The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,189

you again how grateful I was for you helping me and Mariam that night when I got so . . . sick.’

‘Electra, you know there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for you.’ Tommy’s lips made a smile, but I could see sadness in his eyes.

‘Listen, if there is anything – anything – I can ever do for you, Tommy, please just say the word, okay?’

‘Okay, thanks. And by the way, I really dig your new haircut.’

‘Thanks, Tommy.’

As I rode up in the elevator, I decided that I’d attend all my AA meetings in Chelsea from now on. The last thing I wanted was to lose Tommy as a friend, and I knew it would embarrass him if he ever found out I’d heard his confession.

Sitting down on the couch in the living room, I saw I had a missed call from Miles on my cell, so I called him back.

‘Hi, everything okay with Vanessa?’ I asked him.

‘Ida called earlier – Vanessa’s settling in okay.’

‘Great. And how are you?’

‘I’m okay. It’s kinda weird being back at work and not being able to talk to anyone about all the crazy shit that I – we – have been through recently.’

‘I know, right? I did my first photoshoot today and it was odd being so . . . present, without all the stuff I used to take to mask it.’

‘Yeah, listen, I gotta go. I have a client calling any moment and I’m playing catch-up here at the office right now.’

Miles ended the call and I stood up and wandered outside onto the terrace. I leant over the glass railing and looked down on New York; for the first time since I’d arrived home, I felt low. Perhaps it was because the weekend was yawning out in front of me. Normally, I’d be in transit to somewhere, which suited me fine, because weekends were the time when successful people left the city to head to their country homes and spend quality time with their family and friends.

‘Hi, Electra,’ said Mariam behind me. ‘There’s some lentil soup that I made earlier and some salad in the refrigerator for your dinner tonight.’

‘Thanks.’

‘Oh, and did you call back that therapist Fi recommended?’

‘Yup.’

‘And?’

‘After Fi, she just doesn’t sound right.’

‘I understand, Electra, but you do have to find someone here in Manhattan. That’s the third one you’ve contacted who you’ve said is a no. Maybe you should just go and meet one of them? See how they are?’

‘Maybe, but I just don’t want to risk choosing the wrong person and them screwing up my head, you know? I’m in a good place right now, Mariam. And I have plenty of people to talk to if I need them.’

‘Okay. I don’t want to be a nag; it’s only because I care, Electra.’

‘I know, and you’ve been amazing, Mariam.’

‘Is there anything else you need before I go?’

‘No. You get home now and see your family.’

‘If you’re sure, because—’

‘I am. I’ve gotta learn to live without a babysitter sometime, don’t I?’

‘If you need me, day or night, just call. Promise?’

‘I promise. Please, Mariam, go home!’

‘I will. Thanks, Electra, bye.’

‘Bye.’

The door closed behind Mariam, and for the first time in over five weeks, I was alone.

‘You’re going to go down to the gym and lift some weights, have some supper, then get into bed and watch a movie,’ I told myself, trying to stem the panic. So I went to the gym, had a shower, ate what Mariam had left me for my supper, then got into bed and switched on the TV. It seemed like there was only stuff on about gang warfare or shows set in hospitals, neither of which I felt were suitable for my first night alone. I did my best to concentrate on a rom-com, then a French movie, which normally I would have liked, but was so noir that I zoned out and started checking my emails on my laptop. I was thrilled to see that there was a long juicy one from Tiggy. It was also written in French, which made me glad that I had just watched forty minutes of the noir film as a warm-up.

Chère Electra,

How wonderful to get a letter from you (or, in fact, a letter from anyone these days), especially up here in the middle of nowhere. What with the internet signal being so unreliable, I do feel very cut off, which has both its pros and cons. But that’s like everything in life, isn’t it?

Anyway, today is a good signal