Page 117 of Seven Letters

‘Yes, and a big ginormous chocolate cake with a little girl that looks like me on the top.’

Zach shook his head in awe. ‘You are one lucky girl.’

Riley wanted to kiss him again. She felt emotions rising in her chest. Not now, not in front of Izzy. ‘Hey, Izzy, your dad’s waiting, but I just wanted to check. Do you have tights, shoes and a bag?’

‘Oh, yes, Riley. Mummy got everything for me. It’s all hanging up in her wardrobe, all wrapped up so not even “one speck of dust can get on it”, Mummy said.’

‘Great.’ Riley smiled as widely as she could. ‘I’ll see you in two days. I can’t wait to help you get ready – we’ll have so much fun. I’ll bring sweets, but don’t tell your dad.’

Izzy hugged her. ‘I can’t wait, and the best part is that Mummy will wake up when she sees me in my dress. I know it for sure.’

Izzy ran back to Adam, who took her hand and marched her off without a glance in Riley’s direction.

‘Sweet kid,’ Zach said quietly.

Riley bent her head. The tears flowed freely now. ‘Herheart is going to be smashed into pieces when Sarah doesn’t wake up. It’s just not fair.’

Zach put his arm around Riley and she leaned into him, sobbing. ‘You’re great with her,’ he said.

‘I love her.’ Riley wept. ‘She can drive me nuts at times because she never, ever stops talking, but I really love her.’

‘I’m here for you, Riley.’

‘Promise?’

‘Promise.’

‘You won’t change your mind again and go back to Zoë?’

He smiled. ‘Never. You’re my Jo March.’

Riley felt her heart warm and her tears dry. With Zach by her side, things seemed a little less awful.

45

Mia opened the door and was greeted with the smell of roast beef. The house was warm and cosy. She rushed into the kitchen and threw her arms around Johnny. ‘I’m so glad to be home.’

‘Bad day?’

She nodded into his neck. ‘But I feel so much better now. Did you cook beef? My favourite.’

He smiled. ‘Yes, and roast potatoes and parsnips.’

Mia kissed him. ‘I might just love you, Johnny.’

She looked at the table. It was set with a candle in the middle and their good plates. It was like a celebration. Mia’s heart leaped. He must have got the job. Yes! That was it. Oh, thank God, some good news.

Mia felt like she smelt of hospital so she ran up the stairs to have a quick shower and wash away the horrible day. She wanted to have a nice meal with Johnny, one in which she didn’t cry over her sister. One in which she didn’t feel as if she was going to choke on her food.

She leaned against the shower wall and closed her eyes. She could picture her father hunched over in the chair beside Sarah’s bed, weeping. He’d come to say a final goodbye to her today. Sarah was worse. More infections were ravaging her body and they were finding it impossible to get them all under control. He’d said he didn’t want to remember his beautiful daughter like this. It was too painful. He wouldn’t come again.

Mia and Rob had had to go in and lift him out of the chairand into the waiting room. He was broken. Utterly broken. It had been devastating to see her father like that. Thank God Angela was there to talk to him and help him to recover enough to walk to the car. Mia had driven him home, where Olivia was waiting.

Mia wanted to stop seeing Sarah too, but she felt as if she’d be abandoning her. Even though she was dead, it felt wrong. She needed to keep going in until the end. Please, God, may the end be soon, she prayed.

Mia dried herself and decided to put on a dress. Since Johnny had gone to so much trouble, she wanted to make a little effort too. She patted concealer over the black bags under her eyes and put on some lipstick.

When she walked in, the dinner was waiting. Johnny produced a bottle of wine and poured her a big glass.

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