Page 187 of The Pearl Sister
‘Who’s Chrissie?’
‘A friend I made in Oz.’ I couldn’t tell her about Chrissie yet; I had no idea how to put it into words. ‘Actually, Sia, I think I’m gonna have to crash. It’s, like, midday in Oz and I didn’t sleep much on the plane.’
‘Of course. You go up and I’ll follow you when I’ve put the dishwasher on.’
‘Thanks,’ I said, relieved to have escaped further conversation. Comforted by the domestic sounds of Star cleaning up below me, I slid into bed, pulling the soft duvet over me.
‘It’s so great to have you back, Cee,’ Star said when she came into the bedroom. She undressed and climbed into the bed next to mine, then switched off the light.
‘Yeah, it feels great. Better than I thought it would,’ I said sleepily. ‘I just want to say sorry again if I’ve been, like, difficult over the years. I haven’t meant to be. It’s all there inside me, but it just comes out wrong sometimes, but I am learning, I really am.’
‘Shush, Cee, there’s no need to apologise. I know who you are inside, remember? Sleep tight.’
* * *
The next morning, I woke at the same time as Star, which usually never happened. I pottered around the apartment, trying to sort out what bits I would take to Australia with me, while Star stood out on the terrace, wrapped up in her dressing gown and talking on the phone. When she finally came in to make breakfast, she had a pleased look on her face, and I guessed she’d been speaking to Mouse. To make me feel better, a message from Chrissie pinged onto my phone.
Hi Cee! Hope ur flight was good. Interview at gallery was scary. Will hear back tomorrow, fingers crossed! Miss u!
‘So, have you decided what you’re going to do now you’re back?’ Star asked me over breakfast. The eggs Benedict was so good, it almost made me want to change my mind and stay.
‘Well, I was going to talk to you about that, Sia. I’m thinking of selling this apartment.’
‘Really, why? I thought you loved it here.’ Star frowned.
‘I did . . . I mean, I do, but I’m moving to Australia.’
‘Oh my God! Are you really? Oh Cee . . .’ Star’s eyes filled with tears. ‘It’s so far away.’
‘Only a day away on a plane,’ I joked, trying to cover my shock that she seemed genuinely upset. Only a few weeks ago, I was sure she’d have been glad to see the back of me.
‘But what about the spiders there? You were always terrified of them.’
‘I still am, but I suppose I can handle it. And the weird thing is, I didn’t actually see a single one while I was there. Look, Star, it’s . . . where I belong. I mean, more than anywhere else, anyway. And Francis – my grandfather – isn’t getting any younger. He’s been lonely since his wife died, and I want to spend as much time with him as I can.’
Star nodded slowly, wiping away tears with the sleeve of her jumper. ‘I understand, Cee.’
‘There’s also something about being there that inspires me to paint. Maybe it’s the Aboriginal part of me, but when I was out Bush, it was like I justknewwhat to do without really thinking about it.’
‘You’ve moved closer to your muse. Now that reallyisa reason to move to the back of beyond,’ she agreed sadly.
‘Yeah, I mean, I was so lost when I left London, didn’t know what I wanted to paint, but when Chrissie drove me out to the ghost gum with the MacDonnell Ranges behind it, something magical happened. She sold that painting two days later for six hundred dollars!’
‘Wow, that’s amazing, Cee! So, who is this Chrissie? Does she live where you’re going?’ Star eyed me.
‘Er, she doesn’t at the moment, but she might be moving there in the next few weeks.’
‘To be near you?’
‘Yes, no, sort of . . . She might be offered a job in an art gallery, and, er’ – I kept nodding like I was one of those dogs that sat in the back window of a car – ‘we’re really good friends. She’s great, really positive, you know? She’s had a difficult life, and she’s got this, like, false leg from below her knee, and . . .’
I realised I was rambling and had probably completely given myself away.
‘Cee’ – a gentle hand landed on my wrist – ‘Chrissie sounds amazing, and I really hope I’ll get to meet her one day.’
‘I hope so too, ’cos what she’s been through, well, it made me realise how spoilt I was growing up. We had this magical childhood at Atlantis, sheltered from everything, but Chrissie really had to fight to get to where she is now.’
‘I understand. Does she make you happy?’
