Awake and Dreaming - Kit Pearson [17]
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. “I don’t see why the whole ferry is non-smoking now,” she grumbled. “It didn’t use to be.” She tapped the arm of her chair. “I’d like to get back early tomorrow,” she said. “I hope Sharon doesn’t expect me to stay just because I got the day off.”
Sharon … Theo was trying hard not to think of her, but now that she’d lost the fight she couldn’t help asking, “What’s she like?”
“My sister? She’s okay, I suppose. She was always a goody-goody. She never got into trouble. The nuns adored her.”
“Nuns?”
“The nuns at the school we went to.”
“Are you Catholic?” asked Theo with surprise.
Rae chuckled. “Well, I was, so I guess I still am. Once a Catholic, always a Catholic, my father used to say. You won’t catch me inside a church, though. But I bet Sharon still goes. She’ll probably take you, too.”
Theo pondered this. She’d never been inside a church before. “Why haven’t I ever met Sharon?” she asked.
“Theo, you have! I keep telling you! You lived with her and Ma until you were three!”
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. “I know I lived with Sharon,” she said quickly, to make Rae lower her voice. “I meant, why haven’t I seen her since then?”
Rae looked guilty. “Oh, I don’t know. I guess because I never told her where we lived. I thought she’d try to interfere.”
“She probably wanted to see me, though,” said Theo boldly.
“I’m 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 don’t you want to live with her?”
Theo’s eyes stung with tears. She leaned down to unzip the duffel bag. She’d managed to bring home a library book without signing it out. It was stealing, she supposed, but she didn’t care.
Rae watched her for a few seconds. “I’m sorry, Kitten,” she sighed. “That was unfair. I know you don’t want to go. Listen, I can’t help this. It won’t be forever—”
Now Theo had to raise her voice. “I don’t want to talk about it!” The woman at the window was still watching and listening. Theo lowered her face and hid behind her book.
“Theo, please try to understand!” Her mother sounded close to tears, but Theo kept her head down. “I just can’t cope! I’ve tried my best, but I’m so tired of trying alone! I’m only twenty-five—why shouldn’t I have a chance to be happy? Someone I really love loves me back. And he has enough money to take care of both of us. I can’t risk losing him! If I play my cards right, I won’t. Once he gets used to me, I promise I’ll come for you. But for now you have to live with Sharon. It won’t be that bad. Sharon’s a lot nicer than I am—she always has been. I bet you’ll like her. Theo? Kitten? Are you listening to me?”
The words on the page were blurry, but Theo kept her head lowered and her eyes fixed on the book.
Rae waited a few seconds. “Theo, look at me!” Now her voice was angry. Theo could feel the heat of her mother’s temper like a flaring flame beside her. She quaked inside, but surely Rae wouldn’t slap her in public. She kept her head still.
“All right, then.” Rae’s voice