Page 25 of The Seven Sisters

‘Now, now, girls, surely this is the moment to be there for each other? Bye, Electra.’ Ally walked to her sister and kissed her on both cheeks. ‘Let’s try to arrange to see each other soon.’

‘Sure,’ Electra agreed as she kissed Star, but ignored CeCe. ‘Are you ready, Tiggy?’

‘Yes,’ Tiggy said, having embraced the rest of her sisters and made her way over to Star. As she hugged her, I saw Tiggy whisper in Star’s ear and Star whisper back.

‘Right, let’s get going,’ ordered Electra. ‘I can’t afford to miss my flight.’

I watched as Tiggy and Electra stepped onto the boat and, as the engine hummed, we four remaining sisters waved them off, then turned and walked back up to the house.

‘I think Star and I might be on our way later too,’ commented CeCe.

‘Really? Couldn’t we stay a little longer?’ asked Star plaintively.

‘What’s the point? Pa’s gone, we’ve seen the lawyer and we need to get to London as soon as possible to find somewhere to live.’

‘You’re right,’ said Star.

‘What will you do with yourself in London while CeCe’s at art school?’ asked Ally.

‘I’m not quite sure yet,’ replied Star.

‘You’re thinking of taking a cordon bleu course, aren’t you, Star? She’s an amazing cook, you know,’ CeCe added to me. ‘Right, I’m off to see about flights. I know there’s an eight o’clock from Geneva to Heathrow, which would suit us perfectly. See you later.’

I stood with Ally as we watched both girls walk into the house.

‘Don’t say it,’ I sighed, ‘I know.’

‘I always thought it was a positive thing that they were so close when we were all growing up,’ said Ally. ‘They’re the middle girls and it was good they had each other.’

‘I remember Pa suggesting they go to separate schools, and then Star sobbing hysterically and begging him to let her go with CeCe,’ I mused.

‘One of the problems is that no one ever gets a chance to talk to Star by herself. Is she okay? She’s looked awful since she’s been here.’

‘Ally, I have absolutely no idea. In fact, sometimes I feel I hardly know her,’ I admitted.

‘Well, if CeCe is going to be busy with her art course, and if Star decides to do something separately too, perhaps that will give them both a chance to disentangle themselves a little. Now, how about you and I go and sit on the terrace and I’ll ask Claudia to bring out some sandwiches for you? You look pale, Maia, and you missed lunch. And I have something I want to discuss with you.’

I acquiesced and sat down in the sun, its warmth caressing my face and relaxing me. Ally reappeared and sat down next to me.

‘Claudia’s bringing you something to eat,’ she said. ‘Maia, I don’t want to pry, but did you open your letter last night?’

‘Yes, I did. Well, this morning actually,’ I confessed.

‘And it’s obviously upset you.’

‘Initially yes, but I’m okay now, Ally, really,’ I replied, not prepared to discuss it any further. Tiggy’s sweet concern had comforted me, but I knew Ally’s attention might make me feel patronised. ‘How about you?’

‘Yes, I opened mine,’ Ally said. ‘And it was beautiful and it made me cry, but it also uplifted me. I’ve spent the morning looking the coordinates up on the internet. I now know exactly where all of us originally came from. And there are a few surprises in there, I can tell you,’ she added as Claudia brought out a plate of sandwiches and placed them in front of me.

‘You know exactly where we were born? WhereIwas born?’ I clarified.

‘Yes, or at least, a clue to where Pa found us. Do you want to know, Maia? I can tell you, or I can leave it to you to look up yourself.’

‘I . . . I’m not sure,’ I said, aware of a nervous fluttering in my stomach.

‘All I can say is, Pa certainly got around.’

I looked at her and I only wished that I could be as calm as she seemed in this paradox of mysterious death and revelations of birth.