Page 219 of Atlas: The Story of Pa Salt
Georg nodded. Their conversation was interrupted by the voices of CeCe and Chrissie, who passed the open study door.
‘Hey, I wanna know about all the secret tunnels this place has!’ Chrissie exclaimed.
‘We’re having them sealed up, actually,’ CeCe replied. ‘It’s time for a new start.’ She noticed Georg and Merry sat together. ‘Hey, you two. I don’t suppose you’ve seen Grandpa Francis about, have you?’
Georg nodded out of the window. ‘He’s on the terrace, CeCe.’
‘Fab, thanks!’ She and Chrissie continued to the kitchen, and exited through the enormous glass sliding door onto the terrace. They located Francis Abraham sitting at the antique bronze garden table, and pulled out a couple of chairs.
‘Ah, girls!’ he cried. ‘I was beginning to wonder where you were. I just wanted to thank you again for inviting me. It is an honour to see your home and celebrate your father’s life, CeCe.’
‘Thank you for making the journey, Francis! I’m so happy to have you here.’ She took her grandfather’s hand and squeezed it tightly.
‘I’d love to paint the lake. Do you think that would be possible?’ he asked.
‘Of course! I have canvases and palettes upstairs. We’ll sort it out later.’
At the other end of the table, Zara, Charlie’s daughter, was busy singing the praises of Atlantis. ‘Can we just live here, guys?! It’ssick!’ She took a seat, with Charlie and Tiggy following suit.
‘Oh, I don’t know if you’d like it that much,’ Tiggy replied. ‘Every time you wanted to go to a party, you’d have to get on a boat.’
Zara laughed. ‘Well, we’d just have to have parties here!’
‘I’m not sure poor old Claudia could cope with one of your famous gatherings,’ said Charlie, ruffling his daughter’s hair.
‘Stop that, Dad,’ Zara snapped.
‘Yes, stop that, Charlie,’ Tiggy replied, reaching up to vigorously tousle Charlie’s wavy auburn hair.
‘All right, all right, point taken.’ A thought crossed his mind. ‘Actually, would you ladies excuse me for ten minutes or so? I promised I’d have a quick chat with Ally. Can you remember where I put my big bag, Tigs?’
‘It’s in the kitchen, I think.’
‘Smashing. Back shortly!’ Charlie stood up and walked inside.
Zara looked quizzically at Tiggy, who simply shrugged and smiled.
Elsewhere, at Stella Jackson’s request, Electra was walking her around one of Pa’s walled gardens, with Miles joining them and listening to every word. ‘I remember him talking about his flowers when he met me for dinner,’ Stella reminisced. ‘He was so proud of them. Now I can see why!’
‘He had so many talents,’ said Electra.
‘No kidding. All these people, brought together by one man,’ smiled Stella. ‘It’s quite the tribute.’
‘You’re right, it is,’ replied Electra. ‘Even though, amazingly, most of the guests here today never met him! You’re in the minority, Grandma.’
Stella put a hand to her heart. ‘It really was my honour. He was so warm, with an ineffable quality of... decency about him. It’s hard to explain.’
‘And yet I know just what you mean,’ Electra nodded.
‘What do you think will happen to this place?’ asked Miles, gesturing back at the house.
‘Atlantis? We’ll keep it. Forever. Whenever life gets too much, we’ll always have a place of safety to come back to.’
‘That’s a lovely sentiment.’ Stella smiled. ‘Just what he’d want.’
Miles, ever the pragmatist, continued his line of questioning. ‘What about Ma, Claudia and Christian? What happens to them after today?’
‘Ally and Maia spoke with them. They all want to stay. Atlantis is as much their home as it is ours. Plus, with Ma and Georg now a... whatever it is they are... I definitely don’t worry about her getting lonely when we’re not here.’
