The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,18

know,’ I shrugged as I drank some hot strong coffee and wished it was laced with bourbon. ‘He was based in LA, I was in New York, we were both travelling . . .’

‘So he wasn’t “the one”?’ Ally pursued.

There was a sudden screeching sound from somewhere in the kitchen and I looked round to find where it was coming from.

‘That’s the baby monitor. Bear’s awake,’ Ally sighed.

‘I’ll go and see to him,’ offered Ma, but Ally was already on her feet and pressed Ma gently back down into her chair.

‘You were on duty from five this morning, darling Ma, so it’s my turn.’

I hadn’t even met my new nephew yet, but boy did I like him already. He’d gotten me out of the Grand Ally Inquisition.

‘So how is your new apartment?’ asked Ma, changing the subject. If tact had a physical form, it would look like my surrogate mom.

‘It’s okay,’ I replied, ‘but it’s only a year’s rental, so I’ll probably look for someplace else soon.’

‘I suppose you’re not there that often, with all the travelling you do.’

‘Too right I’m not, but at least it gives me somewhere to put my wardrobe. Oh wow, look who’s here.’

Ally was approaching the table holding a baby who had an enormous pair of quizzical brown eyes. His dark red hair was already starting to curl tightly on top of his head.

‘This is Bear,’ Ally said, that proud mom look shining in her eyes. And why shouldn’t it? Anyone brave enough to give birth was a heroine in my book.

‘Oh my God! He is . . . edible! How old is he now?’ I asked as Ally sat down and cradled him in her lap.

‘Seven weeks.’

‘Wow, he looks huge!’

‘That’s because he has such a good appetite,’ Ally smiled as she unbuttoned her shirt and positioned the baby in the right place. Bear began to suckle noisily and I winced.

‘Doesn’t it hurt when he’s feeding?’

‘It did at first, but we got into the swing of it, didn’t we, darling?’ she said, looking down at him like I guessed I’d sometimes looked at Mitch. In other words, with love.

‘Well now, we will leave you two girls to chat and see you later,’ Claudia said as, the clearing-up done, she followed Ma out of the kitchen.

‘I’m real sorry about Bear’s dad, Ally.’

‘Thanks, Electra.’

‘Did he . . . did the father—’

‘His name was Theo.’

‘Did Theo know about Bear?’

‘No, and nor did I until a few weeks after he died. At the time I thought the roof had fallen in on my world, but now –’ Ally smiled at me and I read genuine contentment in her clear blue eyes – ‘I wouldn’t be without him.’

‘Did you consider . . .?’

‘An abortion? The thought did run briefly through my head, yes. I mean, I had my sailing career, Bear’s dad was dead, and I had no home at the time either. I could never have gone through with it, though. I feel Bear was a gift. Sometimes, when I’m up feeding him in the small hours, I really sense Theo around me.’

‘You mean, his spirit?’

‘Yes, I do.’

‘I wouldn’t have thought that you believed in all that shit,’ I said with a frown.

‘Nor would I, but something amazing happened the night before Bear was born.’

‘Like what?’

‘I flew over to Spain in search of Tiggy, who’d just been diagnosed with a heart condition, but had run off to find her birth family. And she told me something, Electra, something that only Theo could have known.’

I watched Ally’s pale hand go to the necklace she was wearing.

‘What was it?’

‘Theo bought me this.’ Ally held up the tiny turquoise eye that sat on a chain. ‘The chain had broken a few weeks before and Tiggy said that Theo wanted to know why I wasn’t wearing it. Then she said he liked the name Bear, and you know what, Electra? He did!’

Tears appeared in Ally’s eyes.

‘Anyway, having been a cynic, I’m afraid I’m now a convert. And I just know Theo is watching over us.’ She shrugged and gave me a misty smile.

‘I sure wish I had a belief like that. Trouble is, I don’t believe much in anything. So, how is Tiggy’s heart now?’

‘Much better apparently. She’s back in the Scottish Highlands and very happily ensconced with the doctor who looked after her when she was sick. He also happens to be the owner of the estate she works on.’

‘It could be wedding bells for her soon then?’

‘I doubt it; Charlie’s still