Page 135 of Good Girl, Bad Blood

Connor’s hand went slack against Pip’s, his jaw falling open.

Arthur straightened up, tears spilling down into his bared mouth.

‘It’s not Jamie,’ he said.

‘What?’ Joanna stood up, clutching her face.

‘It’s not Jamie,’ Arthur said again, choking over a sob, placing his phone down. ‘It’s someone else. His family just identified him. It’s not Jamie.’

‘It’s not Jamie?’ Joanna said, like she didn’t dare believe it yet.

‘It’s not him,’ Arthur said, staggering forward to pull her into him, crying down in her hair. ‘It’s not our boy. Not Jamie.’

Connor unstuck from Pip, his cheeks flushed and tear-streaked, and he folded himself in around his parents. They held each other and they cried, and it was a cry of relief and grief and confusion. They’d lost him for a while. For a few minutes, in their heads and in hers, Jamie Reynolds had been dead.

But it wasn’t him.

Pip held the sleeve of her jumper to her eyes, tears falling hot, soaking into the fabric.

Thank you, she thought to that invisible person in her head.Thank you.

They had another chance.

She had one last chance.

Pip:

OK, recording. Are you OK?

Arthur:

Yes. I’m ready.

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