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She kept grinning ‘Not saying I want it to be a surprise,’ she said teasingly ‘I’ve checked the directions and I’ll tell you e get there’

An hour and a half later he frowned as he looked at a sign in front of hio here? Really?’

‘Are you joking?’ She held up her hands ‘Of course I want to go here’ She pointed to the river ‘Look, a subestured to the hangar high above them ‘In there is a space shuttle Have you ever seen a space shuttle before? Touched one? I haven’t And I can’t wait’ She spun around and pointed directly above ‘And up there, are the old war planes Don’t you reuy is the last olf from the top of one of the war planes?’

Leo frowned, taking a few seconds to place the filrabbed her hand and pulled her towards hi kid really, aren’t you?’

Her cold nose brushed against his chin ‘Maybe I as Deciding what’s important’

The look in her eyes as she said the words tugged at his heart There it was again The sign that they were on the sath She lifted her hands and rested them on his shoulders She licked her lips ‘Maybe we both need to have a think about things Tell me more about your chat with Noemi yesterday’

He rolled his eyes He couldn’t help it ‘It was fine She was chatty Asked lots of questions Mainly around when I’d be back’

Anissa nodded her head ‘She wants to get to know you better, Leo It’s a natural response And I’lad’

He nodded ‘I guess It was apparently a dream of Mother and Father’s that they would have all their children together around the table at Christmas’

Anissa took a few seconds ‘Does Noemi want to fulfil that dream?’

He nodded ‘But isn’t it too late? They’re gone’

She gripped his shoulders firone This is your faet to know The people you should get to love’

She was right He knew she was right But it just see leap into the unknown

She kept talking ‘Christ this time of year with my mum and dad’

‘Are you going hoed inside him He wasn’t quite sure hoanted her to answer this question

She shook her head ‘I promised

I’d work I’ back on the twenty-third It will be fine My mum will ave a shrug ‘I always keep my commitments and someone has to work’

She’d be there Inside his heart gave a little leap If he decided to go back for Christs not see

She tilted her head to one side ‘Noemi was the easy one to call, wasn’t she? The person you really need to call is Sebastian’

He let out a wry laugh ‘How coht for the jugular?’

She laughed too ‘Because life is too short And, anyway, you know your brother was angry about the will I bet he was hurt Hefor that position and now he feels as if it’s been ripped away fro’ She wrinkled her nose ‘What’s Noemi’s stake in this?’

‘She’s a silent partner But I’m not sure how happy she is about that’

Anissa put her hand on his chest ‘You don’t knohat else is going on in their lives—apart from the fact they’ve just lost their parents and found out about a secret brother, there could be other stuff’ She stood up on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear as she hugged hiet to know you, they’ll think that you’re great’

His stoave a flutter He’d never, ever had anyone support hi now And he wanted to reciprocate He wanted to do the sa for him

But that couldif her she really could ht now the last thing he wanted to do was hurt her Or dae the most valuable relationship he’d started to form

He kissed her swiftly on the lips and lowered his voice ‘Okay, tourist, hoould you like to see the inside of my submarine?’