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

years had rolled back and it was her daughters she was embracing, not her granddaughters.

‘When you said you would come, I didn’t expect it to be today – it’s my house-warming party,’ she said to Davina, over Autumn’s shoulder.

‘I know. You said on the phone it was today. I guess Sally’s here, and I thought I’d meet you both at once.’ Davina gave a short laugh and a wry smile. ‘I don’t make it easy for you, do I?’

‘No. You never have,’ Harriet replied, also smiling. ‘Well, then, we should go inside and find Sally.’ She let go of her granddaughters, but was delighted when Summer’s hand slipped into her own.

‘Yes. Oh, and this is James,’ Davina said, and he stepped forward to kiss Harriet’s cheek.

‘Lovely to meet you at long last,’ he said. Harriet squeezed his hand in gratitude at his part in bringing her family back together.

As they headed back up the driveway, the front door opened and Harriet’s neighbours appeared, thanking her for the party but explaining they had to leave now and they’d see her soon, if she needed any help she should just call on them. She thanked them for coming, knowing she’d need to explain about her tear-stained cheeks at some later date.

Inside there was only family and Sheila left. Someone had washed up most of the dirty glasses. Harriet led Davina through the house to the garden, where Sally was sitting at the patio table with Charlie. Jerome was sitting on the grass picking daisies. Autumn and Summer immediately, instinctively went to him, flumping down beside him and joining in with him. Sally stared at Davina in astonishment.

‘Davie? Oh my God, Davie!’ She clamped a hand to her mouth as Charlie put a supportive hand on her shoulder.

‘Hey, Sal. Yes, it’s me. I suppose I should have given some warning, but you know me …’

‘Yes, I know you,’ Sally said as she got to her feet and came around the table to stand before her sister. ‘Mum, did you know she was coming today?’

‘No. I’ve just had the same surprise as you,’ Harriet said. She was watching carefully. Her daughters had had a prickly relationship, and they’d hurt each other badly all those years ago. But now after all that had happened – Davina’s return and her selfless donation of bone marrow – surely Sally would forgive her, as Davina had forgiven Sally?

There was quiet in the garden, the only sounds being birdsong and a little murmuring from the children, as everyone watched this momentous reunion. Slowly, as though dazed, Sally reached out a hand to Davina just as Harriet herself had done a few minutes before. Davina reached back, and then they were in each other’s arms, crying and hugging, and all that had gone before was past and they were simply two sisters who loved each other.

Matthew had come out and now stood beside Harriet, his arm loosely draped across her shoulder. ‘Davina back in your life now too?’

She nodded. ‘Yes.’

He smiled. ‘Wonderful.’

‘Shall I make everyone tea, or is it time for more champagne?’ Sheila asked the group at large.

‘Tea for me, I think,’ Harriet said.

‘Champagne!’ Davina and Sally answered in unison, and then turned to each other and laughed.

Harriet went inside to help Sheila with the drinks. By the time they’d finished and were distributing cups and glasses, people had migrated around the house. Matthew and Robert were in the conservatory, swapping memories of their respective grandmothers. On the sofa in the sitting room, Charlie and James were getting to know each other, discovering a shared love of rugby and talking about Munster’s chances in the weekend match against Perpignan. The children had also come inside and Harriet found them in the spare bedroom. Jerome was lying on the bed, clearly tired out from the day, cuddling Mr Bungle tightly. Summer was sitting at the foot of the bed, with Davina’s old teddy that Harriet had rescued from the attic clutched in her arms. Autumn was telling them both a story. Harriet watched for a moment, catching Autumn’s eye. Her older granddaughter smiled shyly at her but continued with her story, tucking a knitted blanket gently around her young cousin as his eyes began to close.

Outside, sitting at the patio table, were Sally and Davina. They were close, their knees touching, and every now and again one would put her hand on the other’s arm, as if to be reassured that yes, her sister was really there, in the flesh. As Harriet watched, Davina said something and Sally threw back her head and laughed, then Davina joined in.

Sheila put two glasses of champagne in front of them, then passed a mug of tea to Harriet. ‘Look at you,’ she said. ‘Not so long ago you were crying on my shoulder about your family being so small. Now look, you have a huge family, all around you. Brother, cousin, daughters and grandchildren. You’ll have no need of me any more.’

Harriet hugged her. ‘I shall always need you, to keep me sane. But yes, I feel so grateful to have them all here now.’

‘It’s your doing,’ Sheila said. ‘You kept lines of communication open with Davina, you never gave up on her. And it’s paid off. Now you reap the rewards.’ She leaned closed to Harriet and nudged her. ‘You’ll be wishing you’d kept the big house now, for all this lot.’

Harriet laughed. ‘It would have helped for this party, certainly! But I know I am going to be very happy here.’

John was not there to see it, but somehow Harriet could feel him beside her, happy that she had pulled her family back together. In a way it was his doing. His death had been the catalyst for her to contact Matthew. And following his mantra – love is always open arms – had helped bring Davina back at last. There was work to be done, things to be discussed, but they’d manage it. They’d all made those first steps, hugged