«We werent expecting you,» said her sister as she shut the door.
«Mum passed away three days ago, and youre only just showing up now!» The voice on the other end of the phone trembled with barely contained anger.
Emily held the phone between her ear and shoulder, struggling to keep hold of her heavy bag while fishing for her car keys. The rain was getting heavier, drumming against the station canopy.
«Lucy, I explainedI was on assignment in Scotland, no signal. The second I found out, I booked the first flight.»
«Your work was more important than Mum?»
«Dont start. Im on my way. Be there in an hour.»
Her sister hung up. Emily slid into the rented car and sat for a moment, staring at the blurred city lights through the rain. Her hometown, the one shed left fifteen years ago. Shed been twenty-five then, determined to make it in London. Mum had cried, Dad stayed silent, and Lucyher little sisterhad screamed that she was a traitor.
The drive to her parents house took over an hour. The town had changednew estates, shopping centres, roundabouts. But the closer she got to the old centre, the more familiar the streets became. There was the bakery where she and Lucy used to buy warm doughnuts. The school, its paint peeling. And then their streetquiet, with tiny front gardens and benches by the doors.
Her parents house stood at the end of a cul-de-sac. Two storeys, a loft, once white, now grey with age. Light glowed from inside, shadows moving behind the curtains. Emily parked by the gate, grabbed her bag, and took a deep breath.
The side gate was unlocked. In the garden, under the awning, tables were set with white cloths. The wake. A few people stood by the front door, smoking, speaking in hushed tones. They fell silent when they saw her.
«Hello,» she said.
No one answered. Auntie Rose, Mums best friend, turned away. Uncle Mike, their neighbour, shook his head. Emily walked past them, up to the front door, and pulled.
Locked.
She rang the bell. Footsteps, the click of a latch. Lucy appeared in the doorwayolder now, with bitter lines around her mouth, wearing a black dress.
«We werent expecting you,» she said, and shut the door again.
Emily stood there, frozen. Behind her, whispers rose from the smokers. She rang again. Silence. Knocked.
«Lucy! Lucy, open up! This is ridiculous!»
The door cracked open on the chain.
«Just go,» Lucy said. «You dont belong here.»
«I came to say goodbye to Mum!»
«Youre too late. We buried her yesterday.»
«But you said she died three days ago!»
«And what? Thought youd make it in time? Fifteen years youve been gone, and now suddenly it matters?»
«Lucy, let me in. Lets talk properly.»
«Properly? Like when Dad died? Did you bother coming then? Not even for that!»
«I was in Kenya! On a research trip! No signal!»
«Always an excuse. Kenya, Iceland, assignments. And Mum and I were here. She was ill for three years, Em. Three years! Where were you?»
Emily said nothing. Shed known Mum was sick. Called, sent money for treatment. But coming back There was always something. Work, projects, fieldwork.
«I sent money.»
«Money?» Lucy let out a bitter laugh. «She didnt need your cheques, she needed you. Her daughter. But you chose your career.»
«Thats not fair.»
«Whats not fair? That I quit my job to look after her? That my husband left because I was at the hospital more than home? That my son barely knows me because I was always with Nan?»
The door slammed. Emily stepped off the porch and sat on the garden bench. The rain had stopped, but drops still fell from the trees. Inside, voices murmured, cutlery clinked.
«Emily?» A womans voice.
She turned. A stranger, maybe forty, stood there.
«Im Sarah, your neighbour. Moved in five years ago. Your mum talked about you all the time.»
«Really?»
«Was so proud. Said her daughter was a scientist, travelling the world, writing papers. Showed me newspaper clippings.»
Emilys eyes stung.
«Did she mention I abandoned her?»
«You didnt abandon anyone. Life takes people different ways. Margaret understood that.»
«Lucy doesnt.»
«Lucys angry. Had it hard. Doesnt mean shes right.»
Sarah sat beside her.
«Your mum wrote you a letter. Gave it to me, asked me to pass it on if you came.»
«A letter?»
Sarah pulled an envelope from her pocket. In Mums familiar handwriting: «For Emmy.»
«Thank you.» Emilys hands shook as she took it.
«Im next door if you need anything. Green gate.»
Sarah left. Emily sat there, holding the letter. Too scared to open it. She stood, walked to the car. An older man stepped outUncle James, Mums brother.
«Em? You came.»
«Uncle James.» She hugged him. «At least someones glad to see me.»
«Course I am. Lets get you inside.»
«Lucy wont let me in.»
«Rubbish. Its your home too.»
He took her hand, led her to the door, unlocked it with his key.
«Lucy!» he called. «Emilys here.»
Her sister came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron.
«Uncle James, I told you»
«No, you didnt. Emily belongs here. Its her parents house.»
«The ones she abandoned!»
«Enough, Lucy. Margaret wouldnt want this.»
«How do you know what Mum wanted?»
«Because I sat with her at the end. All she talked about was Emily. Said to forgive her if she didnt make it back.»
Lucy leaned against the wall, covered her face.
«Its not fair. I did everything for her, and she only thought of Emily.»
«She loved you too,» Uncle James said, pulling her into a hug. «Just differently. You were here. Emily wasnt. You worry more about the ones who arent close.»
In the dining room, about twenty people sat around the table. Relatives, neighbours, Mums friends. They went quiet when Emily walked in.
«Hello,» she said.
Some nodded, others looked away. Auntie Grace, Dads sister, stood and came over.
«Emmy, Im so sorry. Your mum was a good woman.»
«Thank you, Auntie Grace.»
One by one, others offered condolences. Only Lucy stayed in the corner, arms crossed.
«Sit, eat,» Auntie Rose said, putting a plate in front of Emily. «You must be starving.»
«Thanks, not hungry.»
«You must. Your mum would hate you skipping meals.»
Emily picked up a spoon, tried the soup. Mums recipe. A lump rose in her throat.
«Tell us about your work,» Uncle James said. «Margaret said youre at the institute now?»
«Yeah, marine biology. Researching ecosystems.»
«Travel much?»
«Have to. Conferences, expeditions.»
«Never married?» Auntie Grace asked.
«No. Didnt work out.»
«Career woman,» Lucy muttered. «Familys not important.»
«Lucy, stop,» Uncle James said.
«What? Its true. No husband, no kids. Just work.»
Emily stood.
«You know what? Yes, I chose my career. And I dont regret it. My research helps protect oceans for future generations.»
«Couldnt protect your own mother though,» Lucy shot back.
«Cancer doesnt care about research!»
«But being there helps! Holding her hand, making tea, staying up when she was in pain!»
«I couldnt do it!» Emily shouted. «Understand? I couldnt watch her fade! Im a coward, fine! I ran! But dont say I didnt love her!»
Silence. Lucy walked up to her.
«Know what she said at the end? ‘Wheres my Emmy? Why isnt she here?’ And I lied. Said you were coming. Every day, I lied.»
«Forgive me.»
«For what? For me doing it all alone? For Mum dying with your name on her lips, not mine?»
«Lucy»
«No, listen. You show up now, think you can cry at the wake and vanish back to your perfect life. And Im left here. Empty house, medical bills, a son growing up without his dad.»
«What bills? I sent money.»
«You did. It wasnt enough. I remortgaged the house.»
«What? Why didnt you tell me?»
«Pride. And what would it change? Youd send more? No thanks.»
Emily pulled out her phone.
«What are you doing?»
«Calling the bank. Finding out how much you owe.»
«Em, dont»
«I need to. This I can do. I have the money.»
As she spoke to the bank, guests began leaving. Quiet goodbyes, sympathetic nods. Soon, only the sisters and Uncle James remained.
«Girls,» he said. «Thats enough. Your mum wouldnt want this.»
«Mum didnt want a lot of things,» Lucy muttered. «But here we are.»
«Read it,» he nodded at the letter in Emilys hands. «Might help.»
He left. The sisters sat alone. Emily opened the envelope, unfolded the paper.
*»My darling Emmy, I know you blame yourself. Dont. Im not angry. Youre living your life the way you should. Im proud of you. Proud my daughters a scientist, doing important things. Lucys angry, but shell come round. Shes good, just tired. Help each other. Youre sisterssame blood. Your dad would hate this fight. Take care, my girl. Know Ive always loved you. Mum.»*
Emily handed the letter to Lucy. She read it, sat down, and cried.
«She was always like this. Forgiving everyone, feeling sorry for everyone.»
«Kind.»
«Too kind. Im the bitter one. Angry at you, myself, the world.»
Emily sat beside her, put an arm around her sister.
«Youve got every right. I was selfish.»
«But Mum forgave you.»
«Will you?»
Lucy wiped her eyes.
«Maybe. Not yet.»
«I get it.»
They sat together in the silent dining room. Outside, the sky darkened. The house smelled of funeral flowers and food.
«Tell me about Mum,» Emily said. «The last few years.»
«Whats to tell? She was ill, had treatment, hoped. Read a lot. Knew your papers by heart. Bragged to the neighbours.»
«How was she at the end?»
«Went quietly. In her sleep. I went in with tea one morning, and she was gone. Looked peaceful, almost smiling.»
«Good she didnt suffer.»
«She did. Just hid it. Said why upset you?»
«‘You’ meaning me?»
«And me. And Jack. My son. He adored her more than me.»
«Where is he now?»
«At a friends. Didnt want him at the wake. Hes only ten.»
«Can I meet him?»
«Tomorrow. If youre staying.»
«I am. Need to sort the house, paperwork.»
«And then what? Back to London?»
Emily hesitated.
«Dont know. Work»
«Of course, work. Always comes first.»
«Lucy, I cant just quit. It matters.»
«More than family?»
«It *is* family. My team relies on me.»
«And I dont?»
«How?»
«Im tired, Em. Ten years alone with a kid. Three with a sick mum. Sometimes I want someone to look after *me*.»
«Move to London.»
«What?»
«Live with me. Three-bed flat, plenty of space. Jack can go to a good school. Youll find work.»
«You mean it?»
«Absolutely. Sell the house, clear the debt. Fresh start.»
Lucy shook her head.
«Cant. This is my home. *Our* home.»
«Home isnt bricks. Its people. And people can be anywhere.»
«Easy for you to say. Youre used to moving.»
«Just think about it. Dont decide now.»
The next morning, Emily woke in her old room. Nothing had changedsame floral wallpaper, same desk, same books. Like time had stopped.
Lucy was making breakfast in the kitchen. A boy sat at the tableLucys double, same brown eyes, stubborn chin.
«Jack, this is Auntie Em. My sister.»
«Hello,» he said, offering a hand.
«Hi, Jack. Mums told me about you.»
«Nan talked about you too. Said you study whales.»
«Not just whales. The whole ocean.»
«Cool. Can I go on an expedition with you?»
«Jack,» Lucy warned.
«You can,» Emily smiled. «When youre older.»
«How longs that?»
«About eight years.»
«Thats *forever*!»
Over breakfast, Jack asked endless questions about the ocean. Emily answered, told stories from her travels.
«Mum, can we visit Auntie Em in London?» he burst out.
«Jack»
«Theyve got an aquarium! And museums! And»
«Well see,» Lucy said.
After breakfast, the sisters went to the cemetery. Fresh earth, a temporary marker, wreaths. Emily laid white rosesMums favourite.
«Sorry, Mum,» she whispered.
Lucy took her hand.
«She forgave you. You read the letter.»
«Still hurts.»
«Itll pass. Not straight away, but it will.»
They stood in silence, hand in hand. Two sisters, so different, so alike.
«Listen,» Lucy said. «Ill think about London.»
«Really?»
«Jack needs better schools. Not many chances here.»
«Ill help. With the flat, work, everything.»
«I know. You always did help. In your way.»
On the way back, Lucy stopped suddenly.
«Remember when we were kids, swore wed live together when we grew up?»
«Yeah. You wanted a big house with a garden.»
«And you wanted a flat overlooking the sea.»
«Well, no sea in London, but theres the Thames.»
«Close enough,» Lucy smiled. «For now.»
That evening, as Emily packed to leave, Lucy walked her to the car.
«Sorry about yesterday. The anger it took over.»
«I get it. Id have done the same.»
«No, you wouldnt. You dont hold grudges. Thats me.»
«But youre honest. That counts.»
They huggedtight, real. Like when they were kids, before the fights.
«Come back in a month,» Lucy said. «Help me pack.»
«Ill be here.»
«And dont vanish for another fifteen years.»
«Wont. Promise.»
Emily got in the car, waved. Lucy and Jack stood by the gate, waving back. The house behind them looked less lonely.
On the drive to the airport, Emily thought about what Mum had said. Family isnt a placeits people. And those people should stick together, help each other, forgive mistakes.
She texted Lucy: *»Thanks for opening the door. The second time.»*
The reply came fast: *»It was always open. I was just in the way. Not anymore.»*
Emily smiled. It would be okay. Mum wouldve been happy.
