‘Even better.’

He leans over and kisses her on the head.

Seeing the two of them loved up, it makes me wish for the same, to have someone in my life who cares for me just as much.

Joel pops into my mind but I know it’s time to move on. Instead, I focus on being happy for Dad now that he has found it again.

Chapter 36

It’s strange coming into work when I’ve made such a monumental decision about my future in the company. Dad and I decided that we wouldn’t tell anyone I was leaving just yet; we thought it best to wait for his return to work so that we could have a concrete plan in place.

I’m the first one in the office this morning. I woke up at stupid o’clock as I didn’t get much sleep, distracted by thoughts of Joel and Verity’s forthcoming wedding later on today, and I figured that I was better off going to work early to keep my mind occupied. I sit down at my desk and look at the framed photo of my parents and whilst I’m never going to not feel guilty about how Mum died, I’m slowly starting to move on.

‘Blimey, you’re in early.’ Layla walks in, clutching her sandwich box.

I’m desperate to tell her about my decision to leave, but I promised Dad I wouldn’t say anything yet, plus I wouldn’t want to risk anyone overhearing.

‘Coffee?’ she asks.

‘I’ve got one, thanks.’

She smiles and heads towards the kitchen.

I turn my attention to my computer, automatically opening my personal emails out of habit, like I have done so regularly over the last few weeks. But I know there aren’t any more surprise emails in store for me.

I’m sad it’s all over. I miss hearing from past Edie, and it gives me an idea that maybe I should pay it forward. Write a note-to-self email to future me so that she can remember everything that’s transpired over these past few months, to relive it all in the hope that it can help her in some way as it did for me. I bring up the website and it’s totally different to the very basic site I used at the reception desk at Hartland’s. It’s had a flashy makeover over the years but I’m able to quickly find my way around the page. After resetting my log-in I start a fresh email, selecting seventeen years in the future from the drop-down menu. It seems poetic with the symmetry. I wonder what I should write to my fifty-two-year-old self? I’ve learnt so much from the ones I’ve got this summer that it feels there’s pressure to write something equally inspiring.