Page 78 of The Reunion

Jennie looks down at the heart-shaped gold pendant, now attached to a new chain, nestling in her palm. Hannah’s favourite necklace. Closing her fingers around the pendant, she feels incredibly moved. She meets Paul Jennings’ gaze. ‘Thank you.’

As Paul and Shelly Jennings move back into the crowd, Jennie lets out a long breath to steady herself. Her fingers tremble as she fastens the chain around her neck, but as the gold pendant rests against her skin, she feels a sudden sense of calm.

I’m ready now.

Hoisting her rucksack up onto her shoulder, Jennie sets off along the pavement. She takes a left at the end of the street onto the main road and continues on, past the Cross Keys pub, then over the zebra crossing outside Coffee Shack. She reaches the bus stop just as the number forty-eight bus is approaching, and raises her arm to hail it.

As the bus’s indicator flashes and it begins to slow, Jennie feels the adrenaline build within her. She’s solved the mystery of what happened to Hannah and she’s got her friend justice. She’s paid a company to clear the rest of the junk from her mum’s house and she’ll put it on the market as soon as the probate is through. She’s done all she can here. There’s nothing left to stay for. Nothing will bring Hannah back.

She’s spent too much of her life stuck in limbo, always trying to protect herself from hurt, from loss; never fully trusting anyone and never letting anyone get close. It’s time she pursued what she needs. It’s time she allowed herself to be happy, to be the person she always wanted to be, where she always wanted to be.

Pushing her hand under the top flap of her rucksack, Jennie double-checks her Nikon SLR is safe inside. Dad and Hannah both encouraged her to use her talent; now taking pictures is when she feels closest, most connected, to them. So what if she’s a bit older than the average student? That’s not going to stop her following her passion.

This is my chance.

Art College here I come.

The bus comes to a halt beside her and the door opens.

Jennie steps inside. She smiles at the driver as she touches the pendant around her neck. ‘A ticket to London, please. One way only.’