Page 50 of One Last Gift

“He wouldn’t actually want that, though.” Sam stood, shoulders hunched against the rain, and scuffed his toe on the ground. “I’m sorry for crashing your holiday.”

And then she felt guilty, because it wasn’t Sam’s fault. “I’m sorry your dad is rubbish.” Sam had said that word about his dad, so it felt right.

He laughed. “Come on. We can all sleep in the room together—sleepover style?”

She hesitated—Tom might not want that.

“Or I’ll just stay out in the rain with you, until you decide to come in.” He rubbed his shoulders dramatically. “It’s pretty cold, though. I might get ill.”

Cassie laughed, and relented, heading back to the house with him. Tom was hovering in the doorway, looking moody.

“I didn’t mean it,” he grumbled. “You don’t have to be so dramatic.”

Claire’s voice sounded out from the kitchen. “Now that Cassie’s back in, you can all watch something on the TV while I cook dinner.”

Tom looked at Cassie. “Coming?”

Cassie nodded.

“You better get changed first, though. You’re soaking.”

Cassie made a face. “Then you’ll pick something I don’t like.”

Tom rolled his eyes. “We were going to let you pick.”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “Even if I say Spirit?”

Tom sighed. “Even then.” And so, grinning, Cassie went in to change.

She smiled a little at the memory, though, as always with memories of Tom, her heart tugged in a way that felt painful. She couldn’t help thinking of Sam, too. Of the little boy, let down by his dad, who had come to stand with her in the rain. Mostly, she tried to dismiss childhood memories of him, figuring they didn’t negate the fact that he’d grown up to be a dick, but she couldn’t help wondering if there was still a part of that boy left inside him, somewhere. If he’d still come out into the rain to comfort her.

She went back to the letter, while Linda took a sip of sherry and murmured appreciatively.

Anyway, I just wanted you to see this place—don’t you think it’s cool? And I know you’re always saying you wouldn’t be able to set up your own thing, like you used to want to, but look, here is somewhere that’s been in business doing just that.

Tiff wasn’t making it work though, was she? But there was a voice in the back of her mind, telling her that maybe she could make it work. Which, she was sure, was exactly what Tom had wanted. And look at Linda’s place—they’d saved it, hadn’t they? Which had felt a little like fate—or even Tom—was proving a point. Proving that the impossible could happen.

And now, for the clue…

A place far away from the hustle and bustle,

The waves lap your feet with barely a rustle,

I won’t make you surf now so don’t you despair,

But go and light up a torch for the boats if you dare.

P.S. My friend’s name is Greg.

Cassie frowned as she read it again, then glanced up at Linda, who was trying to read it upside down. She handed the clue to her, and Linda read with pursed lips.

“Do you know what it means?”

Cassie made a face, shook her head. Surfing—a beach maybe? Not that that narrowed it down, considering the number of beaches in the UK. She bit her lip. “Do you know? Do you know what he’s leading me to, what’s at the other end?

Linda paused, then nodded. “Do you want me to tell you?” she asked quietly. She would. If it helped her to know, to process, then she knew Linda would. For a moment, Cassie considered it. But just for a moment. Because just as Hazel and Linda had known that she needed to figure out the clues herself, before they gave her the next one, she knew that she’d never feel right if she cheated this final time.

“No,” she said emphatically. “I think I want to let him show me instead.”