Page 177 of Take My Hand

“Yeah, sure. Give them a call.” I turned to Maya. “If I give you my card can you order some pizzas or something?”

She nodded. “Yes, but I don’t need your card. I’ll sort it.” Then she leaned in and gave me a quick kiss to the lips. “Go and speak to Maddy.”

Shit, I had no idea what I’d done to deserve her, but whatever it was I was glad I’d done it. She was clearly in pain and probablydesperate to sleep for a little while, but my daughter and a bunch of kids she barely knew were her priority, and I didn’t think I could love her more.

“I’ll go and see how she is,” I told them and then slowly made my way up the stairs, wondering how I was going to help my little girl because I couldn’t stand to see her with a broken heart, and I would do whatever it took to heal it for her, even if it meant sitting for hours holding her hand.

Zak’s WhatsApp Messages

OSCAR

Hey mate, didn’t get to speak to you much at the weekend. Was great to see you though. Oh and your gf is a sort!!

OSCAR

You okay, Zak? Bit worried as you haven’t replied to my messages. Hope it’s not the comment about Maddy lol.

ZAK

Sorry mate. Got a lot going on here. Maddy’s best friend died. It’s been fucking shit. She’s in bits and I don’t know how to help her.

OSCAR

Fuck! One of the girls who came to the party?

ZAK

No her friend Ana. She was supposed to come with us, but didn’t make it. She got hit by a train, mate! It’s so fucked up. I don’t know how to help her, she won’t talk to me or about it.

OSCAR

Fuck, I’m so sorry. She must be devastated. Just give her time she’ll talk to you eventually once the shock has worn off. Not sure what I can do to help but buzz me if there’s anything.

ZAK

Thanks, Ozzy. I’ll call you soon.

Chapter Sixty-Four

Maddy

February was a shit month. I hated it. I hated how dark and miserable it was. I hated that it was raining outside. I hated that that it was cold outside. I hated that it was almost lunchtime, and I was still in bed. I hated that Zak has sent me a thousand messages and I couldn’t bring myself to answer any of them.

My phone beeped with another one, and Emma sighed next to me.

“You’re going to have to speak to him at some point,” she said, tugging at the duvet.

“She’s right,” Liv chimed in from the blow up mattress on the floor.

Her hand reached up to my bedside table, snatched up my phone and then threw it at me. It landed on my stomach.

“Just put him out of his misery, Maddy.”

I slammed my hand over it just as it vibrated with another oncoming message. They were right, I should speak to him, but I couldn’t. I picked up my phone as many times as he messagedme every day, but when I pressed on his picture, ready to dial his number, my mouth became dry, and a huge ball formed in my throat. No matter how much I tried, I just couldn’t form the words.

As for the thoughts, well they were there in abundance.

It was Zak’s fault.

---