Page 152 of Our Secrets and Lies

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Kelly lay wrapped in blankets on the couch. Jenny stroked her forehead. ‘How are you doing, sweetheart?’

‘Good, thanks. I feel stronger each day.’

Jenny kissed her head. ‘We’re so glad to have you home. Do you need anything? Another duvet? Pillow? Tea?’

Kelly smiled. ‘I’m fine, honestly. Mum’s been fussing over me. I have everything I need.’

She seemed so young and frail, it was hard notto cry just looking at her. Jenny stood up to go. ‘I’ll let you have a little snooze.’

‘Jenny?’

‘Yes, love?’

‘It feels like a kind of miracle that my dad turned up when I most needed him.’

Jenny smiled. ‘I guess you could say that.’

‘He seems really nice.’

Jenny picked up a magazine from the floor and put it on the coffee-table. ‘Yes, he does.’

‘Do you think Mum will let him come and visitme here? He’s been texting me and I’d like to see him properly.’

‘Well, it’s been a shock to all of us, especially your mum. I think she just needs a little bit of time to get used to the idea that Tom is here.’

Kelly rubbed her eyes. ‘Will you have a word with her? She listens to you. I don’t want her to think I’m going to run off with him or anything. I’d just like to get to know him, that’sall.’

Jenny stroked her cheek. ‘I will, pet. I’ll talk to her. But it has been a massive shock, so you might need to be patient, okay?’

Kelly nodded. Jenny went to stand up again, but Kelly reached out and took her hand. ‘Jenny, I’m sorry,’ she said. ‘For the grief I caused. I’m really sorry.’

‘Don’t even think about it,’ Jenny said, squeezing her hand. ‘You never have to apologize for beingsad and overwhelmed. I’m sorry I didn’t see how bad it was.’

‘But what I did … I shouldn’t have. I should have talked to you, or someone. I didn’t plan it, Jenny. I want you to know that.’

Jenny bit back tears. ‘I’m really glad to hear that,’ she said. ‘But please, Kelly, don’t ever let things get so bad again. I’m always here for you. Always. I’m Team Kelly, every step of the way.’

‘I knowthat,’ Kelly said. ‘Thank you.’

Lucy was in the garden, sitting on the bench in the corner, her face up to the weak winter sun. Billy and Ollie were in the shed, banging and hammering. Whatever they were making involved a lot of noise and effort. Thankfully, Frank Sinatra singing ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ was drowning most of the noise.

‘Penny for your thoughts?’ Jenny asked, as she sat down nextto her.

Lucy opened her eyes. ‘I honestly don’t know what my thoughts are any more.’ She looked exhausted. Her skin was pale and black shadows hung under her eyes.

‘It’s been a crazy few days. You’ll need a bit of time to process it all.’

‘The important thing is that Kelly’s home,’ Lucy said.

‘Absolutely. She said she feels a little stronger today, still wiped out, though.’

‘The doctors saidit’ll take her weeks to get her strength back. We have to build her up – she isn’t eating much.’

‘She’ll be okay. Kelly’s a fighter, like her mother.’

‘I feel like a loser, not a fighter,’ Lucy said.

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