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Home There’s no place like it.
watch the city lights fly past the car window and
know I’m doing the right thing.
Whatever’s happened—whatever happens—it’s
still my home.
Where the heart is.
Where my family is.
Where belong.
smile.
can’t wait.
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Rosie
hear the familiar ringtone before we even reach
the car, and hurry to open the door.
“Rosie, finally!” Andy cries as answer my phone.
“I’ve been calling for, like, an hour!”
“Sorry, I’ve been trying to call Holly, she—”
“Has she got new mobile?”
“What?”
“She broke hers—did she get new one? need to
contact her.”
“I du
Josh—”
“No, she’s not.”
blink. “She’s not?”
Jack looks up sharply as he starts the car.
“No, just
if any of you hear from her, tell her to
call me, okay?”
“Wait—Andy, how do you know?”
“I’m sorry, can’t tell you—I promised.”
“Andy Holly’s moved out. Jack’s beside himself! If
you know where she is …”
“I don’t …” Andy hesitates. “But know where she’s
headed.”
“Where?”
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Andy sighs. “Rosie, she’s going to England.”
“England?”
Jack stares at me. “Shit! The airport.”
My head slams against the window, the phone
tumbling to the floor as Jack swings the car in sharp U-
turn and hits the accelerator.
Panic races through my veins.
England Sarah …
Nana …
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Holly
“Hey.” Josh appears beside me in the line for check-
in with bag of candy. “I thought you might need these for
the plane—for when your ears pop.” He grins as he chews.
“And maybe few for now?”
smile as he offers me the already-opened bag. It
wasn’t until spent time with him this week that realized
just how much I’d missed him—his warmth, his laughter,
his reassuring presence beside me. It’s been weird staying
in his dorm, though. It’s like he’s got this whole other life,
filled with friends don’t know and experiences
can’t
share. He’s on the debate team, the university
newspaper—he’s even in the choir! My Josh, who I’ve
never even heard sing before. He’s thriving—changing and growing before my eyes, embracing each new challenge
and adventure, gaining more and more confidence in
himself. He fits here. He belongs in this world, this new life.
But that hasn’t stopped him from being there for me
when needed him most. smile. Maybe we will find
way through this—maybe it doesn’t have to be all or
nothing, college or us, engagement or breakup. We can
bridge this gap, we can make it work if we try hard
enough. I’ve met all his new friends now, after all, and he’s
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been incredible this week—lending me his phone to call
Charlotte, who’ll contact
clinic in England when my
results are ready, and listening without judging as finally
told him everything.
Well, almost everything.
bite my lip. feel awful not telling him about the
baby, but with things still so undecided between us after
our engagement fiasco, don’t want him to commit to me
again just because I’m pregnant—especially when the
baby and
might both have inherited
debilitating
disease. When still don’t know whether should keep it
anyway
Just one more secret. Just for now.
Until know.
“You okay?” Josh asks gently. “D’you want me to
come with you? Get flight?”
stare at him. He’d do that? For me? The girl who
ditched him? He’d leave his studies and come with me
halfway around the world to find my family?
smile and squeeze his hand. Of course he would.
That’s exactly why can’t tell him about the baby. Can’t let
him sacrifice everything for me.
“Thanks.” smile. “But this is something need to do
myself.”
“Okay.” He nods,
frown flickering across his
features. “But if you need anything at all—I’m here.
Always. This isn’t leaving my sight. Okay?” He holds up his
cell phone and want to cry.
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As if to prove his point, the phone buzzes as he
receives yet another voice mail.
“My dad again?” sigh.
He nods, listening to the message, wincing at the
raised voice, almost audible from here. “Crap.”
“What now?” frown.
Josh looks at me. “He’s on his way.”
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Rosie
“Come on, come on!” Jack hisses, thumping the
dashboard as we stop at yet another red light. “Which
terminal does the Website say?”
check his mobile. “Terminal E,” tell him, fidgeting
in my seat, all my fingers and toes crossed as stare at the
lights, willing them to change.
We have to stop Holly, we have to—this is worse
than Kitty. She was just looking for publicity, but Holly’s
out for revenge. On me, on Sarah
press my eyes closed.
have to stop her.
Before it’s too late.
Finally the airport looms up beside us, and
unbuckle my seat belt.
“Rosie, can’t leave the car here—”
“You park,”
tell him, opening the door. “I’ll find
Holly.”
slam the door behind me and sprint toward the
terminal building. have to find her
burst through the
doors, my breath tight in my lungs, ru
sca
Because it does.
477
Holly
Come on, come on
tap my foot nervously as the
check-in guy scans my passport.
“Never been abroad before, huh?” He grins. “Hope
you don’t get airsick!”
smile tightly, glancing anxiously at the entrance.
Still no sign of Dad, thank God—this’ll be so much easier
without scene.
“Aisle or window?” the guy asks.
“Whatever!”
shrug, my eyes glued to the doors,
sca
and remember to breathe.
Finally the guy gives me my boarding pass, and
watch my bag disappear on the conveyor belt. No going
back
niggle of doubt squirms inside me, but ignore it.
I’m doing the right thing,
know I’m doing the right
thing—she’s my nana, it’s my family—I deserve some answers too.
And as for Sarah
My skin turns cold. She deserves
everything that’s coming to her. It’s time she faced the
consequences of what she did—faced me.
“Hey.” Josh grabs me in warm hug and begin to
soften. “You take care of yourself, okay?”
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“You too,”
whisper, his strong arms wrapped
around me like he’ll never let go.
“Bring me back gnome.”
laugh despite myself. “A gnome?”
“Yeah.” He grins. “I always wanted gnome. Named
Yoda.”
grin. “It’s promise.” kiss his cheek softly.
Then my smile fades.
479
Rosie
“Holly!” yell at the top of my lungs.
She turns and hurries away, and sprint faster, grab
her arm. “Holly, wait!”
“Hey!” Josh warns as she wrenches away.
“Holly, please—just listen. Please don’t do this.”
“Why not?” she challenges, her eyes cold. “Why
shouldn’t I?”