She very carefully lifted the little bundle of paper from her rucksack and opened the sheets of paper one by one. She smiled as her eyes danced upon words put down on paper by those who loved Lexi – memories, stories and notes, even a declaration of love from dear, dear Toby, whose studies were going brilliantly at Imperial: all had been written when emotions were raw.
‘It feels very fitting that today we are here as a family and with Lexi’s stories so beautifully written by those who love her. We are all so very proud of you, Lexi.’ She smiled at her daughter before continuing. ‘Our journey is one we have taken as a family, and it’s not one I would wish anyone else to travel, but good has come out of it. We know that no matter what life throws at us, we will never stop fighting. We will never give up on you. The fact that you carry these words around with you means you don’t give up on us; a reminder, if you like, of all that is worth fighting for.’
‘It’s true.’ Lexi smiled, looking at the sheets in her mum’s hand.
All were transfixed; the fire began to take hold, the smoke rising up towards the burnished sky.
‘What’s that?’ Diana queried of the pressed flower that Freya lifted in the firelight.
‘It’s lilac from our neighbours’ garden. Lexi loves it.’
‘I really do.’ She spoke quietly. ‘It always reminds me of the Rendletons.’
Lexi sipped at her glass of champagne, for tonight they were celebrating a year of recovery, a year of fighting in a battle that continued, and maybe always would. But at least now she could see a future, and that alone was enough to make it look bright.
Freya inhaled the sprig of lilac where the faintest trace of its intoxicating scent still lingered. She hugged her knees to her chest and smiled at her beautiful, brilliant little girl whose words spoken at the height of her illness seemed to drift towards her on the salt-tinged breeze: When I smell it, I know that summer is on the way, and that means good things – a new season, a new start . . .
Lexi rose from her chair and peeled off her sweatshirt; she held her arms across her trunk, still conscious of showing off her very slim body that bore the invisible scars of anorexia.
There she stood in front of her mum, smiling.
‘Where are you off to, darling?’ Lockie asked.
‘I fancy a swim!’ She quickened her pace towards the shoreline.
‘In the dark?’ Diana queried.
‘Why not?’ Lexi smiled.
‘Be careful, there’s sharks in these waters, you know!’ Hugh teased.
Lexi turned and smiled at her family, sat in a semicircle.
‘That’s okay.’ She grinned. ‘If anything dangerous or life-threatening comes my way, I’ll just punch it on the nose!’
Freya watched as her girl ran, without breaking her stride, without looking back and without hesitation; her brave girl leapt high, landing in the water with a splash, diving into the unknown.
BOOK CLUB QUESTIONS
Did Lexi’s story alter your view of anorexia? If so, how?
Which member of the Braithwaite family did you most sympathise with, and why?
Has The Food of Love changed you or broadened your perspective? If so, how?
What for you was the book’s main message?
In a movie, who would play which parts?
There were a number of moral and ethical choices that Freya and Lockie made. What did you think of those choices? Did you agree/disagree?
Did any parts of the book make you feel uncomfortable? If so, which parts and why?
What will be the overriding memory from The Food of Love, the one incident or paragraph that will stay with you?
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
‘An author is only ever as good as their editor’: never has this been truer than in the case of The Food of Love.
To this end I owe a BIG thank you to the wonderful Tiffany Yates Martin.
Thank you, Tiffania Teaseblossom, for patiently adding the fairy dust!
Thank you to the lovely gang at Lake Union, and Sammia and Emilie for their leap of faith.
And as ever a huge thank you to my lovely family, who fend for themselves, order pizza and let me live in my own little world while I write.
Especially you, Simeon, my support network. My love.
I love you all.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Photo © Paul Smith of Paul Smith Photography at www.paulsmithphotography.info
Amanda Prowse likens her own life story to those she writes about in her books. After self-publishing her debut novel, Poppy Day, in 2011, she has gone on to author twelve novels and six novellas. Her books have been translated into a dozen languages and she regularly tops bestseller charts all over the world.
Remaining true to her ethos, Amanda writes stories of ordinary women and their families who find their strength, courage and love tested in ways they never imagined. The most prolific female contemporary fiction writer in the UK, with a legion of loyal readers, she goes from strength to strength. Being crowned ‘queen of domestic drama’ by the Daily Mail was one of her finest moments.
Amanda is a regular contributor on TV and radio, but her first love is and will always be writing.
You can find her online at www.amandaprowse.com, on Twitter @MrsAmandaProwse, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amandaprowsenogreaterlove.
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