pull out the little pink

address book and give it to her guiltily. “I believe this is

yours—I, er, guess

got

bit confused about what

belonged to who …”

Rosie smiles, then tears page out. “Keep this,” she

says, handing me their contact details. “Then you’ll always

know how to find us— Mi casa et su casa.” She laughs at

the irony. “Literally.”

“You too,” tell her. “You’ll have to come meet this

little one when he or she arrives.”

“Try and stop me!” She grins, squeezing my hands.

“Thank you, Holly.”

Yes think, smiling as she walks away. She’s right

look at her as Dad hugs her goodbye. Father and

daughter

watch Laura’s face light up as Rosie hurries back

down the driveway. To her nana

smile at Dad as he slides into Andy’s car next to

me and squeezes my hand as we glide away from the curb,

heading for home. He pulls me close and kisses my head.

His daughter

close my eyes, the blood hot in my veins.

Undiagnosed …

Yes

think as Dad’s palm gently settles on top of

mine on my stomach, his large hand feather-soft, stroking

the resting place of my unborn child, who’s sleeping

547

soundly—its fate, its future unknown, new leaf springing

up on this bizarre family tree.

Yes, some things people are better off not knowing

548

Epilogue

Sunlight dances over the little girl’s red curls as she

gazes at the camera, her brown eyes wide as she suddenly

lunges chocolaty fingers toward the screen.

The picture immediately jolts and twists, continuing

at skewed angle as her chestnut-haired mother struggles

to wrestle the webcam from her iron grip.

“She’s gorgeous!”

tell Holly, laughing as she

adjusts the camera.

“Just like her mom.” Josh smiles, resting his head on

Holly’s shoulder as she beams at him. She’s glowing. They

both are.

“Well, she definitely got my hair, anyway,” she

concedes. “Born with whole head of it, poor thing!” She

grins. “So, Rosie, when’re you gonna come visit? Tru can’t

wait to meet her godmother.”

beam, my heart swelling at the name, and the

honor. can’t believe they’ve made me godmother!

“Red alert, red alert—she’s trying to suck you into

babysitting duties!” Jack appears behind Holly, grimacing.

“Holly seems to have an aversion to changing nappies!”

“They stink worse than you!” she retorts.

“Hey, Granddad.” grin.

549

“Watch it!” Jack laughs. “I’m feeling ancient enough

as it is. So, you coming over or what?”

“I’d love to, but start back at Sixth Form in two

weeks, and I’ve got heaps of catching up to do.”

“Ugh! Tell me about it!” Holly rolls her eyes. “I’ve

got so much reading to do before even start college!”

“Maybe Christmas, though?”

say. “Or Easter? Of

course, I’d have to come over for

wedding …” grin at

Holly and Josh. “Any sign of diamond yet, Holls?”

“Not yet.” She smiles at Josh, her fingers intertwined

with his like candy cane. “But you never know what the

future holds …”

look at them; they’re so happy. You never know …

She’s right.

year ago could never have imagined

that this was what the future had in store—that Mum

wasn’t really my mum; that her real daughter was on the

other side of the Atlantic; that I’d discover my real mother

was TV star, and that I’d be reunited with my wonderful

dad, my gorgeous half brother, and to all intents and

purposes

sister too

smile. We’ve come

long way.

And Holly’s so right. Who knows what’ll be around the

next corner—a wedding, tsunami, cure

All any of us

can really do is make the most of the time we’ve got, seize

the day, treasure every moment with the people we love.

My screen bleeps.

“Oh! I’ve got another call,” tell them. “It’s Nana.”

“Give her my love.” Holly smiles. “Speak soon.”

say goodbye, then connect to Nana. It still amazes

me how she’s got the hang of all this technology. She’s

550

whiz at Skype now, bought her own webcam and even has

her own Facebook account to keep up with my photos!

“Hello, sweetheart, just quickie, as saw you were

online.” She smiles. “I wanted to check you’re still coming

home next week?”

“Next Saturday, two-fifteen p.m.”

“Wonderful! can’t wait.”

smile. “Me neither.”

There’s no place like home, especially as it was so

nearly ripped apart.

still shudder to think how things

might’ve been if Nana had found out the truth—have to

watch myself every time mention Holly or Jack. guess

it’s something I’ll just have to live with—the last secret

have to keep.

“Holly sends her love,” say carefully.

“How lovely, and isn’t she doing well?

get her

updates on Facebook—isn’t her baby adorable?”

“Beautiful.”

smile

wistfully.

Your

great-

granddaughter My heart aches to tell her, but never can.

“She’s perfect.”

“All that gorgeous hair! Almost the same shade as

Trudie’s.”

bite my tongue and nod, the irony of her

comparison almost unbearable. “She was born with it,

Holly said.”

“Yes.” Nana beams. “It was the same with her.

Beautiful fluffy ginger wisps, and that funny little kinky

ear—like

little pixie.” She chuckles. “Just like her

mother.”

551

frown suddenly. “Nana, you don’t have kink …”

“And look at her now.”

My breath sticks in my throat as stare at her, her

eyes twinkling as goose bumps prickle down my arms.

“Nana …”

“Oh, Rosie, I’ve got to dash—the girls have arrived.

We’re going bowling.”

“What? Nana, wait—”

“I’m big girl, Rosie, you don’t have to worry about

me—on the bowling green, or off.” She winks. “I’m not

daft.”

stare at her.

“Listen, I’ve got to go—we’ll catch up properly

when you’re back, okay? It’ll be much better in person.”

She beams. “You can tell me everything I’ve missed. Now

stop worrying, and go and have fun!”

“Okay, but—”

“I love you, darling—byee!”

“Love you …” The call disconnects and her name

fades on the screen. stare at it numbly for moment.

She knows …

My heart hammers wildly.

Has she always known …?

scour my memory quickly, remembering how

Nana was there the night was born, how she was with

Sarah when they discovered Kitty had run away, how she

always referred to me as miracle, how she didn’t think

Trudie would’ve coped without me

how insistent she

552

was that take the test as soon as possible, even though

there isn’t cure …

step outside into the blinding sun, the air dense

and hard to breathe.

How she knew that Holly was born with ginger hair

and kinky ear …

The sand shifts beneath my feet.

Did she always know wasn’t Trudie’s baby?

Or has she just worked it out …?

Andy looks up from his tatty guidebook.

“Everything all right?”

look at him, my head spinning.

“Yes.”

smile blossoms slowly across my mouth. It

is. It finally is

Whether she always knew, or whether she just