Page 121 of Seven Letters

Adam sighed. ‘How about yoghurt and … and …’ Rob yanked open a cupboard and pulled out a packet. ‘And crackers?’ Adam said hopefully.

Izzy climbed down from the stool at the kitchen counter. Her face was bright red and her eyes were full of tears. ‘You are the worst daddy ever,’ she screamed. ‘This is the worst breakfast of my life. It’s supposed to be a super-special day, but it’s not. You can’t cook or shop or do hair or anythingthat Mummy does. I want Mummy, not you.’ She pushed him out of the way and ran out of the room.

Adam turned to catch her, but Izzy was too quick for him. She had slammed and locked her bedroom door by the time he caught up with her. Rob stood in the corridor, head bent.

‘Izzy, sweetheart, I’m sorry.’ Adam stood outside the door, listening to his daughter’s sobs.

‘I don’t want you. I want Mummy. I want everything to be the same, not all horrible. I hate this,’ she bawled.

‘Izzy, come on, let me in. I’ll –’

The doorbell rang. Rob looked out through the glass and mouthed, ‘Riley,’ to Adam.

Damn, Adam thought. Now she was going to come in and see what a rubbish job he was doing. She’d tell Mia and Charlie and they’d all think he was a total loser, incapable of even cooking a decent breakfast for his daughter.

‘Izzy, pet, just open the door and talk to me.’

‘NO!’ she shouted.

The doorbell rang again.

‘Will I let her in?’ Rob asked.

‘All right,’ Adam said, cursing under his breath.

Rob pulled open the door and smiled. ‘Morning, Riley.’

‘No need to rush, like, whenever you’re ready.’ Riley rubbed her bare arms in the cool morning shade.

‘Look, Izzy’s a bit upset, about her mum and stuff. She’s locked herself in her bedroom. I’m not sure she’ll come out for a bit. Do you want a cup of tea?’

Riley marched straight past him, then straight past Adam and went up to Izzy’s door. ‘Hey, Izzy, it’s me. Listen, I’ve got up early to come over here and make you into the most stunning, drop-dead gorgeous Communion girl ever seen. I may also have brought some treats. So open up and let me work my magic on you.’

To Adam’s surprise, the door lock clicked. Riley turned to grin at him and Rob. ‘That cup of tea would be great.’

Izzy locked the door again. Riley held out her arms and her little cousin ran into them, sobbing into her chest.

‘Hey, now, we can’t have a blotchy face on your special day. Get it all out in one big cry and then we’ll have to start work on making you perfect.’

‘Daddy made horrible pancakes and I shouted at him and I feel bad now, but I feel bad a lot cos of Mummy and I just wish so much that she was here.’

Riley ran her hands over her cousin’s hair. ‘I know. It sucks. Like, it really, really sucks, and you’re right to be sad and angry. Don’t worry about shouting at your dad. I feel like shouting at him, too. I know today isn’t exactly how you’d hoped it would be, but I’m going to make it as good as I can. Are you finished crying?’

Izzy pulled back and nodded. Riley tried not to mind the snot on her new T-shirt. She fished in her bag and handed Izzy a tissue. ‘Let’s get started.’ She pulled out the little chair beside Izzy’s desk and got her to sit down.

‘Wait, I have to finish cleaning my glasses.’ Izzy picked them up from her bed and rubbed them furiously with a cloth.

Riley sat beside her on the bed. ‘If you rub any harder, they’ll break. Besides, didn’t you say you weren’t going to wear your glasses on your Communion Day?’

‘Yes, but they have to be clean.’

Riley laid her hand over Izzy’s. ‘It’s OK, Izzy. I’m here now. We’re going to get you all done up so everyone in the church gasps and falls over when they see your stunning beauty. They’ll ask, “Who is that super-model?” and the priest will drop to his knees in front of you.’

Izzy giggled. ‘You’re crazy, Riley.’

While Izzy was distracted, Riley gently lifted the glasses out of her hands and put them behind her on the bed. ‘Slight exaggeration, but come on, we need to get started on beautifying your already beautifulness.’

Izzy stood up and threw her hands into the air. ‘I’m ready.’

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