Page 127 of The Forever Gift

I glance into the bottom of the box at the piece of white card that says,Call Me.Picking out the card is difficult. My fingers are fumbling and making a complete mess of things. Finally I grip it and turn it over.

‘There’s a phone number,’ I say.

Jack has taken his phone out of his pocket, ready and waiting. He passes it to me.

‘Call the number,’ he says.

I take his phone, unsure, and punch in the digits and hold it to my ear. ‘It’s not ringing,’ I wait.

‘You should get voicemail any second?—’

‘Hi, Mam,’ Kayla’s voice whispers softly into my ear. I almost drop the phone as tears trickle down my face. Jack is smiling and nodding.

A message. She’s left me a message.

‘It’s me, Mam. It’s Kayla.’ Her voice is so beautifully familiar. My heart aches.

‘Happy Christmas, Mam. I hope you’re doing okay. I wish I could be there with you today. But I thought this voicemail would be the next best thing. Jack helped me. He’s so nice, Mam. You should get to know him better. Seriously.’

I look up at Jack and smile and he smiles back.

‘Do you like your keyring?’ Kayla asks, followed by some giggles. ‘I bet you have no idea what it’s for, do you?’

I shake my head as if she can see me. I wish she could.

‘It’s for the keys of your new coffee shop. Kayla’s Place. I know, I know. You’re not a charity case. But it’s not charity if you give something back. So, how about ten per cent of all profits go to Cancer Research. Wouldn’t that be great? We can help future kids get better. We can do that together, Mam, can’t we?’

Fat salty tears trickle down my cheeks because it’s just so typically Kayla. Always thinking of a way to help others.

‘And you don’t have to call it Kayla’s Place, I just couldn’t think of anything else. I ran out of time before all the paperwork went through, but Jack and Charlotte promised to help sort it all out. What do you say, Mam? Will you open your dream bakery and live your best life?’

I nod, unable to see though my tears.

‘I love you, Mam. I love you so incredibly much. No matter where I am now. Nothing will ever change that. And whenever you’re missing me, or we haven’t talked in a while, just call this number and my voice will be right here with you again. Bye, Mam.’

‘No. No. Come back. Kayla come back,’ I cry.

Gavin is on his feet and over to me in an instant. His strong arms are around me, holding me close as I sob hard.

Charlotte takes Molly into the kitchen, making some excuse about getting dinner into the oven and I eventually peel myself away from Gavin to look at Jack.

‘How long was she planning all this?’ I ask.

‘A while,’ Jack says. ‘Once she realised she wasn’t going to get better her main priority became trying to take care of you.’

‘But I was supposed to be taking care ofher,’ I say.

‘And you did,’ Jack says.

‘But she’s gone,’ I cry, my whole body shaking. ‘I’m her mother and I couldn’t save her. I couldn’t protect her. In the end I couldn’t do anything for her.’

‘You can do this for her,’ Jack says. ‘As Kayla would say, you can live your best life.’

‘I… I…’ I stare at the keyring in my hand without keys. ‘I don’t even know where to begin.’

‘The paperwork is already in progress. After that you can learn on your feet. Kayla believed in you. I do too.’

‘You can do this, Heather,’ Gavin says. ‘You can do it for Kay. You have to.’

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