, but privately, without all the fuss.’
She had a beautiful voice, Dora thought. Soft, husky, with just the faintest hint of an accent. In fact, she was a very beautiful woman. Petite and slim, with shining dark hair and green eyes, and the same high cheekbones and curving mouth as Charlie.
‘Of course.’ She nodded, feeling suddenly ashamed that of all the people here this woman had been forced to seek her out.
Nuria walked across the room and stopped in front of her. ‘And this must be Archie. How old is he now?’
‘He’s one.’
‘Such a lovely age.’
Reaching out, Nuria touched Archie’s hand. Instantly he grabbed her finger and began to squeeze it tightly, giggling.
‘Loo
k at that face. He’s beautiful. You must love him so much.’
Dora nodded. But she wasn’t looking at Archie’s face. Instead she was looking at the other woman. There was no doubt about it; Nuria had been crying.
It wouldn’t be noticeable to most people, Dora thought, her stomach twisting, but she knew the signs. Extra blusher to distract from the redness around the eyes. Retouched mascara. And a smile that looked ever so slightly forced.