Page 128 of The Art of Loving You

‘We really should have hung more pictures in there, it’s so bare. What if—’

‘What if you go and get changed? Honestly, everything is under control. Your mum is in there sorting out the refreshments. Everything is fine.’

‘But—’

‘Get ready,’ Liam says, no longer the child.

I check my watch and hurry back to the house. It’s a big day. I want to look my best.

I stand in front of the mirror, nervously smoothing down my orange dress – it isn’t the day for black – and the pixie cut that feathers my skull.There’s the sound of car doors. Chatter below my window. People are beginning to arrive.

Downstairs, the house is full of colour and life. It is packed with lots of people I don’t know – Noah has done a fabulous job with publicity – and some that I do. Alice and Mum are waiting at the bottom of the stairs. The hallway has been decorated; I chose a burgundy similar to the original.

My mind travels back to moving-in day, gazing at the faded patches on the dark walls where family photos had once hung. Jack’s arms around my waist, his lips on my neck.

‘We’ll fill the house with new memories,’ Jack had whispered.

Now myriad frames display before and after photos of the house, the project that once felt insurmountable tackled with love, bit by bit.

Square by square.

Mum squeezes my arm. ‘You look beautiful.’

‘You smell good too.’ Alice smiles.

I take a deep breath, Jack’s aftershave filling my nostrils. I’ve taken to wearing it on special occasions and it doesn’t get more special than this. I begin to wobble and take a breath.

Happy thoughts only tonight.

I scan the kitchen. Sitting on one of the chairs is Mum’s neighbour, Mabel. Leaning on his walking stick, engaging her in deep conversation, is Sid. Mabel’s fingers play with her necklace as she laughs.

Mabel Mackay, you flirt.

I smile.

It’s never too late for love.

Mum nudges me. ‘I brought Sid round for tea once and he came with me to give Mabel her dinner.We ended up eating together and they really got on well. I saw him get out of a taxi last week and assumed he’d come to visit me but instead it was her door he knocked on,’ she tells me. ‘They’ve really hit it off, more than I’d realised. They’ve been texting non-stop. Mabel made a joke yesterday about having a toy boy.’

I’m glad.

‘Libby.’ A voice to my left says my name. It’s Noah.

‘I want to introduce you to someone.’ He ushers the woman standing behind him, forwards. I spot the resemblance immediately.

‘This is Bethany, my sister. I kept thinking about our conversation, choices, and I found her online and reached out.’

‘I’m so pleased for you both. Hello Bethany.’

‘Hi,’ she says shyly.

‘Thanks, Libby,’ Noah says.

‘What are friends for?’ I swiftly hug him before I move away to gather my thoughts. If it hadn’t been for Jack dying they wouldn’t have found each other again. Mum and Alice would likely never have got to know Sid properly. Liam would never have been given so much responsibility and the opportunity to shine. Mabel might never have met Sid, had a second chance at love.

The butterfly effect. The delicate flutter of wings. The tiniest change doesn’t always lead to chaos, catastrophe, an ordered life falling apart as I’d thought.

Sometimes it leads to new beginnings. Friendship.

---