‘Your body must have needed it. Another reason why this break will be good for you.’
‘About that …’ Olivia shook her head. ‘I’ve decided I’m going to contest it. Speak to Phil, explain how much better I feel even after one day of rest, and that maybe I could come back in a week or two.’
‘You can try, my friend’ – Kate wiped a fleck of tomato sauce from her chin – ‘but a doctor’s note is hard to go against, especially given how on edge big companies are these days about health and well-being. Trust me, I’ve worked in HR. Many times.’
Olivia felt her last tiny shred of hope crumple into nothing. ‘But how the hell am I going to fill three months of time without work?’
‘Maybe you could join an evening class. There are loads of things online now. Or you could sign up to do one of those ultramarathon things. I would offer to do it with you, but we both know that won’t happen. I don’t think I could manage a thirty-minute walk in my current state.’
Olivia felt her body tighten.
‘How about a trip?’ Kate went on. ‘Ooh, maybe we could do a weekend away? Go to Paris? I’ve never been, which blows my mind because it’s so close. I could look at flights tonight, or even the Eurostar – that’s probably better for us, isn’t it?’
‘Stop!’ Olivia shouted, dropping her fork into her bowl and spattering tomato sauce all over her lap. ‘I’m sorry, I just … I can’t process it all right now.’
If Kate was offended by Olivia’s reaction she hid it well, shoving another forkful of food into her mouth and nodding in agreement. ‘Of course, I’m sorry.’
The pair sat and ate the rest of their food in silence. Olivia knew the peace and quiet would be short-lived and, as suspected, the second the final mouthful was eaten, Kate piped up again.
‘Do you think you should tell your mum and dad what’s happened? I’m happy to call them if you’re too tired.’
‘No.’ Her voice was firm and flat. ‘They have enough going on as it is.’
‘Doesn’t mean they won’t want to hear about your stuff too.’
‘Really?’ Olivia could taste the resentment building on her tongue, a sour sting against the rich tomato and basil. ‘Since when have they cared about anything other than Leah from the minute she was born?’
‘Hey, you know that’s not true.’
And she did know, but the depths of her self-pity seemed to be clouding her judgement and sending all rational thought straight out of the window.
‘Although, speaking of Leah …’ The caution in Kate’s voice made Olivia’s ears instantly prick up. ‘Earlier, when I was tidying up, I found this.’ Kate reached into her pocket and pulled out the unopened envelope, placing it between them. ‘The writing on the front looks a lot like … well, I thought it was from …’
‘It is.’
Kate’s mouth fell wide open.
‘Really? This is from Leah?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘But then why haven’t you opened it yet?’
Olivia didn’t even have the energy for a response, offering a measly shrug as a best attempt.
‘How long have you had it?’
‘Since the morning of her funeral. She left one for each of us. I came downstairs and there they were. Four of them, all lined up on the mantelpiece.’
‘Jesus Christ, and you haven’t even sneaked a peek at it yet?’
‘I had other things going on. I wanted to get the presentation done and be in the right frame of mind before I did.’
‘My love.’ Kate placed her hand gently over Olivia’s. ‘I don’t think you’re ever going to be in the right frame of mind to open this letter. Do you know what was in any of the others?’
‘Nope, and I don’t want to ask. It’s none of my business.’
‘And nobody has asked what’s in yours?’
