Page 18 of The Sun Sister

I came to and blinked in the bright light, which I then realised was the reflection of the sun on the glassy surface of Lake Geneva.

‘I slept for four hours solid,’ I said in surprise as I got out of the car. ‘Told you you were my safe place,’ I grinned at him as he opened the trunk. ‘I just need the holdall – you can leave the rest in there until tomorrow.’

Christian locked the car then walked ahead of me to the pontoon where the speedboat was moored. He offered me his hand to help me aboard then went about doing whatever he needed to before we could set off and I settled myself on the soft leather bench at the stern. I thought how, on the way to Atlantis, I always felt excited at the prospect of arriving. And then on the way back, how I normally felt relief that I was leaving.

Maybe this time it’ll be different, I told myself, then sighed because that wasalsosomething I always felt.

Christian fired up the engine and we began the short journey to my childhood home. For a late March day, it was warm and I enjoyed the feeling of sun on my face, and my hair streaming behind me.

As we approached the peninsula on which Atlantis stood, I craned my neck for an early view through the trees. It was a spectacular house – a little like a Disney chateau because it was so pretty.And very unlike Pa, I thought to myself. He’d had a minimal wardrobe; to my knowledge he’d only ever worn the same three jackets: a linen one for the summer, a tweed one for the winter, and another of indeterminate fabric that he wore in between seasons. His bedroom was so sparsely furnished it looked like something a priest would inhabit. I’d wondered whether he was secretly doing penance for some crime he’d committed in the past, but whatever...As we approached the jetty by Atlantis, I reflected that his wardrobe and bedroom sure were a paradox when compared to the rest of the house.

Ma was already standing waiting for me, waving excitedly. She was dressed immaculately as always, and I noticed her bouclé skirt was one from Chanel that I’d managed to sneak from a sample rack because I knew she would love it.

‘Electra!Chérie, what an unexpected surprise!’ she said as she reached up on tiptoe and I bent down so she could kiss me on both cheeks and put her arms around my shoulders. Then she stepped back and appraised me. ‘You look as beautiful as always, but I think you are too thin. Never mind, Claudia has the ingredients ready to make you your favourite blueberry pancakes, should you wish. Did you know that Ally is here with her new baby?’

‘Yes, Christian said. I can’t wait to meet my nephew,’ I said as I followed her up the path and through the gardens that fronted the house and led down to the lake. The smell of the grass and the newly budding plants was so fresh in comparison to the stench of New York. I sucked a deep breath of the pure air into my lungs.

‘Come through to the kitchen,’ said Ma. ‘Claudia is already preparing brunch.’

I saw Christian bringing up the rear. As he deposited my holdall at the bottom of the stairs, I walked towards him.

‘Thank you for driving me here. I’m glad I came.’

‘You are welcome, Electra. What time do we leave for the airport tomorrow?’

‘Around ten in the evening. My PA has booked the jet for midnight.’

‘Okay. If anything changes, just tell Marina and she will inform me.’

‘I will. Have a nice weekend.’

‘And you.’ He nodded at me, then disappeared out of the front door.

‘Electra!’

I turned and saw Ally coming towards me from the kitchen, her arms open wide to embrace me.

‘Hi there, new mom,’ I said as she hugged me. ‘Congratulations.’

‘Thanks. I still can’t believe I am one.’

I thought, with a hint of jealousy, that she looked amazing. Her angular face had been softened by a few pregnancy pounds, and her fabulous red-gold hair shone like a halo against her porcelain skin.

‘You look great,’ I said.

‘No I don’t. I’ve put on eight kilos, which don’t seem to be disappearing, and I’m getting about two hours’ sleep a night. I have a very hungry man in my bed,’ she laughed.

‘Where is he?’

‘Sleeping off the night before, of course.’ Ally raised an eyebrow in mock frustration, but I thought I’d never seen her look happier. ‘At least it’ll give us a chance to talk for a bit,’ she added as we walked through to the kitchen. ‘I was thinking today that I haven’t seen you since last June when we were all here after Pa died.’

‘No, well, I’ve been busy.’

‘I try and keep up with you and your life in the papers and magazines but—’

‘Hello, Electra,’ said Claudia in the French she spoke with a strong German accent. ‘How are you?’ She was in the process of pouring pancake mixture into a frying pan and I heard an enticing sizzle.

‘I’m well, thanks.’