Page 139 of Seven Letters

‘Well, she’s at peace now, thank God,’ Charlie said. ‘She’s with Penny.’

‘May she rest in peace,’ Rob said.

‘Amen,’ Johnny added.

‘Goodbye, Sarah, love you,’ Riley whispered.

Mia put an arm around her daughter. ‘Goodbye, Sarah. Mum will look after you and Ben now. Rest easy.’

Adam laid a single rose on Sarah’s chest. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. ‘Goodbye, my love. Thank you for loving me and allowing me to love you. You taught me what true love is and you made me a better man.’

They all wiped tears from their eyes and filed out of the room. There, lined up along the corridor, were the medical team and the ICU nurses. They shook their hands and the eyes of each one were full of tears.

Saying goodbye to Angela was the hardest. She cried openly. ‘It’s been an honour to care for Sarah and get to know you all,’ she said, embracing them one by one. ‘You are a wonderful family. Stay close and be kind to each other.’ Her beeper sounded, and she turned to go back to the ICU, to help another patient and another family.

They walked through the waiting room, where they had spent so much time over the last three weeks, went down inthe lift, then through hospital Reception and out into the warm summer’s day.

‘Coffee?’ Adam suggested.

‘Sure,’ Mia said.

‘I’ve got to head off.’ Johnny took out his car keys.

‘I thought you were taking Riley back to school,’ Mia said.

‘Yeah, no, I can’t, sorry. I have to work on that – I have to go.’

Before Mia could say anything else, Johnny had scuttled off.

‘I can drop Riley to school and you home,’ Charlie said.

‘Thanks, Dad,’ Mia said, but she was annoyed with Johnny for rushing off like that, especially now, after what had just happened.

They walked to the coffee shop across the road from the hospital. Rob ordered coffee, cake and buns.

‘We need sugar and comfort,’ he said, placing a big plate laden with food on the table.

They all looked at it, but no one felt like eating.

Adam reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out two velvet pouches. Looking at Mia and Riley he said, ‘Now that I’m thinking clearly again, I want you to know how much it means to me that you have been so brilliant to Izzy and to me over this godawful time. I wanted to give you these as a thank-you from me – well, from Sarah – to you.’ He handed one to Riley and one to Mia.

‘What are they?’ Riley asked.

‘Something of Sarah’s that I know she’d like you to have and that I want you to have. Izzy helped me choose them.’

Riley opened hers, and gasped. It was a pair of diamond stud earrings. ‘Oh, Adam, are you sure?’

‘Positive. You’ve been a rock, Riley, and I’m sorry I was so awful to you.’

Riley grinned. ‘These will help me forget a lot quicker.’ She pulled out her little silver studs and put in the diamonds.

Mia’s hands were shaking so she took a little longer to open her pouch. Inside was Sarah’s Tiffany necklace, the one she wore every day. It had a thin silver chain and a diamond S. ‘Oh, Adam.’ She burst into tears.

He reached for her hand. ‘It’ll keep her close to you. No one deserves to wear it more than you.’

‘Thank you. I’ll never take it off.’ Riley helped her with the clasp. Mia held the S to her neck and felt a rush of warmth.

Charlie patted Adam’s shoulder. ‘Well done. That’s a lovely gesture.’

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