It does not matter if you've not read my other stories about Milly Scott. This features several characters from that series, it is about a girl who was born a few years after Milly had left this world and who was named after her. It deals with how events and people shape her life. There is no tragedy in this story, but keep some tissues handy, and there is a long build-up before any sexual activity.
It's a lengthy story, almost 34,000 words and will be about ten or eleven pages long unless you use the app in which case it will be many, many more. If you prefer shorter stuff, I apologise.
All of the people involved are over 18, fictitious and products of my imagination.
I sat on the floor of the study leaning back against the sofa. It was a large room, furnished with a couple of desks, lots of computer equipment and a long wall of shelves holding books on a wide range of subjects. I'd taken one of those books from the shelf as I sat down. It was a slim volume that I'd held and read many, many times: 'The Adventures of Tricky.' The cover was worn and I opened it to the first page where the words 'For Fiona' were printed below the title. Underneath was a handwritten inscription --
'Fiona, Thank you for your love and encouragement. All my love, Milly. X.'
Fiona was my mum and this was the first of four books written and illustrated by her wife Milly, after whom I was named. She'd left this world a couple of years before I was born, but I knew a great deal about her. I looked up at the other large wall of the study, the one that I was facing. It was covered in pictures; some photographs, some prints and others were drawings. The drawings had all been done by Milly, who had been an artist and author. Many were of important people in her life, and others were scenes, landscapes and cartoons. The prints were artwork from Milly's books, including the one that I was holding. The photographs, mainly of people, had been taken after most of the sketches. I looked at the picture of my grandparents, Jess and Victoria who had passed away a couple of years ago and another one also caught my eye. My sister Sophie, proudly wearing her robes, on the day of her graduation.
Sophie wasn't actually my sister. She'd been only nine years old when the car that she was travelling in with her parents, Emily and Izzy, had crashed. Somehow Sophie had survived but not her parents. Her only relative was her grandfather who was too old to be able to look after her. Jane and Fiona, my parents, had been close friends with Emily and Izzy for many years and they didn't have to think very hard about taking her in and soon afterwards Jane adopted her. I was two at the time, so she's always been a part of my life, there for me, caring and looking out for me.
When I was eleven she went off to the University of London to study law, she was away for long periods, but we wrote to each other every week and she came home regularly. She studied human rights as a post-graduate before starting work at a prestigious London law firm and for the last two years, she's been working on secondment to the UN, spending a lot of time travelling and in New York.
I haven't seen her for eight months and I really miss her. It's my 18
th
birthday next week and I've asked for only one thing; I'd like Sophie to be there. It looks like it might not be possible because of her work. I'm staring at those pictures feeling a touch sorry for myself.
Fiona found me an hour later and mopped up some of my tears before asking if I was okay. She knew the answer.
"Mum, I only want one thing, just one thing. I miss Sophie."
Fiona hugged me and whispered, "If there's any way that she can get here, she will. She's promised to try."
"Do you still miss Milly?" I felt my mum take a deep breath and pause before she answered.
"I was so in love with her when she died it nearly finished me. Jane was there for me, even though she was hurting as well, and because of her love, I survived. Jane and I love each other very much, but yes I still miss Milly and so does Jane. You'd have liked her, everyone liked Milly. She left me a note telling me that I had to move on with my life and find someone to share it with. I have Jane and you and we have Sophie. She'll be here if she can."
I don't know what I felt for Sophie; I can't explain my feelings for her. I loved her of course, but somehow I didn't feel complete when she wasn't around.
The party was planned; about a dozen friends from school with some music, snacks and a little alcohol. I'd never wanted a wild bash, just something to mark the occasion. Other recent parties had been much wilder and they'd often ended with some disaster or other; a serious drunk, things being broken, a fight or an unwanted hand inside a girl's knickers. I wanted a nice, simple time.
I'd been given generous gifts by Jane and Fiona, a new phone and lots of clothes. I had no complaints; I had no right to complain about the life that I'd had. But if only Sophie could be here ...
I was almost ready and made a last check in the mirror. My long dark hair was fastened up and my make-up was stylish. I was wearing a nicely cut, elegant black dress with a flared skirt that finished above my knees. My legs looked good in the black strappy heels. My bust had developed from no-where in the last few months and in this dress, with a low neckline, I had a cleavage, not huge, but I had one.
I stopped at the study as I walked past and went in for a look at the picture wall, in particular, the one of Sophie. She obviously wasn't going to make it and I felt sad as I headed for the kitchen area. Everything looked ready. Jane and Fiona were talking until they saw me, "We have something for you. Not a birthday gift, but something that we've kept for you."
Fiona opened a long box and removed a string of pearls. They weren't new, but they were beautiful and quality just oozed from them. She fastened them around my neck; they sat halfway down towards my cleavage. I looked in the mirror; they were elegant and very classy, I loved them.
Jane smiled and touched my hand. "They suit you and you look stunning."
"Thanks, they're beautiful. Where did they come from?"
Fiona and Jane looked at each other and I think that I realised what the answer was going to be before Fiona spoke. "They were Milly's. We decided that you should have them when you were older and today is the right time. Pearls are something that every woman should have and these have a history. They belonged to a special person whose name you share and you're very special too." Fiona hugged me and I suspect that was what stopped her from crying. Jane smiled, but there was sadness in her eyes as well. They'd both loved Milly in their own way.
My guests were all there, chatting and having drinks. I went to refill my glass, with soda water for now, when Fiona stopped me and asked me something, but she seemed a little distracted. Then I realised that she was looking at something over my left shoulder. She took my arm, smiled, then leaned towards me and whispered, "Happy birthday, your wish has been granted."
What did she mean? Surely not? I turned around slowly because I couldn't believe that what I'd hoped for had come true. There she was, standing next to Jane, ten feet away. I shook my head, I must be imagining this, but she was real. "Sophie, Sophie you made it," I yelled as I dashed forward and she gathered me into her arms.
