Page 49 of Daydreams & Doughnut Cake

She thought about this for a moment, a frown creasing her brow as she gazed at me. Then she said in a cool and matter-of-fact way, ‘The thing is, Rosie. I know she loves me. But she’s never going to love me as much as she loves my sister. And it’s not even her fault.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Well, she adopted me so I’m not actually her real daughter.’

‘But ofcourseyou are!’

She shook her head. ‘It’s all right. I don’t mind. I’m herstep-daughter, but Isla is her real daughter. I’ve asked her if she’ll come and see me in the show but the thing is, I know she won’t have time. You can come if you like,’ she added. ‘We get three tickets each.’

‘That would be great. Count me in. I’d love to see you wearing the dress.’

She nodded. ‘I’m not going to wish that Mum will come because then I won’t be disappointed when she doesn’t.’ She gave another little shrug and tried to smile, but I caught the tearsglinting in her eyes before she turned away to stare moodily out of the window.

Would Ellie get to the show?

I really hoped so for Maisie’s sake . . .

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Driving home after dropping Maisie back at Bogg House, I stopped off in Sunnybrook village to pick up some milk.

But as I was coming out of the village store, who should be walking along the high street but Danny.

I’d been thinking about him a lot since he’d told me he’d always liked me. The feeling was mutual – except I’d obviously never beenin lovewith him. But hearing Danny liked methat wayhad kind of made me start seeing him in a different light.

He’d always been ‘Mark’s lovely best mate’ in my mind. Nothing else.

But having met up with him again under these vastly different circumstances, I’d almost resolved on going to see him at the glamping site to talk some more. My emotional chat with Ellie had actually softened the guilt I’d always felt over what happened between Danny and me. Ellie had made me think that maybe itwastime I forgave myself, so I could move on. Otherwise, I might be stuck where I was forever...

But then Jackie had happened – that chilling and highly emotional encounter with her outside my house – and I’d instantly switched right back to feeling far too guilty to ever want to see Danny again.

But now, here he was, walking towards me.

He hadn’t seen me yet. I could just slip back into the shop and let him walk on by. But something inside me was making me stay rooted to the spot.

I was done with hiding away. I felt as if I’d been doing nothing else for the past year since I left Brighton. It was time I faced up to things – andpeople– no matter how scary it might feel.

Danny’s face broke into a smile as he caught sight of me.

‘Hey, you,’ he said, walking over. He was looking a little nervous as if he wasn’t sure how I was going to react on seeing him.

‘Hi, Danny. It’s good to see you. Listen, I’m really sorry about having to rush off the other day, when we were in the middle of talking.’

‘It’s okay.’

‘It was my friend, Ellie – well, my boss, actually – and she really needed help.’

‘Hey, it’s fine. Honestly. You had to do what you had to do.’ He gave me his familiar lopsided grin and I felt a funny little leap inside.

Ignoring the feeling, I rushed on: ‘I never realised it but Jackie has hated me ever since the day of Mark’s funeral. Did you know she came to my house that night and saw...us... through the window?’

‘What?’ He frowned, looking as blindsided as I’d felt when I unmasked the intruder only to find it was Jackie. ‘She wastherethat night?’

I nodded. ‘She saw me kiss you and she’s been holding her hatred inside her all this time. She doesn’t blame you,’ I added quickly.

‘Well, she should. I’ve probably been feeling just as guilty about that night as you have.’

‘Have you?’

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