Page 174 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

Ally reddened. ‘Pa, tonight’s about Maia!’ she hissed.

‘Ally!’ Maia said with genuine enthusiasm. ‘Don’t be ridiculous! That’s amazing news!’

‘Wow! Ally! Well done!’ Tiggy beamed.

‘Thank you,’ she replied sheepishly.

‘I am so proud of my two eldest daughters, as I am of you all. So let’s raise our glasses to one another tonight. We are the most amazing family. Hip hip...’

‘Hooray!’ replied the table.

Ma began to pour out some more wine for myself and the two eldest girls. ‘You are all so like your pa, in your own ways.’

‘Don’t insult the poor girls, Ma. They’re far more interesting than I am.’

‘Speaking of interesting,’ CeCe said, ‘do you have a boyfriend yet, Maia? Ma thinks you do.’

‘CeCe!’ Ma shouted.

‘What? You were talking about it the other day.’

Maia raised her eyebrows at Marina. ‘Were you indeed, Ma?’

‘I... was just making conversation with your sister.’ She eyeballed CeCe. ‘Privateconversation.’

‘So what gives you that idea, Ma?’ Maia asked, taking a deliberately slow sip of her wine.

Marina blushed. ‘Well, whenever we talk on the phone, you sound sort of... happy. I thought that, just maybe, you might have a young man in your life...’ She shrugged.

‘Yeah! So do you?’ CeCe pushed.

‘CeCe!’ Star admonished her outspoken sister.

‘What?’ she replied. ‘We all want to know! Don’t we?’

This led to an emission of giggles around the table. ‘I’m not sureIwant to know, girls!’ I groaned, which led to even more laughter.

‘Oh, tell us, Maia, go on!’ begged Tiggy.

‘Yeah, tell us! Tell us, tell us!’ Electra began to chant.

Maia looked to Ally, who shrugged at her, as if to say,the cat is out of the bag.

‘All right, all right. Pa, cover your ears.’

I laughed. ‘It’s all right, my darling, I’m sure I can take it. As long as he doesn’t have tattoos. Or ride a motorcycle.’ There was an awkward pause, and Ally exploded with laughter. ‘Oh no,’ I replied, putting my hands over my eyes in a display of melodrama. ‘Come on then, give me the bad news. How many tattoos does he have?’

‘Just one, Pa. I think it’s pretty tasteful,’ Maia replied coyly.

I sighed. ‘I’m sure. Dare I ask what of?’

‘It’s just a little lightning bolt,’ Maia said.

‘I knew it!’ CeCe said. ‘Shedoeshave a boyfriend!’ The table erupted in a cacophony of squeals and cheers.

Maia put her hands up to quell the excitement. ‘Well, I don’t know if he’s myboyfriend,’ she qualified.

‘But are you going out?’ Tiggy asked, eyes agog.