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"Oh, I’ 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 withwhat to talk about next I’htly at a loss, which is ridiculous This ison 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 ether!" I say in exciteet a villa in Italy or soet to know each other--"

"Rebecca, listen," Jess interrupts flatly "I’ 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 reat But you’ve got your life"--she pauses--"and I’ve got et 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 a?" I lean forward and put my hand next to hers "Look! We have the same blood!"

"So what?" Jess looks unical fact"

"But… haven’t you alanted a sister? Haven’t you alondered what it would be like?"