“Vietnam.” Andy nods. “Yep. Yep, am.”

“So you came all the way back home

for Holly?”

ask.

“Well, no …,” he confesses sheepishly, hands deep in

his pockets. “Not exactly …”

“Then …?”

540

“Well …” He sighs, shuffling his feet through the

leaves as he shuffles closer. “I realized I’d left something

behind …”

“Oh?” The scent of his aftershave drifts on the

breeze as he moves closer.

“The same thing

keep leaving—the most

important thing of all.”

“Your passport?” whisper, his breath warm on my

face.

“No, idiot. Much more important than that.” He

grins, brushing my hair behind my ear. “I keep leaving

you.”

My heart flips, my skin tingling at his touch.

“I thought

was missing out, being stuck in tiny

Provincetown, that was getting in the way and missing

my trip—the adventure I’d looked forward to and worked

for and planned for so long …” He sighs. “I didn’t get it.

You’re the adventure, Rose— you’re the trip! You’re bloody roller coaster!” He grins. “You’re what made New

York so incredible—you’re what made me want to go

traveling in the first place. This is our dream. Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand

it doesn’t mean anything unless

you’re there.”

He looks deep into my eyes and my pulse races.

“I can’t go without you, Rose.” He shakes his head.

“There’s no point—I’d rather not go at all. I’ll wait for you,

we’ll travel together.” He cups my face gently, smiles.

“When you’re ready

I’m gonna be right here waiting for

541

you,” he promises, pulling me close, searching my eyes.

“However long it takes.”

look at him and can hardly breathe, my heart

thumping like crazy against his, my necklace nestled

between.

“I love you, Rosie Kenning, and want to be with

you. Full stop.”

“I love you too.” smile, and he kisses me,

long,

deep, lingering kiss that thrills through my veins and

makes my head spin dizzily, as only Andy can. kiss him

back, holding him as tight as possible—like I’ll never let

him go again.

“Oi, no snogging on the driveway, young lady!” Jack

shouts.

laugh, my cheeks hot as

turn to grin at him

standing by the doorway with Nana, Holly and Sarah.

“Can we cadge lift to the airport, young man?” he

calls.

“Certainly, sir!” Andy salutes, kissing me again

before going to unlock his car.

take

deep breath and steel myself, my insides

twisting. hate goodbyes.

walk up the driveway, gazing fondly at the little

bungalow, at Nana in the doorway, and my heart aches.

know I’m doing the right thing. It’s time to go home. For

all of us. Them to New England. Me to my old England.

More or less.

It’s so weird—it’s only been few weeks, just over

month, really, since left, but it seems like

lifetime. So

542

much has happened, so much has changed. Yet here

nothing has so much as shifted position. Nana’s garden

gnome is still fishing determinedly in the frozen pond, the

hall clock still runs two minutes fast, the old family-photo

collage still hangs at

jaunty angle beneath—I even bet

Cary Grant’s still in the DVD player. Everything the same

as it always was, as it always has been—ever since Mum

was little girl.

Mum My heart floods with love for her. My mother,

my mum. She always was. She always will be. She beams

down at me from multitude of photos, her chestnut hair

gleaming in the afternoon sunlight. Trudie

“Oh, Rosie, I’m so happy you’re home.” Nana smiles,

and suddenly see Mum there too—in Nana’s sparkling

eyes, her bright smile, the warmth of her hug as she holds

me tight, her hair soft as candy-floss against my cheek, her

love spreading through me like melted chocolate.

“Me too, Nana.”

hold her close, her small frame

dwarfed by mine, the familiar smell of hot tea and toast

wrapping round me like cozy blanket, engulfing me with

memories. press my eyes closed, imagining—fearing—

just how awful all this could so easily have turned out, and

my skin prickles.

“You’ve got goose bumps!” she laughs, rubbing my

arms. “Are you all right?”

“Yes,” say. Just one more secret, one more lie

“Just

chilly.”

“You need

nice hot chocolate!” Nana grins.

“Warms you from the inside out, you know?” She winks.

543

look at her—so happy, so fragile, so precious

“That’d be lovely.” smile tightly, locking the truth

inside forever, realizing fully for the first time how Sarah

felt, why she kept her secret for so long.

Some things are more precious than the truth

544

Holly

“Goodbye, Holly,” Sarah says softly, almost afraid to

look me in the eye now that she knows who am. “Take

care.”

“Goodbye, Sarah,” sigh, gazing at the woman who

changed my life. The woman thought I’d hate—this tired-

looking woman with sorrow in her eyes and lines etched

across her face, who brought me chocolate mousse and

cared for my baby—who took me from my real mother

and gave me to my wonderful dad.

For that, could never hate her, not really.

Laura hugs me goodbye, and smile. She was right.

Que sera, sera squeeze her tightly, breathing in her faint perfume. You can’t predict how life’s gonna work

out

For better, or worse—I smile, thinking of Josh

waiting for me at home. For richer, for poorer—I think of Kitty

Usually life’s bit of all those things. But it’s what

you do with it that counts. And intend to make the most

of every single moment.

take deep breath as Rosie walks me to the car.

“Well,” say. “I guess this is it.”

She nods. We look at each other for an awkward

moment; then stick out my hand.

545

“Well, goodbye.”

“Goodbye,” she says quietly, taking my hand, then

holding on. “I know it’s not enough—it never will be …,”

she whispers, takes deep breath. “But Holly, really am

so sorry,” she says, her eyes deep in mine. “About

everything.”

look at her, my cheeks growing warm in the frosty

air, then shake my head. “It wasn’t your fault, Rosie.”

sigh. “It wasn’t anyone’s. Not really.”

“I’m still sorry,” she says softly.

look at her for moment. “Me too,” admit. “I’ve

been bit of bitch lately.”

She laughs, shakes her head.

“Blame the hormones.” grin.

“Congratulations.” She beams. “You’re going to be

such great mum!” She holds me close, and return her

hug, feeling all my resentment and hurt finally ebbing

away.

“And for what it’s worth,” she whispers, “I think you

made the right decision.” She pulls back, her eyes earnest.

“I think some things you’re better off not knowing.”

nod slowly, then glance at Laura standing by the

door. squeeze Rosie’s hand, lump forming in my throat.

“I think you’re right.” smile.

She follows my gaze, her eyes shimmering as she

pulls me into another tight hug. “Thank you,” she

whispers, squeezing me tight. “Thank you so much.”

smile.

546

“Now, don’t be

stranger,” she commands. “Come

and visit whenever you want—you know where we are

now.”

“Speaking of which …”