Page 28 of The Missing Sister
‘Absolutely. I said the same to her, though I’m sure Electra has other ideas.’
‘Actually, she’s being very calm about the situation. She doesn’t want to go back to that dark place either. We’ve decided to pick out a couple of trusted journalists and a major chat show she’ll be interviewed on, which will give the charity lots of coverage, but won’t be exploitative in any way.’
‘I’m so grateful she has you, Mariam. Thank you so much for being there for her.’
‘It really is no problem, Maia. Apart from the fact my jobisto take care of her, I love her. She’s such a strong person and I think she’s going to do great things. Now, what is the full name of the lady we’re meeting?’
‘Mrs Mary McDougal, also known as “Merry”.’
‘Great,’ said Mariam. ‘I’ll call the hotel now, try to talk to Merry and arrange a time and a place, shall I? I would think meeting at the hotel would be the easiest as it’s close to Billy Bishop airport. Do you have her room number?’
‘I’m afraid I don’t. I’m not sure hotels give that kind of information these days. You’ll just have to ask to be put through to her room.’
‘Is it okay if I use my name instead of Electra’s? As you said, the last thing we want is anyone finding out she’s going to be there. She hasn’t been out in public since the concert. We’ve decided she’s going to have to be in disguise.’
‘What it must be like to be world famous!’ Maia chuckled.
‘What do I say if this Mary asks me what the meeting is about?’
‘Maybe just that you’re calling on behalf of the sister of CeCe D’Aplièse, who visited Mary-Kate at the vineyard, and you’d like to arrange a meeting with her at the hotel,’ Maia suggested.
‘Right, I’ll confirm the jet, then try to contact her and get back to you. Bye, Maia.’
‘Bye, Mariam.’
Claudia arrived in the kitchen, followed by Ma and a delicious-smelling Bear, fresh and clean in a babygro.
‘Ooh, pass him over for a cuddle with his auntie,’ said Maia.
‘Of course,’ Ma said as she handed a wriggling Bear to her. ‘Bath-times were always my favourite moment of the day when you were all small.’
‘It was probably because bedtime wasn’t that far off,’ said Maia. ‘Seriously, Ma, now I look back, I don’t know how you coped.’
‘Nor do I, but I did.’ Ma shrugged as she poured herself a glass of water. ‘And remember, as you grew up, you kept each other amused. Is Electra going to Toronto tomorrow?’
‘Yes, but I just don’t know what will happen,’ said Maia. ‘Apart from Georg being convinced that Mary McDougal is our missing sister, plus the emerald ring, we don’t have a lot to go on. And when I spoke to Mary-Kate, she was worried her adoptive mum was upset by our sudden appearance in her daughter’s life.’
‘I can imagine,’ Ma agreed. ‘But it is up to Mary-Kate to decide if she wishes to know more, and it sounds as if she does.’
‘Yes. Why do you think Georg is so certain it’s her?’
‘I know no more than you do, Maia. All I can say is that, throughout all the years I have known Georg, he has never said that he truly believed anyone else he has investigated could be the missing sister, so he must be convinced that thisisher.’
‘Did Pa ever mention a missing sister to you over the years, Ma?’
‘Occasionally. There was always a sadness in his eyes when he spoke of the fact that he couldn’t find her.’
‘What about to you, Claudia?’ asked Maia.
‘Me?’ Claudia looked up from the vegetables she was chopping for supper. ‘Oh, I know nothing. I am not one for gossip,’ she added, and Ma and Maia shared a smile. Claudia loved nothing more than a big pile of trashy magazines, which they both knew she hid under her recipe folder if anyone walked into the kitchen.
Maia’s mobile rang again, and she handed Bear over to Ma as she answered it.
‘Hi, Maia, Mariam here again. Mary McDougal wasn’t in her room, but I left a message with the concierge to say we were coming tomorrow. I suggested one p.m., and that we meet in the lobby. I left my cell number too, so hopefully she’ll call me back. If she doesn’t, do we still go ahead?’ Mariam asked.
‘I... don’t know, to be honest. It’s a long way to go for nothing, and that might be the result.’
‘I’m up for it,’ said a voice in the background.
