along a glass-covered ramp, holding the handles of the duffel bag between them. They stepped onto the huge boat, found two seats in the front of a lounge, and collapsed, catching their breaths.
Theo looked around with wide eyes. She must have been on a ferry before, when Rae had come to get her from Victoria when she was threeâbut she couldnât remember it.
There were only three seats in their row. A teenager beside Rae was tapping his foot to a tune from the earphones he had on. Across the aisle people were opening up newspapers and books and cans of pop. The large room was surrounded by windows. Theo was beside one; she could see people walking around on the deck outside.
The enormous boat was vibrating. Then a two-toned beep on a loudspeaker made Theo jump, as a strident female voice began announcing the sailing time to Victoria and the services on board. There was a whistle, a pause, deeper vibrating, and then the ship began to move. It backed out of its berth while the announcer talked about lifeboats, then gradually turned around.
Rae was in a foul mood. âI donât see why the whole ferry is non-smoking now,â she grumbled. âIt didnât use to be.â She tapped the arm of her chair. âIâd like to get back early tomorrow,â she said. âI hope Sharon doesnât expect me to stay just because I got the day off.â
Sharon ⦠Theo was trying hard not to think of her, but now that sheâd lost the fight she couldnât help asking, âWhatâs she like?â
âMy sister? Sheâs okay, I suppose. She was always a goody-goody. She never got into trouble. The nuns adored her.â
âNuns?â
âThe nuns at the school we went to.â
âAre you Catholic?â asked Theo with surprise.
Rae chuckled. âWell, I was, so I guess I still am. Once a Catholic, always a Catholic, my father used to say. You wonât catch me inside a church, though. But I bet Sharon still goes. Sheâll probably take you, too.â
Theo pondered this. Sheâd never been inside a church before. âWhy havenât I ever met Sharon?â she asked.
âTheo, you have! I keep telling you! You lived with her and Ma until you were three!â
Theo flushed. Rae was speaking so loud that people were staring at them.
A woman standing by the window in front of them stared especially hard. She was tall and angular, with messy hair and a baggy tweed coat. She kept on staring even after she noticed Theo looking back at her.
Theo turned her head away from the nosy woman. âI know I lived with Sharon,â she said quickly, to make Rae lower her voice. âI meant, why havenât I seen her since then?â
Rae looked guilty. âOh, I donât know. I guess because I never told her where we lived. I thought sheâd try to interfere.â
âShe probably wanted to see me, though,â said Theo boldly.
âIâm sure she did. She had a fit when I took you away. Well, now she will see you. If you feel that strongly about Sharon, why donât you want to live with her?â
Theoâs eyes stung with tears. She leaned down to unzip the duffel bag. Sheâd managed to bring home a library book without signing it out. It was stealing, she supposed, but she didnât care.
Rae watched her for a few seconds. âIâm sorry, Kitten,â she sighed. âThat was unfair. I know you donât want to go. Listen, I canât help this. It wonât be foreverââ
Now Theo had to raise her voice. âI donât want to talk about it!â The woman at the window was still watching and listening. Theo lowered her face and hid behind her book.
âTheo, please try to understand!â Her mother sounded close to tears, but Theo kept her head down. âI just canât cope ! Iâve tried my best, but Iâm so tired of trying alone! Iâm only twenty-fiveâwhy