Wishing and Hoping (38 page)

They now had the best of both worlds. Whatever came they would cope with together. They would be a proper family.

Both Marcie and her mother realised that there were lots of bridges to build between them. It was never going to be easy to eradicate years of being apart and they were still learning about each other.

Sam Kendal – as Marcie's mother insisted on being called – was the kind of woman who could compartmentalise her life as Marcie never could. She could not forgo her London life whereas Marcie and Michael had found it easy to do. To both of them their family would always be everything.

Marcie's father's life had also changed after Babs had run off with a dog-food salesman. Desdemona had moved in to Rosa's old cottage with Tony and the kids. It was a little crowded but the atmosphere was good, the kids were being looked after. Tony Brooks would never be the ideal husband but with Desdemona he was better than he had been.

The boys also were sorted out. Archie had the promise of an apprenticeship in a local garage when he finished school. At present he was helping out there weekends and enjoying it. Arnold had taken a shine to the new woman in his father's life and enjoyed his father being there. Both boys were on a
warning not to go back to the street gang they'd once led and neither were likely to, especially once they'd realised one of their number had robbed their own grandmother, Rosa Brooks.

Marcie was in no doubt that things in her family would not always run smoothly.

‘They're far from perfect,' she said to Michael at twilight, as they sat and watched the sun go down. ‘But I can't help loving them.'

He regarded her sidelong, a peculiar and particularly beautiful smile on his face. ‘You love them despite their faults. That's how people should be loved.'

She realised he was right.

They linked hands, their love unspoken and their gaze fixed on their eldest two children.

Joanna was digging in a flowerbed with her little brother sat on a blanket watching her.

Rosa was asleep in her pram and being pushed around the garden by Garth, who lived in what had been an old stable. Michael had converted it for his use. Garth had festooned the walls with his paintings. To him it was sheer bliss.

Marcie and Michael caught snatches of Garth talking to the baby as he pushed the pram. He talked to her all the time as he walked, even though she was sound asleep. Anyone close by would be surprised at the familiar manner in which he spoke to her,
almost as though he had known her before, a lifetime ago.

Some might think him mad, but Marcie didn't. Garth was looking after Rosa just as Rosa Brooks had once looked after him. He was telling her he hadn't forgotten her kindness.

I can't quite believe this is my third novel and, I shouldn't say this myself, but it's my favourite so far.

Of course, a lot of people have been involved in this book, and it takes a team to make a successful series and I would like to thank the following:

Hannah Telfer and Anna Derkacz from sales.

Alex Young and Di Riley from Marketing, Sarah Bennie, Ed Griffiths and Hannah Robinson from publicity.

My Editor, Gillian Green, who never seems put out with working with someone strange like myself.

A special thanks to my family who continue to always put family first, and support me without ever questioning me.

I could never have finished these books without Jeannie Johnson, so big thanks and hugs to you.

And, finally, my biggest thanks to the special man in my life: Craig Darroch. It's so nice to be loved and never judged, and to be picked up no matter how many times I fall down.

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Published in 2010 by Ebury Press, an imprint of Ebury Publishing

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Copyright © 2010 by Mia Dolan

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ISBN 9780091927943