Page 154 of Our Secrets and Lies

‘Of course.’

Lucy opened the door and called him.

‘I made you this.’ He held up a lopsided wooden cross.

‘Oh, wow, thanks.’ Kelly took it from him and turned it around in her hands.

‘A big cross, how sweet of you, Ollie,’ Lucy said.

‘What?’ He snorted. ‘It’s not a cross! It’s a sword to fight off those bitches with. See?’ He showed Kelly how to hold it.‘You can stab them with the end of it. Well, not really stabthem. Billy said I couldn’t make it too pointy or someone could get seriously injured, but I wanted to. I wanted to make it really spiky so you could stab those horrible girls and watch their blood gush out. Then school will be okay again because they won’t be there to mess it up for you.’

‘It’s a wonderful present. Thanks so much,Ollie.’ Kelly smiled at him.

‘I want you to be safe in school, Kelly. I have kids call me names like “retard” and “special”, and sometimes, if my friend Larry isn’t in school, I eat my lunch in the toilet too. But I never had anyone video me and put up horrible things online. That’s way worser. So I want you to be able to protect yourself.’

‘I honestly think this is the best present I ever got.And if anyone is mean to you in school, please tell your mum and dad. They’ll protect you, Ollie. That’s what parents do.’

Lucy felt her heart twist. She hadn’t protected Kelly. The pain of knowing that was excruciating.

‘Well, I’ll see you soon,’ Ollie said. ‘Billy’s waiting for me, and we’re going to make a big star for the top of your Christmas tree.’

‘See you, Ollie, and remember, you’respecial in a brilliant way.’

He grinned. ‘You too.’

Lucy smiled at Kelly. ‘He’s gas, isn’t he?’ she said. ‘But his heart is very firmly in the right place.’ She stroked her daughter’s brow. ‘Are you hungry?’

‘Sure, I’ll eat something.’

‘What would you like? I’ll make you anything. Anything you want, just name it.’

‘Uhm, toast would be fine.’

‘White? Brown? Gluten-free? Wholegrain? Sourdough?’

Kelly laughed. ‘White is fine. Just one slice, thanks.’

Lucy smiled. ‘Sorry. I know I’m probably driving you nuts, but I just want to look after you and help you to get your strength back.’

‘I know, and I will.’ She looked at her mother. ‘I’m sorry, Mum. This has been a huge strain on you. Finding me like that must have been awful.’

Lucy sat on the edge of the couch. ‘It was,’ she said, ‘butI don’t think about that. I just think how glad I am that we got there in time. You have nothing to be sorry for, darling, not one tiny thing. I love you so much. You’re the centre of this whole family. We’d all fall apart without you. I’m … I’m just so sorry for pushing you so hard that you broke.’

‘I didn’t break, Mum,’ Kelly said. ‘I know it might sound crazy, but all this has taught me thatI’m stronger than I thought I was. Maybe stronger than any of you thought I was. And come on,’ she said, poking Lucy playfully, ‘Dylan is the centre of the family. We all know that.’

Lucy didn’t smile. She took her daughter’s face in her hands. ‘No, Kelly, you are. You’re the one who looks out for Granddad, Dylan and me. You spend your life trying to keep us all happy. You’re the key to thisfamily, the most important person by miles. Don’t ever forget that. But now I want you to stop worrying about everyone else and just be a kid. Be a teenager, and let all of us look after you.’

Kelly smiled. ‘That sounds good to me.’

Lucy kissed her cheek. She left the room to get her daughter some toast. It was up to Lucy to fix the damaged daughter that she had put in harm’s way. She wouldspend the rest of her life making it up to Kelly, no matter what she had to do.

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