A Part of Me and You

by Emma Heatherington

  She leans her head on my shoulder.

  ‘I gave him the letters today,’ she says as we both stare out onto the sky that looks fluffy and grey now like it is about to burst. ‘I ‘ve been writing them on and off for years now so I hope it makes it easier for him to understand where I’m from and some of the things that I like. You never know, maybe he’ll be into some of the same things too.’

  I smile at her sweetness. She is just a baby really with so much to learn.

  ‘He’ll enjoy every moment of getting to know you, Rosie,’ I say to her. ‘And I have so much to tell you about Lily, your little sister. Plus, we will always talk about your mum, you know that. She will always be a part of our family too. She is a big part of me and you.’

  ‘She is,’ nods Rosie. ‘I just wish I could tell that she is safe wherever she is and that she is happy and with the people she loved up there. I wish I could just get a sign. Anything. I wish I just knew …’

  ‘It’s going to snow,’ says a voice from behind us and we turn around to see Eliza at our shoulders, looking out over our heads. She hands me a glass of bubbly and a soft drink to Rosie. ‘A white Christmas at last. The weather man got it wrong again.’

  ‘A white Christmas,’ whispers Rosie and we sit together, the three of us and watch as snowflakes slowly fall around us.

  ‘Shelley, I think my mum is alright after all,’ Rosie says to me. ‘She really wanted a white Christmas so I think that this might be the sign I’ve been looking for.’

  ‘You do?’ I say to Rosie and Eliza gives me a satisfied wink of approval. ‘Well, that’s something to celebrate then, Rosie, love. Come on, let’s dance in the kitchen like no one is watching, even though we know that Juliette is here with us watching our every single move and always will be!’

  ‘I think it’s time we all danced in the kitchen,’ says Eliza. ‘I’ll wake up the lads and we’ll get this party started.’

  ‘Yes, let’s celebrate this wonderful white Christmas in this most magnificent place,’ I say to Rosie and Eliza. ‘Let’s celebrate being alive and all that life has to offer. Nothing more, nothing less. Someone once told me that being alive is as good a reason to celebrate as any, don’t you agree?’

  ‘To today and the joy of being alive to enjoy it,’ says Rosie. ‘Every day is a disco. Every day is an adventure, and don’t you ever forget it.’

  We clink our glasses and wipe away our tears as we toast.

  ‘I’ll drink to that,’ I say and my heart fills up with a rush of love as I savour this precious moment and then Rosie takes a photo as I raise my glass.

  Now, that is one memory of Rosie that I will want to take with me forever. And we have so many more new memories together to come.

  Acknowledgements

  Huge thanks to each and every single reader who has contacted me over the past twelve months with touching and very moving messages of encouragement and support. Thank you for taking the time to not only read my work but to let me know your own personal stories of love, life and loss. Big thanks to all the book clubs especially Edel O’Neill and all the girls in the Page Turners group in Mid Ulster and the Sea Isle City girls who sent me a very sunny photo from their book club on the beach in New Jersey.

  To all the bloggers who do such amazing work spreading lots of book love, especially those who hosted me on a recent tour (ANovelThou‌ghtWithJess, ChickLitChloe, APageofFic‌tionalLove and WithLoveFo‌rBooks) plus Alba in Bookland, Shaz Goodwin, Celeste McCreesh, Claire Bridle, Cliodhna Fullen, and Kaisha Holloway at The Writing Garnet whose review moved me to tears! Big high five to little Eva as well!

  I have had so much support from the media so a big thanks to Belfast Telegraph (Gail Walker and Kerry McKittrick), The Galway Advertiser (Kernan Andrews and Declan Varley), Sunday Life (Martin Breen), Irish News (Jenny Greenaway), Irish Times (Jennifer O’Connell), BBC Radio Ulster (Kerry McLean and Vinny Hurrell), UTV Life (Pamela Ballantine) Tyrone Courier (Ian Greer), Dungannon Herald (Annamay McNally) and further afield thanks to the support of Chicago Irish Radio and to my buddy Nolan Rafferty and Jimmy Keane over there for finding me a place on the airwaves Stateside.

  Staying that direction, I am so appreciative of the support of Sean Maguire and his beautiful wife Tanya plus Sean’s extensive fan base, especially Stacy, Liz and Ana who really help to spread the word about my books in the USA. I am overwhelmed to have you on my side and for all your Tweets and shout outs! Also thanks in this regard to country singer Derek Ryan and Graeme Clark of Wet Wet Wet for sharing the love with your own fans. It means a lot.

  I am very grateful to all the support from the people of Kinvara, Co Galway, so much so that this book, well, let’s say the location might sound a little bit familiar though I have used some creative license on my descriptions and landmarks! Special thanks to Joe Byrne, to Ruth and all at Sexton’s Bar, Helen Larrissey at Be Yourself Boutique, and to Karen Weekes, Jackie Veale and Mary Keogh for your friendship and warm welcomes every time we visit. Big thanks also to Siobhan at Ballybane Library, Galway for hosting events and to the staff at Westside and Tuam Libraries for accommodating me to give reader talks this year. A special mention to the beautiful inside and out Maureen Browne for adding some magic to these events with her magical fiddle playing at short notice!

  I am so thankful for the support from local bookshops especially Sheehy’s in Cookstown who always pull out the stops to give my books a big send off. Thank you so much Madeline, TP and staff and to all who turn out every time and show so much support, especially my aunties – Mary, Eithna, Margaret, Bernadette and Kathleen, cousins, friends and school-friends Aideen, Kathy, Katrina, Roisin and Rosealla for popping by to say hello. Bug hugs to you all and to all my friends old and new who share the word on social media. Also to Angela Morgan for lending her gorgeous voice and Jim McKeown for always being a rock of support for big events when I need him and to Ciaran Campbell who never loses sight of a PR moment!

  To Emily Ruston, my amazing editor who is an absolute pleasure to work with – I honestly can never thank you enough for how you continue to push me in the right direction. It is such an honour to work with you. Also a big shout out of thanks and love to Charlotte, Kim and all at HarperImpulse who I enjoy working with so much and I still pinch myself that I’m part of such a talented team.

  Finally, to my precious family – my Dad Hugh, sisters Vanessa, Rachel, Lynne, Rebecca, Niamh, my brother David, all my in-laws and the McKee clan especially Nanny Irene and my beautiful children Jordyn, Jade, Dualta, Adam and Sonny James who I am so proud of more and more every day.

  This one’s for Jim McKee, my best buddy, my partner in every walk of life and in loving memory of the two little babies we lost in recent times.

  And to all who have lost a loved one, no matter at what age of stage in life or in what circumstances, I hope you find strength and blessings to keep going when you need it.

  Also by Emma Heatherington

  The Legacy of Lucy Harte

  About the Author

  Emma Heatherington is from Donaghmore, Co Tyrone, where she lives with her children Jordyn, Jade, Dualta, Adam and baby Sonny James. She has penned more than thirty short films, plays and musicals as well as seven novels, two of which were written under the pseudonym Emma Louise Jordan.

  Emma’s last novel, The Legacy of Lucy Harte, was an eBook bestseller in both the UK and US.

  Emma loves spending time with her partner (the talented artist and singer/songwriter Jim McKee), all things Nashville, romantic comedy movies, singalong nights with friends and family, red wine, musical theatre, new pyjamas, fresh clean bedclothes, long bubble baths and cosy nights in by the fire.

  @emmalou13

  www.facebook.com/‌emmaheathe‌ringtonwriter

  About the Publisher

  Australia

  HarperCollins Publishers (Australia) Pty. Ltd.

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llins.com.au

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  HarperCollins Canada

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  United Kingdom

  HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.

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  http://www.harpercollins.co.uk

  United States

  HarperCollins Publishers Inc.

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