I take it from her and smile at the rose-patterned paper and pink ribbon.
She watches me as I carefully unwrap it. Once I remove the paper, I’m left with an old notebook.
‘It was your mother’s,’ says Aunt Polly. ‘She would have wanted you to have it. I didn’t realise I still had it.’
‘What’s inside?’
She shrugs. ‘I haven’t read it. That’s your job.’
I run my fingers over the soft blue cover. Holding it up, I fan the handwritten pages. The sight of her swirly letters makes the air catch in my throat. I think about what Henry told me. Aunt Polly can sense something is wrong. ‘Nelly, talk to me. What’s on your mind?’
I explain about meeting Henry, our coffee and what he told me. ‘Do you think Mum had my curse?’ I blink away tears. ‘Why didn’t she tell me?’
‘You were nine years old, Nelly. If she did have it then maybe she was planning to wait until you were a bit older. It’s quite a big thing for a child to understand. Also, can you stop calling it a curse? It’s a gift.’
I hold up her notebook. ‘Maybe this will explain things?’
Aunt Polly smiles. ‘If it does give you answers, great, but if it doesn’t, don’t be upset with your mum. She was doing her best.’
‘I’ll save it for later,’ I croak.
On the train home, I decide to read Mum’s notebook when I am alone. It feels too special to read on a busy train, crowded with a constant stream of visions. Even though the visions I see are heartbreaking, I notice they don’t make me feel heavy or sad. I acknowledge each one and remember what Eva said about heartbreak. I also recall being in the water and that light feeling I had when I got out.
Tiredness washes over me as I climb the stairs to my flat. I’m worried that tonight I won’t be able to keep my eyes open, and I want to because I really enjoy my chats in bed with Oliver. He doesn’t even know it’s my birthday – I left before he woke up and haven’t mentioned it.
I stagger along the hallway and as I put my key in the lock, the door opens. He’s standing behind the door. ‘Come in, birthday girl.’
‘Wait – how do you know?’
He grins. ‘Miranda texted me.’
‘She told you?’
Miranda never fails to shock me, but then again, she was behind me and Oliver flat sharing. She’s desperate for us to work because it will benefit her business.
He nods. ‘Now come in as I have a surprise.’
I walk in, and he leads the way into the living room. The sight that greets me makes me gasp. He has decorated my chair with coloured bunting and tied two balloons on strings to each arm. The coffee table has been transformed. It contains little plates of sausage rolls, sandwiches cut into triangles, crisps, baked pizza slices and sticks of carrot and celery. ‘Welcome to your birthday party, Nelly.’
I look at him. ‘You’ve done all this for me?’
He grins. ‘Sit down. Let’s eat. Lenny is around here somewhere. I had to guard the sausage rolls as he had his eye on them.’
We have the most delightful party meal. When we’ve finished, he clears everything away and brings out a little cake with candles on it.
It’s a wonderful evening and one of the best I’ve had in a very long time. I open Eva’s gift and gasp. It’s a tiny silver necklace with an ‘N’-shaped charm.
‘That’s lovely,’ says Oliver. ‘Who’s it from?’
‘My friend Eva.’ I hold it up and watch the light bounce off the little charm.
Lenny comes for a stroke, which is nice.
‘What have you two been up to?’ I ask.
Oliver smiles. ‘Lenny has been asleep on my writing desk for most of the day. And I managed to get some words down.’
‘Oh, wow. That’s great.’
