Page 135 of Seven Letters

‘Well, when I look at you, all I see is Sarah. Your mummy is in you, Izzy,’ Mia said gently.

‘Daddy said she’s in my heart.’ Izzy began to sob.

Mia nodded. ‘He’s right, Izzy, she is. She’s always in your heart, but also in your eyes and your hair and your smile and your gorgeous personality, too.’

Johnny handed Mia a tissue. She wiped Izzy’s eyes and then her own.

‘Sarah would be very proud of you,’ Charlie croaked.

Izzy’s eyes were bright with more tears. ‘I’m proud of her too. But I wish … I wish she wasn’t gone. I thought she was going to wake up for my special day. I really believed it.’

‘It was the same with Granny Penny. Sometimes when you get super-sick you just can’t fight it.’ Mia held Izzy close. ‘But your mummy loved you more than anything or anyone. You were her world and she’ll always be watching over you, minding you, guiding you and protecting you.’

‘And you can still talk to her,’ Charlie said. ‘I still talk to Penny all the time.’

Olivia stiffened. ‘Do you?’

‘Uh-oh,’ Shocko whispered.

‘Yes, and she gives me great advice,’ Charlie said to Izzy.

‘Does she?’ Izzy said. ‘Can you hear her voice?’

‘In my head and my heart. If you listen, you’ll hear Sarah.’

Izzy stayed still. ‘I don’t hear her.’

‘It won’t happen all the time, but at night when you’re lying in bed, talk to her and see what happens,’ Charlie told her.

‘If he’s talking to your gran in bed, he mustn’t be shagging Olivia,’ Shocko whispered. ‘I mean, that would be way too weird.’

‘Sssh,’ Riley hissed.

‘I’ll do it tonight, Granddad.’

‘That’s my girl.’ Charlie kissed Izzy’s head.

‘We’re all here for you, pet,’ Johnny said. ‘If you feel sad or want to talk to Riley or Mia or Granddad or me or anyone, just pick up the phone. Anytime.’

‘Thank you, Johnny.’

‘We love you, Izzy. We love you so much. We’ll always be here for you,’ Mia said.

‘But that’s what Mummy said and now she’s gone,’ Izzy whispered.

Silence.

Riley wiped her eyes with her T-shirt and sniffed. ‘Well, I’m not going anywhere. Come on, this is supposed to be a good day for you. Let’s turn on that chocolate fountain and eat chocolate marshmallows until we puke. OK?’

Izzy half smiled. ‘OK.’

Shocko took out his phone and put on some music.

While Riley and Shocko distracted Izzy, Adam asked the adults to come into the lounge. They sat on the two couches, facing each other, and waited for him to speak.

Adam stood in the middle of the room, Rob beside him. From outside the door they could hear Riley saying, ‘No stopping until we puke,’ and Izzy giving a little laugh.

Adam smiled. ‘She’s great with Izzy.’

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