Page 7 of The Missing Sister
‘Cee, you’re holding the map upside down!’ Chrissie said as she glanced over to the passenger seat.
‘I am not... oh, maybe I am.’ CeCe frowned. ‘The words look the same to me either way, and as for the road squiggles... Jesus, when did we last see a signpost?’
‘A while back. Wow, isn’t this scenery spectacular?’ Chrissie breathed as she pulled the hire car onto a verge and peered out at the majestic dark green mountains that unfolded under a ponderous cloudy sky. She reached to turn up the heating as raindrops began to splash onto the windscreen.
‘Yup, I’m completely lost.’ CeCe handed the map to Chrissie and looked in front and behind her at the empty road. ‘It’s ages since we left Queenstown. We should have stocked up on supplies when we were there, but I thought there would be other places along the way.’
‘Right, according to the directions we printed off, we should come to a sign for The Vinery very soon. I guess we just have to keep going and hopefully find someone who can point us to it.’ Chrissie tucked a lock of black curly hair back from her face and gave CeCe a weary smile. Their journey had involved stopovers in Melbourne and Christchurch, and they were both hungry and tired.
‘There’s hardly been a car for miles,’ CeCe shrugged.
‘Come on, Cee. Where’s your spirit of adventure gone?’
‘I dunno. Maybe I’ve gone soft in my old age and prefer home to sitting in a car completely lost, whilst it pisses down with rain. I’m actually cold!’
‘It’s coming into winter here. There’ll be snow on those mountaintops before much longer. You’re too used to the climate in the Alice, that’s the problem,’ said Chrissie as she put the car in gear and they set off once more. The windscreen wipers were working at full tilt, the downpour now rendering the mountains around them a washed-out blur.
‘Yeah, I’m definitely a sunshine girl, and always have been. Can I borrow your hoody, Chrissie?’
‘Sure. I did tell you, though, it was much colder here. Good job I packed a spare one for you, wasn’t it?’
CeCe reached over into the back seat and opened one of the rucksacks. ‘Thanks, Chrissie, I don’t know what I’d do without you.’
‘To be honest, nor do I.’
CeCe reached for Chrissie’s hand and squeezed it. ‘Sorry I’m so useless.’
‘You’re not useless, Cee, just not very... practical. Then again, I am, but I’m not as creative as you, so we make a good team, don’t we?’
‘We do.’
As Chrissie drove, CeCe felt comforted by her presence. The past few months had been the happiest of her life. Between spending time with Chrissie and going off on painting jaunts into the Outback with Francis, her grandfather, her life – and her heart – had never been so full. After the trauma of losing her close bond with Star, she’d thought she could never be happy again, but between them, Chrissie and Francis had filled the bit of her that had been missing; she had found a family where she fitted in, however unconventional it was.
‘Look! There’s a sign.’ She pointed through the driving rain. ‘Pull over and see what it says.’
‘I can see it from here and it’s saying left to The Vinery – woohoo! We made it!’ Chrissie cheered. ‘By the way,’ she said as she steered the car down a narrow bumpy track, ‘have you told your sisters yet that I’m coming with you to Atlantis?’
‘The ones I’ve spoken to, yup, of course I have.’
‘Do you think they’ll be shocked... about us?’
‘Pa brought us up to accept everyone, whatever their colour or orientation. Claudia, our housekeeper, might raise an eyebrow, but that’s only because she’s from the older generation and very traditional.’
‘And what about you, Cee? Areyoucomfortable about us in front of your family?’
‘You know I am. Why are you suddenly being so insecure?’
‘Only because... even though you’ve told me all about your sisters and Atlantis, they didn’t feel...real. But in just over a week, we’ll actuallybethere. And I’m scared. Especially of meeting Star. I mean, you two were a team before I came along.’
‘Before her boyfriend Mouse came along, you mean? Star was the one who wanted to get away from me, remember?’
‘I know, but she still calls you every week, and I know you guys text all the time, and—’
‘Chrissie! Star’s my sister. And you, well, you’re...’
‘Yes?’
‘You’re my “other half”. It’s different, completely different, and I really hope there’s room for both of you.’
