Page 80 of The Wish

As Dean walks away, still carrying Jesse, she looks over his shoulder and blows Alex a kiss.

Kelly walks up beside Alex and together they watch Dean, his beloved daughter in his arms. Alex turns around and sits back down on the edge of the rocks. Without being asked, Kelly sits beside him in Jesse’s spot. Alex puts his arm around her shoulders and together they stare out at the ocean.

CHAPTER 33

Back at the ward, Luke and Ryan stand looking into the empty room of Jesse and Amy. Sandy has just told them Jesse won’t be back in today, she’s home now and will stay there for the time being – her dad has phoned to let the team know. The boys know all too well what this means.

‘Do you think she’s going to get her wish?’ Luke asks Ryan.

‘Dunno. She’d better,’ Ryan tells him.

‘If only there was something we could do to make sure it happens,’ Luke says wistfully.

Ryan taps his foot, staring off into nothing.

‘Have you got your phone with you?’

‘Nope, it’s by my bed.’

‘Let’s go, we need to make a phone call.’

With both boys sitting on Luke’s bed, Ryan scrolls through the recent calls looking for one without a name. Finding it, he hits dial, the phone on speaker.

‘Hello, is that TriOptic Studios?’ he asks, trying to sound as grown-up as possible, before the person on the other end can speak. Luke stifles a giggle.

‘Good. Can I speak to the person in charge, please, I think his name is Steve, I’ve spoken to him before.’

‘No, Steve’s not really in charge, he covers for Ian, the manager, when he’s not here,’ the voice on the end of the line tells him.

‘Well, if Ian is in charge, can I speak to him, please?’

‘Well, Ian’s the manager but he’s out. However, the owner is Frank and he’s in the building today, would you like to speak to him?’

‘Yes, please.’

The boys look at each other in a mixture of fear and hilarity.

A few moments later a gruff voice comes on the line.

‘Who is this?’

‘Are you Frank? Are you the owner of TriOptic Studios?’ Ryan stammers.

‘And who are you, young man?’ the voice answers.

‘Hi, Frank, my name is Ryan. I’m a friend of Alex who works for you, I’m in hospital with Jesse.’

‘Ah, OK. Well then, how can I help you, Ryan?’

The gruff voice sounds more friendly now.

‘Can you come to the hospital and see me and Luke? We need to talk to you about Alex and Jesse.’

‘Who’s Luke?’

‘He’s my friend, we’re both friends of Jesse.’

‘And you want me to come to the hospital to see you?’