Love Is a Four Letter Word by Claire Calman

she wants is for this day to be forever: the gulls sailing above her, the sweet pink bubbles of the cherryade, the scrunch of the shingle, the salty taste of the sea when she licks her fingers, and Daddy doing up her shoes, looking down at the buckles as he fastens them, then up at her as she sits perched on the breakwater.
    â€˜All right then, ding-dong. Off we trot. Mummy will be waiting.’
    âˆ¼ ∼ ∼
    Alessandra was fussing with her hair.
    â€˜Beautiful,’ said Gerald. ‘As always.’
    She waved at him dismissively with a gesture of her long, tapering fingers.
    â€˜Why do we bother spending so much time and money making ourselves look lovely for you men?’ She turned to Bella, including her, silently noting her faded jeans and hair pulled back into a hasty ponytail, then turned away again. ‘When you can’t even seem to tell the difference?’
    She walked towards the kitchen.
    â€˜Amuse yourselves, and keep out from under myfeet, both of you. I’m just going to prepare a few bits for dinner. Nothing special as it’s just us.’
    â€˜Nothing special’ turned out to be individual asparagus and gruyère tartlets followed by a layered terrine of smoked chicken and spinach with salad.
    â€˜Any news?’ asked Alessandra to the air in general once they were safely on the home stretch of dinner, warm pears poached in port served with crème fraîche.
    Are you seeing anyone? Bella sensed the silent question crawl across the starched linen tablecloth, edging its way around a china bowl of tight apricot rosebuds. Are you even trying? crept in its wake.
    â€˜Nothing major,’ said Bella, concentrating on scooping up a wayward piece of pear, while redirecting the conversation with the practised ease of a politician. ‘The house needs some work to eradicate the damp.’ Held out her hand at waist height. ‘The plaster’s got to be hacked off up to here.’
    â€˜Sounds expensive,’ Gerald said. ‘Do you need any help?’
    â€˜Have you—’ Alessandra began.
    â€˜Thanks, but I’m fine money-wise … and Seline seems to be very happy with me so far, probably because I’ve brought some juicy clients with me ready to be squeezed. She said if all goes well, we might discuss setting up as a partnership next year.’
    â€˜But that’s wonderful. Shall we drink a toast?’
    â€˜Of course it’s good that they appreciate your talents, but isn’t that rather risky?’ asked Alessandra. ‘Wouldn’t you be liable if the company went bankrupt?’
    Bella took a drink of her wine.
    â€˜Well, of course, it’s always good to look on the bright side,’ she said, starting to get up from the table. ‘Shall I make some coffee?’
    â€˜Perhaps I’d better make it, Bella-dear. The percolator’s being rather temperamental.’
    â€˜It has my sympathy,’ Bella said under her breath.
    In the garden on Sunday morning, Gerald took Bella for the traditional guided tour. They stood together by his vegetable patch, pointing, assessing, as if judging it for a medal at a horticultural show.
    â€˜It won’t be at its best for a while yet, of course. I’m planning to grow some squash this year. Your mother says they make good soup.’
    â€˜Oh? Don’t they make an excellente soup?’
    â€˜Behave yourself, daughter dear.’
    Every time Bella mentioned or admired anything, Gerald would weave along the narrow paths between the beds with surprising grace, saying, ‘Have some, have some. Here, let me dig some up.’
    It was depressing, she hadn’t done anything yet with her small plot, while Dad was doing such wonders with his large garden.
    â€˜I’m wondering whether I should have it redesigned – make it easier to manage somehow?’ she said. ‘It’s getting out of hand already.’
    â€˜Very sensible. I’ll