She gave him a leg up over the gate and smiled, and he was charmed again by the grace of that smile. He sat for a moment on the top bar and watched her walk away up the alley, and knew she must have paid for that gold rose and there was no doubt about it. Someone as nice as Angela couldn’t possibly be a thief.

Mum,

I love you, you know that. I’m so sorry, what I’ve done to the family, all the trouble I caused.

Listen, don’t let Dad pay the fine, OK? I don’t want to take any more money off him. I’ll manage, a friend offered to help me out, it’s OK, really.

It won’t ever happen again, promise. Because I’m seeing this counsellor now, Judy put me on to him. I have a rave to him once a week in the city where he works and it’s really helping. There’s this self-help awareness group I heard about, too, might join it when I feel a bit better. (Not to worry, it’s only some kind of gastro thing. Couldn’t keep anything down, but it’s clearing up now.)

Sorry about Rick and them phoning. I didn’t give them our number, really and truly, they must have got it out of the phone book. Just hang up if they hassle you again, or tell them I’ve gone interstate.

I’ll be OK, Mum, honest, don’t worry so much, I feel fine, terrific!

Love ya, Angie

P.S. I’ve got a great little flat now! Soon as I get it redecorated—it’s pretty grotty looking at the moment—you and David and Lynne and Dad can come round for dinner. Only don’t get your hopes up about the menu, you know what a flop I was in Home Eco at school!

Chapter 6

‘I just wish I still had my little car!’ Angie said as they walked up the long hill towards the hospital. ‘You should have seen it, Seymour, it was a little VW painted mauve and I stuck daisy tranfers all over the bodywork. Only paid a couple of hundred, but it ran like a dream…oh, I miss that little bomb!’

‘What happened to it?’