No Going Back
Page 20
“Is he your boyfriend?”
I nodded.
“That’s a very special present. He must like you a lot.”
I felt myself blushing. “He’s a special person. He knew I’d always wanted a cat, ever since I was little.”
“When our daddy was alive?”
“Yes. He was allergic to cats.”
“I know. Mummy told me that. Do you remember him?”
“Yes.”
“What was he like?”
I leaned back against the headboard and closed my eyes for a second. “He was funny and kind and silly sometimes.”
“He sounds nice.”
“He was.”
“Did you love him a lot?”
“Yes.”
She must have seen the tears welling up in my eyes.
“Does thinking about him make you sad?”
“Sometimes.”
“I don’t want you to be sad.”
I leaned forwards and wiped my eyes. “No, me neither.”
She put her arms around me. Her hair smelled of strawberry shampoo and her fingers tapped softly against my shoulder blades.
“Do you mind me putting flowers on his grave?” she whispered.
“No!”
I moved away slightly, looked into her anxious blue eyes. And at that moment something strange happened. I had this overwhelming desire to protect her from all harm. I didn’t ever want to let her down.
“No, of course I don’t. You have just as much right to put them there as I do.”
“Why are your flowers always yellow?” she asked.
“Because it was Dad’s favourite colour.”
She was quiet for a moment. “I didn’t know that. There’s lots I don’t know about him.”
I stroked her hair away from her face. “Well maybe I can fill in some of the gaps.”
She nodded, and carried on painting my nails without speaking.
“Would you like me to put some flowers on the grave from you sometimes?” she asked, putting the bottle of nail polish down on the bedside table.
“Do you know what I’d really like?” I replied.
She shook her head.
“I’d like you to put flowers on from both of us, one posy from Daisy and Laura. I think Dad would like that, don’t you?”
She smiled. “I think if he’s looking down on us,” she said, “that would make him very happy.”
I put my arms around her and clasped her close.
“I think so too.”
I closed my eyes and pressed my lips to my sister’s ear.
“I promise that I will always be here for you, Daisy.”
It wasn’t just a promise to my sister, it was a promise to our dad too.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
A big thank-you to my editors Katie, Helen and Anne for their meticulous appraisals, support and encouragement. Also thanks to everyone at Templar who has been involved with the production of No Going Back. These are the unsung heroes of a published book but their hard work on my behalf is much appreciated.
Also thank you to Reverend Stephen Heygate from the Leicester Diocesan Deliverance Team who gave me valuable advice for certain scenes and also to Joseph Harris for putting me straight on molecular structure!
When Jess is knocked off her bike in a traffic accident, she finds herself at the gates of heaven before her destined death date. Given one last chance to say goodbye, she heads back to earth in invisible form, to visit friends and family. But many secrets are revealed, and one shocking discovery presents Jess with the biggest choice she’ll ever have to make.
‘Such a poignant story for young teens that you can’t help reading parts of it with a lump in your throat. Make sure you have your tissues at the ready’
‘Book of the week’, Manchester Evening News
‘A heartwarming story that really makes you think about how well you know the ones you love’
Chicklish
I’m Suzy Puttock (yes, Puttock with a P), fourteen years old and a total disaster magnet. My life’s full of ups and downs. My loved-up big sister Amber’s getting married and wants lime-green bridesmaids’ dresses. I’m not happy about that. But there’s this hot new guy, Zach, just started at my school. I am happy about that. Only … I’ve had a boyfriend since forever - Danny.
So now I’m all kinds of confused!
‘A hugely entertaining read’
Cathy Hopkins, author of Million Dollar Mates
‘Will have you smiling like a lunatic’
Booktastic Reviews
Following a case of meningitis, teenager Demi is pronounced profoundly deaf.
Suddenly, everything is different.
New school.
New friends.
Even a whole new language.
Can Demi learn to love the person
she has to become?
‘A coming-of-age tale with a twist… beautifully written and thought-provoking’
The Bookseller
A TEMPLAR BOOK
First published in the UK in 2014 by Templar Publishing, an imprint of The Templar Company Limited, Deepdene Lodge, Deepdene Avenue, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 4AT, UK
www.templarco.co.uk
Copyright © 2014 by Alex Gutteridge
Cover illustration by Steven Wood
All rights reserved
First Edition
ISBN 978-1-84877-927-3
eISBN 978-1-78370-021-9
Printed in the UK