I also want to thank you and say how genuinely grateful I am for this gift. How much gratitude I have that – through your own grief and pain – you were able to respect her wishes and donate her organs to others. I feel certain I’m not the only person whose life she’s touched and changed.
I’ve never been an emotional man. No, that’s not true. I had emotions before my illness, but they were selfish and self-centred. I only cared about myself and what I wanted. I hurt people in my relentless pursuit of glory and wealth, in striving to be the best at what I did. I realise now, having lost it all, there are more important things in life. Like friendship, community, kindness, having a purpose, and being at ease with myself. Most of all, finding people whose happiness I care about as much as, or maybe more than, my own.
There was a time I was hurt, humiliated and bitter. I hid, guarding my privacy. To a degree, I still feel that way, but am learning not to take myself so seriously, and to deal with the consequences of my actions.
My new heart has changed me infinitely, and for the better. And I wanted to let you know in the hope it will bring you comfort. Thank you again, from the bottom ofbothmy hearts; the one I was born with, and the one that will always belong to you, even though it beats within me.
If there’s anything I can ever do for you or a loved one, please let me know. My contact details are at the top of this letter.
Yours, forever grateful,
Harley Bellmont
Kirsten gulps, a lone tear trickling down her cheek. ‘Harley,’ she chokes, ‘it’s beautiful. And you’re putting a lot of trust in them, given your privacy issues, but this is the right thing to do.’
‘Thank you.’ He feels vulnerable, as if every artifice has been stripped away. Every layer of sarcasm, wit and deflection he uses to hide his true self from others, has vanished. However, the way she’s looking at him says the core of who he’s shown himself to be is good.
Maybe he is enough?
Re-folding the letter, she curls his fingers around the piece of paper. ‘But you’re also wrong.’
‘Wrong?’ He frowns, stomach pitching.
‘It’s not a draft. It’s finished. You need to send it.’
As their eyes meet and mutual respect flows between them, the mid-grey walls of the flat darken by a few more shades, the rooms growing cosier and drawing Harley and Kirsten closer together.
CHAPTER 24
Gilly
Give Someone a Compliment
Gilly clicked down the school corridor in her heels, giving everyone a wide smile, teeth flashing as she nodded greetings. ‘Morning.’ ‘Hello.’ ‘How are you?’
She must be unnerving people, because she was getting strange looks. One of them actively swerved when Gilly approached, intent on asking about a pupil’s learning progress. Pushing through aStaff Onlysigned door leading into a hallway crammed with supply cupboards and several offices, she stopped at her Executive Assistant’s desk. ‘Harriet, grab us coffees and join me in my office, please?’
The young woman bobbed her head, looking worried. ‘Course.’
‘Thanks.’ It was uncommonly hot for June, so taking a seat behind her L-shaped beech desk, she switched the fan on with a relieved sigh, studying a framed photo of Ariel while the breeze swept over her.
After Ethan’s shock news and the drunken afternoon at Albie’s, the association were awaiting further updates about the mystery developer’s scheme but had agreed to continue with the cottages in the meantime. Since then, Ariel appeared content spending most days in the village. Sometimes she hauled a canvas and box of paints down with her, so must be finding time for art in between painting gates. She’d mentioned Steve, the foreman, a few times, but Gilly hadn’t seen him again. By the time she got home, ate dinner, re-checked emails and wandered down the blossom strewn driveway, he'd usually left for the day. She and Ariel spent their evenings peacefully stripping wallpaper from whichever property needed it and though their issues were still in the background, the truce was helping them heal, as individuals and a couple.
Harriet swept in, setting their mugs on coasters. ‘Here you go.’
‘Thank you.’ They’d been working together for two months, and she barely knew her Exec Assistant. That needed to change. ‘Sit down.’
Harriet’s eyelid twitched as she sank into a chair. ‘Have I done something wrong?’
‘What? No. I just thought we could chat. We work together closely, so it’d be good to get to know each other.’
‘Oh, right.’
There was an uncomfortable silence, neither of them sure where to start.
Harriet licked her lips. ‘So, um, booked a summer holiday?’
Gilly blinked. ‘No. There are things in the Ofsted action plan I want to catch up with while no one’s around, like during half-term. Though I should imagine some of the senior leadership team will pop in. Why do you ask?’
