Page 173 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

Clara nodded, seemingly in approval. ‘Good, good. There’s still the question of helping Kindness overcome her addiction.She’s a few weeks away from not needing our expertise, and then after that, she’ll need special attention at home.’

‘I can have the finest doctors at my beck and call,’ I assured her.

‘Well, I’m very glad for you, but I’ll be needing to speak to them, too. Having a degree in medicine from a fancy university is all well and good, but most won’t have any practical experience in dealing with such a situation.’

‘Of course, Clara. In fact, I would insist.’ I manoeuvred the baby into a vertical position and began to burp her. Clara smiled.

‘All right then. We can get the ball rolling.’ She put a hand on my back. ‘Congratulations, Daddy.’

Dear reader, if you have made it this far, you will have naturally begun to question the immense gaps in this diary. When I first began recording my thoughts in the 1920s, the purpose was to articulate my feelings, for at that time I did not speak. I found it such a successful exercise that I continued it throughout my life. When I first met Angelina in Granada, I resolved to dedicate my life to the search for Elle, and my first daughter. The diary lay on my study desk, forgotten. I was a man driven by a single purpose.

Then, when I adopted Maia, I felt it such a significant moment that I owed it to the ‘reader’ to record it. The same, of course, went for Ally, Star, CeCe, Tiggy and Electra, too. It has not escaped me that the last few chapters serve to chronicle how I met my children, and I should like to think that one day, they will read these pages. Know that the gaps in the diary were filled with love, laughter and family. My children have given me more than I can ever express on paper. Whenever I have left Atlantis to continue my search for the missing sister, I have felt a deep longing in my heart for the company of my girls.

Speaking of the missing sister, I should inform you that I have not today picked up my pen to celebrate our long-awaited meeting.

Forgive me, reader, I appreciate that the writing here is a little sloppy. But I am unable to stop my hand from trembling. Earlier today, I had a conversation with my eldest daughter which chilled me to the bone.

This evening, we have been celebrating the end of Maia’s second year at university at a special dinner with all the girls. She still has half a term to go, but has blessed us with a visit during her reading week. At around three this afternoon, I walked out onto the jetty to watch for the sight of Christian ferrying Maia home across the lake. When she came into view, I couldn’t help but feel my heartstrings tug a little. My little girl is a woman now. No doubt the occasions she returns here to see her old pa will be few and far between.

As the boat lightly buffeted the wood at the end of the jetty, she practically leapt off, and jogged towards me.

‘Hello, Pa!’

‘Maia, my darling!’ I embraced her tightly for the first time in very nearly three months. ‘It is so very good to see you. Welcome home.’

She gave me a light kiss on the cheek. ‘You too. Oh look, here they come!’

I turned and looked up towards the house to see a trickle of D’Aplièse girls heading down the slope to greet their eldest sister. CeCe was practically dragging Star, Tiggy skipped freely and Ally followed behind, arms folded. Electra was, of course, leading the pack in a full-on sprint.

‘MAAAAIIIIAAAA!’ she screeched.

‘Hello, Electra!’ she said, as my youngest daughter knocked the breath out of my eldest. ‘Oh, I’ve missed you.’

‘Yeah, us too,’ Electra continued. ‘You know, Tiggy found a stray cat, and it lives upstairs with her, but Ally’s allergic and CeCe said that wasn’t fair so—’

‘Woah, E, slow down. I can’t wait to hear all the news. Come on, let’s get up to the house. You can help with my bags!’

Claudia had prepared Maia’s favourite – chilli con carne – and the conversation at dinner had focused on my eldest daughter’s exciting new life. Initially, I had been thrilled to hear of her experiences away from Atlantis. She has grown up to be a somewhat reserved young lady, but I know she has so much to offer. During her first two years at university, Maia has really begun to blossom.

‘Do you go out at night?’ CeCe asked.

‘Sometimes we do,’ Maia replied. ‘My flatmates Samantha and Tom are bigger party animals than I am, though.’

Electra sat up in her chair. ‘When I go to university, I’m going to go outeverynight,’ she proudly exclaimed.

‘I don’t think that’s unlikely,’ Ally said with a smirk.

Tiggy frowned. ‘Can you have pets there?’

‘Ooh, I’m not sure actually, Tigs. I know a girl who has a goldfish. But I’m not sure that Bagheera the cat would be too welcome.’ Maia giggled.

Tiggy shrugged. ‘Oh. Well, maybe I won’t go to university then.’

‘I’d look after him for you,’ Star offered quietly.

‘Ew, no you won’t,’ CeCe snapped back. ‘He’s not sleeping in our room, Star. He smells weird.’

‘Please, CeCe. Do not speak to your sister like that,’ I interjected. ‘Now, I would like to propose a toast. Firstly, to your eldest sister, Maia, who is on track to receive a first-class result at the end of this year. And secondly, to Ally’ – my second-eldest daughter shot me a look – ‘because, and I’m sure she won’t mind me sharing this with you, she has todayreceived an early offer from the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève to study the flute. They wish to give her a scholarship.’