Page 22 of The Missing Sister

I’d swallowed hard, because Mum’s lighting of the first fire of the year was something that onlyshedid, but she wasn’t here, and nor were Dad or Jack...

Then I’d reminded myself that I was twenty-two years old and an adult. So, getting Fletch to take a photograph – Dad had always marked the annual occasion this way, like other families did with birthdays or Christmas – I lit the fire.

After Fletch had taken off back to Dunedin this afternoon (Sissy having needed a jump-start), I’d been determined to improve on the lyrics I’d been tinkering with. Fletch had worked on a great tune, but he said my lyrics were ‘depressing’. He was right. I didn’t know whether it was the fact I felt so alone just now, or the general confusion after CeCe and Chrissie had left to find Mum on Norfolk Island, but nothing was coming creatively.

‘What do you reckon about those girls then, eh?’ Fletch had asked over a bottle of wine. ‘They could be a link to your long-lost family, and they seem pretty cool – not to mention rich, if they’ve got this boat in the Med.’

‘I don’t know what to make of it. I wasn’t lying when I told them I’ve never thought of finding my birth family. I’m a McDougal,’ I’d added firmly.

But now, alone with my thoughts and rattling around in a house that was full of memories of Dad, the question of my birth family wouldn’t leave me alone.

I played a dissonant chord in frustration, and looked up at the clock. It was midnight now, which meant that it was the morning in Toronto.

You have to speak to her...

Gulping down my nerves, I reached for the house phone to dial Mum’s mobile number.She probably won’t answer anyway, I comforted myself.

‘Hi, sweetheart, is that you?’ came Mum’s voice after a couple of rings. I could hear how tired she sounded.

‘Yes, hi, Mum. Where are you?’

‘I’ve just checked into the Radisson here in Toronto. Is everything all right?’

‘Yup, fine,’ I said. ‘Um, did you get my message the other day? About those two girls, CeCe and Chrissie, who wanted to meet you?’

‘Yes, I did.’ There was a pause on the line. Eventually she said, ‘Unfortunately I’d already left for Sydney with Bridget when they arrived on the island. What were they like?’

‘Honestly, Mum, they were really sweet. Fletch was here and we had them stay for dinner. They just genuinely want to find this “missing sister”, as they kept calling her. I did explain on my message—’

‘Did they say if they were working with others?’ Mum cut in.

‘Well, yes, if you mean the other sisters helping to find you – CeCe said she had five of them. They’re all adopted too, like me. Umm, Mum...’

‘Yes, sweetheart?’

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath. ‘Mum, I know I’ve never needed to know about my... birth family, but their questions got me wondering if maybe Ishouldknow more about them.’

‘Of course, darling, I understand. Please don’t be embarrassed about saying it.’

‘I love you and Dad and Jack more than anything andyouare my family,’ I said quickly. ‘But I’ve been talking to Fletch about it, and I think it might be good to know a little more about this other part of me. Oh Mum, I don’t want to upset you...’ My voice broke, and I wished with all my heart that she were here with me, to take me into her comforting arms as she had always done.

‘It’s all right, Mary-Kate, really. Listen, why don’t we sit down together when I’m home again, and then we can talk about it?’

‘Thanks, yeah, that’d be great.’

‘Those girls haven’t contacted you again, have they?’

‘Well... I spoke to CeCe briefly on the phone, but honestly, Mum, all they want is to see the emerald ring – the one you gave me on my twenty-first. They’ve got a drawing of it.’

‘You said so in your message. Did they say where they got the drawing from?’

‘Their lawyer, apparently. Mum, are you all right? You sound... a bit unlike yourself.’

‘I’m absolutely fine, Mary-Kate, just worried about you. Is Fletch still there?’

‘No, he left this arvo.’

‘Okay, but Doug’s around?’