away in the Pavilion to do some work.’
We shared a glance, and even though I could see how much Pa’s death was weighing on Ma too, I loved her for always putting our worries and cares first. She was obviously very concerned
about Maia, who I’d always had an inkling was her favourite.
‘I was on my way to see her, so we’ll keep each other company,’ I said.
‘In that case, can you tell her that Georg Hoffman, your father’s lawyer, will be here shortly, but he wants a word with me first, for what reason I can’t imagine. So
she’s to come up to the house in an hour’s time. And you too, of course.’
‘Will do,’ I said.
Ma gave my hand a loving squeeze and set off back towards the main house.
When I reached the Pavilion I gave a gentle knock on the door but received no reply. Knowing that Maia always left it unlocked, I let myself in and called her name. Wandering into the sitting
room, I saw my sister curled up asleep on the sofa, her perfect features relaxed, her glossy dark hair naturally arranged as though she was posing for a photo shoot. She sat up with an embarrassed
start as I approached her.
‘I’m sorry, Maia. You were asleep, weren’t you?’
‘I guess I was,’ she said, blushing.
‘Ma says that the other girls have gone out, so I thought I’d come and speak to you. Do you mind?’
‘Not at all.’
She’d obviously been deeply asleep and to give her time to come to, I offered to make us both some tea. When we settled down with our steaming cups, I realised my hands were shaking and I
needed something stronger than tea to tell her my story.
‘There’s some white wine in the fridge,’ Maia said with an understanding smile, and went to fetch a glass of wine from the kitchen for me.
Having taken a gulp, I gathered my strength and told her about seeing Kreeg Eszu’s boat near Pa’s two days ago. To my surprise, she turned pale, and even though I had been rattled by
the
Olympus
being so close, especially now I knew what had been happening on the
Titan
, Maia seemed far more shocked than I’d expected. I watched her attempt to recover
herself, and then, as we chatted, try to make light of it and supply me with some solace.
‘Ally, please, forget about the other boat being there – it’s irrelevant. But the fact you were there to see the place where Pa chose to be buried is actually comforting.
Perhaps, as Tiggy suggested, later in the summer we can all take a cruise together and lay a wreath on the water.’
‘The worst thing is, I feel so guilty!’ I said suddenly, unable to hold it in any longer.
‘Why?’
‘Because . . . those few days on the boat were so beautiful! I was so happy – happier than I’ve ever felt in my life. And the truth is, I didn’t want anyone to contact
me, so I turned off my mobile. And while it was off, Pa was dying! Just when he needed me, I wasn’t there!’
‘Ally, Ally . . .’ Maia came to sit next to me, stroking my hair back from my face as she rocked me gently in her arms. ‘None of us were there. And I honestly believe
it’s the way Pa wanted it to be. Please remember I live here, and even I had flown the nest when it happened. From what Ma has said, there really was nothing that could have been done. And we
must all believe that.’
‘Yes, I know. But it feels as though there are so many things I wanted to ask him, to tell him, and now he’s gone.’
‘I think we all feel that way. But at least we have each other.’
‘Yes, we do. Thank you, Maia,’ I replied. ‘Isn’t it amazing how our lives can turn on their heads in a matter of hours?’
‘Yes, it is, and at some point,’ she said with a smile, ‘I’d like to know the reason for your happiness.’
I thought of Theo and enjoyed the comfort it provided. ‘And at some point, I’ll tell you, I promise. But not just yet. How are you, Maia?’ I asked her, wanting to change the
subject.
‘I’m okay,’ she shrugged. ‘Still in shock like
We shared a glance, and even though I could see how much Pa’s death was weighing on Ma too, I loved her for always putting our worries and cares first. She was obviously very concerned
about Maia, who I’d always had an inkling was her favourite.
‘I was on my way to see her, so we’ll keep each other company,’ I said.
‘In that case, can you tell her that Georg Hoffman, your father’s lawyer, will be here shortly, but he wants a word with me first, for what reason I can’t imagine. So
she’s to come up to the house in an hour’s time. And you too, of course.’
‘Will do,’ I said.
Ma gave my hand a loving squeeze and set off back towards the main house.
When I reached the Pavilion I gave a gentle knock on the door but received no reply. Knowing that Maia always left it unlocked, I let myself in and called her name. Wandering into the sitting
room, I saw my sister curled up asleep on the sofa, her perfect features relaxed, her glossy dark hair naturally arranged as though she was posing for a photo shoot. She sat up with an embarrassed
start as I approached her.
‘I’m sorry, Maia. You were asleep, weren’t you?’
‘I guess I was,’ she said, blushing.
‘Ma says that the other girls have gone out, so I thought I’d come and speak to you. Do you mind?’
‘Not at all.’
She’d obviously been deeply asleep and to give her time to come to, I offered to make us both some tea. When we settled down with our steaming cups, I realised my hands were shaking and I
needed something stronger than tea to tell her my story.
‘There’s some white wine in the fridge,’ Maia said with an understanding smile, and went to fetch a glass of wine from the kitchen for me.
Having taken a gulp, I gathered my strength and told her about seeing Kreeg Eszu’s boat near Pa’s two days ago. To my surprise, she turned pale, and even though I had been rattled by
the
Olympus
being so close, especially now I knew what had been happening on the
Titan
, Maia seemed far more shocked than I’d expected. I watched her attempt to recover
herself, and then, as we chatted, try to make light of it and supply me with some solace.
‘Ally, please, forget about the other boat being there – it’s irrelevant. But the fact you were there to see the place where Pa chose to be buried is actually comforting.
Perhaps, as Tiggy suggested, later in the summer we can all take a cruise together and lay a wreath on the water.’
‘The worst thing is, I feel so guilty!’ I said suddenly, unable to hold it in any longer.
‘Why?’
‘Because . . . those few days on the boat were so beautiful! I was so happy – happier than I’ve ever felt in my life. And the truth is, I didn’t want anyone to contact
me, so I turned off my mobile. And while it was off, Pa was dying! Just when he needed me, I wasn’t there!’
‘Ally, Ally . . .’ Maia came to sit next to me, stroking my hair back from my face as she rocked me gently in her arms. ‘None of us were there. And I honestly believe
it’s the way Pa wanted it to be. Please remember I live here, and even I had flown the nest when it happened. From what Ma has said, there really was nothing that could have been done. And we
must all believe that.’
‘Yes, I know. But it feels as though there are so many things I wanted to ask him, to tell him, and now he’s gone.’
‘I think we all feel that way. But at least we have each other.’
‘Yes, we do. Thank you, Maia,’ I replied. ‘Isn’t it amazing how our lives can turn on their heads in a matter of hours?’
‘Yes, it is, and at some point,’ she said with a smile, ‘I’d like to know the reason for your happiness.’
I thought of Theo and enjoyed the comfort it provided. ‘And at some point, I’ll tell you, I promise. But not just yet. How are you, Maia?’ I asked her, wanting to change the
subject.
‘I’m okay,’ she shrugged. ‘Still in shock like
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