44

Piper handed Luke half a cupcake.

‘Should we be eating these before she arrives?’ Luke asked.

‘Your baby is starving and there are about five thousand more, so I think it’s all right,’ Piper said.

They watched Chloë and Bobby putting out the plates and napkins. Maggie was placing mountains of presents around the space where Jess would be sitting.

George and Nathalie were polishing glasses and cutlery. Hazel was shouting down the phone at someone. ‘If you don’t get here in the next thirty minutes, I’ll come and burn your fucking place down.’

‘Mum!’ Chloë hissed.

Hazel’s face was flushed. ‘I apologize for my language. Sorry, Bobby. I’m just a bit stressed.’

Maggie handed her a glass of wine. ‘Get that down your neck.’

Hazel smiled at her. ‘Thanks, Maggie, you’re a star.’

‘That woman needs to calm down,’ George grumbled to Luke. ‘Turning my café into a party shop. I can’t see a bloody thing with all these balloons.’

Luke and Piper grinned. When Hazel had offered to help decorate, they hadn’t known she was going to hire a professional event organizer. The café was crammed full of balloon decorations, towers of cupcakes, three huge birthday cakes, a chocolate fountain surrounded by vast plates of marshmallows and strawberries. There was a tent in the corner full of dress-up clothes and Hazel had even ordered a photo booth for everyone to get their photo taken with Jess.

‘Hazel’s great, but everything is kind of super-sized,’ Luke said quietly.

‘I know, but it’s kind of fabulous, too. Jess will love it,’ Piper said.

Maggie came over and sat beside them. ‘How are you feeling, Piper?’

‘Good, thanks,’ Piper said honestly. After the bleed, she’d rested for a few days and had really felt the benefit. Things with her father were great again, too, and she felt happier than she had in months.

‘Doesn’t she look gorgeous?’ Luke said, and kissed her.

‘Get a room … Oh, no, you already did.’ Maggie grinned. They all laughed.

‘Are you managing to study?’ Maggie asked Luke. ‘I know it must be so difficult right now with Jess being so unwell, but try to do some work – it’ll help distract you.’

Luke stared at the floor. ‘I know. It’s hard, though, Maggie. She’s so … so …’

Maggie’s eyes welled. ‘I know.’

‘Before, I could believe she’d get better, but now she looks as if she’s dying.’ He wiped tears from his eyes.

Piper held his hand.

‘I wish I could think of something comforting to say, but it’s just so unfair. I wish there was something I could do, but I feel so useless. I’m a fixer, and I can’t fix this.’

Piper leant over to hug Maggie. ‘You’ve helped in so many ways. You’ve been amazing to me, Luke, Kate and everyone.’

‘You’re a rock, Maggie,’ Luke agreed. ‘A total rock.’

‘Ah, stop, my make-up will be ruined. I’m glad Jess is coming home. It’ll do her the world of good.’

‘Yeah, it’ll be really nice having her here with us,’ Luke agreed. ‘Dr Kennedy says we’ll take it day by day, but he won’t bring her back into hospital unless he has to.’

Bobby ran into the room. ‘She’s coming!’

Everyone got up and rushed to the front door. An ambulance was parked at the kerb, its back lowered to accommodate Jess’s wheelchair. She was fixed up to a morphine drip and had a blanket tucked around her legs. The palliative-care nurse was by her side, supervising the transfer.

‘Looks like some people are happy to see you, Jess,’ she said, smiling at the little crowd gathered to greet them.

Chloë ran over and hugged her. ‘You look gorge, Jess. Wait until you see the café! It’s amazeballs.’

‘I can’t wait.’ Jess grinned.

‘Mum went totally over the top, but in a good way this time,’ Chloë gushed.

Nick walked down and took charge of pushing the wheelchair. He was trying to smile, but it couldn’t reach his eyes. Kate knew that while he was happy to see Jess at home, he was still cut up about her decision not to take further treatment. He looked as emptied out as she felt. It was as if he was dying, too, alongside Jess. But, still, he fixed his face into some form of a smile as he wheeled Jess up the path and into the house.

When she reached the kitchen, Kate grabbed her in a tight hug. ‘Now close your eyes, darling,’ she said, nodding at Nick to wheel Jess through the door and into the café.

Nick stopped just inside the door. ‘Okay. You can open them,’ he said.

‘Oh, my God, it’s amazing!’ Jess cried, clapping her hands together with delight. ‘I can’t believe it.’

‘It’s all for you, darling. Happy nearly birthday,’ Kate said.

‘When is your birthday?’ Nathalie asked.

‘Second of July,’ Jess said, ‘but why wait when you can have an amazing birthday right now?’

‘Amen to that,’ Hazel said.

Piper went over to give Jess a kiss. ‘Happy almost birthday.’

‘Thanks! I’m so happy.’

She looked it, Piper thought. For the first time in ages, her cheeks were flushed with colour and her eyes were bright and shiny. She genuinely looked happy. ‘You deserve it, Jess.’

‘Can I feel the baby?’ she asked.

‘Of course.’ Piper took Jess’s hand, placed it on her stomach and pushed a little. The baby kicked back.

‘Ooooooh! I love when it does that!’

‘Me too.’ Luke grinned. ‘I reckon there’s a future football star in there.’

‘I hope it’s a boy like you, Luke,’ Jess said.

‘I hope it’s a girl like you,’ Luke replied.

‘Hey, what about me?’ Piper laughed.

‘A mixture of Jess and you would be perfection,’ Luke said.

‘Okay, I’ll take that.’ Piper winked at Jess.

They sat down at the table. Piper tucked in, feeling ravenous. She hoped that she wouldn’t end up being a whale, but right now she needed food. The baby was obviously having a growth spurt. To hell with Penny and Poppy and their fat-pregnant-women stories! Piper bit into her cupcake with relish.

Hazel, Chloë and Maggie were wonderful, keeping the conversation light and fun, making sure there were no silences for sadness to creep in. By sheer force of will, they pushed the grief out of the room for a few blissful hours.

When Piper got up to go to the toilet for the zillionth time, she heard a noise coming from the kitchen and peered around the door. George was sitting in a chair with his back to her, weeping into a tea-towel. Nathalie was standing behind him, hugging his neck. ‘Let it out, George. You must let it out.’

‘Why her? Why not me? That beautiful little girl had her whole life ahead of her. I’ve had my life and it was a good one. Why is this happening to her? I can barely look at Kate, she’s so broken. It’s just not right.’

‘Kate is full of sadness, yes, but she is a strong woman. She will be okay. She ’as you and Luke and Bobby and her Maggie. And she ’as Liam now also. ’E is very kind.’

‘No parent should see a child die. It’s not right.’

Nathalie patted him on the back. ‘George, life is not always ’appy. There is a lot of tragedy as well. But you ’ave to accept it or it will kill you. Look at Jess today, just focus on that. She is ’appy. Go and be with ’er. You can do this, George, you are a wonderful father and grandfather. They are lucky to ’ave you. Now, take the deep breath and you go back and be with Jess.’

George turned around and hugged her. ‘Thank you for coming into our lives when we needed you, for being mad but in a good way, and for being a bloody decent human being.’

He walked out, and Piper saw Nathalie bury her face in the already tear-stained tea-towel.

When she got back to the table, Chloë was in the photo booth with Jess, the wheelchair squeezed in sideways. She was dressing Jess up in funny hats and glasses and feather boas and they were making goofy faces and being young and carefree. It was so lovely to see Jess having fun.

Chloë waited for the photos to print. She whooped when she saw them and showed them to Jess, laughing loudly. ‘I have to show them to Piper,’ she said, rushing over to her. ‘Look, Piper, aren’t they hilarious?’ she said, as tears streamed down her cheeks. ‘Don’t let Jess see me cry,’ she whispered.

‘They’re brilliant,’ Piper said. ‘Come and show them to Luke.’ She brought Chloë to the other side of the room, where she shielded her from view while Chloë mopped her face.

‘She looks so sick – she’s like a little alien. Oh, Piper, she’s my best friend. What am I going to do without her?’

‘I know, sweetie, it’s unbearable. But always remember you’ve been the best friend she could have wished for. You really have been brilliant, Chloë. You always cheer her up. Every time, no matter what.’

Chloë fought back more tears. ‘That’s my goal when I see her. I have to make her laugh as much as I can, and then I don’t feel so bad. Mum said the most important thing I can do is cheer her up. I’m trying, Piper, I really am.’

Piper leant in and whispered, ‘You’re doing an amazing job, Chloë. Really amazing.’

Chloë plastered a smile on her face. ‘Come on, Jess,’ she called. ‘One more funny one. Let’s do the wigs now.’

Nick came over to her. Piper froze – he made her nervous. He seemed so on edge all the time.

‘So, how’s the pregnancy going?’

‘Okay, thanks.’

He smiled. ‘Better than Jenny’s, I’d say. She moaned the whole way through.’

‘Well, some women get very sick. I’ve felt fine, really, just tired.’

Nick nodded. ‘Kate was like you – she just got on with it. So, I hear Maggie’s offered you her place?’

‘Yes, she’s been so generous. I hope we can pay her back some day.’

Nick fiddled with his watch. ‘I wish I could have helped more. I’m just stretched so thin, supporting two families.’

‘Oh, gosh, no, it’s fine, honestly. We wouldn’t expect anything.’

Nick turned to watch Luke, who was showing Bobby how to do a press-up. ‘Luke will be a great dad.’

Piper smiled. ‘Yes, he will.’

‘A lot better than I ever was.’

Piper didn’t know what to say. She remained silent.

‘Maybe I’ll turn out to be a great granddad,’ Nick went on. ‘Who knows? Stranger things have happened.’

‘I’m sure you will,’ Piper said, trying to be polite.

‘You’re a nice girl, Piper. I really hope it works out for you both. Look after Luke – he pretends he’s so strong and resilient, but he needs you. And he will continue to need you.’

‘I will, I promise.’

Nick left her and went over to Jess and Chloë. He let them dress him up in ridiculous outfits and smiled for the photos.

Luke came over. ‘What was Dad saying?’

‘Just how great I am.’ She grinned at him.

‘Seriously?’

‘Yes! No need to sound so surprised.’

Luke kissed her. ‘You know I’m your number-one fan.’

‘He was nice, actually, sweet.’

‘Dad and the word “sweet” do not go hand in hand.’

‘He’s trying, Luke. At least give him credit for that.’

Luke stroked her hair. ‘For you, anything.’

Hazel shouted over everyone, ‘The final surprise for Jess is here – and about bloody time too.’

They looked out of the café door, and there was a horse on the street outside.

‘It’s Jess the pony, and Julian!’ Jess squealed. ‘Oh, Hazel.’

Nick picked Jess up and carried her outside to the horse. Kate followed, clutching a blanket for her, and the others streamed after them.

‘It’s so good to see you again, Julian,’ Jess said. ‘Thanks for bringing Jess. Can I ride her?’

Julian nodded. ‘I’ll sit behind you and hold you and the drip. If your dad can lift you, I reckon we can go for a short walk.’

‘Mother of God, the neighbours are going to love this.’ George shook his head.

Between them, Nick and Luke managed to hoist Jess into position, seated in front of Julian. Kate fussed around with the blanket, but Jess waved her away happily. Julian tapped the horse’s sides lightly and, very slowly and carefully, the huge animal started to move. They watched as Jess and Julian walked slowly down the road, cars slowing as they saw them. Jess was smiling from ear to ear.

Piper looked around: every single person in their little group was crying.