Page 159 of Our Secrets and Lies

Tom smiled. ‘I do, actually. She died when I was ten months old, so I never knew her. Her photos are my memories. I have a nice one here.’ He pulled it out of his wallet.

Kelly gulped. ‘Oh, my God, she’s me.’

‘Yes, and you’re her.’

‘And you.’ Kelly smiled shyly.‘When I saw you in the kitchen that day, it was the first time I’d ever seen anyone who looked like me. I knew immediately you were my dad. Dylan is so like Mum and Mum is like Granddad and, well, it’s nice to see where I come from.’

‘You come from a long line of beautiful women. My mother was a lovely person by all accounts, just like you.’

‘Oh, I’m not always lovely. Ask Mum – we fight a lot.I can be quite feisty when I want to be. I guess these last few months have just knocked my spirit a bit.’ Kelly closed her eyes.

‘Hey, I’ve stayed too long. You’re tired and you need to rest.’

Kelly squeezed his hand. ‘No, please don’t go.’

‘I’m here for as long as you want me, sweetie.’

‘For ever?’

Tom caught his breath. ‘If you’ll have me.’

Kelly closed her eyes and went to sleep smiling.

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