Page 150 of Seven Letters

‘It’s no big deal. I hardly ever played it. Izzy deserves it.’ She held out an envelope. ‘I got you this with the rest of the money. Open it later.’

Mia put the envelope into her pocket. ‘Thank you.’

‘Well, we’d better go. Tell Johnny goodbye from us.’

‘You know he’d have been here if it wasn’t his second day at his new job,’ Mia said.

‘I’m delighted he’s working again – it’s brilliant news.’

It wasn’t a great job, but while he waited for a journalism job to come up Johnny had decided to teach English to foreign students. The pay was quite good and he was happy to be busy and contributing again.

‘Did Dad call you?’ Mia asked.

‘Charlie FaceTimed last night. Their cruise had just reached Capri. He looked well.’

Mia smiled. ‘He needed to get away. Olivia was right to drag him off.’ She bent down and picked up Izzy. ‘Well, my beautiful and most favourite niece, I’m going to miss you. But I want you to promise me you’ll have the best time ever. Enjoy this exciting adventure in Canada.’

‘I will,’ Izzy said. ‘But I wish you were coming too.’

‘We’ll Skype every week and the time will fly by.’ Mia kissed her.

‘I love you, Mia, you’re the best aunty in the world.’

‘I love you too.’ She put her down and Izzy ran to Riley.

‘Thanks for my owl. I love him.’

‘No problem. And, hey, have fun! Come back soon. I’ll miss our sleepovers and our chats. I’ll have my bed ready for the night you come back – we can stay up all night andhave a midnight feast and you can tell me all about Canada. OK?’

‘OK. Promise you won’t get a new best friend when I’m gone?’

‘No one could ever be better than you.’ Riley kissed her.

Adam took his daughter’s hand. ‘Come on, time to go.’

They walked out to the hall. Izzy hugged them one last time and began to cry.

‘No tears now, go and have fun. We love you and we’re here for you.’ Mia nudged her gently towards the car.

As they drove off, Izzy waved out of the back window and Mia felt tears running down her face.

Riley ran into the house, sobbing. She raced up to her room and closed the door.

Mia shut the front door and went back to the kitchen, her hands in her pockets. She felt a rustle. It was the envelope Riley had given her.

She opened it. Inside was a memory stick. Mia opened her laptop and plugged it in.

Music started playing – Whitney Houston singing ‘I Will Always Love You’–and then photos … lots and lots of photos … memories … beautiful memories. Sarah as a baby, Sarah as a toddler. Mia and Sarah, Penny and Sarah, Charlie and Sarah, all of them together. Holidays, Christmases, Halloweens, weddings, christenings and then the final photo, Mia and Sarah roaring laughing into the camera. Sisters. Best friends.

Mia put her head in her hands and wept.

She heard a noise behind her. ‘I didn’t mean to upset you.’

Mia stood up and threw her arms around her daughter. ‘I love it – I love you. I love you more than I can ever say. Thank you. Thank you for this precious gift.’

‘I love you, Mum, and I think you rock and I know I don’tsay it enough, but I do. I probably won’t say it again for ages because it’s just really awkward.’

Mia smiled. ‘This is enough, Riley. You are enough. I have everything I need, right here in this house. I am so lucky. It took Sarah dying to make me realize how lucky.’

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