‘We’re both lucky, then,’ she said. He moved to hold her hand, but she baulked. ‘Ah, ah, ah . . .’ She pulled it away. She couldn’t have him touch the cannula. The thought of it made her sick.

‘Sorry,’ he said.

She took a deep breath. ‘Lenny, I haven’t looked.’

‘No?’

‘Can’t.’

‘OK.’

‘Will you look?’

‘Ah, Grace . . .’

‘Please.’

‘Fuck.’

‘Please.’

‘Right then, go on,’ he said, and she closed her eyes and pulled down the front of the gown, revealing herself to Lenny. She heard him exhale.

‘Tell me what you see.’

‘Well the good news is they’re sitting higher, you’ll love that, and there’s a straight-line scar with tan tape, a few layers of that. You’ve got some bruising and the two drains coming from under your armpits.’

‘OK, but how are they?’

‘I think you’ll be pleased,’ he said.

‘Yeah?’

‘They’re fucking huge.’

‘They’re fucking swollen.’

He laughed. ‘I think you’ll be pleased.’

‘Are you pleased?’ she asked.

‘You’re my wife, the mother of my children and my best friend – I’m ecstatic.’

She took a deep breath. Ouch, ow, fucking owww. She pressed the button; a wave of serenity rolled in. She opened her eyes and looked down. ‘Ohhh.’

‘Well?’

‘I can live with these,’ she said, and then she caught sight of one of the drain bags Ryan had made for her with the bunny rabbit on it, and she cried with relief and grief, joy and sadness.

One op down and one to go. I love ya, Rabbit. I miss ya, Rabbit. Thank you.

Chapter Fifty: Juliet

Chapter Fifty

Juliet

MOLLY DROPPED JULIET AND Kyle off at the back of the venue.

‘Just knock at the door and tell them you’re with Davey.’

‘I know what to do, Gran.’

‘ ’Course you do, love.’ Molly waved, and then remembered something. ‘I’ll be back as soon as I can. Do you have money for drinks?’

‘Yeah, Gran. I’m grand.’

‘Good girl.’ She spun off. They watched her go. They stood in front of the door.

Juliet was about to knock when Kyle asked, ‘Do you want to kiss again?’

She nodded. She took him by the hand and crossed the venue car park towards some bushes and trees.

‘This is as private as it gets around here,’ she said, pointing to a gap in the bushes.

‘Nice,’ he said, and they made their way into the centre of the bush.

He started to kiss her slowly, using all the techniques they’d learned earlier. It was soft and gentle and nice and he was just about to reintroduce his tongue when she stopped. Suddenly she was crying.

‘What did I do?’ he asked.

‘Nothing.’

‘Why are you crying?’

‘Don’t know.’

‘You’re happy with Davey, aren’t you?’ he asked.

She swallowed deeply. ‘Yeah.’

‘I don’t believe you.’

‘He’s good to me.’