Page 107 of Winter With You

‘Please, don’t say it.’

It wasn’t because you weren’t strong enough to hold me. You know that.

‘Lulu,’ Gabriella begged, tears tumbling from her eyes.

I just let go.

Gabriella put her hands to her face now and sobbed, her grief pouring from her more honestly than ever before. And she kept crying until her eyes were red and sore and her chest ached.

Don’t cry, Ella-Bella. Because you have so much smiling and laughing to do in the future. And if you don’t start by dating Luca I am going to properly haunt you. And I mean properly, with a pretty white ghost dress and chains and I might even burst out of a wardrobe and sing Metallica or something.

Gabriella sniffed, picking up a burger napkin and wiping her nose with it.

Make a pledge, Ella-Bella. That you will live the life you want. Not a pretence, or something Mummy or Daddy thinks you should do. Eat all the burgers and bacon and teach Phoebe how to feel free. Can you promise me that?

Gabriella nodded. ‘I promise.’

Good. Oh, and please take Mr Darcy back to England. I really want to see Mummy’s face when she meets him.

‘OK,’ Gabriella said with a smile.

I love you, Ella-Bella.

‘I love you too, Lulu.’

And, as Gabriella looked up at the New York stars making twinkling shapes that seemed to be dancing in the night sky, she had a feeling this was the last conversation with her sister she was ever going to have.

65

Gabriella breathed in the aroma of sausages and bacon sizzling in the pan on the hob. She hadn’t used the kitchen of the suite to cook once since they had arrived here but this morning, with a plan in her head, it felt like the right time. She had slept well, really well, and she had woken up early, visited the closest 7/11 for groceries and here she was, prepping breakfast for six…

‘Gabriella!’

It was Phoebe, in her pyjamas, bursting from the door of her bedroom, Mr Darcy at her side.

‘Good morning, Pheebs. Good morning, Mr Darcy. Breakfast is nearly ready.’

‘But, Gabriella, it’s past nine o’clock. You didn’t wake me and we’re supposed to get Mr Darcy to Eric by eight so he can settle him in the garage before his shift and⁠—’

‘Relax,’ Gabriella said. ‘Breathe in the fresh winter New York air and centre yourself.’

Phoebe sniffed. ‘All I can smell is bacon.’

‘I know,’ Gabriella said, grinning. ‘It’s great, isn’t it?’

Mr Darcy barked with a good degree of appreciation.

‘Did you hear what I said about Mr Darcy?’

‘Yes, Phoebe, but, I thought, today Mr Darcy could spend the whole day with us and we don’t do this pet-hiding comedy skit with luggage trolleys and diversion tactics. As fun as that’s been. Kind of.’

Mr Darcy gave a woof of excitement like only he could understand.

‘But what about Cheyenne?’

‘I think it’s time Cheyenne met the newest member of the Felix family, no?’

Phoebe’s eyes widened and brightened all at once but then, just as quickly, the excitement was reined in a touch and a question came next.