Текст книги "Someone Else's Life"

Автор книги: Katie Dale

Соавторы: Katie Dale,Katie Dale
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Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

T-shirt.

“She’ll be back for lunch—you’ll stay, right? Then I’ll drop

you back at your and B.”

197

“Thanks.”

smile, relieved. She’s not here. There’s

still time

“Hello—you’re up!” Jack grins, stepping into the

kitchen.

“Hi.” beam, staring at him. can’t help it. His black

hair, his sparkling green eyes. My dad.

“How’s the head?” he asks.

“Oh, fine—fine, thank you,”

stammer. “Sorry,

don’t know what came over me.”

“Don’t be silly.” Jack winks. “You’ve gotta black out

on your eighteenth, one way or another—it’s tradition!”

smile. “And thanks for breakfast, too.”

“Not at all—proper English, eh? None of this

pancake malarkey.”

Megan rolls her eyes.

“It was wonderful.” beam. “Just like home.”

“Hear that?” Jack turns to Megan. “Maybe we should

do breakfast at the restaurant too—show ’em how it’s

done?”

“We have enough grease as it is, thanks.” Megan

laughs. “Besides, you can’t handle the customers you’ve

got—there’re seven messages on the machine this

morning.”

“Already?”

“Uh-huh.” She looks at him. “You did check it

yesterday?”

Jack looks at her blankly. “I

er

um …”

“Jack!” Megan exclaims. “What is the point of us

having an answering machine if you never check it?”

198

“I do,” Jack protests, looping his arms around her

waist. “I do—when remember …”

“And when was the last time you remembered?”

Megan asks skeptically.

“Um

yesterday?”

“We’ll see, shall we?” She pushes the button on the

machine.

“First message: received Friday, January fifth,” the

machine intones.

Megan cuffs Jack round the head. “Friday!”

“What can say?” Jack shrugs. “We had weekend

without the kids—I got distracted …” He nuzzles her neck.

“Jack!” she giggles, pushing him away. “We have

company!”

“It’s okay,” say quickly. “We were just going to—

uh—go and change, anyway!” grab our clothes and head

out of the room, Andy following quickly.

“Hello?” the woman on the answering machine

snaps impatiently. “Jack? Are you there? Jack?”

freeze in the corridor, the familiar voice stopping

me in my tracks.

“Jack!” she shouts irritably. “Jack, answer the

goddamn phone!” It’s Kitty.

199

Holly

“You ready?”

ask, gazing up at Josh as he

straightens his jacket. He looks so nervous, standing there

in his uncomfortable suit, sweating despite the January

chill.

“You’re gorgeous,” tell him, standing on tiptoe to

kiss him. “You’re smart, and you’re Harvard scholar!”

straighten his tie. “What man wouldn’t want you for son-

in-law?”

Josh glances down at me, an anxious smile

flickering across his tense features. “Your dad?”

“Don’t worry!” laugh lightly. “He loves you. Almost

as much as do.” flash him grin and push through the

back door. To my surprise, both Dad and Megan are sitting

at the kitchen table.

No time like the present!

“Daddy …”

smile, taking

deep breath and

squeezing Josh’s hand. “Dad, Josh and have something to

ask—”

“Josh, go home, please.”

My smile freezes. “Dad!”

“Holly,” Megan says softly. look at her, then back at

Dad. His face is tight, tense.

200

“Please, Josh.” Dad doesn’t look up. “We have some

family business to attend to.”

“But Dad—” glance at Josh. “Daddy, Josh—”

Josh squeezes my hand. “Maybe

should go,” he

whispers.

“No!” hiss, gripping his hand tightly. “No, Josh …”

“It’s not good time,” he says meaningfully, gently

disentangling his fingers and kissing my forehead. “I’ll see

you later.”

“Josh—”

watch as he closes the door behind him, then turn

on my father, my blood boiling.

“Well?” demand. “Well? What’s so important that you had to be so rude?”

“Why don’t you tell me?” He doesn’t look up.

stare at him. “What?”

“Why don’t you tell me,” he continues, “what you

were doing in New York?”

“What do you mean?” ask, my cheeks flushing. “It

was just holiday.”

“Just

holiday,” Dad repeats, nodding slowly. “So,

what happened?”

“What?”

“Why’d you come back early?” he says tersely.

“Why’d you cut your ‘holiday’ short?”

“I—”

“The flight back was paid for, right? Josh won the

tickets?” stare at him.

“So why didn’t you stay the whole weekend?”

201

He looks up and falter.

“Okay,” sigh. “It wasn’t

prize

Josh bought the

tickets.”

He closes his eyes, nods grimly.

“I’m sorry didn’t tell you, Daddy, but it was the

only way we thought you’d let me go—you’d never have

let me miss my eightee—”

“So why’d you get the bus back early?” he

interrupts, staring at the table. “If Josh paid so much for

flights, why miss them?”

sigh. “We didn’t have flights back,”

confess

miserably. “We were always going to get the bus. We only

flew down there because Josh got cheap deal—because

I’d never been on plane before—it was my present.”

“Your present.” Dad nods, his jaw tight.

move toward him. “I’m sorry, Daddy.”

“Then why don’t you tell me the truth?” He looks up

sharply, stopping me short.

“What?”

“Why don’t you tell me the real reason you went to

New York, Holls?”

“I—”

“And what exactly happened to make you come

home early.”

He looks straight at me. He knows.

don’t know

how, but can see it in his eyes.

“If you already know, don’t see why you need me

to tell you,” mutter.

Megan shifts uncomfortably.

202

“Because Holly, I’m your father and have

right

to—”

“I’m eighteen years old, Dad,

don’t need your

permission,” say bitterly. “Or your approval.”

“My approval? My approval?” He stares at me.

“Holly, you obviously thought wouldn’t approve, or you’d

have told me yourself!”

look away, tears stinging my eyes. never thought

he felt that way. Never. thought he liked Josh—I thought

Josh was just being formal by asking his permission.

never dreamed Daddy might say no

chill trickles through me.

What’ll he say about the baby?

“Holly, you must see what mistake this was.”

My insides twist. mistake?

Dad sighs. “I don’t think you should have any more

contact.”

stare at him. “What?”

“It’s for the best.”

“You can’t—you can’t mean it! Megan!

beg her for

help, but she looks away. “I won’t,” say defiantly. “You

can’t make me. This is my life and I’ll decide who’s in it!”

“No.”

“Dad!”

“I’m sorry, Holly,” he says, rubbing his brow. “I

really am, but can’t just stand by and watch while—”

“Then you don’t have to,” interrupt quietly.

“What?”

203

bite my lip. “If that’s really the way you feel …” He

looks away. “… then I’ll move out.”

Dad’s head snaps up.

“We’ll live together,” tell him, tears trickling down

my cheeks. “I’ll leave.”

“Holly!” He stares at me, dumbfounded.

“I don’t want to,” say, my voice cracking. “But if

you make me choose …”

He stares at me, then suddenly stands up.

back

away, but to my surprise, he moves over to the counter

and clicks button on the answering machine.

“Jack? Are you there? Jack?”

Dad turns to me. frown, confused, then glance at

Megan, who looks away.

“Jack? Jack, answer the goddamn phone! How dare

you send your daughter to me, Jack? We had an agreement.

She has nothing to do with me. Do you have any idea what

this could do to my career? To my relationship? My life?

knew this was mistake. should never have trusted you.

should never have had anything to do with you!”

The message clicks abruptly and there is silence.

204

Rosie

Oh, God!

can’t bear this. Can’t bear to hear that

awful message again—to stand here behind the half-open

kitchen door, watching what it’s doing to Jack—to Holly—

but

can’t move either, can’t go back in, can’t

speak

Andy’s hand finds mine.

“I’m sorry you had to hear that, sweetheart,” Jack

sighs. “But it’s for your own good.”

Holly stares at him. “What’s going on? Who was

that?”

He sighs again. “Holly …”

“What!”

“Holly, I’m not angry, just want to know the truth.”

“What truth, Dad? What are you talking about?”

He shakes his head. “We could’ve worked it out, we

could’ve handled this together, if you’d just come to me,

trusted me. We’ve always trusted each other, haven’t we?”

He looks at her, his eyes sad, tired. “It was for the best.

Everything

did,

thought it was all for the best.” He

squeezes her hand. “How did you find out, Holls?”

She stares at him. “About what?”

He presses his eyes shut, screws them so tight it

looks painful. “About Katharine.”

Oh, God

205

She looks at him blankly.

“I know Holly,” he sighs. “I know you went to New

York to find Katharine.” He opens his eyes, his features

strained. “To find your mother.”

Holly’s mouth drops open as she stares at him, her

face deathly pale.

The frustration in Jack’s eyes slowly melts into fear.

“Didn’t you?”

“Daddy …” She hesitates, her eyes wide. “My mother

is dead …”

Oh, God!

“But—but you went to New York—” Jack insists.

“You went to find her

you found her! …”

Holly shakes her head slowly, her lips trembling.

“My mother is dead,” she repeats faintly. “You told me,

Daddy. Mommy died. She died when was born …” She

stares at him, swallows. “Didn’t she?”

He just stares at her, horror-struck.

“Daddy?” Holly whispers. “Is my mom alive?”

close my eyes, praying the ground will just

swallow me up.

“But then how

why

don’t understand …” He

falters. “If you didn’t find her—if you didn’t go looking for

her …”

“It was me,”

tiny voice mumbles. I’m startled to

recognize it as my own. The door swings open and my

cheeks burn as everyone turns.

can’t breathe, can’t

believe just said that, but couldn’t watch any longer.

Jack stares at me. “I’m sorry—what?”

206

“I—I went to New York—I …” trail off, the words

stuck in my throat as my eyes lock on to Holly’s, so scared,

so confused. Oh, God

My heart races and start to panic.

can’t– can’t do this!

“Honey.” Megan smiles kindly. “Look, think you’re

bit confused—could you just give us minute?”

“Of course,”

breathe, flooded with relief. “Of

course, I’m sorry, I—”

“Actually,” Andy says gently, blocking my exit, “you

all need to hear this.” He meets my gaze evenly. “It’s really

important.”

stare at him desperately.

“Go on, Rose,” he whispers, squeezing my hand

encouragingly. “You can do this.”

swallow hard and force myself to turn back round.

“I—” begin, but the words die on my lips as meet

Jack’s gaze. He looks so sad, so lost. And I’m about to make

everything million times worse

Andy squeezes my hand again.

squeeze back—

hard—then take deep breath, my knees trembling.

“It was me,” tell them. “I went to New York and

found Katharine Sinclare …” hesitate, search Jack’s big

green eyes. “It’s me she’s talking about in her message.”

He frowns, rubs his brow. “I—I don’t understand.”

“I’m her daughter,”

say quickly, the words

tumbling out clumsily. His eyes widen, and look away,

burning beneath his gaze. “I’m—I’m your daughter.”

207

Holly

The silence is deafening. I’m not sure I’m even

breathing. stare at her, this strange girl standing in my

kitchen, wearing my clothes, hardly daring to move.

What?

glance at Dad, who’s just staring at her,

frozen to the spot. His daughter? My sister? have sister?

Dad runs

hand through his hair, and suddenly

see her there, in his black hair, his green eyes. His

daughter My mind frantically tries to connect the

dots

We share birthday—an eighteenth birthday—oh,

my God, we’re twins! Which means

we share mother—

mother who’s alive—she’s alive! My heart thumps

against my chest. After all these years, my mom’s alive—

she’s in New York

“Wow!”

gasp, breaking the silence, excitement

bubbling inside me like champagne. cross the room to

get

better look at her, take her hands in mine—my

sister—my twin! “Wow, wow, wow! This is

this is

amazing!”

beam at her but she just gazes at me uncertainly,

then glances at Dad. Why didn’t he tell me? So many

secrets—my mom, my twin sister It’s like The Parent Trap

208

“I don’t understand,” Dad mutters quietly, clearing

his throat. “How

how

Katharine is your mother …?”

She nods. “I was born at St. Anne’s Hospital,

Maybridge, the night of January the fifth, eighteen years

ago,” she begins, speaking quickly but clearly—as though

she’s rehearsed this. “I was premature—”

“Daddy—we’re twins!” interrupt, laughing at his

apparent confusion.

Rosie stares at me then, faltering midflow. She lets

go of my hands and sinks into chair, her face draining of

color.

“I was born prematurely,” she continues, clearing

her throat and staring at the table. “To Katharine

Sinclare—”

“We were,”

correct her, smiling. She closes her

eyes.

“And rushed to the Special Care Baby Unit.”

cold chill shivers through me—oh, God, is she

sick? Did they think she’d died—is that how we were

separated? watch her intently, twirling my finger in my

hair.

“Then”—she takes

deep breath—“there was—

there was mix– up at the Unit,” she continues, glancing at me.

hardly dare breathe.

“I was brought back to

different mother. Not

Katharine.” She glances at Dad. “This other woman,

Trudie, she brought me up—I thought all my life she was

my mum.” She stares at the table. “But she wasn’t.

209

Katharine was,” she states, hesitates. “And you are my

father.”

Wow. Oh, my God.

watch as she struggles to

control her emotions, my heart aching for her. want to

hug her, to let her know it’s okay, that we’ll accept and

love her—my lost sister. But something in her eyes stops

me.

Dad stares at her for

long moment. “But

twins

…? Katharine didn’t have …”

She trembles as she shakes her head. “No, no, she

didn’t …” She glances at me, looks away. Her boyfriend

squeezes her shoulders.

freeze, utterly lost now. look from her to Dad,

trying to make sense, to rewind the conversation in my

head.

“There was

another baby,” she says, her breath

coming in starts. “The woman

was given to also gave

birth to daughter—a beautiful baby girl.” She smiles at

me

now,

her

eyes

shining

with

tears.

“And

she

Katharine …” stare at her as she swallows hard,

looks away. “Like said,” she whispers. “There was mix-

up.”

My heart stops.

swear, it just stops stone-cold

dead. stare at this girl, at my dad, this wild story whirling

dizzily around my head.

“What are you saying?” ask quietly.

She looks at me, her face pained. “Holly, I—I only

just found out, I—”

210

“What are you saying?”

repeat, my voice harsh,

brittle.

“Holly,” she whispers, taking my hand. “You and I—

we were swapped at birth.”

The words rip through me like knife as my hand

grows limp in hers.

“I—I don’t understand …” look at Dad, who’s just

staring at her. “I—I don’t …” run out of words.

She sighs. “I know—I’m sorry, know this is huge,

huge shock, but—”

“What would make you think such

thing?” Dad

interrupts, his face ashen.

She looks at him then, her eyes sad.

“I’m sorry, know this is hard to believe—I didn’t

believe it at first either—I couldn’t …” She hesitates and

glances at me. “But then

had a—a test done, and it

showed wasn’t genetic match with my mother. When

was born, Katharine was at the same hospital at the same

time, and when met her …” She pauses, smiles weakly.

“Well, it was obvious.”

My chest tightens as

look at Dad, praying he’ll

disagree—but recognition blossoms in his eyes. She looks

like Mom—the mom I’ve never met—the mom he told me

died. The mom who’s

who’s not my mom.

Rosie swallows. “But didn’t know for certain—for

definite—until met you, Holly.”

look up sharply.

“You’re so—you’re just …” She smiles. “You’re

beautiful—”

211

eye her warily.

“And you’re the spitting image of my mum, of

Trudie.” She slides photograph across the table.

turn away, refusing to look, though every part of

me itches to see—to know—to prove her wrong.

watch, frozen, as Dad slowly picks up the

photograph. He gasps, then stares at me, his jaw hanging

open.

It can’t be true, it can’t

snatch the photo from his hands,

shiver racing

down my spine as stare at it, unbelieving, horrified.

It’s me– it’s me, only older

The chestnut hair, the

hazel eyes, the freckles—even the kinky ear

“This is horseshit!” reel backward, laughing loudly

at the absurdity of it all, but then look at this girl, so sad

and sympathetic, and at Megan, so confused, and then

see my dad—my daddy—who’s staring at me like he’s

never seen me before, and my laughter dies.

“Daddy, tell her!” beg, my voice laced with panic

now. “Tell her it’s not true—it’s ridiculous!”

“It’s impossible,” Dad says, his frown deepening. “It

can’t be

and yet …”

“Get out!” scream at her, wrenching open the back

door. “Just get out!”

“Holly …,” Megan says gently.

“Get out of my house! yell, my whole body shaking.

“Dad, tell her!”

“Please, let me explain—” she begs. “There’s more.”

212

“How dare you? How dare you! After we’ve given

you somewhere to stay, given you food, birthday cake—

my fricking birthday cake!” Tears burn my eyes. “And my clothes You’re even wearing my fricking clothes!”

lunge at her and she tumbles to the floor as tear

at her sweatshirt– my sweatshirt—trying to yank it

roughly over her head.

“Hey!” Her boyfriend tries to pull me off.

“Get off me!”

yell, kicking him so hard he falls.

“This has nothing to do with you! This is my house! My life!”

“Holly!” Megan reaches for me.

“She can’t have it!”

scream, clinging to the

sweatshirt, pulling, struggling, desperate to get it back.

“She can’t have my life!”

“Holly!” Dad bellows, lifting me roughly by my arm.

“What the hell are you doing?”

Everyone’s staring at me like I’m some sort of freak

show. look at Dad helplessly, my heart breaking into

thousand jagged splinters.

“Tell her it’s not true,” gasp. “Tell her she’s liar—

tell her to go away and leave us alone!”

beg. “Daddy,

please!”

He looks at me, his face aged with lines I’ve never

noticed before.

“No, Holly-berry,” he sighs, the familiar nickname

breaking my heart. “I—I can’t …”

stare at him for

long moment, the splinters

turning to ice.

213

“Then she’s welcome to you.”

turn my back on them all, slamming the kitchen

door hard behind me.

214

Rosie

Shit. look at Andy. He helps me up, rubbing his leg

where Holly kicked him.

Well, that went well.

Jack is frozen, staring at the door Holly just

slammed, the shudders still rippling through the room.

“Look,” Megan says quietly. “This has all been quite

shock, think we just need some time …”

nod. “I understand. I’m so sorry

it’s just—”

“Unbelievable …,” Jack murmurs, gazing out the

window, frozen in time, in shock. “You’re Katharine’s

daughter?” He turns, his eyes unreadable. “You’re really

Kathy’s daughter?”

look at him for moment, uncertain suddenly, in

spite of everything. Then

nod tentatively, my voice

whisper. “I’m your daughter.”

His eyes soften visibly for moment; then he looks

away.

stare at the floor, aware of every heartbeat

pounding in my chest, my head.

“I’m sorry,” he sighs, sinking into

chair. “It’s just

so …”

“Unbelievable,” agree quietly.

215

“Sweetie.” Megan turns to me. “Have you

mean,

would you

consider …” She hesitates. “A test—or

something

to confirm …?”

“Of course.”

nod quickly, my cheeks burning

fiercely.

“I’m sorry, don’t mean to imply …” She stumbles.

“Just to be certain, to be sure—just because you and Holly

were born the same night …”

“It’s fine.”

swallow. It’s not like

can tell them

about Sarah, about the identity tags she switched

think

that would push them over the edge—more than already

have.

Somewhere overhead

plane hums through the

sky. wish were on it.

glance around the kitchen, my eyes flicking over

anything, everything—anything to avoid looking at Jack or

Megan—and my gaze snags on framed photo by the sink.

The same photo as in the bedroom—the happy family:

Jack, Megan, Holly and Ben.

Suddenly the enormity of what I’ve done crashes

down on me. I’ve ripped this whole family apart—not just

Holly’s life, but Jack’s and Megan’s and even little Ben’s.

And there’s absolutely no way to go back now, to undo it.

“I’m so sorry,” blurt out. “This was never—I didn’t

mean—I didn’t even know about Holly until last night.

thought the other baby died, and

just wanted to find

my real parents …”

Jack nods slowly but doesn’t look up.

216

“Shhh, sweetie. It’s okay.” Megan pats my hand

gently. “Do your par—do the people looking after you

know you’re here now?”

shake my head. “She thinks I’m traveling—I didn’t

want her to worry …”

look at Jack, my throat tight.

“But—but had to tell you.” look at the photo, my heart

aching. “I had to tell you …”

Jack nods, still staring at the table.

“Because there’s more.”

He looks up, his face worn and weary. “More?”

Andy squeezes my shoulder.

“Perhaps whatever it is could wait, sweetie?” Megan

says. “It’s lot to deal with as it is.”

shake my head, determined to get it all out and

over with. Any delay will just cause more grief, more pain.

“No. No, I’m sorry,” sigh. “I would never have come

crashing into your life if it weren’t for this—if it weren’t

important.”

Jack holds my gaze, his eyes tired, fearful. “I’m

listening.”

take deep breath.

“Have you ever heard of Huntington’s disease?”

217

Holly

“Tell me you love me.”

Josh looks up, surprised, as his bedroom door slams

against the wall.

“Tell me you love me!” demand, standing over him,

tears scorching my eyes, blurring my vision. “Tell me you

love me, no matter what.”

“Of course love you, baby.” Josh scrambles to his

feet and pulls me close. “Hey, what’s going on? What’s the

matter?”

He folds me into his arms, and

can’t speak, the

tears pouring too fast now, my breath hot gasps against

his shirt.

“Hey, baby girl, it’s okay, it’s all right.” He pulls me

closer, tighter. “Shhh now. What happened? Is it your

dad?”

My dad The sobs surge harder, swelling painfully in

my throat. He’s not– he’s not my dad!

“Hey, sweetheart, it’s okay, it’s all right.” Josh

brushes away my tears, his eyes serious, sad. “He doesn’t

approve, does he?”

“What?” frown, confused. “No! No, it’s not that.”

swallow hard, stroke his cheek. “It’s not you.”

218

“Well

what, then?” Josh frowns. “Baby, whatever

it is we can fix it, okay?” he soothes, his eyes deep in mine.

“I love you.” He kisses me gently. “I’ll always love you.”

“Really?” search his eyes.

“Of course.” He smiles, brushing my hair from my

face.

“Even when I’m old and wrinkly?”

He grins. “Even when your boobs hit the floor and

you leave trail of drool behind your walker.”

“Eww!” smile. “Promise?” sniff.

He cups my face in his hands. “Holly Marie Woods,

will love you till my dying day.”

stare at him, my insides twisting harder than ever.

Holly Marie Woods

My eyes fill and

screw them shut, the tears

streaming down my cheeks as my world collapses around

me.

“Holly?” Josh panics. “What is it? Holly?”

That’s not even my name

219

Rosie

“Wow,” Jack says when I’ve finished. He rubs his

brow as Megan strokes his back soothingly. “Wow.”

“I’m so sorry,”

mumble, lost for words now

everything’s spilled out in the open. Andy looks at me with

small reassuring smile.

“So Holly …” Jack trails off. “There’s

chance she

might develop this

this disease …?”

“There’s fifty percent chance, yes.” look away.

“But she’s so healthy

so beautiful …” He gazes at

the picture by the sink. “My Holly-berry …”

nod, my heart aching with guilt.

“Okay.” He swallows. “So what do we do if she has?

Chemo? Therapy? Drugs?” He looks at me.

shake my head miserably. “There’s research going

on all the time, new developments, but at the moment …”

hesitate. “I’m sorry, there is no cure.”

“What?” Jack stares at me. “There must be—there

has to be!” He slams his fist against the table, jumps from

his chair. “I’ll sue!” he rages. “I’ll sue that bloody

hospital—this is their fault!” He grabs the phone and my

heart leaps in panic.

“I don’t think that’ll help anyone, Jack,” Megan

soothes, resting her hand gently on his. “Besides, let’s do

220

the DNA test first—make sure we’ve got our facts

straight.”

Jack drops the phone and collapses at the table,

head in his hands, clawing at his hair. “I can’t just

she

can’t

she’s my daughter, my little girl …” He trails off,

wiping his tears roughly. Megan slips her arm around him,

kisses his shoulder.

wish I’d never come here, wish I’d never found

out, wish I’d never been born. This man is breaking into

pieces before me and it’s all my fault. My chest tightens

and all want to do is run.

“But you know,” Andy says gently, warm by my

side. “You know, there’s fifty percent chance that Holly’s

completely unaffected—that she’s perfectly healthy. Right,

Rose?”

“Right.” nod gratefully at him. “And even if she has

inherited the gene, she’ll probably be perfectly fine for

years—decades, even. It can start really late, Mum was in

her …”

hesitate, remembering how Mum’s early

symptoms were overlooked. “She wasn’t diagnosed till her

fifties.”

Jack looks up, searching my eyes carefully. “Your

mother …” He clears his throat. “You watched her die of

this disease?”

An icy clamp closes over my heart as think of Mum

staggering around the prom, ranting at the neighbors,

lying in her hospital bed

herself and yet so very, very far

from herself.

close my eyes, swallow, and nod. “Yes.”

221

Slowly, he places his large hand over mine. “Then

I’m the one who’s sorry.”

look at him then, this man whose life has just been

shattered, his eyes filled with sadness and compassion—

for me. He’s sorry for me My throat swells as he squeezes my hand.

“I’m so sorry …,” say again, the only words left in

my vocabulary, as the tears flood up from nowhere.

Then, suddenly, I’m folded in his arms, breathing in

the musky smell of his shirt, his hold tight, protective.

“It’s not your fault,” he soothes, stroking my hair.

“Okay? It’s not anybody’s fault.”

close my eyes, trying to convince myself he’s right,

that haven’t just single-handedly destroyed his life– all

their lives. That this was the right thing to do, not just for me, but for Jack, for Holly

My gaze snags on the window

and freeze, stung with guilt, as Holly stares back at me,

her eyes wide, pale as ghost against the glass.

222

Holly

“Holly!” Dad calls after me as race away down the

steps, my heart on fire, pounding as hard as my footsteps.

“Holly, wait!” he calls again. “Holly, please!”

shake my head fiercely, trying to erase the image

of Rosie in his arms—his daughter—his real daughter.

“Holly.” He catches my arm. “Holly, please, come

back inside.”

pull away.

“Holly.” He blocks my path. “Holly, please.”

“Tell her to go,” say, biting my lip against the tears.

“Tell her to go, and I’ll come back.”

He looks at me for long moment, his eyes pained.

My throat swells and pull away.

“Holly—where are you going?”

“I’m moving in with Josh,” call over my shoulder.

“He’s going back to college, and I’m going with him!”

“Holly, wait—you’re not moving in with your

boyfriend—”

“He’s my fiancé!” round on him. “If you’d bothered

to listen to me for

second, you’d know that. Josh

proposed in New York– that’s why we came home early.

We’re getting married.”

223

He stares at me. “You’re what Holly—you can’t—

you’re eighteen!”

“I can do whatever the hell like—and you can’t

stop me!” yell at him, tears swimming in my eyes. “After

all, you’re not my father!”

He freezes, trapped in the cage of light from the

window, pain blasted across his features.

turn away, my cheeks blazing and run, just run, as

fast as can. fling open Josh’s car door and throw myself

inside.

“Let’s go.”

“Holly …” Josh pulls me close. “Baby, you should’ve

let me go with you. Was she still there?”

“Oh, yeah!” laugh, blinking fiercely, trying to stop

the stupid tears streaking down my face. “Oh, she was still

there, all right.” The image of the two of them burns my

eyes.

Josh strokes my knee. “Babe, I’m sure your dad—”

“Can we just go?” interrupt. “Please?”

He looks at me, then starts the car. “Sure.” He pulls

into the road. “Where would you like to go?”

turn, surprised. “With you. Back to Harvard.”

“You want to stay with me? In my dorm room?” he

laughs. “Trust me, that dorm ain’t no place for lady.”

“Please,” beg. “I don’t seem to have any place right

now.”

Josh sighs. “Baby, there is nothing I’d like more than

to take you with me—but at college? Holly, you’d be on

your own all day while I’m at class

Besides, running

224

away isn’t the answer—you have to stay here, work things

out with your dad.”

“He’s not my—”

“Yes, he is.” Josh pulls over, looks me straight in the

eye. “He’ll always be your dad. He brought you up—and

all on his own before Megan came along. Now, that can’t

have been easy—you’re

little spitfire when you get

going—”

“I am n—!” protest, but Josh places his finger on

my lips.

“But he’s done pretty fine job, if you ask me.” He

moves his hand to my cheek. “Now, Holly, Minnie Mouse

or Donald Duck—whoever you are: you’re still you.” He

leans closer. “And love you.”

He kisses me and feel myself beginning to melt.

“And so does your dad.”

bite my lip.

“So, Donald, where would you like me to escort you

to? If you’re not quite ready to go home, I’m sure Melissa

would love to have an impromptu slumber party and

chance to show off what is now,

believe, the state’s

largest collection of Johnny Depp DVDs …”

“Who needs Johnny Depp?” whisper, leaning in as

he wraps his arm around me, strong and warm and safe.

“Well, that’s true,” he agrees, kissing the top of my

head. “But she also got nauseating amount of chocolate

for Christmas, and it would be an act of pure human

kindness to help her eat it. I’ve done my best, of course,

225

but there’s only so much mere man can do. Time to call

in an expert.”

grin and slap him playfully.

“And then of course there’s the pièce de

résistance—Dumbledore, the farting cat who’s guaranteed

to drool on your face …”

“Sold!” laugh, nuzzling closer.

“Everything’s gonna be okay, okay?” he whispers,

smoothing my hair.

“Okay,” sigh, ignoring the insistent buzz of my cell

phone in my pocket.

226

Rosie

“I should have gone after her.” Jack slams the phone

down and paces the kitchen. “I should’ve—”

“No,” Megan soothes. “No, she just needs some

space, that’s all. It’s lot to deal with.”

“But she’s my daughter—and she’s out there on her

own—”

“She’s with Josh,” Megan corrects him. “He’ll look

after her. He’s good kid, Jack.”

“A good husband?” Jack challenges. “A good

husband for my teenage daughter?”

“She’s eighteen, Jack—”

“I know that!” Jack snaps. “Don’t tell me about my

own daughter!”

Megan looks away.

He sighs and leans against the counter. “I’m sorry,”

he mumbles. “It’s just—she’s only eighteen. She’s my

baby—my little girl.”

“I know,” Megan smooths his hair gently. “And she

knows too. She knows you’re her dad and she loves you.”

She kisses him.

glance at Andy, who nods and clears his throat.

“Um, we should—we should really be getting back

to the and B,” say, moving toward the door.