“So? How was it?”

    “It was…” I force a bright smile. “It was really good fun. We both had a great time.”Advertisement

    “What did you buy?”

    “A couple of tops… a really nice skirt… some shoes…”

    “Mmm-hmm.” Luke nods. “And what did Jess buy?”

    For a moment I can’t speak.

    “Nothing,” I whisper at last.

    “Oh, Becky.” Luke sighs and puts his arm round me. “I know you wanted to find a soul mate. I know you wanted Jess to be your new best friend. But maybe you’ll have to accept that you’re just… too different.”

    “We’re not too different,” I say stubbornly. “We’re sisters.”

    “Sweetheart, it’s OK,” says Luke. “You can admit it if you don’t get along. No one will think you’ve failed.”

    Failed?

    “We do get along!” I say, stung. “We do! We just need to find a bit more… common ground. So she doesn’t like shopping. But that doesn’t matter! I like things other than shopping!”

    Luke is shaking his head.

    “Accept it. You’re different people and there’s no reason why you should get on.”

    “But we’ve got the same blood! We can’t be that different! We can’t be!”

    “Becky—”

    “I’m not going to give up, just like that! This is my long-lost sister we’re talking about!”

    “Sweetheart—”

    I cut him off. “I know we can be friends. I know we can.”

    With sudden determination I wrench open the car door and get out.

    “Hey, Jess!” I call, hurrying across the lawn. “After your conference, do you want to come and stay for the weekend? I promise we’ll have a good time.”

    “That’s a nice idea, love!” says Dad, his face lighting up.

    “I’m not sure,” says Jess. “I really have to get back home… ”

    “Please. Just one weekend. We don’t need to go shopping!” The words come tumbling out of me. “It won’t be like today. We can do whatever you like. Just have a really low-key, easy time. What do you think?”

    My fingers are twisting into knots. Jess glances at Dad’s hopeful face.

    “OK,” she says at last. “That would be nice. Thanks.”

    PGNI FIRST BANK VISA

    7 CAMEL SQUARE

    LIVERPOOL L1 5NP

    Mrs Rebecca Brandon

    37 Maida Vale Mansions

    Maida Vale

    London NW6 0YF

    12 May 2003

    Dear Mrs Brandon:

    Thank you for your prompt response to my letter of 20 April.

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    Customer Accounts Executive

    PGNI FIRST BANK VISA

    7 CAMEL SQUARE

    LIVERPOOL L1 5NP

    Ms Jessica Bertram

    12 Hill Rise

    Scully

    Cumbria CA19 1BD

    12 May 2003

    Dear Ms Bertram:

    Thank you for your prompt response to my letter of 20 April.

    I apologize for approaching you with the offer of a High Status Golden Credit Card. I did not mean to cause any offence.

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    Yours sincerely,

    Peter Johnson

    Customer Accounts Executive

    Twelve

    I’M NOT GIVING up.

    So maybe my first meeting with Jess didn’t go quite as I planned. But this weekend will be better, I just know it will. I mean, in hindsight, the first meeting was bound to be a bit awkward. But this time we’ll have gotten through that first hurdle and will be far more relaxed and easy with each other. Plus, I’m far more prepared than I was last time. After Jess left on Saturday, Mum and Dad could see I was a bit down, so they made a pot of tea and we had a good old chat. And we all agreed it’s impossible to get on with someone straightaway if you don’t know anything about her. So Mum and Dad racked their brains for all the details they knew about Jess and wrote them all down. And I’ve been learning them all week.