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might’ve worn, the house I’d be living in, the family I’d
have—the person I’d be. look myself in the eye. Holly
Woods. try the name on my lips, whispering at first, then
out loud.
“Holly Woods.”
The shapes are alien to my mouth. It’s not me—it
doesn’t sound right. try again, lengthening the vowels
and attempting an American accent.
“Holly …” No. “Holly,” correct. “Holly Woods.”
shudder, the girl in the mirror unrecognizable.
“What are you doing?”
Andy stands in the doorway.
“This is mistake,” tell him. “I can’t do this. This is
her life, not mine.”
“I know.” Andy frowns. “But you have to tell her.”
He looks at me. “Don’t you?”
slump down onto the bed. “Yes—no!”
run my
hands through my hair, pulling it tight. “I don’t know!”
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“Rose,” Andy says gently, sitting down next to me.
“Remember how you felt when you didn’t know if you had
Huntington’s?”
nod miserably.
“And you said the not knowing was the worst bit,
right? Well, Holly hasn’t got clue!”
“I know! But that’s the difference!” look at him.
“That’s the difference, Andy. knew there was chance of inheriting the disease—well, thought knew—and saw
what it did to Mum. had to live with it hanging over me
every day. But Holly doesn’t even know there’s
possibility She could live for years and years without any signs—she might not have Huntington’s, Andy! So what
good would knowing do?” shake my head. “It’d ruin her
life.”
“So ignorance is bliss, huh?” Andy says quietly. “You
want her to live Trudie’s life? Not knowing till it’s too
late?”
look away.
“What if she has children, Rose? What if she passes
the disease on to her kids because she doesn’t even know
she has it?”
“I don’t know! don’t know Andy.” stare at the
floor. “What’s worse? Living your whole life normally until
one day you discover you’ve got Huntington’s—or
suddenly being told you’re not who you think you are,
your family’s not your family—oh, and there’s
fifty
percent chance you could inherit fatal disease?”
He looks away.
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“It’s impossible!”
shrug helplessly. “How can
make this life-changing decision about girl don’t even
know?”
“You can’t,” Andy sighs, taking my hand. “Because
it’s not your decision to make.”
look up.
He squeezes my hand. “It’s hers.”
stare at him hopelessly for
moment, then sigh
heavily and collapse back onto the bed.
“It’ll ruin her life,”
say simply, closing my eyes.
“Either way, I’ll ruin her life.”
192
Holly
When there’s no answer to Josh’s doorbell, head
around to the backyard, to find Melissa midlunge.
Immediately, every inch of me itches to tell her my
news, to squeal and scream and leap around celebrating
with my best friend.
Not till after Dad remind myself for the hundredth
time, biting my tongue.
“Holls!” Melissa grins, looking up. “Perfect timing.
Wa
run? It’s, like,
total record—I’ve
managed to keep my New Year’s jogging resolution for
whole week!”
“Congrats!” say, struggling to keep the grin from
my face. “But not right now, thanks. Your brother
around?”
“Nope.” She jogs on the spot. “Still in bed.”
“Still?”
“Uh-huh. You two must’ve had
pretty eventful
weekend, huh?” She winks. “He’s exhausted, and you look
like the cat that got the cream.”
beam. “You have no idea.”
“Please—spare me!” She grins, rolling her eyes as
she jogs off down the driveway. “See you later, then—
some of us have to exercise alone.”
193
laugh as she blows me
kiss and disappears
around the corner, then
push open the back door.
Slipping off my sneakers, creep carefully upstairs, tiptoe
to Josh’s bedroom door and listen. Silence. Gently, ease
the handle down
Josh is lying in bed, gri
“You’re awake!” accuse, disappointed. “I wanted to
surprise you!”
“You have.” He reaches for me, as
pull off my
baggy sweater. “You’re more and more beautiful every
day
Is that new shirt? Wow!”
“Eyes on the face.”
grin, climbing onto the bed
beside him.
“Always, baby, always,” he insists, stroking my hair.
“I meant it brings out the color of your eyes.” He grins, pulling me close as
settle into his chest, my fingers
twirling and tangling in the soft black curls. He catches my
hand and slides his fingers through mine. We look like
candy bar: chocolaty brown striped with creamy vanilla.
“Where’s the ring?” he whispers.
smile. “Somewhere safe.”
“You’ve managed to keep it secret?” he asks. “Even
with your big mouth?”
“Hey!” slap his chest and cuddle closer. “For now,”
sigh. “But you’re go
to Harvard tonight.”
“Yes,” Josh promises, his heart beating faster
against my cheek. “I’ll ask him today. After lunch.”
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“Before lunch,” beg, sitting up. “Please, Josh, can’t
stand it. can’t wait any longer!”
“Okay, okay. Before lunch,” Josh relents, pulling me
back down and hooking his leg over mine. “Just as soon as
get up the courage.”
“Hey!” giggle. “That’s not courage you’re getting
up!”
He leans his head into my neck, his huge warm
body pressing against me, pushing me down into the
mattress
“No!” laugh, pushing him away. “Joshua Samuels,
don’t believe you’re taking me seriously!”
“Holly Woods.” He grins. “I’ll take you whichever
way you like.”
He slides his hand under my top as he nibbles the
kink on my right ear, sending shivers tickling deliciously
down my spine as collapse against the pillows
“No!” With an immense force of will
push him
away, struggling upright. “Come on!”
“Not even the pixie ear?” he asks i
“Especially not the pixie ear!”
laugh, pulling my
sweater back on.
He looks at me mournfully. “You’re really serious?”
“Deadly.” grin, kissing his nose and fixing my hair.
“Not till after lunch! When we’re officially engaged.” lean forward. “Then we can do whatever”—I kiss his cheek—
“we”—his nose—“want.”
cup his face and kiss him
deeply, pressing myself against him for
long moment.
Finally break away, leaving us both breathless.
195
He stares at me for second, then suddenly lifts me,
shrieking, over his shoulder.
“Well then, what are we waiting for?” he cries.
“Come on!”
196
Rosie
“Ready?” Andy asks.
nod, my heart racing. “As I’ll ever be.”
He squeezes my hand, take deep breath, and we
push into the kitchen.
“Oh, good!” Megan looks up from her ironing board.
“Holly lent you something to wear—sorry—didn’t mean
to leave you without anything! But thought I’d better get
to your clothes before they stained,
hope you don’t
mind?”
“Thank you.” smile. “And I’m sorry—”
“Don’t be silly, it was party! Ben’s always spilling
things—try cleaning up after
toddler!” She grins.
“Besides, think you got the brunt of it, judging from your