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squeezes me tight. “But you did it. You found your dad and
you told him. I’m proud of you.” He kisses my head, his
words tickling my ear. “You did what you came to do.”
open my eyes.
“That’s just it,” whisper, feeling sicker than ever.
“Now what?”
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Holly
Something bats at my nose and my eyes fly open.
white paw prods my cheek and
long trail of drool
dangles precariously over my face.
“Dumbledore! Dumbledore—get off!” hiss, sitting
bolt upright and swiping the cat away. He jumps off the
bed, nose in the air, his little bell jangling petulantly as he trots off to find his next victim.
Ugh! wipe my cheek. Gross! Why does he always
pick on me? glance at the bedside clock. Four- thirty a.m.?
groan and flop back on my pillow, wide awake now.
stare at the window, the faint moonlight glowing
through the thin curtains, the dark branches dancing back
and forth with the breeze.
Four-thirty-two a.m.
look across at Melissa splayed on her bed, snoring
loudly, oblivious. Typical. roll over, burying my head in
my pillow, restless and wakeful. This is so unlike me!
Normally sleep like log, straight through my alarm and
into next Tuesday, given half chance. Not like Dad, who’s
always up at the crack of dawn.
Dad
My heart twists suddenly, remembering him
standing there, so hurt, so dejected. It wasn’t fair. He
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didn’t know—he didn’t know he wasn’t my dad all these
years
This has all been an incredible shock—for both of
us. And how do react when find out? My words ring
painfully in my ears.
You’re not my father!
fumble for my cell phone. Fifteen missed calls. My
heart sinks as the first message begins:
“Holly— Holly, sweetheart, please come home. love
you so much, just please come home—”
click it off, scramble into my jeans and run
downstairs, the cold air hitting me like slap in the face—
my wake-up call—as suddenly I’m ru
street, the wind in my hair, the lampposts smiling down at
me.
I’m coming, Dad, I’m coming
I’m coming home
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Rosie
open my eyes and stare miserably at the ceiling.
It’s no good. I’ve been lying here, wide awake, for ages, the
events of the past twenty-four hours swirling and
spi
they said—what said—what didn’t say—what should
have said
whether should’ve said anything
sigh and gently slide out of bed, careful not to
wake Andy snoring softly beside me. shiver as my feet hit
the floor, and pad out onto the landing.
flick the bathroom light on and stare at myself in
the mirror.
So this is what they see. This is the girl who waltzed
in and turned their world upside down. Who took
everything they knew and threw it out the window. Who’s
imposed herself on their lives—their family. sigh heavily,
covering my face with my hands.
It’s up to them now It’s all up to them. I’ve done my
bit. The snow globe is well and truly shaken up. Who
knows how it will settle this time
if it ever will.
close my eyes and dip my head to the tap, drinking
the cold water as it flows over my lips, cool and soothing
and numbing.
“Holly?”
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jump at the voice, bashing my lip on the tap and
spilling water down my front.
“Sorry!” Jack says, backing out of the bathroom.
“Sorry, Rosie—I didn’t mean to scare you, thought you
were—Sorry.”
“What time is it?” yawn, taking in his jeans and
woolly sweater. It’s still pitch black and freezing.
“Four-thirty-three,” he says. “Couldn’t sleep?”
shake my head. “My mind won’t keep still.”
He nods. “Yes, there’s—well, there’s
lot to think
about.”
nod. “You?”
He shakes his head. “I’ve been looking up
Huntington’s online, trying to get my head around it all.”
He rubs his eyes. “But there’s only so much you can take
in.”
Don’t know it. “If you want to talk, or have any
questions …”
“Thank you.” He nods. “But right now just need
some air—I’m heading down to the fish market. No rest
for the wicked.” He smiles. “Good night.”
“Good morning.” smile, heading into my bedroom.
“Actually, Rosie …” He follows me. “Rosie, would
you—”
Andy grunts in his sleep and rolls over.
“Oh!” Jack starts, backing away into the hallway.
“Oh, God, I’m sorry—”
“It’s okay.”
pull the door closed, following him.
“Jack?”
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“Sorry, I—I didn’t know—I was just going to say—
to ask, really—since we’re both up …” He clears his throat.
“I’m heading down to the market now—as said—and
just wondered …” He frowns suddenly. “Sorry. Forget it,
go back to bed.”
“I’d love to come.” smile.
“You would?”
nod. “Just give me five minutes to throw some
clothes on and I’ll see you downstairs.”
He stares at me, surprised. “Right. Great!” He turns
to leave but doesn’t move.
“So, you and Andy …,” he begins. “The two of you,
you’re
close?” He glances at me.
smile. “Yeah, we’re
close.”
He nods, takes deep breath. “Right. Lots to learn.”
He smiles shyly. “I’ll see you downstairs?”
“Five minutes,” confirm.
“Right.”
smile as he disappears down the stairs. He’s right,
there is lot to learn. Father and daughter and we don’t
know the first thing about each other. Well, there’s no
time like the present, even if it is the middle of the night—
and freezing!
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Holly
stitch stabs at my side as
finally round the
corner onto our street. race up the steps at the back of
the house, scrabble under the mat for the spare key and
rush into the kitchen.
“Dad?”
fumble for the light switch and knock
something off the counter. “Dad?” race upstairs. “Dad?”
“Holly?” Megan opens her bedroom door. “Jeez, you
scared the life out of me. Are you okay?”
“Where’s Dad?” ask urgently, looking past her at
the empty bed.
“He’s gone to the fish market, sweetie,” Megan says.
“It’s Monday.”
The fish market My heart sinks.
should’ve
remembered.
“Are you all right?” she asks anxiously.
“Yes,”
say, my breath in starts. “Yes, I’m fine,
just—I just really wanted to see him—to tell him …”
“Oh, sweetheart, he knows.” Megan pulls me into
tight hug. “He’ll be so glad to see you.” She kisses my hair.
“I’m so glad to see you.”
“Holly?” Ben’s door opens and he rubs his eyes
sleepily.
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“Hey, Benji-bear!”
smile, hugging him close,
breathing in his sweet little-boy smell. “How’s my favorite
cuddle monster?”
“Good!” he cries, giving me
sloppy kiss and
clamping his pudgy arms around my neck.
“We’re just glad you’re home,” Megan says, stroking
my hair tenderly, and crumble, melting in their warmth.
Home
“Yeah.” smile, drying my tears against Ben’s soft
pajamas as he snuggles up to me, so warm, so familiar.
“Me too.”
“Do any of you know where Rosie is?”