Chapter 38: Trying To Reach Ali

Aurora's POV:

"Aileen?"

I've tried calling her several times, and she hasn't answered. Yet again, I get her voicemail.

"Hi, I'd really like to talk to you. Look can you call me back, please."

Tallulah looks up from where she's watching TV.

"Still hasn't answered then?"

"No." I'm trying not to get angry. My family have been keeping secrets from me; Aileen's secrets. I know I'm probably being selfish. "I just feel sad that I wasn't able to be there for her when she needed me most."

"You just want to be her big sister," she says gently as her phone buzzes with an incoming text message.

She glances at the screen before turning off the backlight and putting her phone down on the coffee table. When her phone buzzes again she ignores it completely. That's not like Lou. She's perhaps the politest texter I've ever known. She always replies, almost immediately.

I nod.

"I feel like I've failed her."