Page 169 of The Missing Sister
‘Thanks,’ he said, sitting down opposite her. ‘Me too.’
‘Is your mum not hungry?’
‘I think – or at least I hope – that she’s sleeping. She’s been through a lot in the past few days.’
‘Because of us trying to find her?’
‘Partly, yes, but also because...’ Jack sighed and shook his head. ‘Let’s order, shall we?’
‘I’m having the butternut squash soup.’
‘I’ll have the steak, with a side of fries,’ he added.
The two of them ordered, Tiggy having a glass of white wine and Jack another beer.
‘Cheers,’ Tiggy said as they clinked glasses. ‘Here’s to new friends.’
‘Yes. Although, it’s just that, well, the whole thing’s a bit weird. No offence to you and your sisters, but who was this man who adopted you all?’
‘That is the burning question,’ said Tiggy. ‘None of us ever really knew – not where he came from or even what he did for a living. I think it’s human nature to believe that the people you love will just live forever, so you never ask the questions that you should have done until it’s too late. I think all of us sisters regret it now: that we didn’t ask Pa more about himself, or why he adopted all of us specifically.’
‘Do you mind me asking how old he was?’
‘Again, we don’t know, but I’d guess that he was well into his late eighties. How old is your mum?’
‘Fifty-nine in November – and I know that for sure,’ said Jack with a smile. ‘She had to renew her passport last year, so that would put, what? Twenty-five, or even thirty years between him and my mum.’
‘What are you thinking?’
‘Only that, well, I was wondering if the two of them—’
‘Could have got together at some point in the past? I’ve thought about that too. But then...’ Tiggy eyed him.
‘That would makemethe missing brother!’ Jack grinned. ‘I’m joking. My mum and dad were devoted to each other, and I’m definitely my father’s son.’
‘Well, the one thing that my father was was specific. It was absolutely the missingsisterhe was looking to find.’
‘Then it has to be Mary-Kate, doesn’t it? She’s the one who’s adopted, but...’
‘Yes?’
‘Nothing,’ said Jack.
‘Does Mary-Kate know, or in fact, does your mum know who Mary-Kate’s birth parents were?’
‘I’ve no idea, but these days, it’s probably easy for Mary-Kate to find out if she wants to.’
‘And does she?’
‘Tiggy, I honestly don’t know, but as she’s arriving in a couple of hours’ time, I’ll ask her.’
‘And what about your mum? Who were her parents?’
Jack took a sip of his beer, knowing it was not his place to tell what Ambrose had said this morning. ‘They were Irish, I think.’
‘Jack, was your mum adopted too?’
He stared at Tiggy in disbelief as she calmly ate her soup. ‘Christ! How did you know? My mum was only told that this morning! Who toldyou?’
