The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,193

wanted to see how you were and have a chat, you know? Oh, and also, do you have the translation you did of my quote from the armillary sphere? I’d like to know what it said. Okay, speak soon. Bye.’

I stared at the phone for a while, hoping Maia would call back, but she didn’t.

I picked up the remote again and started scrolling through the channels, trying not to dwell on what I’d just discovered, but felt panic rising up inside me as I pictured a vodka bottle, which could arrive within minutes if I simply lifted the concierge phone and asked the porter to go fetch it for me. It had become obvious to me that I was definitely more dependent on the booze than I was on the drugs – but one could so easily lead to another . . .

‘Shit!’ I said as I got out of bed, knowing I was in the danger zone and looking for something to distract me. I was in the kitchen, making a mug of ginger tea, when I heard my cell ringing from the bedroom.

I’d just pounced on it when it rang off. It was Miles. I listened back to the message, which said simply, ‘Call me.’ In a panic that something might have happened to Vanessa, I did so immediately.

‘Hi,’ he answered after the first ring.

‘Is everything okay with Vanessa?’

‘As far as I know, yes. I’ve heard nothing more since this morning.’

‘Thank God,’ I said, breathlessly. ‘I . . . why did you call then?’

‘Because Mariam told me it was your first night by yourself.’

‘So you’re checking up on me?’

‘If you want to put it like that, then yeah, but I’m doing it because I know that the first night alone is always tough. I’ve been there, remember?’

‘Yeah, well, there are a heap of things I could have done tonight, but I decided to stay in,’ I replied, suddenly defensive.

‘And how is it?’

‘Oh, it’s . . . okay,’ I lied. ‘Not much on TV, mind you.’

‘You getting the feeling that the walls are closing in on you?’

‘A bit,’ I replied, which was the understatement of the century right now.

‘That’s normal, Electra. And I just wanted to say that I’m here – only a few blocks away as it happens – so if you need some conversation, all you gotta do is call, as the song goes.’

‘Yeah, thanks. That’s kind of you to think of me.’

‘One way and another, I’ve thought of little else,’ he chuckled. ‘It was quite a ride, these last weeks, wasn’t it?’

‘It was, yeah.’

‘The other thing I wanted to ask is if you were busy tomorrow?’

‘Er, no. Why?’

‘Because I’d like to take you uptown to Harlem and show you round the drop-in centre. It’s a Saturday and due to the lack of resources, we’ve had to close the doors over the weekends, but at least you can see the place itself.’

‘Wow,’ I said, struck by the coincidence.

‘What?’

‘Well . . . it’s something I just found out . . .’ I trailed off, not sure if I wanted to tell him or not.

‘Right.’

‘Like tonight. A few moments ago.’

‘And . . .?’

Remember, you have to trust, Electra . . .

‘I just discovered that I was found by my adoptive dad in a place called Hale House. It’s in Harlem.’

‘I know it. Everyone in Harlem does. Jeez, Electra, that’s a big one! Who told you?’

‘My sister Ally. My Pa left coordinates for us all to look up if we wanted to know where he found us.’

‘Okay. You know what Hale House was in those days?’

‘Yup, a place where a woman called Mother Hale took in babies whose moms were addicts or had AIDS,’ I recited from what I’d read earlier.

‘And how do you feel about that?’

‘I don’t know right now. And stop sounding like a therapist!’ I said, only half joking.

‘Sorry. I’m just worried about you. It’s a lot for you to deal with. Want me to swing by and we can talk?’

‘No, I’m fine, but thanks for the offer.’

‘You’re sure, Electra?’

‘I’m sure.’

‘Then why don’t I pick you up at around eleven a.m. tomorrow?’

‘Okay,’ I agreed. ‘Do you need my address?’

‘Your ever-efficient PA has already given me that, just in case I—’

‘Had to dash across town to save me when I was so wasted I couldn’t remember where I lived?’ I smiled.

‘Something like that, I guess, yeah. But you sound like you’re doing great, Electra. Really great. And as I said, I’m here if you need me, whatever time