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 mean it! I’ve been beating myself up for being weak as usual and letting him back into my life but you’ve just echoed what my best friend, Karen, said to me at the time and it’s spot on. I had to take that chance. Who knows whether it would have worked out in the long run but I’d never have known if I hadn’t tried.’

‘You’re not weak,’ I assured her. ‘I know we haven’t known each other for long but I see a fighter. I see someone who picks herself up from all the knocks she gets. I see someone who’s strong.’

‘You really think I’m strong?’

‘Christ, yes! I know you’re devastated about Scott but you’ve picked yourself up and got on with life. And I know you’re devastated about your mum’s diagnosis too but you’ve just got on with that. You’ve not been happy with the advice you’ve been given so you’ve sought a second opinion. You’ve been home several times and assessed what’s needed and, as a result, you’ve packed in the job and the life you love and you’re going home to take control. That’s what a fighter does. That’s what you’ve done.’

As I said it, I realised she’d instilled some fighting spirit back into me too. I was going home for the first time since I’d run away to London, I’d made a decision to visit the spot where it happened, and I’d even started job hunting thanks to Jemma. She was right: London v home. No brainer. I wouldn’t have had the courage to make any of those decisions if it hadn’t been for the strength she’d shown.

28

Jemma

✉︎ To Sam

Thanks again for moving me home. And for the advice about Mum, the advice about Scott, supporting me when Mum went AWOL, being there to help with Drew, and bearing with me despite all the disruption I’ve brought into your life. I can’t believe we only met 17 days ago! Feels like I’ve known you for years. You probably feel like you’ve aged 17 years after all that drama! Flash Gordon/Thor/Indiana Jones? No. I think you may actually be a real life superhero in your own right. I’d like to return one of the many favours. You have a big challenge to face while you’re home. Visiting the spot where you lost Nikki must be unbearably painful for you. I appreciate that this may be something you want to/need to face alone but if you do need support – even if that’s someone waiting for you in Blue Savannah with a pint and a listening ear after you’ve visited the spot on your own – I’m here for you xx

✉︎ From Sam