Sisters - Michelle Frances Page 0,16

quietly got out of bed and padded down the stairs to the kitchen. She held a beaker under the tap, drank, and then rubbed the cool glass against her forehead. Outside the window she could see the full moon over the front garden, the pine trees lit with a ghostly glow. Something dark flitted across the window and she jumped, then it happened again and she saw it was a bat. Now she’d seen one, she saw many, crossing the sky as they searched for insects. What a beautiful place this was. And it was all Abby’s. Ellie stopped herself; she didn’t want to go there again; hours of boiling resentment would put paid to any hope of sleep.

She turned and went back upstairs. As she walked across the landing she instantly knew what would relax her. She stopped. Listened. The house was silent. Very carefully she opened the door of what she’d dubbed the ‘painting room’ and went inside. Tucking the copy of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory under her arm, she made her way back to her room.

Door firmly closed, she got into bed with her stolen comfort. She opened the book at random and started to read, instantly transported back to childhood where the warmth and friendship of Charlie’s world soothed her. After a few minutes her eyelids started drooping. Ellie closed the book and, leaning over the side of the bed, she hesitated a moment – should she? She felt somehow as if it was rightfully hers.

Ellie pulled out her suitcase that was stowed underneath the bed. Tucking the book into the front pocket, she zipped it up, before pushing the suitcase back under. She lay against the pillows and within minutes was asleep.

TEN

Abby knocked softly on Ellie’s bedroom door. After a few seconds it opened and Ellie’s still sleep-creased face appeared.

‘Ready?’ whispered Abby.

Her sister nodded and they crept down the stairs and then outside onto the terrace. Abby loved this time of day, when it was still early and there was a lingering freshness from the night, not yet burned away by the sun. She led Ellie down the steps to the boat and held it tight against the little jetty while her sister stepped gingerly on board.

‘Are you sure about this?’ asked Ellie.

Abby laughed. ‘It’s just a bit of rowing. We won’t go far; out a bit and then around the peninsula.’

‘Where’s Matteo?’

‘We don’t need a man’s help,’ said Abby firmly. ‘You and I will manage perfectly well on our own.’

‘That’s not what I meant,’ said Ellie, not altogether convincingly, as Abby started to untie the rope.

‘He’s asleep. Still recovering from his night shifts.’

‘Wait! Girls, wait!’

Abby looked up in dismay, heart plummeting as she saw a figure in a kaftan running down the steps.

‘For God’s sake,’ she muttered under her breath.

‘Mum!’ called Ellie.

Both girls watched as Susanna made it to the platform, slightly out of breath.

‘It’s not like you to be up this early,’ said Ellie.

‘No, well, I happened to get up for the bathroom and I looked out of the window and saw you two heading down the steps. Thought I’d see what you were up to.’

Why can’t she just leave us alone for a bit? thought Abby angrily.

‘We’re going on a boat trip,’ said Ellie.

There was a lull where Abby knew that Ellie was waiting for her to extend the invitation to Susanna. She knew she should but she couldn’t quite form the words quickly enough.

‘I’m sure there’s room for you too,’ said Ellie.

Abby could feel her sister’s eyes boring into her. ‘Course,’ she agreed.

‘Well, only if I’m not in the way,’ said Susanna.

Abby gritted her teeth and held the boat steady as Susanna got in and went to sit on the bench next to Ellie. Abby stepped into the boat herself, then pushed them away from the rocks with an oar before starting to row out to sea.

‘It’s utterly glorious,’ breathed Susanna, transfixed by the early morning sun on the water.

For a moment Abby forgot her bad mood. It was glorious. A gentle breeze stroked their skin and filled their mouths and lungs with a holiday saltiness. The sea glistened, the odd lively wave slapping against the boat and splashing their arms and legs. The sun would dry off the water almost instantly. It was as if nature itself wanted to play with them. Abby continued to row, the water from the blades dripping and catching in the light with each stroke.

‘Can we swim?’ asked Ellie, entranced.

‘Course. I’ll stay here, though,