Page 205 of The Missing Sister

‘I know, but with the others arriving, well, I don’t know how I’ll manage without her,’ Ma admitted. ‘It could not be worse timing. If all your partners come, there will be at least eleven of you, plus Bear, Valentina and Star’s little Rory...’

‘Really, Ma, we’ll be fine.’ Maia offered a chair to her. ‘Sit down, please, you look very pale.’

‘I feel it. I don’t think any of you realise how much I – and this household – depend on Claudia.’

‘Remember, most of the others will be joining us directly in Nice,’ said Ally. ‘I’m sure Claudia will be back by the time we’re home at Atlantis after the cruise.’

‘It’ll be fun, Ma,’ CeCe put in. ‘We can have a rota on the fridge, like we had for the washing-up when we were kids.’

‘Which you always managed to get out of, CeCe,’ Maia teased her.

‘She still does, don’t worry,’ remarked Chrissie.

‘I think we should each take a night and make a dish from where we all live now,’ suggested Maia.

‘Which means we’ll get a hot dog from Electra,’ giggled Ally. ‘See, Ma? It’ll be fun. Anything you need us to do?’

‘No, thank you, Ally. All the rooms have been prepared and are ready for the guests and Claudia said she’d left a salmon out for tonight.’ Ma looked round at the four women. ‘Does anyone know how to cook it?’

‘I think that’s my night on the rota,’ Ally smiled. ‘Fish is what you might call a Norwegian staple.’

‘I just wanted you all to have a rest from your busy lives, be looked after here at home,’ Ma sighed.

‘Maybe it’s you who should be taking a rest,’ Maia replied, putting a hand on Ma’s shoulder.

‘Chrissie and I are going for a swim in the lake. Anyone want to come?’ CeCe asked. ‘Chrissie used to be a state champion!’

‘I might take the Laser out and race you,’ challenged Ally. ‘But first, let me help you with the dishes, Maia.’

Alone in the kitchen, the two sisters fell naturally into the rhythm of washing and drying up.

‘When does Floriano leave Rio with Valentina?’ Ally asked.

‘The day after tomorrow. It’s ridiculous, I know, Ally, but I’m nervous about seeing him.’

‘Why?’

‘Because we discussed getting married and starting a family, but not, well, immediately. I’m not sure what he’ll say. And then there’s Valentina. She’s been so used to having us to herself that she might not like the idea of a younger sibling.’

‘Maia, I understand why you’re nervous about telling Floriano, but I can’t believe there are many seven-year-old girls who wouldn’t love having a real-life baby to play with. I’m sure she’ll love it.’

‘You’re right, Ally, and forgive me for worrying about this, when you couldn’t share your pregnancy with Theo.’

‘Don’t apologise, I understand. Although as I admitted to you before, now all the partners are about to arrive, I wish I had one of my own... Someone in my corner, you know? I called Thom today to check on Felix – who is fine – but Thom definitely can’t make the cruise. Anyway,’ Ally said, changing the subject, ‘isn’t Chrissie great? And she puts CeCe in her place when she needs to.’

‘She does, and CeCe seems far more relaxed than she’s ever been.’

‘It’s going to be quite a gathering, isn’t it?’ Ally smiled. ‘Let’s hope everyone gets on okay.’

‘We’ve all got to accept that we won’t get on with some of them as well as others, but that happens in all families. Pa would have loved to have seen us all here together. It’s just so sad he won’t be there.’

‘Yes, but not wanting to go all Tiggy on you, he’ll be there in spirit, I’m sure,’ Ally comforted her.

I had just started to stir awake when my room phone rang. ‘Hello?’

‘Merry, it’s Katie. I haven’t woken you, have I?’

‘Yes, but that’s all right. What is it?’