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

quiet room, offered them tea, and then talked it all through with them once more.

‘Are you happy that you understood everything?’ Alison asked, after she’d handed them cups of tea and made sure Jerome was comfortable.

‘Chemo not working, something about bone marrow transplant,’ Sally said. ‘And he asked if we had any more children.’

Alison nodded. ‘Siblings are usually the best match for bone marrow transplants. But as Jerome hasn’t any, we can test you and your husband. I must warn you, it’s rare for a match to be found in any family member other than a sibling, but we can try. And of course we’ll look at the donor registry.’ Alison smiled, and laid a comforting hand on Sally’s shoulder. ‘Listen, there are many thousands of people on that registry, and we’ve never yet failed to find a match. I know it’s hard, but you must try not to worry. We’re a long way from being out of options here.’

As they drank their tea, Alison repeated the new treatment plan. They’d test family members and then search the donor database for a match. Once one was found, Jerome would be brought into hospital to start a course of preparatory treatment, before having the transplant itself. ‘That part’s quite hard,’ she said, ‘but the good thing is you know you’re moving forward. And of course we support you at all stages.’

They left the hospital armed with leaflets to read at leisure, when it had all sunk in. Sally carried Jerome out to the car, holding him tightly against her.

‘We’ll soon be home, soldier. You can go back to bed if you want. I’ll set up the iPad so you can watch CBeebies.’

‘Mmm-mm,’ was all the response she got.

‘God, Mum, I’m so glad he’s not having to stay in hospital right now. At least we’ll have time to go through it all with him so he knows what’s ahead.’

‘Yes, and Alison mentioned play therapy sessions to help him understand. Hang in there, Sally. It’ll be all right, I’m sure of it.’ She wasn’t at all sure, but right now she knew she had to say what Sally needed to hear. Just as Sheila had said what Harriet needed to hear, at lunch on Sunday. Each person in the pyramid of support doing their bit.

Sally put Jerome into the car on his booster seat. Almost immediately he leaned his head back and fell asleep. She turned to Harriet, tears flowing down her face. ‘Can you drive, Mum? I’m in no fit state …’

‘Of course.’ Harriet held her hand out for the keys. ‘Let’s get you home, tuck Jerome into bed and I’ll make you some lunch.’

The drive back to Sally’s house was accomplished largely in silence, as Harriet concentrated on driving the unfamiliar car. She could get a taxi home from Sally’s, or walk – it’d take her about an hour but it’d do her good and it was a fine day. But first, she needed to do what she could for her family, for this side of her family – the people who needed her. Truth was, she was more worried than she wanted to let on about Jerome. It was rare, the consultant had said, for a suitable bone marrow donor to be found amongst relatives who weren’t siblings. But they would all be tested, just in case, and meanwhile they would start the search through the bone marrow donor registry.

Chapter 14

Emma, 1912

In the morning, Ruby came back from the bathroom smelling of vomit. ‘Seasick,’ she said, in response to Emma’s enquiring look. ‘That’s all.’

‘Is there anything I can do?’ Emma asked. ‘If you want to talk …’ Confide in me, she wanted to say.

Ruby let out a harsh laugh. ‘What about? The consistency of my vomit?’

At the end of the second day, Ruby returned very late to the cabin, hiccoughing and smelling of whiskey. The following morning she was sick once again.

‘Maybe I drank too much,’ she said to Emma. ‘So what? You’re not my keeper, as I am bored of having to tell you.’

Over the next couple of days, with the ship following the northern route across the Atlantic, the temperatures dipped substantially. Passengers on deck were huddled in overcoats and scarves, and Emma was sent back to cabins several times to fetch extra layers for her charges. On one trip back to the promenade deck she passed Ruby, who was carrying a tray of tea things to a passenger’s cabin.

‘How are you getting on?’ she asked her sister.

‘My feet are killing me,’ Ruby replied, leaning against the galley wall. ‘I’ve been back and forth, up and down stairs all day. These people are always calling me – fetch me this, get that, do the other. Driving me mad. There is no way I will do this job again. There have to be easier ways to make a living.’

‘You’re still planning on leaving the ship in New York?’ Emma asked in a whisper. It wouldn’t do for a senior steward or purser to hear this.

‘Either that or I’ll throw myself off this ship. That would solve a lot of problems,’ Ruby said, and with that remark she pushed herself back upright and headed along the corridor, the things on her tray rattling alarmingly.

Emma gasped and hurried after her. ‘Rubes, don’t be daft, you don’t mean that?’

‘I’m so blinking fed up of it all, Ems. The way I’ve been treated, by Harry, by the passengers, by you! I’ve got to do something.’

‘Don’t you dare jump overboard. Stay in New York if you must. Think of Ma! Think of the baby you’re carrying!’ Emma couldn’t stop herself from blurting it out.

Ruby span around to face her. ‘What? H-how did you know?’

‘I guessed. Look, if I can help at all … money, anything …’

Ruby cut her off. ‘I want to do things by myself. I don’t need you, Ems. You’ll just judge me. I want a new start, alone.’

‘Then if I can at least meet up with you, whenever I’m