Me-Before-You-by-Jojo-Moyes

‘It does, Mum.’ My eyes had filled with tears. ‘I love it. Thank you.’
‘Granddad picked out some of the pictures,’ she said.
‘It’s beautiful,’ said Will.
‘I love it,’ I said again.
The look of utter relief she and Dad exchanged was the saddest thing I have
ever seen.
‘Mine next.’ Patrick pushed the little box across the table. I opened it slowly,
feeling vaguely panicked for a moment that it might be an engagement ring. I
wasn’t ready. I had barely got my head around having my own bedroom. I
opened the little box, and there, against the dark-blue velvet, was a thin gold
chain with a little star pendant. It was sweet, delicate, and not remotely me. I
didn’t wear that kind of jewellery, never had.
I let my eyes rest on it while I worked out what to say. ‘It’s lovely,’ I said, as
he leant across the table and fastened it around my neck.
‘Glad you like it,’ Patrick said, and kissed me on the mouth. I swear he’d
never kissed me like that in front of my parents before.
Will watched me, his face impassive.
‘Well, I think we should eat pudding now,’ Dad said. ‘Before it gets too hot.’
He laughed out loud at his own joke. The champagne had boosted his spirits
immeasurably.
‘There’s something in my bag for you too,’ Will said, quietly. ‘The one on the
back of my chair. It’s in orange wrapping.’
I pulled the present from Will’s backpack.
My mother paused, the serving spoon in her hand. ‘You got Lou a present,
Will? That’s ever so kind of you. Isn’t that kind of him, Bernard?’
‘It certainly is.’
The wrapping paper had brightly coloured Chinese kimonos on it. I didn’t
have to look at it to know I would save it. Perhaps even create something to wear
based on it. I removed the ribbon, putting it to one side for later. I opened the
paper, and then the tissue paper within it, and there, staring at me was a strangely
familiar black and yellow stripe.
I pulled the fabric from the parcel, and in my hands were two pairs of black
and yellow tights. Adult-sized, opaque, in a wool so soft that they almost slid
through my fingers.