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‘Dylan and Kelly, I knowI’m only your granddad, but I’ve loved watching you grow up and being able to help out, especially with Dylan’s football. My God, the fun I’ve had watching you become the star player you are. And, Kelly, you’re a fantastic girl too, always with your head in your books, doing so well in school. You’re a great girl.’

‘Yes, she is,’ Jenny agreed. ‘And drop-dead gorgeous too.’

Kelly blushed. Jennywinked at her. Her niece had no idea how stunning she was. Kelly had really blossomed this summer, going from a tall, gangly teen to a slim, stunning young woman. Her face had fleshed out a little, her skin was tanned, she’d grown her dark hair long and she had those eyes! Lucy said they were Tom’s, that Kelly was a beautiful female version of him. No wonder she’d fallen for him, Jenny thought.Those eyes were killer green and mesmerizing.

‘I know it hasn’t been easy for you both not having a dad around,’ Billy continued, ‘but your mum has managed to make up for that by being the best mother ever. You’re lucky to have her. I thought she was mad when she decided to train as a humanist celebrant to earn more money to pay for all your extra-curricular activities and holidays in Spain,but she’s done a great job. People are queuing up to have her marry or bury them.’

‘Come on, the Vicar of Violet Road,’ Darren heckled.

‘She always liked to preach,’ Jenny said.

‘The ravishing reverend,’ Sarah said.

‘The pain-in-the-arse preacher,’ Kelly muttered, as Shannon giggled beside her.

‘I’m still waiting,’ Jenny said to Billy.

Billy grinned. ‘Twins, you were also very lucky to havean aunt like Jenny, who was living here for the first seven years of your lives and helped out a lot. Even since she moved out she’s remained very hands-on with you and will be even more so now she’s living in her apartment two minutes away. You’ll probably be sick of seeing her.’

‘Never,’ the twins shouted.

‘In all seriousness, it’s good to have you so close by, Jenny. We’re all delighted you’reback in the neighbourhood, and you’ve been a wonderful aunt to these kids.’

Jenny smiled. Finally, praise from her dad. It felt good. It wasn’t the ode-to-Lucy type of praise, but it was nice all the same.

‘Well, that’s it, really, so here’s to you Dylan, Kelly and to my darling Lucy.’

Lucy went up and hugged him. She wiped the tears away with the back of her hand. ‘Thanks, Dad, lovely words.’

‘I meant every one. You’ve been incredible, Lucy, to all of us,’ Billy whispered in her ear.

‘I couldn’t have done it without you, Dad. You’ve been a rock to me too. Especially with Dylan. If it wasn’t for you, he’d never have played football – and look at him now, a star.’

‘He’s a great kid and I’ve loved watching him play.’

‘Do you want some cake, Mum?’ Dylan asked.

‘Thanks, love.’

Sarahtook photos of the twins beside their cakes and more as they rubbed icing into each other’s faces.

While the kids stuffed themselves with cake, then watched funny, and inappropriate, videos on YouTube, Sarah and Lucy sat outside in the little front garden, eating cake and drinking wine.

‘So, how does it feel for the twins to be going to Tom’s oldschool?’ Sarah asked tentatively. Any mentionof Tom and Lucy tensed, so she had to tread carefully.

‘Weird and wonderful.’ Lucy smiled. ‘It’s a brilliant school and gets the best results in the country year on year, but it also feels like justice that they’re ending up there. My abandoned kids will end up in the school their father went to. It’s bizarre, but great too. The best part is that they’ll get a fantastic education for the lasttwo years of their school lives and the facilities are state-of-the-art. We were all blown away by the sports pitches and gym, the pool, science labs and music rooms.’

‘Sounds a lot better than Woodside.’

Lucy put down her wine glass. ‘It isn’t better, it’s just got more to offer. I guess I feel the twins always missed out not having a dad, and now they’re getting the chance to finish theireducation somewhere special. They deserve it.’

Sarah leant over and squeezed her friend’s hand. ‘They do, and so do you.’

‘I know I’m a bit pushy and probably over-ambitious for them, but I messed up so badly and blew my chance at success. I want so much more for them.’ Lucy grinned at her. ‘Do you want to see something really crazy?’

‘What?’

Lucy pulled the letter of confirmation out of herpocket. ‘Look.’ She pointed to the names of the board of management. There, in black and white, was G. Harrington-Black.