“Oh, I’m going to,” I say quickly. “Dad already has been, but he’s OK. And… er… thanks.”
“No problem.”
“So… what’s your dad like?”
Jess deliberates for a while. “He’s great,” she says at last.
I wait for more details… but there don’t seem to be any. I don’t quite dare ask about her mum. Not until I know her better.
Jess sips her water and I fiddle with my chocolate wrapper, wondering what to talk about next. I’m slightly at a loss, which is ridiculous. This is my sister! Come on!
“So, are you going on holiday this year?” I ask at last. God, I must be desperate. I sound like a hairdresser.
“I don’t know yet,” says Jess. “It all depends.”
Suddenly I have the most marvelous idea.
“We could go on holiday together!” I say in excitement. “Wouldn’t that be great? We could get a villa in Italy or something… really get to know each other—”
“Rebecca, listen,” Jess interrupts flatly. “I’m not looking for another family.”
My face is suddenly hot.
“I–I know,” I stammer. “I didn’t mean…”
“I don’t need another family,” she presses on. “I said this to Jane and Graham in the summer. That’s not why I tracked you down. It was my duty to contact you about the medical situation. That’s all.”
“What do you mean by ‘that’s all’?” I falter.
“I mean it’s nice to meet you. And your mum and dad are great. But you’ve got your life”—she pauses—“and I’ve got mine.”
Is she saying she doesn’t want to get to know me?
Her own sister?
“But we’ve only just found each other!” I say in a rush. “After all these years! Don’t you find it amazing?” I lean forward and put my hand next to hers. “Look! We have the same blood!”
“So what?” Jess looks unmoved. “It’s just a biological fact.”
“But… haven’t you always wanted a sister? Haven’t you always wondered what it would be like?”
“Not particularly.” She must see the hurt on my face. “Don’t get me wrong. It’s been interesting to meet you.”
Interesting? It’s been interesting?
I push the froth around the cappuccino with my spoon. She doesn’t want to get to know me. My own sister doesn’t want to get to know me. What’s wrong with me?
Nothing’s going the way I planned. I thought today would be one of the best days of my life. I thought shopping with my sister would be fun. I thought we’d be bonded by now. I thought we’d be having coffee, surrounded by all our fab new things, laughing and teasing each other…
“So, shall we go back to your mum’s?” says Jess, draining her cup.
“What… already?” I say, startled. “But… we’ve got hours left. You haven’t even bought anything yet!”
Jess sighs impatiently.
“Look, Becky. I wanted to be polite, so I came along today. But the truth is, I really can’t stand shopping.”
My heart sinks. I knew she wasn’t having a good time. I knew she hated my taste. I have to salvage this.
“I know we haven’t found the right shops yet.” I lean forward eagerly. “But there are more. We can go into different ones—”
“No,” Jess interrupts. “You don’t get it. I don’t like shopping. Full stop.”
“Catalogs!” I say, suddenly inspired. “We could go home, get a load of catalogs… it’d be fun!”
“Can’t you get this through your head?” Jess exclaims in exasperation. “Read my lips very carefully. I. Hate. Shopping.”
When we arrive home, Luke is in the front garden, talking to Dad. As he sees us pulling into the drive he looks stunned.
“What are you doing back so soon?” he says, hurrying over to the car. “Is anything wrong?”
“Everything’s fine!” I say. My brain still feels like it’s short-circuited. “We were just… quicker than I thought we’d be.”
“Thanks,” says Jess, getting out.
“It was a pleasure.”
As Jess heads toward Dad, Luke gets into the car beside me and closes the door.
“Becky, are you OK?”
“I’m… fine. I think.”
I can’t quite get my head round the day. My mind keeps replaying the way I fantasized it would be. The two of us sauntering along, swinging our bags, laughing happily… trying on each other’s things… buying each other friendship bracelets… calling each other by little nicknames…