Free Never Say Goodbye by Susan Lewis Page A

only a small crowd with them, since most had arrived by car, and it didn’t seem anyone felt inclined to offer lifts into town to those less fortunate. ‘Has this ever happened before when you’ve come?’ she asked.
    Josie shook her head. ‘And for it to happen now, right in front of Christmas . . .’ She was so upset she hardly knew what she wanted to say. He’d have been looking forward to their visit, pinning all his hopes on what they might bring for Christmas, savouring every last detail of what they said so he could go over it again after they’d gone. He’d told her in one of his letters that was what he did, and she had to admit she did much the same thing.
    He was so lonely, so wretched about what had happened to him, that it could just about break her heart.
    ‘I know, why don’t you leave everything with me?’ Lily suggested. ‘Jaz and I can try to drop it off on Monday morning before we drive down to Kesterly. You never know, as it’s Christmas, they might accept it.’
    Since it was the only chance they had of getting something to Ryan, Josie had to agree, though handing over the small bag she’d packed especially for him wasn’t easy. She had so desperately wanted to give it to him herself, not because there was anything all that special inside, but because she’d have been able to see his face when he took it, watch the way his eyes drank everything in before he broke into one of his dear smiles.
    ‘I’ll write to him tonight,’ she said. ‘He’ll understand why we couldn’t see him, obviously, but I want him to know that we tried. If I get it in the post on Monday it might be with him by Tuesday.’
    Hugging her, Lily said, ‘You’re the best mum in the world, do you know that?’
    Josie glanced along the busy main road, hoping for a sign of the bus.
    ‘You’re not listening to me,’ Lily chided.
    ‘I am,’ Josie corrected, ‘but you’re talking nonsense as usual.’
    ‘Charming,’ Lily teased. ‘And there was me trying to cheer you up.’
    Feeling a smile pushing up from her heart, Josie said, ‘I’m OK, just a bit disappointed. Well, very disappointed, but I’ll get over it. You don’t think he had anything to do with the security breach, do you?’
    Lily sighed, as if having expected the question. ‘I shouldn’t think so, Mum. He’s always telling us how he’s keeping his head down, trying not to get involved with anyone else so he can get out early on good behaviour.’
    But Jeff was right, Ryan was easily led. ‘And he hasn’t been in any trouble since he went in there,’ Josie responded, trying to bolster herself, ‘so I expect I’m worrying about nothing.’
    ‘As usual, but I’m sure I’d be the same if he was my son. It’s bad enough him being my brother.’
    Always concerned for how badly this business might have impacted on her daughter, Josie said, ‘Have you told Jasper’s parents about him yet, and why he probably won’t be at the wedding?’
    ‘No, but I keep telling you, if he’s
really
good he might be out in time.’
    It was a happy thought, but still not one Josie could pin much hope on. ‘Aren’t you worried how they’ll feel about you having a convicted criminal for a brother?’ she asked.
    Lily shrugged. ‘Jaz isn’t bothered by it, and that’s what matters to me. Anyway, his parents are really cool. You wait and see, they’re dead easy to get on with and they’re really keen to meet you and Dad.’
    Feeling slightly anxious about that, not only because of Ryan, but because of the difference in their social standing, Josie said, ‘I suppose we ought to set something up.’
    ‘Definitely, we will, as soon as they get back from Singapore. Richard, Jaz’s dad, has got offices in Singapore, so they tend to split their time between here and there. Anyway, I honestly can’t see him or Miriam, Jaz’s mum, turning their backs on us because of a stupid mistake Ryan made. They’re just not like that.’
    Unable to imagine the