Lucy Gordon: Husband By Necessity

It took some time to find a date for the ceremony, because Angie’s father and Jack, her remaining brother, were determined to be there.

At last they were all gathered around the font in the chapel, almost directly under the recently installed plaque that proclaimed Marta Tornese one of the family. Angie held her child in her arms, sometimes looking fondly down into the little girl’s face, sometimes glancing up at her husband, now almost a different man. The joy of his marriage had brought him tranquillity, and now his eyes were fixed on his wife and child like a miser with treasure.

Yet he was a little troubled too. Right up to yesterday evening there had been some discussion about the names. Now he wasn’t sure what had been decided, for Angie and Baptista were being secretive.

It was the moment for the godparents. As chief godmother Baptista stepped forward. The priest asked her to name the child.

‘Marta,’ she said, smiling at the man who was her son and not her son. ‘Marta Martelli.’