The Seven Sisters Read online

  ‘Can I get you something to drink?’ I asked, during a hiatus from her sobbing. ‘A brandy perhaps? It might help calm you down.’

  ‘No, I haven’t had a drink for months now. Mitch is on the wagon too.’

  Mitch was Electra’s current boyfriend, known to the rest of the universe as Michael Duggan, a world-famous American singer who was currently on a sold-out international tour, playing huge arenas packed to the rafters with screaming fans.

  ‘Where is he at the moment?’ I asked, wondering if talk of him would divert Electra from another teary outburst.

  ‘Chicago, and then next week he plays Madison Square Garden. Maia, can you tell me how Pa Salt died? I really need to know.’

  ‘Are you sure, Electra? You’re obviously very upset and you’ve had such a long flight. Perhaps after a good night’s sleep you might feel calmer.’

  ‘No, Maia.’ Electra shook her head and made a visible effort to pull herself together. ‘Please tell me now.’

  So, for the third time, I repeated what Marina had told me, swiftly covering as much ground as I could. Electra sat quietly and listened intently to every word I said.

  ‘So, have you thought about arrangements for the funeral? Mitch did say that if it was next week, he might be able to fly over and help me get through it.’

  For the first time, I was actually relieved that Pa had chosen to be laid to rest privately. The thought of the media circus that would have ensued had Electra’s megastar boyfriend made an appearance at Pa’s funeral sent shudders through me.

  ‘Electra,’ I began, ‘we’re both tired now and—’

  ‘What is it, Maia?’ said Electra, immediately picking up on my hesitation. ‘Tell me, please.’

  ‘Okay, I will, but please try not to upset yourself again.’

  ‘I’ll do my best, I promise.’

  So I told her that the funeral of sorts had already taken place. And, to her credit, even though I saw her knuckles were white as she balled her fists in tension, she did not cry again.

  ‘But why would he have done that?’ she asked me. ‘Surely it’s cruel to deny us all a chance to say goodbye to him properly? You know’ – Electra’s yellow-gold eyes flashed angrily – ‘it’s so typical of him. I think it’s a really selfish thing to have done.’

  ‘Well, we have to believe that he felt the opposite and wanted to spare all of us the pain of saying goodbye to him.’

  ‘But how can I ever feel he’s gone? How can any of us? In LA, they talk about “closure” all the time and how important it is. How can that ever happen for us now?’

  ‘To be honest, Electra, I don’t think you ever achieve closure after losing someone you’ve loved.’

  ‘Maybe not, but this doesn’t help.’ Electra glared at me. ‘Well, Pa Salt and I never did see eye to eye on most things. I mean, it was obvious he disapproved of how I earn my living. I think he’s the only person who ever thought I had a brain. You remember how furious he was with me when I flunked all my school exams.’

  I did remember vividly the stand-up arguments that would reverberate from his study over Electra’s appalling school reports and other elements of her life as she grew up. Electra only ever saw rules as things to be broken and she was the only one of us who’d stand toe to toe with Pa and fight it out. Yet at the same time, I’d seen the glint of admiration in Pa’s eyes when he talked of his fiery youngest daughter.

  ‘She’s certainly spirited,’ he’d said to me on more than one occasion, ‘and that will always mark her out from the crowd.’

  ‘Electra, he adored you,’ I comforted her. ‘And yes, perhaps he did want you to use your brain, but then, what father doesn’t? And let’s face it, you’ve become more successful and famous than any of us. Look at your life compared to mine. You have everything.’

  ‘No I don’t,’ she sighed suddenly. ‘It’s all smoke and mirrors, no substance to it really, but there we are. I’m tired, Maia; would you mind if I slept here in the Pavilion with you tonight?’

  ‘Of course not. The spare bed is made up. Sleep as late as you want tomorrow, because until we’ve got hold of Ally, there’s nothing any of us can do except wait.’

  ‘Thank you. And I’m sorry I got so emotional. Mitch has put me in touch with a therapist who’s trying to help me with my mood swings,’ she confessed. ‘Can I have a hug?’ she asked as she stood up.

  ‘Of course you can.’

  I took her into my arms and held her to me. Then she picked up her overnight case and walked towards the sitting room door, halting in front of it. ‘I have a terrible headache,’ she said. ‘Do you have some codeine by any chance?’

  ‘No, sorry, but I think I’ve got a couple of paracetamol.’

  ‘Don’t worry.’ Electra gave me a weary smile. ‘See you tomorrow.’

  As I switched off the lights in the Pavilion and walked towards my bedroom, I reflected that, just as I’d been surprised by Tiggy’s muted reaction, so Electra had given me food for thought. There seemed to be an underlying air of desperation about her tonight that concerned me.

  As I settled under the bedclothes – perfectly restructured by Claudia after my restless night – I thought how Pa Salt’s death might well prove a seminal moment for us all.

  None of my sisters were up the following morning when I went to see Marina to enquire if she’d heard anything from Ally.

  ‘No,’ she said helplessly.

  ‘Pa would have known what to do. He always did.’

  ‘Yes,’ Marina agreed. ‘How was Electra?’

  ‘Shocked, devastated and very angry about not being able to say goodbye to Pa properly, but she managed to keep her emotions under control. Just.’

  ‘Good. Georg Hoffman called me again to see if we’d found Ally yet and I had to say no. What can we do?’

  ‘Nothing, except try to be patient. By the way, Ma,’ I said as I made myself some tea, ‘when I tried to get into Pa’s study last night, I found the door was locked. Do you know why?’

  ‘Because your father asked me to lock it for him just before he died. And then insisted I give him the key straight afterwards. I’ve no idea where he put it and, to be honest, with everything being so . . . difficult, it slipped my mind.’

  ‘Well, we’ll obviously have to find it. I’m sure that Georg will need to get in there. It’s almost certainly where Pa kept all his papers.’

  ‘Of course. Now, seeing that none of your sisters have managed to appear yet and it’s nearly noon, I thought that Claudia should cook a brunch,’ said Marina.

  ‘Good idea,’ I agreed. ‘I’ll go back to the Pavilion and see if Electra’s awake.’

  ‘All right, chérie!’ Marina threw me a sympathetic smile. ‘The waiting will be over soon.’

  ‘I know.’

  I walked out of the house and was heading towards the Pavilion when, through the trees, I glimpsed a lone figure sitting on the jetty staring out across the lake. I walked towards her and tapped her gently on the shoulder, trying not to startle her.

  ‘Star, are you okay?’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so,’ she said, shrugging.

  ‘Can I join you?’

  She gave an almost imperceptible nod in response, and as I sat down and swung my legs over the edge of the jetty, I glanced at her and saw her face was streaked with tears.

  ‘Where’s CeCe?’ I asked.

  ‘Still sleeping. She likes to sleep when she’s upset. Last night I couldn’t sleep at all.’

  ‘No, I’m struggling to as well,’ I admitted.

  ‘I simply can’t believe he’s gone, Maia.’

  I sat next to her silently, knowing how rare it was for her to talk openly about her feelings to anyone other than CeCe. And I wanted to say nothing that might cause her to clam up.

  ‘I feel . . .’ she said eventually ‘. . . lost. I always knew somehow that Pa was the only person who really understood me. I mean really understood.’

  She turned to me then, her striking, almost ghostly
features distorted into a mask of despair. ‘Do you know what I mean, Maia?’

  ‘Yes,’ I said slowly. ‘I think I do. And please, Star, if you ever need someone else to talk to, I’m always here. Remember that, won’t you?’

  ‘I will.’

  ‘There you are!’

  Both of us jumped instinctively and turned round to see CeCe striding along the jetty towards us. Perhaps I imagined it, but I’m sure that I saw the tiniest hint of irritation pass fleetingly across Star’s opalescent blue eyes.

  ‘I came to get some fresh air because you were asleep,’ Star said as she stood up.

  ‘Well, I’m awake now. And so is Tiggy. Did Electra arrive last night? I just looked into her bedroom and there were no signs of anyone having slept in there.’

  ‘Yes, she stayed at the Pavilion with me. I’ll go see if she’s woken up,’ I said, standing up and following my two sisters back across the lawns.

  ‘Presumably, you had a tough night last night, Maia, dealing with Electra’s usual histrionics?’ said CeCe.

  ‘As a matter of fact, for Electra, she was relatively calm,’ I answered, knowing there was little love lost between my fourth and sixth sisters. Each was the antithesis of the other: CeCe so practical and loath to show any emotion, and Electra so volatile.

  ‘Well, I’m sure it won’t be for long,’ CeCe sniffed. ‘See you later.’

  I headed back to the Pavilion, pondering Star’s distress. Although she hadn’t actually voiced it, it was the first time I’d ever had an inkling that CeCe’s domination of her was a problem. Entering the Pavilion, I heard sounds of movement from the kitchen.

  Electra, looking astonishing in an emerald silk robe, was filling the kettle.

  ‘How did you sleep?’ I asked her.

  ‘Like a baby. You know me, I always do. Would you like some tea?’

  I eyed the teabag warily. ‘What is it?’

  ‘Virgin green. Everyone’s drinking it in California. Mitch says it’s meant to be very good for you.’

  ‘Well, you know me, I’m addicted to good old caffeine-fuelled English Breakfast tea,’ I smiled as I sat down, ‘so I think I’ll pass.’

  ‘We’re all addicted to something, Maia. I wouldn’t worry too much about tea. So, any news of Ally?’

  I related to her exactly what Marina had told me up at the house.

  ‘I know patience isn’t one of the virtues that I possess, as my therapist never ceases to remind me, but are we all simply meant to hang around here until Ally turns up? If she’s out at sea, it could be weeks.’

  ‘I really hope not,’ I said as I watched her sashaying gracefully around the kitchen. Even though I was considered the beauty of the family, I’d always thought that the title should have gone to Electra. Just out of bed, her hair hanging loose around her shoulders in a tangled, tightly curled mane, her face needed not a hint of make-up to highlight her incredible cheekbones and full lips. Coupled with her athletic yet feminine body, she reminded me of an Amazonian queen.

  ‘Have you anything in here that isn’t full of additives?’ she queried, pulling open the fridge and studying its contents.

  ‘Sorry. Ordinary mortals like me don’t scrutinize the fine print on labels,’ I retorted, hoping she’d take the joke.

  ‘Well, let’s face it, Maia, it hardly matters what you look like, when you barely see another human from one day to the next, does it?’

  ‘No, you’re right, it doesn’t,’ I replied equably. After all, it was quite true.

  Electra finally decided on a banana for her breakfast, opened it and bit into it disconsolately. ‘I have a big shoot for Vogue in three days’ time, which I hope I don’t have to cancel.’

  ‘I hope not either, but who knows when Ally will appear? Last night, I googled sailing regattas taking place at the moment, but I couldn’t find any. So we can’t even send out a message to the maritime authorities to contact her. Anyway,’ I suggested, ‘the others are awake up at the house so, when you’re dressed, why don’t we go across and see them?’

  ‘If we must,’ said Electra nonchalantly.

  ‘Listen, I’ll see you in a bit,’ I said, rising from the table, knowing that in a mood like this, Electra was best left alone. I went into the room I used as my study, sat down behind the desk and turned my computer on. I saw I had a sweet email from a Brazilian author, Floriano Quintelas, whose beautiful novel, The Silent Waterfall, I’d translated from Portuguese a few months ago. I’d corresponded with him during the translation process when I’d been struggling over a particular phrase – I had wanted to convey as authentically as I could the poetic, ethereal quality of his writing – and we’d periodically exchanged emails ever since.

  He was emailing to tell me that he’d be flying over for publication of his book in Paris in July and he’d love me to attend the launch party. He’d also attached the first chapters of his new book, asking me to read them if I had time.

  His email warmed my heart, for sometimes translation could be an anonymous and correspondingly thankless task. So I treasured the rare occasions when an author contacted me directly and I felt a connection with them.

  My attention was diverted from my computer by the sight of a familiar figure running up the lawns from the jetty.

  ‘Ally,’ I breathed in surprise, as I sprang up from my desk. ‘Electra, Ally’s arrived!’ I called as I hurried out of the Pavilion to greet her.

  My other sisters had obviously seen her arrive too, and by the time I reached the terrace of the main house, CeCe, Star and Tiggy were already clustered around her.

  ‘Maia,’ Ally said as she saw me, ‘isn’t it absolutely awful?’

  ‘Yes, just ghastly. But how did you hear? We’ve been trying to contact you for the last two days.’

  ‘Shall we go inside?’ she asked us all. ‘And then I’ll explain.’

  I lagged behind slightly while my other sisters crowded around Ally as they walked into the house. Even though I was the eldest and the one they looked to individually if they had a problem, as a group, it was Ally who always took command. As I let her do now.

  Marina was already at the bottom of the stairs, ready and waiting with open arms. Once Ally had embraced her too, she suggested we all head into the kitchen.

  ‘Good idea. I really am desperate for some coffee,’ Ally said. ‘It’s been a long journey home.’

  As Claudia prepared a large pot of coffee, Electra sidled in and was warmly welcomed by everyone apart from CeCe, who made a point of merely nodding in her direction.

  ‘Right, I’m going to tell you what happened, because to be honest, I’m still confused about it,’ said Ally as we all sat down around the table. ‘Ma,’ she said to Marina, who was hovering, ‘you should hear this too. Maybe you can help explain.’

  Marina sat down at the table with us.

  ‘So, there I was, down in the Aegean Sea, training for the Cyclades Regatta next week, when a sailing friend of mine asked me if I wanted to join him on his motor yacht for a few days. The weather was fantastic and it was great to actually relax on the water for a change,’ Ally acknowledged with a rueful smile.

  ‘Whose boat was it?’ asked Electra.

  ‘I told you, just a friend,’ Ally responded abruptly, and each one of us raised our eyebrows in disbelief.

  ‘Anyway,’ she continued, ‘there we were a couple of afternoons ago, when my friend told me that another sailing mate of his had radioed him to say he’d spotted the Titan anchored off the coast of Delos. My friend obviously knew the boat belonged to Pa, and we both decided it would be fun to surprise him and rendezvous with him. We were only an hour or so away if we stepped on it, so we raised anchor and set off.’

  Ally took a sip of her coffee before continuing.

  ‘I saw the Titan through the binoculars as we neared it and radioed Hans, Pa’s skipper, to tell him we were close by. But’ – Ally sighed – ‘for reasons that I didn’t understand at the time, no message came back. And in fact, we could see th
at the boat was already moving away from us. We did what we could to catch it, but as you all know, Pa’s boat can shift when it wants to.’

  I watched my sisters’ rapt faces around the table, all clearly intrigued by Ally’s story.

  ‘The signal on my mobile was dreadful and it was only yesterday when I was able to pick up all your messages asking me to call you urgently. And one from you, CeCe, telling me exactly what had happened.’

  ‘Sorry, Ally.’ CeCe lowered her eyes in embarrassment. ‘I didn’t think there was any point beating about the bush. We needed to get you home as fast as possible.’

  ‘And I came. So please,’ Ally entreated us, ‘can somebody tell me what on earth was going on? And why Pa Salt’s boat was down in Greece when he was already . . . dead?’

  All eyes at the table turned to me, including Ally’s. So, as concisely as I could, I told her what had happened, referring occasionally to Marina for confirmation. Ally’s face drained of colour when I explained where and how our father had wanted to be laid to rest.

  ‘Oh my God,’ she whispered. ‘So the chances are that I happened upon his private funeral. No wonder the boat sped off as fast as it could away from me. I . . .’

  Ally put her head in her hands and the other girls stood up and gathered around her. Marina and I shot each other painful glances from opposite ends of the table. Finally, Ally recovered her composure and apologised for her instinctive display of emotion.

  ‘It must be an awful shock for you to realise what was actually happening,’ said Tiggy. ‘We’re all so sorry for you, Ally.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said, nodding. ‘But now I think about it, Pa did tell me once when we were out sailing together that his wish was to be buried at sea. So I suppose it all makes sense.’

  ‘Apart from the fact that none of us were invited to be in attendance when it happened,’ commented Electra mutinously.

  ‘No. We weren’t,’ Ally sighed. ‘And yet, totally by coincidence, there I was. Listen, would you all mind terribly if I had a little time alone?’