Page 181 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘I’m sorry,’ Georg replied quizzically. ‘I’m not sure what you mean.’

His employer rolled his eyes. ‘For God’s sake, man. I meanMarina.’

Georg immediately turned a bright shade of red. ‘Ah.’

‘You’ve loved her for the last thirty years. Let me be proof that you must seize the day, Monsieur Hoffman.’

That had been the last time Georg had seen Atlas Tanit. Now he produced a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed his eyes. Placing the envelope under his arm, he locked the desk drawer and left the empty study.

‘Are those the pages?’ Ally asked, putting away her mobile phone and pointing to the envelope.

Georg nodded. ‘I’ll have them copied, just like the original diary.’

‘Good. We’ll tell them at dinner. Then everyone can read.’

‘Ally...’ Georg shuffled nervously. ‘I must tell you that I am scared. I have no idea how your sisters will react. If youare anything to go by, each one might wish to throttle me, individually. Marina, too. I want to make sure she’s protected.’

‘Slow down, Georg. Yes, people are going to be distraught, as I was. But you know very well that the pain can be quickly remedied. I assume you’ve spoken to Captain Hans?’

‘Yes. He’s made the necessary navigational adjustments.’

‘Good. Right.’ Ally inhaled deeply. ‘I’ll see you at dinner.’

That evening, the Seven Sisters and their partners gathered on the top deck of theTitan, joined, as ever, by Ma and Georg Hoffman. Each had made a special effort to dress for the occasion. Tonight, they were due to honour Pa Salt’s life by telling favourite stories from their childhoods.

‘Oh, my darlings!’ Ma cooed. ‘You all look wonderful. It is rare that we are all together in one place these days. I shall treasure tonight, despite the circumstances.’

The girls had made sure to surround Ma with love and support, after what had been revealed to them in the diary. She needn’t have worried for a moment that her wards would judge her for what she had been in the past.

‘What I want to know, Ma, is did you ever reconcile with your father, Louis?’ Star asked.

‘I did, my sweetheart.’ Ma nodded at the happy memory. ‘Your pa, and of course, Georg, were so helpful in facilitating a reunion. Atlas flew me over to America, and my father met me at the airport. He was so nervous. As you will have read, my mother, Giselle, was a force of nature and tried to keep my father and me apart from one another. But we had a wonderful week in Detroit, and we visited each other at least once per year until his death in 1987. I gave the eulogy at his funeral,’ Ma said.

‘That’s so wonderful. I’m sure he would have been so proud,’ Star replied.

‘I hope so,chérie. I’m only sorry that I never met my grandmother Evelyn.’

‘She sounded so wonderful, Ma,’ added Electra. ‘She really did.’

‘She looked after Pa like a mother,’ said Maia.

‘He always did speak so fondly of her, yes,’ continued Ma. ‘So, in a way, I feel like I did know her. Every year, on the anniversary of her death, we would light a candle.’

Maia had made significant efforts to show the table that she was feeling all right after her sisters had read, in detail, about the son she gave away. She had led the conversation, and was effervescent in her responses. ‘To be honest,’ she told the table, ‘I’m much more worried about Zed’s “Atlas” project. It’s going to be world-famous.’

‘With that scumbag, it’s always been about having power over us, hasn’t it?’ Electra spat. ‘What an asshole.’ She looked at Marina apologetically. ‘Sorry, Ma.’

‘I think, on this occasion, I have no choice but to agree,chérie.’

‘It was odd to read about his mother,’ Tiggy mused. ‘I remember Zed telling me that she was a lot younger than his father. And that she died when he was a teenager.’

‘He told me that too,’ Maia agreed.

Marina sighed and gave a shrug. ‘Mere fantasies, it would seem. I suppose it is the one thing he cannot be blamed for. The loss of a parent is a traumatic event, and to have thatblaireaufor a father... it is no wonder he longed for a youthful mother who was with him as he neared adulthood.’

‘Is there anything we could do to Zed from a legal standpoint, Georg?’ Tiggy asked. ‘I know you can’t trademark ahuman name, but if we could somehow prove that it was a malicious act... I don’t know. What do you think?’ Georg was staring down at the floor, and failed to respond. ‘Georg?’

‘Hmm?’ he replied. ‘I’m sorry, Tiggy, I was a million miles away.’