The Sun Sister (The Seven Sisters #6) - Lucinda Riley Page 0,203

yup, that’s her name. Do you know of her?’

‘Hah!’ Miles slapped his well-muscled thigh. ‘In the civil rights world, Stella Jackson is an A-lister goddess! At Harvard, they speak her name in hallowed tones. She was right there when Malcolm X was shot in the Audubon Ballroom, and at the rally in Washington when Martin Luther King Junior made his “I have a dream” speech. She came to talk to us law students at Harvard and I freely admit I sat there in tears. She’s your grandmother?’ he asked again. ‘I thought you had no blood relations, Electra?’

‘I kinda found her recently,’ I said, feeling guilty I hadn’t mentioned it to him.

‘Well, I’ll be damned!’ Miles swore, so I knew this was BIG. ‘Wow wow wow! And you had no idea who she was?’

‘Nope, she never said,’ I replied, seeing what amounted to hero-worship in Miles’s eyes.

‘It’s rumoured that if Obama wins the presidency, she’ll have some form of role as an advisor. Those are some genes you’ve inherited there, girl. And actually, now I look at you, you’re the living image of her, especially with your new haircut,’ he added.

‘Well, it’s nice to know your grandmother is a powerful woman, isn’t it?’ said Lizzie, somehow sensing my tension. ‘I’m off to powder my nose after that very long and stressful conversation,’ she added, exiting stage left to the bathroom.

‘Was it a good chat with Lizzie?’ I asked him, determinedly changing the subject as I tried to sit down in my tight pants.

‘Yes and no,’ Miles shrugged. ‘I did my best, but she’s going to need a California guy to represent her. Divorce law’s very different over there, but I’ve given her the name of a good lawyer I know. Sounds to me as if that husband of hers will screw her to the wall if he can. The good news is, the law is on her side. And there’s nothing he can do about that, apart from draw the process out. Lizzie needs some cash – and a home – fast. It’s great of you to take her in, Electra. You’re a good person,’ he added. ‘Mind you, knowing your heritage, I’m not surprised. I’m still in shock.’

‘Well, when I see Stella, I just might ask her how I ended up in Hale House.’ I eyed him for a few seconds and I knew he’d got the inference. ‘Anyway, how’s Vanessa?’

‘Doing real well; Ida says she should be ready for a visit by the weekend. Right, I’d better be heading home. Work is crazy at the moment. If you see your grandmother, tell her I’m a fan. I’ll call you about Vanessa when I hear. Night, Electra.’

‘Night, Miles, and thanks,’ called Lizzie, appearing in the hallway as he closed the door behind him.

I sighed heavily.

‘What’s up with you?’ Lizzie stood there eying me, her hands on her hips.

‘Nothing, nothing.’

‘There’s obviously something. Is it to do with Miles?’

I paced restlessly round the living room. My anxiety and irritation weren’t helped by the fact that Lizzie was pouring herself a fresh glass of white wine from the bottle on the table.

‘Come on, Electra, what’s eating you?’ Lizzie asked as I watched her take a large gulp.

‘Oh, this and that,’ I shrugged, knowing that if I wasn’t careful, my anger would boil over like a volcano and I didn’t want to traumatise poor old Lizzie.

‘It must be to do with Miles. Are you two in a relationship?’

‘What? God, no! Hah!’

‘Okay, Electra, keep your hair on.’ Lizzie grinned at me. ‘It’s just obvious that he thinks the sun shines out of your bottom, from the way he looks at you.’

‘Yeah, well, that’s just peachy but . . . Listen, Lizzie, I didn’t say anything to Miles earlier because I thought I’d never get rid of him, but my grandmother is due here any second. And the thing is’ – I looked at her hard – ‘it’s her I’m really pissed at.’

‘Right.’ Lizzie took another couple of large gulps of wine and nodded. ‘I’ll go and make myself scarce, shall I? Central Park is so lovely on a summer’s evening.’

The concierge phone rang and I went to pick it up. ‘Yup, send her up.’

‘Good luck, Electra. I’ll see you later, sweetheart,’ said Lizzie, as she grabbed her bag and walked towards the door.

It banged shut behind her and I only just managed to refrain from draining what was left in her wine glass to calm my nerves. Instead, taking some deep breaths in, I