Page 147 of My Kind of Happy

Annabel turned to me and gave me the thumbs-up and I did it back. The two of us tiptoed away, leaving them to enjoy the moment with their closest friends and once we were out of sight, we flopped down on the nearest seat.

‘Phew,’ I said letting my head fall back and closing my eyes. ‘I don’t know about you, but I am shattered.’

‘I don’t know about you but I could do with a glass of champagne.’

‘You are definitely only eleven, aren’t you?’ I laughed.

‘Ugh. Don’t remind me,’ she growled. ‘Everyone thinks that because I’m only eleven, I don’t understand what’s going on with Mum and Dad. But of course I do.’

Suddenly we appeared to be having a serious conversation. I hesitated before answering. This was important, I didn’t want to say the wrong thing. Freddie was always so much better at this sort of thing than I was. ‘I’m sure they know how clever you are.’

Annabel continued with a sigh. ‘The thing is that I’m the only one who really sees both sides. I love them both, but Jeez, seriously, they are so much better apart.’

I suppressed a smile; she had sounded exactly like Sam then.

‘Well, it’s good that you think that way,’ I said carefully.

‘When Mum’s with us, she’s such fun. She watches what we’re watching on TV, even if it’s stupid boy stuff with Will. And she watches all my Netflix documentaries even though I know for a fact she isn’t really interested. The other day we watched a programme on forced prison labour in China where they have to peel raw garlic cloves.’ She paused to frown and shake her head. ‘Although how anybody can watch that and not sign my petition, I don’t know.’

I managed not to register my amusement; her passion for causes was so adorable and admirable.

‘Nor me, send me the link, I’ll sign it.’

‘Thanks,’ she said absentmindedly. ‘But there’s apart and there’s lonely, you know?’

‘I know,’ I said heavily. I’d had the busiest few weeks of my life, it was ridiculous that I’d felt lonely, but I did.

‘Mum’s scared of being lonely and I think that’s why she hooked up with Gareth.’

‘Do you like Gareth?’ I asked.

‘I feel sorry for him,’ she smirked. ‘But that’s not the same thing. I’ve tried to give him some advice, but you know what adults are like.’

I nodded solemnly. ‘I do.’

‘He spoils her and that’s not going to work. Gran and Grandpa spoiled Mum all her life, she needs someone who she can respect.’

I bristled. And she couldn’t respect Sam? ‘That sounds very sensible,’ I said evenly.

‘Mum and Dad were so young when they got together. Like, twenty or something. They grew up together. You grow out of things, you know? Like I used to like the Foo Fighters but now I’m into more indie stuff.’

I stared at her in wonder. ‘I’ll never be as cool as you, as long as I live.’

She smiled kindly at me. ‘That’s because you’re old.’

‘You’ll be OK, you know,’ I said bumping my shoulder against hers.

She nodded. ‘I’ll be OK because I’m mature enough to understand that it’s not the end of the world if your parents split up. It’s not like anyone died.’

She clapped a hand over her mouth. ‘Your brother died and I just said died. I’m sooo sorry.’

I laughed. ‘Don’t worry. It took me a long time to accept that he was really gone, but I’m OK now. Life has to move forward. Things change and we have to adapt to those changes whether we like it or not.’

She exhaled. ‘Good, because you might not be cool, but you are kind and I like that. Anyway,’ she moved on swiftly as if she’d let herself down by showing a softer side. ‘It’s Will I’m worried about. He’s still so little.’

I smiled at her; she had to be the most amazing, big-hearted and perceptive girl on the planet. ‘He’ll be OK. I guarantee it.’

Annabel blinked at me and all at once I saw that she was still a little girl who needed reassurance now and again. ‘How can you be so sure?’