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waited and what a nice day we had together.
I’ve made up my mind to go home. Tasha is very understanding about it, and even helped me find someone to take over my flat lease. She does sometimes joke that she can’t let me go because I still have three weeks on my contract, and moans that she won’t ever be able to find another temp as much fun as me. She says she’ll come on a buying trip to Australia one day. Who knows, maybe she will.
She came on the tube with me to Heathrow. We had a last cup of coffee together. When I got through customs and into the lounge I got a text from her. I’d left the pink jumper in the coffee shop. I couldn’t believe it. My last present from Dad. I thought about asking her to post it. But I texted back. ‘Keep it, and when you look at it remember me and my Dad.’
I didn’t tell Mum I was coming home early. I didn’t want her to get a chance to talk me out of it. My cousin, Alicia, picked me up from the airport. She scared me a bit telling me how depressed Mum has been and how much weight she has lost.
When Mum answered the door and saw me she nearly fell over. I hugged her and held her. She seemed so little and frail.
“You shouldn’t have … your trip,” she said.
“It’s what he would have wanted Mum.”