And that’s when I knew. I’ve thought about the Big Trip hundreds of times a day for two weeks since Maggie and I filled out the application and sent it to the Wishmakers head office in London. This was the last year I had a chance of being chosen, my last chance at going away to another country.

My back groaned as I pulled myself to sit up in bed but I hardly noticed. I’d convinced myself it wasn’t going to happen because I wanted it too much. If I want something too much, I always jinx it.

Mum was still talking into the phone.

“OK, thank you, Maggie. Yes, yes, she’s delighted, we both are. Yes, I’ll chat with Grace and then, if she’s feeling up to it, we’ll come in on Tuesday as you suggest to talk through all the details. Thank you, Maggie.” She looked as startled as I felt when she hung up the phone. She stared at the receiver, blinking at it like she’d never seen one before.

“Mum?” I said, banging the side of my bed to snap her out of it because she was just standing there in the middle of my room, blinking at the phone, and then she was shaking her head and smiling at the same time.

“They’ve got a place for you, Gracie!” she said, and she came over to me in a rush and bent down towards me so her eyes could tell my eyes that this was real, this was really happening.

“Oh, my darling, finally!” she said, her smile almost too big to let the words out. She kissed me all over my face then, making me laugh so much my glasses went wonky and then they fell off my face, which made us both laugh harder. But then Mum said this: “Oh, Mouse, what will I do without you for ten whole days! I’m going to miss you while you’re off swimming with dolphins and working on your tan.”

She winked at me and I knew she was joking, but I felt myself go rigid. Who will make sure I’ve got the right meds? Who will check on me in the middle of the night? I think Mum saw that I was scared because she took my hand and squeezed it. I squeezed back twice, which means “I’m OK,” because there’s no code for “I wish you were coming to Hawaii with me.” I don’t want her to worry, she’s always worrying about me—it’s all she does. So I put on a big smile and pretended that I wasn’t scared to go without her. Another little secret.

Lots of love, Grace xxx

6

Jon

“Mind if I put the radio on?” Cara asks from the passenger seat as I turn onto the main road towards Plymouth.

“Sure,” I say, and switch it on for her.

I had doubted whether Cara would pick up the business card I left on the table outside the pub, let alone use it, so her text had come as a surprise. Apparently, she had something she wanted to give Dr. Rossi and she needed a lift. I had left it until this morning to answer, unsure about the wisdom of driving around with a young woman I barely knew. What if someone saw us in the car together, recognized us and posted something, a photo of the two of us, online? That would have Ruth running to the solicitors to file for divorce in no time. Not to mention that I hadn’t actually arranged a meeting with Dr. Rossi, strictly speaking. Still, the professional part of me was thrilled at this chance to get to know Cara, maybe find out a bit more about Grace and Meg.