Page 25 of The Missing Sister

‘Okay, thanks, I’ll think about it. Anyway, let’s see if your sister manages to hook up with my mum and ask her about that ring. Just... well, I think Mum’s feeling a bit weird about CeCe and Chrissie turning up on the doorstep, y’know? I haven’t said yet that another sister might be coming to see her in Toronto. I think that after Dad’s death, she’s feeling vulnerable.’

‘I understand completely, Mary-Kate. We can always leave it if you’d prefer,’ Maia replied diplomatically.

‘I don’t want to upset her or anything, but actually, I’d really like to know if I am your missing sister. Does that sound mean?’

‘No, not at all. I’m sure it’s a very difficult thing for the adoptive mum when a possible set of relatives turns up, especially out of the blue. That’s our fault, Mary-Kate. We should have written to you first, but we were all so excited that we might have found you, we didn’t think.’

‘Well, I’m glad CeCe and Chrissie came, but...’

‘I promise to tell Electra to tread carefully.’

‘Electra... so she’s the sixth sister?’

‘She is,’ Ally confirmed, surprise in her voice. ‘You know your mythology.’

‘Oh, I do. I was telling CeCe that Mum studied Classics at uni and had a bit of an obsession with all those Greek myths. Electra’s such an unusual name, isn’t it? There’s only one Electra I know of, and that’s the supermodel. I caught her speech on TV a few nights ago. That’s not your sister, is it?’

‘It is, actually.’

‘Shit! I mean... seriously? She’s, like, well, she’s always been an idol of mine. She’s so beautiful and elegant and that speech showed she’s got a brain and compassion in spades. I think I might collapse on the spot if I met her!’

‘Don’t worry, we’ll hold you up,’ said Ally, sharing a smile with Maia. ‘Right then, speak soon.’

‘Yes. And if you do speak to Electra, tell her from me that I think she’s amazing.’

‘I will, and going back to what you were saying before, I do think we should give your mum some warning that Electra’s coming tomorrow. If you like, I’ll leave a message at the hotel reception later, saying that my sister might be visiting.’

‘Okay, yes, that would be good. Thanks, Maia. Bye.’

‘Bye, Mary-Kate, and thanks for calling.’

Maia hung up the phone, and stared at Ally for a few seconds.

‘She sounds so sweet. And very young,’ she said eventually as they walked back to the table.

‘You know what? I think she sounded... normal.’

‘Are you saying we’re not?’ Maia smiled.

‘I think we’re a bunch of women with different personalities. Just like most sisters are. And anyway, what is “normal?”’

‘I am feeling guilty about her mum, though,’ Maia sighed. ‘It must be devastating to suddenly hear contact has been made about the possible birth family. Normally, it would have happened through official channels.’

‘Yes, you’re right. We should have thought,’ Ally agreed. ‘It was different for us; Pa was actively encouraging us to go and find our birth families.’

‘It just shows how amazing Ma has been through all this as we’ve found our relatives,’ said Maia. ‘She’s loved us all like a mother. I mean, I couldn’t love her more, sheismy mother.’

‘And mine,’ Ally agreed. ‘And a fantastic granny to Bear.’

‘So... do you think Mary-Kate is our missing sister?’

‘Who knows? But if she is, how did Pa lose her?’

‘I have absolutely no idea, and I hate these conversations,’ Maia sighed. ‘Remember we all used to chat about why he’d adopted us when we were younger? And what his obsession with the Seven Sisters was?’

‘Of course I do.’

‘Back then, we could just have walked downstairs to Pa’s study and asked him outright, but none of us ever had the courage to do it. Now that he’s gone, that isn’t an option any longer. It makes me wish I had been brave enough, because now we’ll never know.’ Maia shook her head wearily.