‘There are things I need to say to you,’ he continued, sounding short of breath, ‘but I have very little time. I know you must have a million questions, but I need you to listen. Please? I’ll tell you what I can.’
Tenderly, Elliot placed a hand under her chin and looked at her for confirmation. She nodded.
‘I’m not able to explain exactly how or why I came to you like I did.’ He shrugged. ‘That’s a condition of me being here now. And honestly, it’s not something I fully understand myself. Let’s just say that there’s more to our existence than life and death.’
‘But what does that—’
‘Please, Lisa.’ Elliot’s big blue eyes glistened in the light. ‘For so long I’ve wanted to pay you back – to thank you for what you did for me when we were younger. There were so many things over the years, but carrying me from that fire was … incredible. You put your life on the line to save me that day and I’ll never forget it. I’ll never forget any of the times you came to my rescue. You were and always will be my best friend.’
He gave Lisa a warm smile, using a finger to gently wipe away some of her tears, while blinking to clear his own. ‘It may seem like I spent more time with the rest of your lovely family than I did with you. I’m sorry if that’s the case, but I only ever wanted to help. I had to do what I felt was best.
‘You’re such a strong, amazing person. But you were crumbling when I arrived, Lisa, from trying to carry everyone else. I did my best to help the others, hoping to help you. As an outsider with a few special tools at my disposal, I tried to make a difference.’
Lisa nodded, swallowing several times despite the huge lump in her throat. ‘I understand that now, El,’ she said. ‘You’ve made such a difference to all of us, especially Mike. He’s like a new man. I can’t thank you enough. I realise how lucky I am to have him and Ben and Chloe; to be alive when you’re …’ Her voice fell away. ‘It’s not fair what’s happened to you. You’re still so young. I—’
‘It is what it is. Things don’t always work out like we think they will. I can’t complain. I’m so glad I got the chance to reconnect with you. I should have come to visit years ago, but I always thought there would be time later. Don’t ever make that mistake. Live your life in the present.’
‘I will, I promise,’ she replied. ‘And every time I think of you, which will be a lot, I’ll use that as a way to appreciate everything I have in life.’
Elliot looked upwards and squinted as if concentrating on something. ‘Please hug me again,’ he said, turning back, his voice cracking with emotion.
‘Of course.’ Lisa wrapped her arms around her friend and squeezed tight, wishing the moment could last forever. Their tears ran into a single stream as their cheeks pressed together. Lisa felt her heart racing and her lungs short of breath. It all felt so real.
‘Is this a dream?’ she asked, squeezing her friend tighter to steady her quivering limbs. ‘It doesn’t feel like that, but how can it not be?’
‘Trust your feelings.’ Elliot lowered his voice to a whisper. ‘It’s more than that – and I’ll prove it to you. A letter will arrive in the next few days. It’ll be from me, written before I died. It’s my final gift to you. Please accept it, enjoy it and live a wonderful life with your fantastic family.
‘One more thing. You mustn’t worry about me. However it might look to you, my life is far from over.’ He shook his head, chuckling. ‘Honestly, if I could tell you what they have lined up for me – who I’ve spoken to – it would blow your mind.’
‘What do you—’
Elliot frowned. ‘Sorry, Lise, time’s up. Goodbye. I love you.’
‘I love you too.’
Lisa woke up for a moment, her head still woozy with sleep, blurring the lines between what was real and what wasn’t. She glanced at the alarm clock and realised she’d only been in bed for a few minutes, although it felt much longer.
Still shattered, with no energy to think of what she’d been dreaming, she rolled over on to her side, snuggling into the duvet, and her eyes slid shut.
EPILOGUE
NOW
Monday, 13 August 2018
‘Post, Mum,’ Ben said, dropping three or four envelopes on to the kitchen table where she was drinking a cup of coffee and making a shopping list.
‘Thanks, love.’
She didn’t actually look at the letters until ten minutes later.
One, addressed to her, immediately stood out due to the fact it had an Australian postmark. It looked official, but when she opened the envelope, the first thing she saw was a handwritten letter, stapled to the front of several other printed documents. Intrigued and slightly nervous, she picked it up.
Dear Lisa,
If you’re reading this, something has happened to me. I’m not sure what that is, since I can’t see the future, but seeing as I’ve instructed my solicitors only to send this out on the occasion of my death, it can’t be good.
Anyway, let’s not dwell on that. I don’t want this to be a morbid letter ‘from the other side’. I want it to be a pleasant surprise: a gift, from one old pal to another. This is my way of saying thank you for saving my life when you pulled me out of that house fire and for being the best friend a boy could have growing up.
I know we’ve not seen each other for years, but that’s my fault more than yours. I’m the one who upped and left to the other side of the world and then became a workaholic with no time for holidays back to the UK. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve really enjoyed my life here. I have plenty of friends, but no one like you. How could anyone else ever come close?
You may know that I’ve done pretty well for myself in Sydney. My business has taken off and I’ve made some good investments. But money is no use to you when you’re dead.
There’s no point in me leaving loads to Mum and Ian, assuming they’ve both survived me, because they’re comfortable already. I have no significant other or children, so there’s only one person I can think of that I want to leave my fortune to: you.
Now don’t get too excited, Lise. It’s not everything. I do of course have business responsibilities and so on, and I can’t totally cut out Mum and Ian, who have been brilliant to me over the years. That said, I am leaving you a significant, life-changing amount, details of which should be attached.
Please do whatever you like with the money. It’s yours now – and believe me, you deserve it. I wouldn’t have been alive to earn it if you hadn’t saved my life.
I knew you were special the moment we met down Vicky Lane – me in my pants and socks, hiding behind a bush, and you helping me without hesitation. You went on to prove that again and again as we grew up.
Life’s short. (Don’t I know it?) Be happy. Be grateful for loved ones and never forget the importance of family and friendships, for it is them that bring real meaning to our lives and make us what we are.
Now don’t you dare be proud! It’s only money – take it. Enjoy every penny with your husband and children and everyone else that matters to you. All I ask in return is what you asked of me when we were eighteen and said goodbye to each other at the airport: don’t forget me. I know I’ll never forget you.
Lots of love,
Elliot
X
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to everyone who has supported me on my writing adventure so far, especially my family, friends and readers. Here we are at book three and I couldn’t have made it without you. Extra special thanks to:
The best wife, daughter, sister and parents that anyone could ever wish for.
My fantastic literary agent, Pat Lomax, and the rest of the team at BLM.
Editor extraordinaire Phoebe Morgan and everyone at Avon HarperCollins.
Is holding on harder than letting go?
A beautiful story of love, grief and redemption.
Click here to buy now.
How do you leave the person you love the most?
A heart-rending story about a father’s love for
his daughter.
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About the Author
Former journalist S.D. Robertson quit his role as a local newspaper editor to pursue a lifelong ambition of becoming a novelist. His debut novel, Time to Say Goodbye, was published to rave reviews in 2016, and his second book, If Ever I Fall, hit the shelves in 2017.
An English graduate from the University of Manchester, he’s also worked as a holiday rep, door-to-door salesman, train cleaner, kitchen porter and mobile phone network engineer.
Over the years, Stuart has spent time in France, Holland and Australia, but home these days is back in the UK. He lives in a village near Manchester with his wife and daughter. There’s also his cat, Bernard, who likes to distract him from writing – usually by breaking things. Stand By Me is his third novel.
Also by S.D. Robertson
Time to Say Goodbye
If Ever I Fall
About the Publisher
Australia
HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.
Level 13, 201 Elizabeth Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia
http://www.harpercollins.com.au
Canada
HarperCollins Canada
2 Bloor Street East - 20th Floor
Toronto, ON, M4W, 1A8, Canada
http://www.harpercollins.ca
New Zealand
HarperCollins Publishers (New Zealand) Limited
P.O. Box 1
Auckland, New Zealand
http://www.harpercollins.co.nz
United Kingdom
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London,SE1 9GF
http://www.harpercollins.co.uk
United States
HarperCollins Publishers Inc.
195 Broadway
New York, NY 10007
http://www.harpercollins.com
Stand by Me Page 33