For All Eternity

Incredible

'Hello. Hopefully this is Joe Sugg's number still. This is Sandra Bennet, Louise's mum. I was wondering if you wanted to go for a coffee and a catch up? I know you're living in London now so maybe next time I'm there for work or you're home. All the best.' 

Joe stared at the message, not quite believing his eyes. He felt his stomach twist and crumple into a ball and his rib-cage squeeze shut. He read it again, and then again twice more- trying to make sense of why she had messaged him out of the blue and what they would catch up on if he decided to agree. What would he type back? How would this affect his mental health? What about Connie? What if she's going to tell him the Louise did in fact lo-

"Come on Daddy! We're going to be late to our train and then we'll miss Mummy and then she'll be really sad." Connie, who was dressed in her school uniform and had a teddy tucked under her arm, said, tugging on her Dad's hand.

"Just hang on Connie," he mumbled, having stopped walking and pulled her to the side of the path, when his phone had popped up with a message from an unknown number.

"But why?"

"I just," he looked down at his girl with her big Disney-character, pools of melted chocolate eyes, and pocketed his phone, he could deal with that later, "sorry Con, I got a funny message on my phone, thanks for being patient."

"Funny how?" They were walking in the direction of the main road, where an Uber was waiting for them.

"Like strange, nothing you need to worry about. Come on, our car should be just up here."

"Right," Connie squeezed his hand three times.

Joe looked down at her, feeling his chest ease at the excitement on her face. He squeezed back and then kissed the top of her head, "I love you so much Connie."

"I love you the mostest."

"So, this teddy," Joe said, once they were sat in their Uber which was crawling through the rush-hour traffic, "he's called George and he belongs to who?"

"To Sparrow class."

"Okay, and what's his deal, why's he coming to Birmingham with us?" Joe knew the answer, he had quickly glanced at the letter Connie had handed him.

"pecause, she looked up from Joe's phone, where she had been playing a game, "It's my turn for him to come home with me but we're not going home, we're going to Mummy. Dibn't you read the letter?"

"I was just checking Miss Horris had given me the right information. And is it this book you have to write in?" Joe asked, holding up an A4 book that had a picture of the whole class and George on the front.

Connie nodded and focused back on her game, George tucked under her arm.

~~~

"How much more walking?" Connie asked, trying to keep up with her Daddy.

Joe took her hand, not much more, that big building is where we're going," Joe pointed ahead.

"Woah! Mummy's dancing in there?" Connie asked, starry eyed.

"Yeah, amazing isn't it?"

"Mummy's so brave. It's huge!"

Joe chuckled, ushering them across the road, "she is. Very very brave. Nearly there, come on."

"Joe, can we have a photo? We won't get Connie in it." He heard behind him, making him stop. He assessed the group; it wasn't many people.

"Yeah, course," Joe said, holding tight onto Connie's hand. He didn't like doing this but they seemed to all be in their twenties so generally understood that Connie would always come first.