Page 216 of The Missing Sister

‘Hi, Mum, you look happy,’ Mary-Kate said as she wandered inside.

‘I feel it, actually. Or at least, I think I do,’ I shrugged. ‘I’ve just done something that I hope will make the lives of two people I love very much better. Anyway, are you okay?’

‘Yeah, I’m good. Listen, Mum, I was just having a chat with Jack and...’

‘What is it?’

‘Well, we both feel we should let Tiggy and her sisters know that I’ve found my birth family. And it’s unlikely that I’m the missing sister they’re looking for.’

‘You don’t know that for sure, Mary-Kate. Your birth parents could have some connection to this dead father of theirs.’

‘Maybe, but the point is, I feel I should at least give them the name of my birth mum. Then they can investigate themselves whether there’s a connection. It’s obvious they’re desperate to find the missing sister so she can join them on their cruise. Would you mind if I gave them a call?’

‘Of course not, sweetheart. It’s your decision to make, not mine.’

‘Okay, thanks. And...’

‘What is it?’ I asked. I could see she was about to broach a sensitive subject by the look in her eyes.

‘Would you mind if I also told them that you were adopted too? I mean, Jack and I were saying that the emerald ring was yours originally and... Mum, the missing sister could be you.’

‘I doubt it – those adopted girls are all a similar age to you and Jack. No.’ I shook my head. ‘I realise you’d like to have a connection to them, but unfortunately for you, I’m not it.’

‘So you don’t mind if I tell them you were adopted then?’

‘Go ahead,’ I sighed. ‘It doesn’t matter to me one way or the other. I’m sorry, sweetheart, but seeing they’ve managed to ruin my Grand Tour, in truth, I just want to forget all about them.’

‘I understand, Mum, but thanks anyway. See you at dinner.’

Giving me an apologetic smile, Mary-Kate left my room.

‘I have news,’ said Ally, arriving on the terrace where Maia was serving up a Brazilian stew.

‘What?’ CeCe asked.

‘That was Mary-Kate. She called to tell us that she’s found her birth parents.’

‘Wow, thatisnews,’ whistled Chrissie.

‘It is and it isn’t, because obviously, until Mary-Kate has established proper contact with her mum, I don’t think it’s our place to start investigating her parents, and she won’t do that until she’s back home in New Zealand.’

‘Which will be way after the cruise,’ said Maia. ‘Sit down, Ally, before the food gets cold. Maybe if we could get in contact with Georg, he’d at least be able to make some discreet enquiries.’

‘I tried his mobile earlier and he’s not picking up,’ CeCe shrugged. ‘Maia, this is delicious. Thanks, Ma,’ she added as Ma poured wine into the women’s glasses and then sat down herself.

‘It is,’ said Ally. ‘There’s also something else Mary-Kate told me.’

‘What?’ Maia asked.

‘She told me that her mum, Merry, has just found out that she was adopted too.’

The entire table looked at her in total silence.

‘How come?’ said Maia. ‘Tiggy said they were off to visit her long-lost family in the south-west of Ireland.’

‘Mary-Kate didn’t go into detail, but Merry was apparently found on a priest’s doorstep and replaced a baby that had just died.’

‘Right. Well, does that mean it could be her that’s the missing sister?’ CeCe asked.