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Back All You Need Is Love
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

✉︎ To Jemma

For giving me a second chance xx

✉︎ From Jemma

Surely you know by now that I’m a sucker for a sob story and I ALWAYS give people second chances ;-) Now stop texting me. I’m very busy and important and have lots of bears to hug. See you tonight xx

‘You look very smart, Sammy,’ Mum said, watching me as I sat on the stairs and pulled on my walking boots. ‘I’m not so wild about the footwear, though.’

I wrinkled my nose. I’d gone for some dark blue jeans and a short-sleeved shirt instead of my usual ripped jeans and T-shirt combo but the footwear fell short. ‘I don’t have much choice. I screwed up on the packing. I’ve only got my knackered Converse and these.’

‘Shame your dad’s two sizes smaller than you or you could have borrowed some of his.’

‘Such a shame! Because loafers or brown sandals are so my thing.’

Mum laughed. ‘Cheeky. It’s good to see you smiling again, Sammy. Especially with this Friday being—'

I stopped tying my laces and looked up. ‘You can say it, you know, Mum. Friday’s the one-year anniversary of Nikki’s death. One whole year.’

‘Will you be okay?’

‘For the first time, I really think I will be. It’s been a very dark twelve months but I can finally see light.’

‘Because of this Jemma who you’re meeting?’

I chuckled as I resumed tying my laces. ‘Stop fishing, Mum. Jemma’s a friend and she’s been very clear that friendship is the only thing on offer, which is fine. She’s helped me, though. She got me to open up about Nikki, she got me to confront my demons by visiting the spot where it happened, and she’s given me hope for a future without Nikki, whether that’s with her, someone else, or just on my own. Thanks to Jemma, I’ve started thinking about the future instead of agonising about the past.’

‘She sounds wonderful, Sammy.’

I stood up and hugged her.

‘Enjoy your evening,’ she whispered. ‘You deserve it.’

I made it down to South Bay a little after 7.00 p.m. I was an hour early but I wanted to see the bonfires and fireworks first. It was something Nikki and I had always enjoyed doing.