BooksBarbecue
Back All You Need Is Love Save as PDF
Chapters (56)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
  4. 2
  5. 3
  6. 4
  7. 5
  8. 6
  9. 7
  10. 8
  11. 9
  12. 10
  13. 11
  14. 12
  15. 13
  16. 14
  17. 15
  18. OCTOBER
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. Acknowledgments
  53. More from Jessica Redland
  54. About the Author
  55. Also by Jessica Redland
  56. About Boldwood Books

I’m not sure who moved first but it seemed natural to hug again. It had been hard telling her about Nikki but I felt like I’d taken another one of those baby steps. Despite the empathy and understanding that my parents, Jack and Millie, and other well-meaning friends had shown, none of them had really understood. None of them had lost someone they loved. But Jemma had. Scott hadn’t died but she’d certainly suffered a sudden and unexpected loss. And for a brief moment, much as I wasn’t a believer in fate, I wondered if Jemma and I had been brought together for a reason. She needed me and I needed her.

A text came through while I was getting ready for work after a few surprisingly deep hours of sleep back at my flat; the most unbroken sleep I’d had since Nikki died:

✉︎ From Jemma

Hi Sam. Just wanted to let you know that I’ve spoken to Rachel this morning. Mum’s OK but was in the shower so I haven’t spoken to her yet. Owen’s given me the rest of the week off so I’m getting the 10:30 train home. Back on Sunday. Thanks for being there when I needed you last night. You’re my knight in shining armour. I’m so sorry again about Nikki. I’m here for you x

✉︎ To Jemma

Keep me posted about your mum and shout up if I can give you any more advice. Thanks for listening. I haven’t told anyone down here about Nikki but talking to you helped. I should probably tell Tiff next x

✉︎ From Jemma

It might help. I won’t say anything to any of them in the meantime. It’s your news for when you’re feeling ready x

✉︎ To Jemma

Thanks. Hope it goes well at home this week. I’m at the end of a phone if you need me x

✉︎ From Jemma

Thanks. And sorry again about the lost fiancées club comment. OMG! What was that?! *blushes*

She followed it up with a sticker of a cartoon panda’s face with bright red cheeks, which made me laugh. It was exactly the sort of thing Nikki would have done. She’d always been able to make light of a bad situation and not let it get her down. I was more of a thinker and could really dwell on things. Nikki hadn’t let me. She always made me talk about it, learn from it, and move on. So what had I done since she’d died? Refuse to talk about it, run away from it, and let it control my life.

Until last night.