Grandpa was getting upset so I gave his hand a rub. ‘We’re going to have a nice Christmas, Grandpa. I know the last few days have been a bit chaotic, but I am hoping things will settle down and we can relax.’
He grinned. ‘Relaxing is for wimps, Rachel.’
I let out an inner groan at the mischievous glint in his twinkly eyes.
‘I wanted to come visit you when your lovely friend passed away.’ He held my gaze. ‘You needed your grandpa, and I had my suitcase packed. Karen refused to get me a ticket as she claimed you were not in fit state to care for me. That was nonsense.’
I smiled and fought back tears as his kind face went blurry. ‘That’s nice to know, Grandpa.’ I let him put his arm around me and I snuggled up to him.
‘Are you okay, Rachel?’
I wiped a tear which was making its way down my cheek. ‘I’m a little better down here. Focusing on Layla has helped.’
‘Well, that’s good to hear.’ He smiled. ‘I’ll always be here for you and Maddie. All those years your mum worked away and left you with your nana and me made us all close. There were times when your nana and I discussed letting you move in permanently with us. We thought you could go to the local school and see your mum when she was home. She left you both for such long periods and we didn’t like ferrying you back and forth.’
‘I bet Mum was against us moving in with you.’
He nodded. ‘She wouldn’t have had control. Now, I want you to promise me something.’
‘What’s that, Grandpa?’
‘Stop letting your mother control you.’
I sat up and stared at him. ‘I’m not doing that.’
He looked at me with watery blue eyes and stroked my face. ‘You are, my girl, and it makes me sad. That life you lead in London is not you, Rachel. You are unbelievably talented, and it breaks my heart to see you trying to please your mother. The world is waiting for you, Rachel.’
Layla entered the living room holding her phone. ‘They’ve operated on Derek’s leg. He should be fine.’
I stood up and gave her a hug. ‘I’m pleased he’s going to be okay. How are you feeling?’
She smiled. ‘I’m better than I was this morning. Thank you for coming to find me.’
‘I didn’t know it was you until he told me. Although, looking at you know I can see you both have the same dark eyes. He said you contacted him last year. What made you find him?’
She fiddled with the L-charm on her necklace. ‘I was lonely. Everyone had either deserted me or was being horrid to me. I’d always wondered about my biological father. I thought – life can’t get any worse so what have I got to lose? I remembered some stuff Mum had told me over the years. So, I tracked down Derek.’
I put my arm around her little shoulders as she talked. ‘We started messaging each other. A few weeks ago, after Ryan had kicked Zac and me out, I decided to arrange a meeting with Derek.’ She lowered her head. ‘Yesterday, I honestly thought he was like all the rest.’
‘I don’t think he is, Layla. He was emotional in the car.’
‘Well, hopefully we can meet again soon.’
‘Are you going to visit him in hospital?’
She shrugged. ‘He wants me to. They say he will be there for a few days, but I don’t want to take Zac. The hospital he’s in is a long way away.’
‘Layla, I will help you.’
Her face lit up. ‘Really?’
‘We will get you to visit Derek.’
CHAPTERTWENTY
It was light outside. I’d slept late which was unusual for me.
Before going to sleep I’d taken out Olivia’s pink notebook and read one of her chapters. It started:
