Page 36 of Nineteen Letters

“Of course I want you to come in, silly.”

I feel breathless when a playful smile forms on her lips. That smile has always been my weakness.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to take you to your appointment this morning. How did it go?”

“Don’t be. It did me good to stand on my own two feet for a change. I had an interesting day.” She briefly glances at me over her shoulder as I follow her down the hallway towards the kitchen.

“I should be able to take you tomorrow.”

“Oh.” She stops walking and turns to face me.

“What?” I ask, when her brow furrows. “Don’t you want me to?” The happiness I felt a few moments ago quickly evaporates.

“It’s just that Stephen called earlier and I’ve organised to go with him. I haven’t seen him since leaving rehab.”

“Sure, okay. I’m happy to hear you’re going to spend some time with your dad.” I force out a smile, trying to hide my disappointment. Taking her to rehab was my one guarantee of being able to see her.

“He’s only dropping me off. You can pick me up if you like.”

And just like that, my elation returns. I’m not sure what’s brought about this change in her, but I like it.

“I’d love to.”

“Great.”

“Look who’s here,” she says to Christine when we enter, and the tone of her voice makes my heart sing.She really is pleasedto have me here. “Sit, and I’ll make you coffee. You like coffee, right? I can make you tea if you don’t.”

“Coffee’s fine,” I chuckle.

My gaze moves to Christine as she approaches me. She winks when my eyes widen in amazement. “She’s been like that all afternoon,” she whispers as I bend down slightly to kiss her cheek. I’m not sure what has happened in the past twenty-four hours, but I’m certainly not complaining. This is a small glimpse of my old Jem. “How’s your father?”

“He’s doing okay considering …”

Christine watches me for a moment and smiles softly; she understands I don’t want to get into this right now. “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.”

“Thank you,” I say.

Christine is the closest thing I have to a mother. She really stepped up and cared for me after my mum died. She’salwaysbeen there for me, and I truly love her for that.

I take a seat at the kitchen table I have sat at thousands of times over the years. “Oh my god, you’ll never guess who I ran into today!” Jemma says with excitement as she places the coffee in front of me before taking the seat beside me. I prefer my coffee black, but there’s no way I will complain about the milk she put in it.

I’m momentarily stunned by the enthusiasm I hear in her voice. This ismyJem, the happy-go-lucky, chatty, full-of-life woman I fell hopelessly in love with all those years ago. Just watching her has my heart racing. It’s moments like these that make me truly believe the real her is buried in there somewhere.

“Who?”

“The Looter,” she laughs. “Larry Wilson.”

“No way,” I say, sitting forward in my chair. “Where?”

“He works at the burger place in town. Callaghan’s. He hasn’t changed much. He’s still as rude as ever.”

I stare at her. “You remember him?”

“Only from your letters,” she replies. “He’s still fat, and he’s going bald.”

“Jemma,” Christine scolds. She looks at her mother briefly before focusing her attention back on me.

“Obviously, I don’t remember what his teeth were like at school, but they’re all rotten now. There are horrible dark brown lines between each one,” she says, leaning forward in her seat, bringing her body closer. “You’re never going to believe what I said to him.”