The Lost Sister by Kathleen McGurl (i can read book club .TXT) 📕

things for you. That’s what grown-up kids are for, after all.’ Sally sniffed. ‘Well, this one, at least. Not that you’re getting any help from your other daughter.’

Then Davina had turned up, all too briefly, at the graveside, and Harriet had been glad to see her, even though it was only for a moment. She’d wondered if she was being unfair – in some ways she’d felt more grateful that Davina had turned up than for everything Sally had done for her.

All that was almost a year ago, now. A year in which she’d tried to come to terms with John’s loss but sometimes still felt as though the wound was too deep, too raw to ever heal. A year in which his loss was not the only upheaval – Jerome’s diagnosis had hit the family even harder, in some ways, and left them all reeling yet still trying to act as though everything was normal. It’d never be ‘normal’ again, she realised, as she sat on the bench near John’s grave. A new normal, perhaps, but things could never be the same. ‘As long as Jerome recovers, I think we’ll cope, though,’ she said out loud, as a breath of wind blew around her head, as though John was ruffling her hair in response.

Chapter 12

Emma, 1912

There were ten more days at home before the Titanic sailed. It was a busy time – Emma helped Ruby organise her sailing trunk; went with her when she handed in her notice at the hotel; and watched the Olympic sail with a pang of disappointment that she wasn’t on it alongside Martin, mixed with excitement that she was to sail on another brand new ship. The Titanic arrived in port at midnight on the very next day, sailing down from Belfast after her sea trials had proved her seaworthy. She took the Olympic’s usual berth. Emma had heard that using some new technology the two ships had been able to send messages to each other as they passed.

As with the Olympic’s arrival there was a huge buzz about the city. Many notable personages were arriving to sail on the Titanic’s maiden voyage, including Bruce Ismay the Managing Director of the White Star Line, and Thomas Andrews the chief engineer and designer of the Titanic and her sisters. Some had been on the Olympic too. The stewarding crew were due to board the ship on the same day as the passengers, early in the morning. As most of them were experienced and it was the second ship of its class, it had not been thought necessary to have several days of training as Emma had had on the Olympic.

‘You’ll pick it up quickly,’ Emma said to Ruby. ‘And I’ll be there to help you and advise you.’

Ruby had scowled at this, and walked off, leaving Emma shrugging. She was only trying to help her sister.

On their last night at home Emma and Ruby prepared the dinner for Ma and treated her to a bottle of wine. Ma was in tears as she raised her glass to her two eldest daughters.

‘I’m so proud of you both, you know. Emma you’ve been such a support to me, and Ruby, now that you’ve sorted yourself out and got this job, I couldn’t be prouder. I told Mrs Williams, they’re both off on the Titanic, all the way over the sea. And who knows, if you do your jobs well you might be promoted to first class and I’ve heard those first-class passengers tip their stewards and stewardesses handsomely.’

‘Some do, but not all, and my, you have to work for it, so Violet tells me!’ Emma said. ‘Anyway, I like second class.’

‘I just want to be on a ship,’ Ruby said. ‘Ma, I’ll miss you, and you too, Lily.’ She got up from her place at the table and hugged each of them, crying openly. Oddly, Ruby had been making more of an effort with Lily since she’d signed on. Emma watched, slightly bemused. She had not been this emotional when she’d left on the Olympic for the first time.

Lily looked surprised at the rare show of affection from Ruby but returned the hug. ‘I’ll miss you too, Rubes.’

‘Ah, come on, Ruby,’ Emma said, trying to lighten the mood a little. ‘We’ll be back home again at the end of the month, and it’ll feel like no time at all has passed.’

Ruby sniffed loudly and composed herself. She gave a weak smile. ‘Yes, I suppose you’re right, and you’d know. Just – my first time away, and after all that’s happened, it feels like such a big step.’

Emma patted her hand. ‘I know, and it is. Come on, let’s pour out the rest of the wine, and toast the Titanic, and all who sail in her.’

Ma and Ruby raised their glasses. ‘To the Titanic.’

‘Can I have some wine?’ asked Lily, her eyes wide and hopeful.

‘Just a tiny taste of mine, lovey, and only because both your sisters are going away and you’re going to have to be my big grown-up girl and help me around the house.’

‘I am almost grown-up and I already help you, don’t I?’ Lily looked a little put out, as she often did when she was treated as a baby. She was almost 13 now, and not far off leaving school. Emma realised they’d often treated her as younger than she was, because of the recurring illnesses she’d had. It was time they treated her as an adult, or a near-adult.

‘Of course you are, sweetie,’ Emma said, giving Lily a hug, ‘and yes you do help Ma. You might have to do a bit more now there’s only two of you.’

‘I’ll miss you both,’ Lily said. ‘When I’m old enough, I think it’s the job I’d like to do, too.’

‘We’ll keep a place warm for you on the ship then,’ Emma said with a smile.

‘Early start tomorrow?’ Ma asked.

‘Yes, the stewarding crew need to be on board before the passengers embark, and