I climbed up the stairs to the attic. Roma was sitting on the red sofa waiting for me like I guessed she would.
“Well we never guessed, did we?” said Roma.
“No we didn’t, but at least now we know who our dad was and what happened to him. We know who our mum is. I just can’t believe it though. I love Aunty M so much. She has made me feel so happy since I’ve been here. She treats me just like a grown up and now I won’t have to go back to London. I don’t know what will happen about school though. I may not be going to Saint Maur’s now. But I don’t care,” I said with a big grin on my face. It was then I looked towards Roma. She was very faint now and her eyes were sad. I realised we had to get to her grave now before it was too late.
“Roma, come on we need to get you back to your grave.”
“I know Flo, but I can’t bear the thought of losing you.”
“And I can’t bear to lose you too. Is there any chance that you may be able to keep on visiting me?”
“I don’t know. Once I have rested properly it may be that I won’t be able to come back. But I heard someone say once, ‘never say never’ so if I can, I will. I will do anything to stay near to you.”
“I’ll go first then. Will you follow me?” I asked.
“I will,” Roma replied.
I headed down the stairs and waved goodbye to Mummy M who was sitting in the kitchen drinking tea. She smiled and waved back. Roma and I continued on our way. I stopped at the Post Office and bought a bunch of freesias because of their lovely smell and also because Roma pointed to them as her favourites.
We arrived at the grave. I pulled out the old flowers and put the freesias in their place. Roma floated over to the grave and lay down.
“Thank you, Flo for bringing everyone together and bringing out all their secrets. Now everyone is talking and you can all carry on with the rest of your lives. I just wish I could be part of it all with you. I’ll find dad and have a word with him when I get over to the other side, and see if there is any way I can come back. I’ll send you a sign. He may be able to visit you too. Never say never.”
“What will the sign be?”
“Don’t know. But you’ll guess, I’m sure.”
Out of nowhere, the wind blew. It howled around me making my curls fly and tangle into millions of knots. I grabbed my hair, dreading the telling off I would get from mum. Then I remembered that that would never happen again. Mummy M understood how easily hair can get into knots. She wouldn’t mind. She would help me untangle the knots I knew she would. My life was going to change now. I sighed with a smile. I had so much to look forward to now.
As I looked towards the grave, Roma had gone. An emptiness overwhelmed me and I fought back the tears. The wind quietened down and suddenly I felt very alone. I turned around and started to walk back home. Home. It sounded good. I walked back home to my real mum and my new future.