The Perfect Gift

by Emma Hannigan

  ‘What? We all picked stupid gits who skedaddled once they’d made us fall in love with them?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Róisín laughed. ‘Although the one I’ve just found is going to break that mould. I just know it.’

  ‘Hallelujah for that,’ Nell said.

  ‘Would you like to read the letter?’ Róisín asked Nell. When Nell, Keeley and Mouse all nodded eagerly, she knew the best thing would be to read it out loud so everyone could hear.

  She took it from her bag and carefully unfolded it.

  My darling, my beautiful, my daughter,

  You are ten days old and we don’t have long left together. Panic is a terrible thing. It takes away all rationale. But my love for you has spurred me on and helped me find a way to leave you a part of myself.

  As she read through the letter, her tears didn’t stop her voice. When she came to the final part, it was Mouse who seemed the most affected.

  I will watch over you always and I know we will meet again some day. There is nothing more I can say except that I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you, my darling girl, my perfect gift.

  ‘Right, feck it,’ said Mouse. ‘That’s it. No more messing about. I’m out of here.’

  ‘Where are you going?’ Nell said in alarm.

  ‘To find Steve and tell him how I feel. I’m going to kiss him and hope to God he doesn’t turn his back on me.’

  ‘You go, girl!’ Róisín said, as Mouse ran from the room.

  They made their way to the kitchen, and Nell handed Róisín a wrapped box.

  ‘What’s this?’ she asked.

  ‘Open it and see.’

  Liv and Keeley peered over as Róisín removed the wrapping paper. It was a picture frame with two handprints, one large and one tiny. Beside it was a photograph of Laura holding baby Róisín.

  ‘It’s the only one I have. It’s the only picture of you and your mother together. It was meant for you always, and I’m so glad you finally have it.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Róisín said, drinking in every detail of the image.

  As Keeley put her hand on Róisín’s shoulder and Liv reached over to touch her hand, she looked over at Nell.

  ‘I promised Laura you would be loved,’ Nell said to Róisín. ‘I now know that though I was tortured by my decision, I did keep my word. Thank you for coming back today.’ She turned to Keeley. ‘Thank you for doing what I couldn’t.’

  Keeley smiled at her through tears. ‘We both acted out of a mother’s love, in our own ways,’ she said softly. ‘And that’s the perfect gift, isn’t it?’

  Nell could only nod in response.

  Róisín took Liv’s hand in hers and smiled at the women who loved her. She remembered her mother’s words. Whatever your gifts are, I wish that life will deliver them to you. And in that moment she knew she had everything she could ever wish for. Right now, right here.

  Acknowledgements

  All my books are the result of teamwork. I am privileged to have a dedicated bunch of cheerleaders who work tirelessly to help me shape and develop my books. The work that goes into cover designs and marketing is a whole other story again!

  Massive thanks to the team at Hachette Books Ireland. As always, Ciara Doorley has been patient and encouraging with edits, and always sees the best in my work. Ruth Shern is tireless in her enthusiasm, and I adore tagging along with her for signing tours. Thanks also to Breda Purdue, Jim Binchy, Siobhan Tierney, Joanna Smyth and Bernard Hoban for all the work you do on my behalf!

  I am so grateful to team Headline in the UK. Sherise Hobbs, you are so enthusiastic and positive with your editing skills, and I know I am lucky to have you on my side. Thanks to Fran Gough, Jo Liddiard, Beth Eynon and all the team for your constant championing of my work.

  Thanks also to Rachel Pierce for casting a fresh eye over the book, and doing a wonderful job of the copy edit.

  My agent Sheila Crowley has never faltered, and always goes above and beyond the call of duty. Thank you for your business advice, wisdom, chats and friendship. You really are a Jack of all trades – or should I say Jacqueline? Thank you, thank you, thank you! Thanks also to Susie Cronin for your kind help with PR.

  This book is dedicated to the people who live my life with me and know me better than anyone else. These people are an extension of me, and I cannot imagine a day without them. My husband Cian, our children Sacha and Kim, and my parents Denise and Philip. I wouldn’t manage to exist without each one of you.

  Thank you to all my cousins and extended family and friends. You all make my life worth living. Thanks also to my brother Tim, his partner Hilary, and their cats Teabag, Sid and Murray. You are wonderful furry cousins to Herbie-Doodle and Tom puss. Thanks to Fiona Cullen and Michael Walsh for minding Tom when we go away. Teddy and Jo-Jo are lucky to have such dedicated puss-parents.

  Also, huge woofs and sniffs to Joey Crowley and his owners Angela, Ger, Niall, Meghan, Fionn and Donnecha for putting up with Herbie’s regular uninvited and very enthusiastic visits to your garden. Thank you especially for minding him when we desperately needed it! Joey is welcome to come and stay with us any time.

  Thanks to Keith Hayden for rescuing Herbie when he goes on adventures, and to the many kind and lovely people who phone when they see naughty Doodle-boy gleefully escaping. We would all be heartbroken if anything happened to him, yet he seems to think it’s all so much fun …

  Thanks to Loretta and Stephen O’Toole for all the help and kindness in Connemara. You ensure our home away from home is always perfect. Thanks also to Kay McEvilly and all the staff at Cashel House, for feeding and welcoming us so often!

  I can never forget Dr David Fennelly and the staff of Blackrock Clinic oncology unit. My cancer treatment is ongoing and, without your care and expertise, I wouldn’t be able to do the job I adore or enjoy the life I love. I am beyond grateful for everything you all do. I am in awe of you all, and I know I wouldn’t be here without you.

  Love and gratitude to Aisling Hurley and Sam McGregor from Breast Cancer Ireland, for the amazing work you do in raising money for cancer research. I am honoured to be an ambassador for such a progressive and worthwhile cause. The work you do saves lives. The work you do has saved my life. Please log on to www.breastcancerireland.com for more information.

  Massive thanks to all the booksellers who work like Trojans to keep folks interested in reading. The support you show by putting my books on display and by recommending them never goes unnoticed. With each and every book that hits the shelves, I have several moments of breath-stopping fear. You see, I’m terrified my loyal and wonderful readers will hate it! So, I’m hiding under the stairs with my fingers crossed and my eyes squeezed shut, in the hope that you’ll all enjoy this one …

  The letters, e-mails, tweets, Facebook messages and cards I receive are, quite simply, a gift. Thank you all for taking the time to read my work, and for letting me know how much you enjoy it. Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for the tsunami of support you all send my way while I’m battling cancer and trying to make sense of it all. It never ceases to amaze me how generous and giving you all are with kind words and messages. They really have such a positive impact on me. Thank you.

  Please keep the letters and banter going – it really makes my day to interact with all of you! You’ll find me at www.emmahannigan.com, @MsEmmaHannigan on Twitter or /Author-Emma-Hannigan on Facebook.

  I am incredibly proud (in spite of hiding under the stairs) to present The Perfect Gift. This is my eleventh book and my tenth novel. I cannot believe I’ve written so many words! I’ve loved every second of it, and I’m thrilled to say that there are many more novels in the pipeline.

  I really hope you enjoy this story, and thank you kindly for buying it.

  Love and light,

  Emma

  What my mother means to me …

  Mum is the first person I phone each morning. We see each other all the time too!

  I’ve battled cancer many times and I know
I couldn’t have coped without my mum. When I was too sick or too weak to mind my own children, both of whom are now teenagers, Mum stepped in seamlessly. She never made a fuss and I know for a fact that my children don’t remember my being absent when they were small. Mum is serene, smiling and always there for me.

  I hope that I have carried some of Mum’s warmth through to my children. Like most teenagers, they predominantly want to be with their friends but that’s normal. My son hugs me daily and tell me he loves me; he’s nearly six foot and doesn’t care who sees or hears. My daughter writes cards and draws pictures and bakes me cakes on a regular basis. So I guess some of my personality has rubbed off on both of them!

  Each time I’ve been diagnosed with cancer, we’ve had to face the inconceivable thought of not having one another, but I don’t believe that is why we are close. I put it down to how I was raised. Mum treated me to such an idyllic and wonderful childhood that I was easily in the position to pass that on.

  It’s only in adult life that I realise just how incredible my mum really was as I was growing up. She worked as a Montessori teacher when my brother and I were children and she instilled a wonderful sense of purpose in both of us. She read to us and taught us both to read fluently by the age of four. She brought us on nature walks where we collected wild nuts and berries to be kneaded into bread or boiled into jam. We picked flowers and leaves for pressing into home-made cards for friends. She stood by and gently instructed as my brother and I destroyed the kitchen making everything from simple cakes to delicious stews. She showed us how to make stamps from raw potatoes and use them to create pretty pictures with poster paint. She taught us to care for our pets and let me know that cats don’t really like wearing T-shirts and tights. She encouraged me to speak my mind without being offensive but, most of all, I always felt heard. I always felt loved. I always knew Mum was there for me, no matter what. Her joie de vivre is infectious. She did things that I thought all mums did. Hindsight has taught me that she was actually quite unique.

  I hope you have some lovely memories of your childhood and your own mother. If, like me, you are lucky enough to be a mother, I hope you remember to have fun with your children, creating their own memories for the future.

  To mums everywhere, I salute you!

  Love and light,

  Emma

  A special home-made treat for your mum …

  To make a pressed flower card

  Pick some pretty flowers – smaller ones, such as primroses, work best

  Arrange the flowers face down inside a hardback book (a cookery book works well) or if you have a flower press use this!

  Close the book and lay on a flat surface with several heavy objects on top

  Leave for a couple of days

  Once the flower is dried and fully flattened it is ready to use

  Using school glue, stick to the front of a folded piece of card

  Write your own special message for your mum inside

  To go with the card how about some hand-made truffles?

  Chocolate truffles

  Ingredients

  225g good quality chocolate (milk or dark depending on your mum’s preference)

  85g butter

  2 tablespoons of cream

  1 tablespoon of Tia Maria or orange juice

  85g chopped hazelnuts or ground praline

  cocoa powder to coat

  Method

  Melt the chocolate

  Bit by bit, stir in the butter

  Add the cream and Tia Maria or orange juice

  Stir in the finely chopped nuts or ground praline

  Refrigerate for approx 30 minutes to ensure the mixture is set

  Take a teaspoon of mixture and roll it gently and quickly between your palms

  Immediately roll in cocoa powder

  Place in a pretty petit four case (available from most supermarkets or baking stores)

  Store in the fridge before putting in a pretty box or cellophane bag tied with ribbon

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