Page 116 of Seven Letters

‘I’m better than that. I feel happy for the first time in ages.’

Zach took her hand. ‘Your place or mine?’

‘Let’s go to mine.’

As they were leaving school, Riley saw Izzy walking out with Adam. She let go of Zach’s hand and ran over to them. ‘Izzy,’ she called.

Izzy turned and ran towards her, but Adam grabbed her and pulled her back. Riley marched forward.

‘Hey, gorgeous girl, are you excited about Sunday? Only two days to go.’ Riley ignored Adam.

Izzy wrenched her hand free and threw her arms around Riley. ‘Yes! I’m very excited and I want you to do my hair if Mummy hasn’t woken up.’

‘Of course I will. You can tell me exactly how you want it done.’

‘Izzy!’ Adam barked. ‘Come on.’

‘Hi, Adam.’ Riley glared at him.

‘Hi.’ Adam barely looked at Riley. ‘Izzy, we need to go.’

‘So what time will I call over on Sunday? Nine? I’ll need about an hour to do Izzy’s hair and get her ready.’

‘Me and Rob will do Izzy’s hair,’ Adam said.

Riley snorted. ‘Yeah, right. She’ll look a state.’

‘We’re fine, Riley. We don’t need anyone’s help.’

‘But, Daddy, I want Riley to do my hair,’ Izzy said.

‘Uhm, Izzy, can you go and talk to my friend Zach? He’s just over there. I want to talk to your dad for a minute.’

Izzy shrugged and went to Zach, who bent down to talk to her.

Riley rounded on Adam. ‘Why are you trying to keep Izzy away from us? Keeping her away from us is just punishing her. We love her, we’re her family.’

‘I don’t want any of you near her or me right now. I just need some space. You’re all trying to force me to give up on Sarah and my son, but I won’t.’

‘I don’t care what you do – ultimately, it’s your decision, even if I think it’s wrong. All I care about right now is Izzy. She’s lost her mum and now you’re trying to take her whole family away. Are you mad? She needs us more than ever. We’re not going to say anything to her about Sarah or the baby or any of it. All we want to do is make her happy.’

‘I don’t trust any of you. You’re all against me.’

Adam looked like crap. His eyes were red and small and stressed, and his face was so pale, like a grey pale, and he had stubble on his chin and his clothes were crumpled. He didn’t look like the Adam she’d always known. Mr Smart, always perfectly dressed and shaved and full of life. He was a wreck. Like one of those people you see on TV shows who are all paranoid and weird. Riley almost felt sorry for him. He looked like he was going to collapse.

‘Look, Adam, you need to stop being paranoid. No one is against you. All I want to do is call over and help Izzy with her hair, OK?’

He stared up at the sky briefly, then sighed. ‘OK, but Miais not to come. Only you. I can’t handle Mia telling me what to do.’

‘Fine, but for the record, you’re being a prick to Mum and Granddad. But I’ll park it for Izzy’s sake. I’ll see you at nine. I’ll bring all the clips and bows. Does she have a bag, tights and shoes?’

Adam rubbed his chin. ‘I don’t know, I think so. Sarah was always so …’ he stumbled over the words ‘… organized.’

Riley turned away quickly so she wouldn’t have to see the pain in his face. He was suffering more than all of them. He was losing half his family.

She walked over to Izzy.

‘An ice-cream van too!’ Zach was gushing.

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