Page 46 of Daydreams & Doughnut Cake

My throat felt choked and tears were pricking at my eyelids. I hadn’t felt so wretched in a very long time. I was still shaking from the shock.

When my mobile rang, my heart swooped with dread.

What if it was Jackie, phoning with more damning accusations? All of which I was sure I deserved...

But the name that flashed up was ‘Mum’.

I thought about letting it go to voicemail. I could phone her back later when I’d pulled myself together. But the way I was feeling right now, I really needed to hear her voice... to talk to someone who loved me unconditionally. I missed her so much...

‘Mum?’

‘Rosie, love. I had to phone you straight away with the news!’

‘The news?’

‘Yes. Guess what? We’ve sold the business!’

‘Really? Oh, that’s amazing, Mum.’

‘I know. Malcolm’s popping the champagne. I just wish you could be here to join us.’

‘Me, too,’ I mumbled, all sorts of emotions rushing through me.

‘Oh, Rosie, I can’t believe it. We’re coming home!’

Her words opened the floodgates and tears were suddenly flooding down my face. I hadn’t realised quite how much I’d missed having Mum and Malcolm close by.

‘Oh, are you crying, love?’

‘Yes,’ I sobbed. ‘But they’re happy tears.’

‘I wish I could be there to give you a hug.’

‘So do I.’

‘Soon, my love. Very soon.’

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

The Maisie Diaries

A further update . . .

After the embarrassing thing where Reuben said he’d never ask me out because he thought I was weird, Amy and I told our friend Fergie about it.

Fergie was full of ALL KINDS of suggestions for where the cinema ticket should end up, most of which were really hilarious but too rude for me to write down here (just in case Mum or Dad ever read it).

So then Fergie came up with this BRILLIANT PLAN for how I can get my own back on Reuben. We haven’t worked out the details yet but it’s looking like a banger of an idea!

Fergie has gone up quite a lot in my estimation. I knew he was clever but I never realised he could be so EVIL!!!! (In a nice way, obvs.)

Rosie

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

It was the day after my shock confrontation with Jackie and I was still feeling shaken by it.

Mum phoning with the wonderfully happy news that she and Malcolm had sold the business and would be coming home for good had given me such a boost. But I hadn’t slept well. My head was still all over the place.

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