‘I’m sorry – that wasn’t fair of me.’
‘It’s fine. We can blame it on the espresso hitting.’ He gave a sad half-laugh. ‘On that note, though, have you spoken to Mum and Dad?’
Olivia’s guilt grew in intensity.
‘No … I’ve been meaning to, but I … I’ve just been too busy with work.’ She winced at her poor excuse. ‘Have you?’
‘Yeah, they seem OK. Well, as OK as they can be, I suppose.’
‘I promise I’ll ring them as soon as this presentation’s over.’ Olivia bent down and hauled her bags up from the floor. ‘But right now, I have to g—’
‘Have you done it yet?’ Kyle interrupted.
‘Done what?’
‘Come on, don’t play dumb. It doesn’t suit you.’
Olivia closed her eyes and felt her heart sink towards her feet. ‘Really? You’re going to do this now?’
‘Surely not evenyoucan have this much self-restraint?’
Olivia’s eyes fell instinctively on the sealed envelope that was sitting on top of the microwave.
‘I think you’ll find I can.’
‘Just …’ Kyle hesitated. ‘Just don’t leave it too long, OK?I know out of the two of us, I’m rarely the one that’s right. But trust me on this. You’re going to want to open that letter sooner rather than later.’
An uncomfortable thought dawned on her.
Does he know?
When Olivia had first brought the letter home, it had stayed hidden in her jacket pocket. Then it got moved to the windowsill in her bedroom. But staring at your dead sister’s handwriting first thing every morning turned out to be a rather triggering wake-up call. After much shifting and rearranging around her flat, it had finally found its resting place on top of the microwave. Not completely hidden from sight, but not screaming out for attention every five minutes either.
‘Anyway, Big Sis, I’d better leave you to it. I stink. I need a shower and a McDonald’s breakfast muffin, pronto.’
Olivia felt a slight ease return to her tight chest. No. There was no way Leah would trust Kyle to help her out with this. She loved her brother, she really did, but if you wanted a job done, the truth was you never went to Kyle.
But then who had been the one to place the letters on the mantelpiece the morning of the funeral? Who had been the one her little sister had trusted with her parting words? It wasn’t just Olivia who had been shocked by their presence; everyone had seemed completely taken aback by the final gift from Leah. A series of perfectly sealed envelopes, one for each member of the family.
‘Charming as ever.’ She smirked, balancing the phone precariously on her shoulder whilst she attempted to open the front door.
‘Damn straight. You may have got the successful gene, but I won out on charisma.’
‘Again, delusional.’ Olivia hooked her bags over hershoulders. ‘Right, I’m not messing around now, Kyle. Ireallyhave to go.’
‘Fine.Good luck and let me know how it goes.’
‘OK, bye.’
She hung up the phone, and just before she closed the door, she stole one last glance at the unopened letter.
Soon, Leah.
I promise, I’ll read you soon.
*
By the time Olivia sat down at her desk, she was already an hour behind schedule. Of course, today would be the day that London’s entire transport system decided to turn to complete and utter shit; and then when she finally got to the office, the queue for the coffee shop was practically out the door.
