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Back Where The Story Starts Save as PDF
Chapters (65)
  1. TITLE PAGE
  2. COPYRIGHT PAGE
  3. CONTENTS
  4. PROLOGUE
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. 20
  25. 21
  26. 22
  27. 23
  28. 24
  29. 25
  30. 26
  31. 27
  32. 28
  33. 29
  34. 30
  35. 31
  36. 32
  37. 33
  38. 34
  39. 35
  40. 36
  41. 37
  42. 38
  43. 39
  44. 40
  45. 41
  46. 42
  47. 43
  48. 44
  49. 45
  50. 46
  51. 47
  52. 48
  53. 49
  54. 50
  55. 51
  56. 52
  57. 53
  58. 54
  59. 55
  60. 56
  61. 57
  62. 58
  63. BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS
  64. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  65. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

So as the clock ticked round to two o’clock on that Sunday, I started to wonder what Clio had in mind for us that afternoon. I put a newish top on and a lick of mascara but that would have to do. If I didn’t look the part for whatever it was, then that was tough. When the doorbell rang, though, there was a kaleidoscope of butterflies fluttering around in my stomach. I didn’t know if that was the right collective noun, but I read it once and it sounded so pretty that I started using it anyway. Thinking about it now, it was probably stuff like that that made Stacey Waters pick on me in the first place. Hindsight is such a beautiful thing.

Anyway, I opened the door and there was Clio. She didn’t look hugely dressed up, so that was a relief. It wasn’t the races or anything like that then.

‘Hi,’ I said, and Clio placed a kiss firmly on each of my cheeks, then stepped inside, closing the door behind her. ‘So, are you going to tell me what all the mystery is about?’

Clio winked at me. ‘In a minute. Now, where are those gorgeous children of yours?’

Moments later Noah came careering down the stairs. Poppy stayed at the top, but she waved hello to Clio.

‘How do you two fancy a trip to the movies?’ asked Clio. ‘I’ve had a look and there’s a great new Pixar film on. I know you’re a bit grown-up for that, Poppy, but you could tolerate it just this once for the sake of your brother, couldn’t you?’

Poppy loved Pixar films and seeing one would be no hardship for her, but I liked the way Clio had dressed it up for her so that she could say yes without getting embarrassed.

Right on cue, Poppy played it cool. ‘Yeah, suppose so,’ she said, and shrugged her shoulders as if this was a huge favour that she was doing us all.

Noah bounced up and down on the spot.

‘And what about me?’ I asked. ‘Is no one interested in whether I want to see the film?’ I pulled the corners of my mouth down sadly but with a wink at Noah so that he could understand that no one had actually hurt my feelings. He was really sensitive to stuff like that, the little lamb.

‘You’re not coming!’ said Clio, suppressing a giggle. ‘I’ve got other plans for you.’

I raised an eyebrow at her. ‘What plans?’ I asked dubiously, wondering precisely what she had in mind for me whilst they were all living it up at the flicks.