Three Amazing Things About You(127)

But in September I went along to our local cats’ home to see the new kittens and got chatting to a man called Paul who was there for the same reason. We ended up adopting one each from the same litter.

And guess what? Paul turned out to be a far nicer man than my old boyfriend. We kept in touch at first so we could compare our sibling kittens (their names are Bo and Marvin) and then we fell in love. We now live together – with all our cats! – and I’ve never been happier in my life.

So thank you for your kind words and excellent advice. You were definitely right, and Paul and I are both hugely grateful!

We’re also very glad to hear that your own life is so much better now too. You are amazing!

With love from

Maggie xxx

Well, hooray for Maggie and Paul. Hallie flagged the email so it wouldn’t get lost in her inbox. Updates were always welcome, but those with a happy ending were far nicer to read than the other kind.

She took a slurp of tea, a bite of toast and a moment to appreciate the fact that she was lazing in bed through choice rather than because she didn’t have the energy to get out of it.

OK, it was ten in the morning. Soon she would get up and drive over to collect her mum and Bea, and together they’d head into Oxford to spend the afternoon shopping. The fun to be had from actually visiting lovely shops and experiencing objects with all your senses, rather than buying almost everything online, was a thrill that was yet to wear off.

She finished her mug of tea and opened the next email.

Dear Hallie,

Firstly, here are the three things about me:

I have a beautiful daughter who is twelve weeks old and the light of my life.

You and I have actually met once before, but I’ve only just realised this. It’s a nice coincidence. I think you’ll like it.

Being able to write this message to you today makes me very very happy. Hopefully you’ll feel the same way when you find out why.





Now, here we go. My name is Flo Fenwick and I live in Bristol with my baby girl, Alexandra. Almost eighteen months ago, I was lucky enough to meet and fall in love with a wonderful man. We were very happy together and looking towards the future when sadly he lost his life in a car accident and my happy new world, as I knew it, ended overnight.

I’ve just read that feature about you in the magazine. You look and sound so lovely. I used to read the letters people sent to Dear Rose, and your brilliant replies, but I confess that following my boyfriend’s accident, I rather lost interest in other people’s problems. So it was cheering to read the feature and discover that you were in fact Dear Rose.

In it, you also stated that you would love to be able to get in touch with the family of your donor, which is – as I’m sure you’ve guessed by now – why I am writing to you today. I may not strictly be family, but Zander was the most important person in my life. And following his death, I discovered I was pregnant with his child.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I couldn’t be happier to learn that the transplant was such a success. If you’d like to see photos of Zander, I’d love to send you some. (As a proud new mum, I have plenty of his daughter too!)

I hope this is a nice letter to receive, and that it hasn’t come as too much of a shock to you. The last year has been pretty hard, but things are starting to get easier for me now. Finding out about you has definitely helped.

Oh, and if you’re wondering about that time we met before, cast your mind back to last year and Denleigh Horse Trials. The stall where you bought your scarf? The woman working on the stall who was forced by her boss to wear a purple trilby? Yes, that was me. (You missed Prince Harry, by the way – he called in not long after you’d left. Really!)

So there we are then, I’ll give you time to catch your breath and digest this information. When you’ve recovered from the shock, it would be lovely to hear from you.

Love and best wishes,

Flo xxx

Wow. Well. Sitting back against the pile of pillows, Hallie slowly reread the letter from the beginning. Flo sounded wonderful. And she wasn’t even aware yet of the other half of the story . . .

When she’d gathered herself, Hallie began a fresh email.

Dearest Flo,

Thank you, thank you. Your letter has made me indescribably happy too. We have so much to talk about. Can I phone you? Would that be OK?

Also, when can we meet up?





Chapter 58


It had been an unorthodox way of going about things, but it had all worked out in the end. Hallie smiled at the memory of Jonathan’s look of disbelief when she’d told him about her meeting with Flo. ‘It’s all meant to be taken very slowly and carefully,’ he’d said, shaking his head. ‘It’s a highly emotive situation, best handled by professionals. That’s why we’re here.’