‘Thank God. Oh Morgan, this all sounds positive…’ said Paige and grabbed her hand. ‘I’ve been so worried.’
Morgan held on tightly.
‘Does Olly know yet?’ asked Emily.
‘He does now. But I’d kept it secret until the day before we went to France. I… hadn’t wanted him to worry. The operation was a day case. I pretended I was at work. Then I took a few days off and they put me on light duties when I returned. I’d told Mum and Dad. They were really supportive. Dropped meals off for us, for a while… Olly and I weren’t talking much so he didn’t really notice anything much different.’ Morgan touched her shoulder. ‘The whole thing gave me an extra push to find Olly’s dad, in case, one day…’
‘Now none of that,’ said Emily, firmly. ‘The prognosis is excellent for stage two melanoma.’
‘I know. I’ve seen the figures.’ Statistics Morgan could work with. ‘But you can’t help thinking the worst.’
‘I’d feel the same,’ said Tiff, ‘but those thoughts aren’t facts and come from the voice in your head being affected by the negativity bias we’re all born with: to suspect the worst so that we’re on guard and survive longer.’ Her cheeks blushed. ‘I read an article about it once when I was suffering from stage fright.’
Emily held Morgan’s free hand and Tiff held Emily’s and Paige’s.
‘We used to say our oath and help other people, but we never really used our gifts to sort out our own problems, did we?’ said Morgan.
‘Perhaps there’s something in what Miss Moo Moo said,’ mumbled Emily, ‘about the most important friend being yourself.’
‘Well, I’m almost worldwide famous so that makes sense,’ said Tiff, with a gleam in her eye. ‘Used to mixing with the likes of Keanu Reeves, not Manchester hoi polloi. Best to keep to myself for a good time.’
‘Regardless of any career change, I won’t forget my geriatric care training,’ said Emily, face beaming. ‘I’m the friend I’ll need for a comfortable old age.’
‘I’m the coupon queen and can smell out a supermarket bargain,’ said Morgan. ‘I can’t think of a friend I’d rather have in the current climate.’
‘I can read an enemy like an open book,’ said Paige, mouth upturned, ‘so in case adulthood gets like high school again, I’ll prioritise me. Talking of which…’ She rummaged in her handbag and pulled out a sheaf of torn pages. ‘I picked these up on the beach, in Cornwall. Our closed cases.’
Morgan reached out, feeling as if she’d been handed a winning lottery ticket. ‘I’ll stick them back in the notebook. I’m so glad I didn’t throw it out.’ She pressed the papers to her chest.
The women linked arms and huddled together as the evening chill set in. Morgan’s phone bleeped and she read the message. Her shoulders started bobbing up and down as laughter produced tears in her eyes.
‘It’s Jasmine. She must have got my number from Olly’s old records.’ Morgan wiped her eye and stood up. Importantly, she cleared her throat.
‘Hello Morgan, I’m asking this out of desperation, obviously. Is The Secret Gift Society still operating? I don’t wish to get the police involved at this stage – I have the Dailsworth High’s reputation to consider – but we have a phone thief in our midst. I’ve had several angry parents in to see me. The school’s own investigations haven’t been productive. Would you and the other members consider taking this case on, for old time’s sake? I’d be… most grateful. Yours, Jasmine White, Headteacher.’
Morgan, Paige, Emily and Tiff looked at each other and the man in the house hollered again as their raucous laughs filled the park.
39
MORGAN
Morgan stood outside the hospital. It was the day of her cancer check-up: the appointment the letter in her handbag had talked about. That carefree night swinging in Greenacre Park felt like years, not weeks, ago. Her scar had healed really well during the four months since the operation. She’d tried not to become obsessive about checking her body for new moles after each shower, twisting in the mirror, lifting up her arms and feet. She pulled her anorak tight as the spring breeze blew against her neck as if trying to shake her out of the spiral she’d fallen into for a few moments. It happened now and again.
‘Ready?’ asked Paige.
‘You’d better be,’ said Tiff, ‘it’s almost as cold out here as on the Isle of Wight.’
‘Apparently, this hospital’s canteen serves excellent coffee,’ said Emily.
‘Thanks for taking the day off, you three,’ said Morgan. ‘I really appreciate it. Well, Paige at least…’ She smiled.
‘I’ll have you know I’ve signed a temporary contract to work at a small medical clinic until my veterinary nursing course starts in September,’ said Emily.
Morgan punched Emily’s arm playfully, stomach fizzing at the prospect of the coming autumn when… she’d be starting university, like Olly. Felix wanted to cover Olly’s accommodation costs whilst he was there, and any other bills, his son only had to ask. This freed up Morgan’s savings to pay for her own university expenses. She’d turned down his suggestion at first, used to being independent. However, Olly had insisted, said it was his decision.
‘It’ll be great, us both students at the same time,’ he’d said.
‘Does this mean I can visit and go “out out” with you and your mates?’
