Page 232 of The Missing Sister

‘Exactly. And there’s no reason why we couldn’t take somewhere down here every summer, if he felt the need of some fresh sea breezes.’ Ambrose pointed to a separate building adjacent to the hotel. ‘I’ve enquired and discovered the apartments are let out to families needing a self-catering space.’

‘Goodness, Ambrose, you’ve certainly got it all worked out,’ I smiled. ‘I do know that he misses his privacy and his books around him.’

‘I shall, of course, have shelves made especially for those. Truth to tell, I’d move down here if that is what he wished, but no doubt tongues would wag. Whereas in Dublin – the big city – no one would notice or even care about two old friends seeing out their twilight years together. Would they?’

Ambrose looked at me for reassurance.

‘I’m sure they wouldn’t, although you’d better make sure the apartment’s near a church. I’m sure that James will wish to keep in touch, so to speak, when he’s in Dublin.’

‘Well, the moment I get back, I shall begin to put my plans into action.’ He smiled, then turned to me. ‘Thank you, dearest girl, for what you have done. I will remain eternally grateful,’ he added, his eyes full of tears. ‘You’ve given me a reason to live again.’

‘Oh Ambrose, don’t thank me, please. After all you’ve done for me, there’s no need to say anything.’

‘I wanted to say it anyway. Also, Mary dear, have you read your letter yet?’

‘Yes.’

‘And?’

‘And... I don’t know. I mean, it was quite formal, like mine to him. He left me a telephone number that I could contact him on, but—’

‘Mary, for goodness’ sake, go and see him! He – and the other one – have haunted you for all these years! If there’s one thing life has taught me, it’s that it’s too damned short!’

‘Yes. You’re right, of course. Okay, I will. And while we’re here, I should tell you all about “the other one”, as you’ve just called him...’

Forty minutes later, Ambrose had gone for a nap and I was back in my room. He’d listened intently as I’d told him what had happened to Bobby, then placed a hand on my arm.

‘So, finally the past has been put to bed and you can start to breathe again,’ he said.

‘I can, yes.’

‘Dear Mary, if only you’d have told me at the time, I might have been able to help.’

‘No, Ambrose. Nobody could,’ I’d sighed. ‘But at least it’s over now.’

‘And just this to go,’ I murmured as I took out his letter and dialled what I knew was a British code. He answered after a few rings and the two of us made an arrangement. Very formally, like we were having a business meeting. Putting the receiver down, I folded the piece of paper on which I’d written down what time and where, and put it in my purse.

‘Why didn’t he sound guilty?’ I asked myself. The answer was, I didn’t know.

‘So, Mum, how long are you going to stay in Ireland?’ Jack asked me that evening as we all ate in the smart restaurant upstairs, which had a panoramic view of the sea.

‘I’m coming back to Dublin with Ambrose and you two tomorrow, then after that, I want to spend some time with my family down here.’

‘Are you sure you won’t come on the cruise, Mum?’ asked Mary-Kate. ‘You’ve always wanted to see the Greek islands the birthplace of all your beloved mythology. Ally sent Jack a picture of the boat – it looks amazing!’

‘You should think about it, Mary dear,’ Ambrose piped up. ‘Your daughter is absolutely right. I haven’t been back to Greece since my last trip to Sparta, over twenty years ago now. The theatre is something to behold at sunset, with Mount Taygetus forming the backdrop.’

Ambrose gave me one of those looks I remembered so vividly from my student days.

‘Named after Taygete, the fifth of the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades, and mother of Lacedemon, sired by Zeus,’ I parroted, just to assure him I hadn’t forgotten. He gave me a slight nod of approval. ‘Tiggy’s name is short for Taygete – she’s the fifth sister in her family,’ I continued, ‘and ironically, I’m the fifth child in my adoptive family.’

‘Or maybe the missing sister in Ally’s family,’ said Mary-Kate. ‘Oh Mum, please come,’ she urged me again.

‘No, not now, but maybe I’ll add Greece to my list of places to see on my Grand Tour. So, anyone for dessert?’

When I arrived back in my room, I saw the red message light was flashing on my hotel telephone, and that there was a voicemail on my mobile. Picking up my landline message first, it was Katie asking me to call her back.

Turning to my mobile phone, I listened to my voicemail messages. The first was – coincidentally, after our dinner conversation – from Tiggy, asking how I was and saying that she was hoping to see me on the cruise with Jack and Mary-Kate.