Page 28 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt

‘Hello, Tiggy. It’s nice to see you again,’ I replied.

She held my gaze, and looked deep into my eyes. ‘Wow. I can’t believe you’re here. It would mean so much to our father. Thank you.’

If it had been any of the others, this moment would have felt quite uncomfortable, but Tiggy’s calming aura prevailed, and just like before I felt somehow connected to her. The way she was looking at me – it was as though we both somehow shared a secret that the others did not.

‘I think that just leaves us,’ said Ally. ‘I’m Ally, and this is my older sister, Maia. We’ve spoken on the phone a few times.’

‘Hello, Ally, Jack’s told me all about you.’ I looked for the blush, and it arrived immediately. ‘It’s lovely to meet you too, Maia.’

‘We just couldn’t be more thrilled, Merry.’ Maia’s voice cracked a little. ‘Sorry, it’s a big moment for us.’

‘I can only imagine. You must all be going through such a difficult time. But it’s so lovely that you’re all here together.’ I addressed everyone, including those still sat at the table. ‘Growing up, I actually had a lot of siblings. But I didn’t see them for so many years.’

‘I reckon you must be starving, Merry. Come and get some grub!’ exclaimed a woman whose skin was nut-brown, the same colour as CeCe’s. ‘I’m Chrissie, by the way. It’s a pleasure to meet ya!’

‘Lovely to meet you, too. It’s nice to have a fellow Antipodean on board!’

‘I know, right? Although with that accent, obviously we never managed to get you sounding like a local...’

I took a seat in between Mary-Kate and Jack. The table was piled high with plates of pastries, and metal lids were lifted on sausages, bacon, eggs and all manner of freshly prepared treats. During breakfast, I was introduced to a doctor, who was the heir to an enormous country estate in Scotland, a Brazilian author, the well-spoken English gentleman who was restoring a house, and just for good measure, I learnt that Chrissie was a former elite swimmer, who had lost her leg in an accident.

‘This is Miles, Merry,’ Electra said, gesturing to the man sitting next to her.

‘Actually, we’ve already had the pleasure of meeting when Georg brought me aboard this morning.’

‘Oh. You didn’t mention it, Miles,’ said Electra, flashing him a fierce look.

‘You never asked.’ He returned Electra’s gaze with a wide smile and a wink. I noted the disarming effect it had. ‘Anyway, did you manage to sleep well, Merry?’

‘Wonderfully, thank you.’ My head was spinning by the time I’d finally managed to clear my plate. ‘Goodness me, if you don’t mind me saying, it’s like one of those old Agatha Christie novels, with all of the interesting characters assembled here.’

‘Murder on theTitan,’ chuckled the well-spoken Mouse.

Star tutted and rolled her eyes. ‘You’re certainly in no danger of that, Merry.’

‘I’m just amazed that Georg managed to convince you to join us in the first place,’ CeCe said.

I glanced at the man himself, sat at the head of the table. His eyes were fixed on me, anticipating my response.

‘Well... he told me just how much effort you girls had put in to find me, and what a horrible time you were going through. He was very persuasive,’ I offered.

‘Yes, he certainly can be when he wants to be. He is an attorney after all. Right, Georg?’ teased Electra.

‘As you know, I am here to carry out your father’s wishes, even though he is not with us. I recognised that when we had confirmed who Merry was, your father would have stopped at nothing to bring her on board,’ Georg replied coolly.

CeCe addressed me again. ‘There must have been something he said to you that changed your mind, though, right? Because we all understood that you didn’t want to come—’

‘CeCe,’ Ally interrupted.

‘No, I mean, understandably, you didn’t want to come. Hell, I certainly wouldn’t be too keen if I’d been pursued around the globe by a bunch of total strangers who claimed that I was theirmissing sister!’ I wasn’t sure if it was CeCe’s intention, but an unspoken tension had descended on the table. ‘What changed?’ she continued. ‘That’s all I’m asking.’ I looked to Georg again. He was scanning the table, observing the assembled faces as the line of questioning continued.

‘Please forgive CeCe, she’s never been particularly good at filtering what comes out of her mouth, have you, Cee?’ Star gave her sister an earnest look which caused CeCe to take a pause.

‘Sorry. Am I being rude? I probably am. I apologise, Merry. It’s just...’

‘What? Please don’t worry about upsetting me. You can ask me whatever you like,’ I reassured her.

‘I think Georg’s been hiding something from us,’ CeCe ventured.