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When Jenna hadn’t commented on what Thea had told her, Thea had said,‘But you did meet someone at the bookshop?’
Jenna hadn’t denied it.
‘But who was it? And why all the cloak-and-dagger stuff?’
At that point, her sister had clammed up and had said she didn’t want to talk about it.
Thea stared at her sister, thinking back to that conversation on her last visit. She saw no point in raising the subject again. Her sister clearly had other things on her mind – namely getting out of the hospital. Her discharge was long overdue.
Jenna said, ‘Right, I think I’m ready to leave.’ She zipped up her bag and looked at Thea.‘Did you find a book wrapped in brown paper in the bookshop? I’m sure I left it in the back of the desk drawer in the shop.’
Thea shook her head.
‘It doesn’t matter now.’
‘I thought you needed the money? I heard how much you were getting for selling the rare book.’
When she didn’t respond, Thea said, ‘I thought after our conversation last time that Mark might leave you, and clearly you had money worries. I couldn’t believe it when I discovered we still had the bookshop, and I worked so hard to try and get it up and running again as a going concern, as a job and an income for you.’
Jenna patted the side of her bed for Thea to sit down next to her. She took her hand. ‘You are the best sister, you know that – right? I don’t think I’ve ever told you what a wonderful, supportive little sister you are.’
No, she hadn’t.
‘I just wish that I’d been a better big sister to you. If I have a problem, I’m straight on the phone to you. Thinking back on it, I feel so guilty that they are really the only times I’m in contact with you.’
Thea looked at her sister – it was true.
‘You’ve always been the strong one out of the two of us. Mum said so too. I’m sure you’ve had your problems, but you’ve never come to me about them, and you should have. I just haven’t been there for you like you have for me.’
Thea thought of what had gone on with Miles. She still hadn’t told Jenna. As usual, she had put her sister first, thinking she had enough on her plate without being troubled by Thea’s own problems.
‘Look, I want all that to change.’ Jenna put an arm around Thea, surprising her. Jenna hugged her close. ‘I love you. I am so sorry about the bookshop. I can’t come to the reopening.’
‘But it’s going to be an opening night to remember,’ said Thea, still gutted that her sister really had made her mind she wasn’t coming.
‘I bet itwill be. But it’s your opening night, Thea. I want you to have the bookshop.’
‘You want me to have the bookshop?’ Thea shook her head in astonishment. ‘You can’t be serious. But … but what about the money? It must be worth a lot, a property in Aldeburgh. Don’t you want to sell it, and share the—?’
‘No. I do not. I discussed it with Mark. In fact, I didn’t discuss it, I told him that the shop is yours. I emailed Mum too, and told her.’
‘But the money …’ Thea said again.
‘It’s fine. Mark and I can manage.’
‘You’re having a baby. And if money is tight now …’ she trailed off.
‘We don’t need the bookshop, Thea. Or the money. We have other plans.’
Other plans.‘What are your plans?’
Jenna told her that Mark had been shocked to find out that he was going to be a father again at his age. He had already been an older father when they’d had the twins. Jenna had said she’d get a part-time job. Money would be tight. But they’d survive.
The trouble was that Mark didn’t just want to survive; he wanted to live, have experiences. It wasn’t that he didn’t want the baby – he just wanted things to be different this time. He wanted an adventure.
It all sounded like a mid-life crisis to Thea.
‘That’s why we’re packing up and moving to New York.’
