Page 98 of Seven Letters

‘Well, it’s a disgrace the way Adam’s treating his father-in-law,’ Olivia said. ‘My Robert said you need to push back with bullies. Push back hard, he said. Show him you’re not afraid of him and you will not be told what to do. He needs to know you’re not doormats.’

‘Amazingly, I agree with Olivia,’ Mia said.

Johnny poured them all tea. ‘But Mia’s right, too. We need to tread carefully. If we end up in a legal fight with Adam, it could turn very nasty.’

‘He’s the one who’s turned nasty,’ Charlie said.

‘I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d say this, but I’m now praying the baby will die soon.’ Mia wiped her eyes with a tissue. ‘I feel so bad for even thinking that.’

Riley handed her mum a KitKat too. Maybe it would help. Mia unwrapped it, broke off a piece and rolled it between her fingers. Riley could see the chocolate melting.

‘I want it all to be over. It’s too much pain and sadness,’ Mia said.

‘It is, pet, it really is.’ Charlie reached over and took Mia’s chocolaty hand in his.

‘Do you think Rob can talk him round?’ Johnny said. ‘I’ve a feeling he’s really torn about this.’

‘Rob is just hanging in there, being the one ally Adam has,’ Mia said. ‘I suppose, as his brother, that’s all he can do, regardless of what he thinks.’

‘So what should we do, then?’ Johnny said. ‘Are we going to use Olivia’s son and get legal?’

Mia and Charlie exchanged a look. ‘I’d really rather not,’ Mia said. ‘It would be a dangerous move.’

‘I’m sorely tempted,’ Charlie said, ‘but Adam is so much in shock, he’s not capable of rational thought. A letter isn’t going to change that.’

‘Are you all going to stay away from the hospital?’ Olivia asked.

‘I don’t really want to see Sarah again,’ Charlie said quietly, ‘but I’d still like to be able to go there, talk to the doctors and be near her.’

‘Me too,’ Mia said. ‘The only time I’m at peace is when I’m next to her. I need that.’

Riley felt a stab of pain through her heart. She had lost her aunt, but she had no idea what it was like to lose a sister. She couldn’t imagine what her mother was going through.

‘Then we continue to visit and try not to antagonize Adam?’ Johnny said.

‘I suppose,’ Mia said. ‘Although he’ll get riled up no matter how nice we are to him.’ She sighed. ‘There’s no good option. It’s one rotten choice after another.’

‘Adam will come round,’ Johnny said. ‘I know it feels unending, but there’s no way he can ignore what’s happening to Sarah. He’s resisting the truth, but it’s there and he can’t change it. It’s hard to like him at the moment, but we have to treat him with kindness.’

‘That’s a tall order, Johnny,’ Charlie said, shaking his head.

‘We’ll try,’ Mia said, putting her other hand over Charlie’s.

Riley wondered if she should get them some kitchen roll to wipe the chocolate off their hands, but she was afraid to move. Everyone was silent and still. Her heart ached, for her mum, for her granddad, for Sarah, but most of all for Izzy.

38

‘Mummy always washes my hair,’ Izzy screamed. ‘Not you! Mummy! You don’t know how. She dries it all fluffy and wavy and makes me look beautiful.’

‘I’m sure I can do that, if you show me how,’ Adam pleaded. ‘Uncle Rob will help and we’ll do it, I promise, Izzy.’

‘Sure,’ Rob said. He was leaning against the frame of the bathroom door, watching his brother be mentally defeated by a seven-year-old. ‘I’m pretty good at doing hair, Izzy. You know that.’

Izzy crossed her arms. ‘No hair washing. I told you, I want to go and see Mummy. If she knows my hair is dirty and knotty, she’ll wake up. She hates dirty hair and knots. She always brushed my hair before I went to bed, like a real princess.’

‘Izzy, I explained that you can’t see Mummy right now.’

‘Why?’ she demanded, her bottom lip quivering.

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