Page 125 of The In-Laws

‘I don’t know,’ Melanie said nervously. ‘It’s very high.’

‘We’ve watched people do it every time we’ve come here. Now it’s our turn to be brave,’ Katie urged her on.

‘I’ve taken so many leaps of faith in the last year, what’s one more?’ Amanda said.

And with that, she threw herself off the rock and dropped into the water below.

Katie whooped.

Melanie shrugged. ‘What the hell?’ she said, and leapt in.

Laughing, Katie jumped after them.

Their screams and gasps as they hit the cold water could be heard for miles.

‘God, that feels so good.’ Amanda’s face shone as she shivered.

‘I needed that. I was up until three working,’ Melanie admitted, treading water.

‘You need to be careful or you’ll burn out,’ Katie warned her.

Melanie shook her head. ‘I won’t. I’m loving every second of it. I’ve never felt so energized or motivated. Amanda works really long hours, too.’

‘I’m a bit jealous of you two working together,’ Katie admitted.

‘You’re always welcome at the agency,’ Melanie told her.

‘I know my lane, and my lane is hair. But thanks.’

‘Christ, it’s cold. Come on, we’ve done the ballsy jump, time for a hot cuppa,’ Amanda said, striking out for the shore.

The others followed her. They ran up to the towels and pulled on their dry-robes, snuggling into them. The rain fell lighter and by the time they were dressed, it had stopped. They abandoned their wet towels and went to sit on the wall.

‘How are you coping with all the baby stuff?’ Katie asked Amanda.

She shrugged. ‘I’m not going to lie, it feels strange and confronting. Sometimes I feel like an outsider in my own family. I’m not sure how it’s all going to pan out, to be honest. I’ll give it until Theo heads off to university, and then if things aren’t better, if Ross and I are not in a better place, I’ll leave him. I was terrified of my marriage breaking up before, but now I know I can manage on my own, thanks to you two, so I feel I have options.’

‘Look at us! Who’d have thought we’d become best mates?’ Katie grinned.

‘Not me anyway.’ Amanda laughed.

‘Nor me,’ Melanie agreed.

‘But I want to say to you both that you have been my rocks.’ Amanda’s voice shook with emotion. ‘Honestly, I would not have got through the last few months without you. I’ve never had real friends before. I was so busy trying to be friends with the “right people” when all the time the best people were in front of my nose.’

‘You’ve saved me too, helping keep me off the booze, deal with Nancy and learn to read. What would I do without you?’ Katie said.

‘And me,’ Melanie said. ‘What a few months it’s been. You both encouraged me to leave the agency and Amanda is my rock in work. And, Katie, I cannot tell you howmuch I appreciate the chats you’ve had with the twins. It’s made such a big difference to my relationship with them and how they’re coping with everything.’

‘Ah, stop, I’m getting emotional now.’ Katie fought back tears. It had been a roller-coaster of a time, but moments like this were so precious.

‘They may not always appreciate it, but how lucky are the three boys to have married us,’ Amanda said.

‘Ross and Jamie were blessed,’ Melanie said, ‘but I’m not sure how lucky Frank was.’

‘Yes, he was!’ Amanda wagged a finger in Melanie’s face. ‘You gave him two beautiful girls and a lovely home and have supported him for decades.’

‘They all made good choices,’ Katie agreed. ‘Lucky for us they did or we’d never have met. Let’s be honest, we’d never have been drawn to each other naturally, but we were thrown together and look what happened?’

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