A Sea of Stars Read Free Page A

her in my hands. It’s wrapped up in silver paper with pink ribbons. It’s hard choosing a present for someone you’ve never met before and I’m scared Cat won’t like it. I glare at Mum and kick the back of her car seat – not hard, but hard enough for her to glare back at me and sigh.
    â€œMaya, sweetheart,” she says, “this is supposed to be an exciting day. Let’s not spoil it with bad tempers.”
    She looks at her watch then tells Dad to pull over at the Surf Shack Café.
    â€œWe’ve got plenty of time,” she says. “Let’s stop for a quick coffee so we can all calm down.”
    I’d like to tell Mum that I’m only all calmed up because she’s treating me like I’m five! I know this is a big deal for Cat, but it’s a big deal for me too. My mum should know that, she’s read enough leaflets on adoption and she’s been to enough meetings and support groups. She’s even got all these friends onFacebook who’ve adopted children too. And I’ve got no one. All my worries just buzz around my brain searching for somewhere to rest. I’ve never met my new sister before, either!
    Dad pulls over and parks next to a pale blue and white VW campervan with a stack of surfboards piled on top. I wish I could just grab one from the roof and go surfing. I leave the present in the car and follow Mum and Dad into the Surf Shack Café. When they see us, Rachel and Gus, the owners, give us a huge round of applause. Then everyone else joins in and we’re the centre of attention, which makes the sick in my throat start to burn.
    â€œBig day today, huh?” says Gus. “I think it’s a totally awesome thing you guys are doing.”
    â€œIt just feels right,” says Mum, smiling and finding my hand. “Let’s hope we do well by Cat. It’s lovely that she’ll have so many people from the village welcoming her too.”
    Then Gus looks at me.
    â€œHow’s it for you, Maya?” he says. “You must be so excited to have a sister at last.”
    I nod and fake a smile, but I pull my hand away from Mum’s. Gus makes me a hot chocolate with whippy cream and coffees for Mum and Dad. Rachel hands us three big slices of coffee-and-walnut cake.
    â€œOn the house,” she says, “Celebration time!”
    The Surf Shack is hot and steamy and filled with sunshine. Everyone’s crushed together on long wooden tables, and laughter and chatter spiral up to the ceiling with the smell of coffee and cake and cheesy garlic bread. Dad grabs some high stools and we huddle together at the bar. I sip my chocolate and try to nibble at my slice of cake because it’s my favourite, but it sits in my throat like a stone. I can’t get the idea of Mum and Dad liking Cat more than me out of my brain. It keeps whirring around and around and I know it’s stupid and it’s spoiling things, but I can’t help it.
    I go to the bathroom and splash my face with cold water. I go really close to the mirror and stare. I trace my finger over my reflection, around my hazel eyes and my lips and nose. I look horribletoday. My face is all tight and twitchy and pale. I’m supposed to look happy; I’m supposed to be excited. But what if Cat doesn’t like me? What if Mum and Dad do like her more? What happens to me then? I practise making a cheerful face. I take a big deep breath, fold up all my worries and tuck them deep inside my heart.
    â€œCan we hold hands?” says Mum, when I’m back from the bathroom. “Just for a moment?”
    â€œMuuuuuum,” I say, checking no one’s looking at me. “I’ll look like a total dork!”
    â€œYou won’t look like a dork,” says Dad. “You only ever look gorgeous. Listen to your mum, Maya; this is important.”
    I know it’s important. This is the last time it’s going to be just the three of us. It’s