Page 214 of The Moon Sister
‘Can you tell me how to get to your house on the lake?’
‘I . . . Zara, how did you get the number?’
‘I looked it up on Dad’s mobile.’
‘Right. Do your mum and dad know where you are?’
‘Er . . . I’ll explain everything when I see you.’
‘Hold on a moment . . . She’s in Geneva,’ I mouthed to Ma. ‘Where’s Christian?’
‘He’s just dropped Claudia at the airport, so he should still be close by,’ she said.
Having told Zara to wait by the information desk in Arrivals, Christian was duly called and told to collect her from there.
‘What is she doing here, Tiggy? Do her parents know?’ asked Ma.
‘I doubt it. She’s a past mistress at running away.’
‘Well, we must call Charlie immediately.’
‘Could you do it for me, Ma?’
‘I can but . . . surely you will want to speak to Charlie yourself?’
‘Tell him I’ll get Zara to call him when she’s arrived.’
‘D’accord, but . . . Charlie has been so kind to you, Tiggy. Why do you not wish to speak to him?’
‘I just . . . don’t.’
‘I see.’ Ma gave up. ‘Well, if she is staying, then I shall put her in Ally’s room down the corridor from you,chérie.’
‘Thank you.’
‘Is this child troubled, Tiggy?’
‘Zara’s absolutely delightful, but she has a difficult family situation, yes.’
‘Well, I hope her arrival will not upset your recovery. She is her parents’ responsibility, not yours. So, I will call her father.’ With that, Ma turned on her elegant heel and left the room.
*
‘Tiggy . . . !’ Zara appeared in my bedroom and walked over to me to give me a hug. ‘How are you feeling?’ she asked me, sitting down on my bed.
‘I’m completely fine, Zara, but Ma insists on me staying up here most of the time.’
‘It’s only for your own good, Tiggy. We all need you well.’
‘I am well,’ I said, hearing the hint of petulance in my voice, ‘but more to the point, what on earth are you doing here? Ma’s called your dad to say you’re with us and he said you were to phone him the moment you arrived.’
‘I’m amazed he noticed I’d gone, to be honest. I’ve been at home for study leave and I’ve hardly seen him.’
‘What about your mum?’
‘That’s what’s really weird; she’s up at Kinnaird, Tiggy. Like, of her own accord. I don’t know what’s going on,’ Zara sighed, ‘but something is. You know Mum’s always hated the place, and now suddenly she’s telling Dad she’s going to take the estate in hand because he’s too busy to do it.’
‘Then that’s good, isn’t it? It means you can spend more time there too.’
