Page 124 of Seven Letters

‘Yes.’ Izzy beamed.

Riley let Izzy go first and watched Adam’s face when he saw her. Rob put his hand to his mouth.

‘Oh, Izzy,’ Adam said, his voice hoarse. ‘You look so like … so like your mum. So … beautiful.’ Adam rubbed his hand over his face and tried to get a grip. ‘Sorry, Sweet-pea, Daddy’s just so proud of you and blown away by your dress and everything.’

‘It’s OK, Daddy.’ Izzy patted his arm. ‘When Mummy sees me later, I bet she cries too.’

Rob and Riley exchanged a look. Adam swallowed hard and tried to speak, but no words came out. Riley knew he needed help.

She clapped her hands together. ‘Come on, everyone! The Communion girl is not allowed to be late. I want Izzy to make a big entrance and for everyone to be awed by her magnificence.’

‘Yes,’ Adam agreed. ‘Let’s go, princess.’ Izzy walked out through the front door and Adam turned back to Riley. ‘Thank you,’ he said.

‘You’re welcome, Adam.’

‘You’re an absolute star,’ Rob said. ‘This is so hard, but you’re doing better than us.’

‘It’s all about Izzy,’ Riley said.

They walked out together. Adam carefully helped Izzy into the car.

Riley waved them off and hopped on her bike. She rode away just as the tears began to fall. She gazed up at the blue sky. ‘Oh, Sarah, you would be so proud of her,’ she whispered.

47

Mia stood outside the church, welcoming her class as they arrived and showing the children and their parents to their allocated seats. She’d been awake most of the night, crying for her sister. She knew how much Sarah had been looking forward to Izzy’s Communion Day, and how much work she had put into planning it so it would be perfect.

She hoped she’d cried out her daily allowance of tears, so that she would be able to hold it together today and be professional. Mrs Kelly had offered to let her skip the day, but Mia knew how much her class were looking forward to it and she wanted to be there for them. Besides, it was a distraction she needed badly.

Mia watched proud mothers holding their daughters’ hands, fixing their hair, straightening their dresses and beaming down at them, love emanating from every pore. She felt herself wobble and pinched her arm to keep control.

She was doing quite well until she saw Izzy. It was as if a light was shining over the little girl’s head. She looked so like Sarah. Mia felt a surge of pain as a memory hit her. Sarah was about ten: she’d got a new white dress and she’d slept with her hair in plaits so it would be wavy. That morning she’d burst into Mia’s room where she was studying, and pranced about, swishing her hair and singing, ‘I Feel Pretty’. Mia gazed at Izzy: she was Sarah in miniature, like a reincarnation. Mia clung to the railing at the side of the church as she tried to suppress the memory and the pain.

Izzy saw her and ran over. ‘Hi, Mia! I want to hug you, butRiley said not to until everyone has seen my dress and my hair. Do you like my hair? I love it. Riley is so clever.’

Somehow Mia pulled herself together. ‘Yes, I love your hair. You’re a vision of loveliness. Am I allowed to kiss your cheek?’

Izzy grinned and nodded.

Mia kissed her. She wanted to put her arms around the little girl and never let her go. She was as close to Sarah as Mia could get now: her sister’s living, breathing child. Mini-Sarah.

‘I have something for you,’ Mia said. She fished in her pocket and pulled out a silver bracelet, with one charm hanging from it: a little silver angel.

‘Ooh!’ Izzy held out her arm as Mia closed the chain around her wrist.

‘Every year on your birthday I’m going to buy you a new charm. This first one is an angel because you’re an angel and also because it’s like a guardian angel to watch over you.’ Mia coughed to clear the lump in her throat.

‘It’s beautiful,’ Izzy said quietly. ‘Thank you, Mia. I’ll show it to Mummy later. She’ll love it, too!’

‘Izzy,’ Adam called, ‘I told you not to run ahead.’

Izzy spun around. ‘Look, Daddy, Mia bought me an angel bracelet.’ She wriggled her arm in front of Adam’s face.

Adam nodded. ‘Very nice. Come on, we should go in.’

‘Are you coming, Mia?’ Izzy said, holding out her hand.

‘You go on, sweetie. I’ll see you inside.’

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