Me Before You: A Novel

and only hesitated briefly when I saw the girl with the long, dark flicked-back hair. I turned the page.
    ‘Can I see?’ Will said.
    ‘It’s not been … the best year,’ Mum told him, as I flicked through the pages in front of him. ‘I mean, we’re fine and everything. But, you know, things being what they are. And then Granddad saw something on the daytime telly about making your own presents, and I thought that was something that would … you know … really mean something.’
    ‘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 thetable. 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, andthere, 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.
    ‘I don’t believe it,’ I said. I had started to laugh – a joyous, unexpected thing. ‘Oh my God! Where did you get these?’
    ‘I had them made. You’ll be happy to know I instructed the woman via my brand-new voice recognition software.’
    ‘Tights?’ Dad and Patrick said in unison.
    ‘Only the best pair of tights ever.’
    My mother peered at them. ‘You know, Louisa, I’m pretty sure you had a pair just like that when you were very little.’
    Will and I exchanged a look.
    I couldn’t stop beaming. ‘I want to put them on now,’ I said.
    ‘Jesus Christ, she’ll look like Max Wall in a beehive,’ my father said, shaking his head.
    ‘Ah Bernard, it’s her birthday. Sure, she can wear what she wants.’
    I ran outside and pulled on a pair in the hallway. I pointed a toe, admiring the silliness of them. I don’t think a present had ever made me so happy in my life.
    I walked back in. Will let out a small cheer. Granddad banged his hands on the table. Mum and Dad burst out laughing. Patrick just stared.
    ‘I can’t even begin to tell you how much I love these,’ I said. ‘Thank you. Thank you.’ I reached out a hand and touched the back of his shoulder. ‘Really.’
    ‘There’s a card in there too,’ he said. ‘Open it some other time.’
    My parents made a huge fuss of Will when he left.
    Dad, who was drunk, kept thanking him for employing me, and made him promise to come back. ‘If I lose my job, maybe I’ll come over and watch the footie with you one day,’ he said.
    ‘I’d like that,’ said Will, even though I’d never seen him watch a football match.
    My mum pressed some leftover mousse on him, wrapping it in a Tupperware container, ‘Seeing as you liked it so much.’
    What a gentleman, they would say, for a good hour after he had gone. A real gentleman.
    Patrick came out to the hallway,