The Switch(105)

‘I like to think that when Carla died, she gave each member of her family a little of her fire, her bravery. How else could we have done everything we’ve done this year?’ I look at Leena and Marian and swallow hard through the tears. ‘As we’ve muddled onwards, trying to learn how to live without her, I’ve felt Carla here.’ I tap my heart. ‘She’s given me a push when I’ve almost lost my nerve. She’s told me I can do it. She’s led me back to myself. I can say now with certainty that I am the best Eileen Cotton I’ve ever been. And I hope – I hope …’

Leena stands then, as I lean forward against the table, tears streaming down my cheeks. She raises her glass.

‘To being the best woman you can be,’ she says. ‘And to Carla. Always to Carla.’

Around us, everyone choruses her name. I sit down, my legs shaking, and turn towards Marian and Leena. Those big, dark, Cotton eyes look back at me, and I see myself mirrored there, in miniature, as Marian stretches out her hands and links us all together again.





Acknowledgements


It’s thank you time, which is exciting, because it means I really did manage to write a second book! Whew. Don’t tell Quercus but I wasn’t totally sure I could do that.

First up, I could not have written The Switch without the support of Tanera Simons, my agent, who has an uncanny ability to make everything better with one phone call. I also couldn’t have written it without Emily Yau, Christine Kopprasch, Cassie Browne and Emma Capron, all of whom have been my editors during this novel’s journey, and all of whom have made it stronger in countless ways. Special thanks to Cassie, who picked up this novel when it was barely a half-formed thing and loved it so enthusiastically – you really kept me going, Cassie.

Publishing a book takes a village, and Quercus is a village lovely enough to rival Hamleigh-in-Harksdale. They constantly amaze me with their dedication and their creativity. I’d like to give a special thank you to Hannah Robinson, for always being straight with me and for having my back, and to Bethan Ferguson, for dreaming so big with my books. And as for the brilliant Hannah Winter and Ella Patel … what can I say? Without you ladies I’d be lost. Probably literally. You are both stars.

To the Taverners: thank you so much for welcoming me in, for making my writing stronger and for being so supportive. Peter, thanks for answering endless work questions with such patience; Amanda the dragon, and all my other lovely consultant friends, sorry if I’ve pinched bits of your job and then got them wrong because it suited the narrative better. The perils of being friends with a writer …

To the volunteers and diners of the Well-Being lunch club: it’s an absolute joy to see you every Monday. You’ve inspired me, both for this book and my life in general – I feel lucky to know you all.

Thank you to my grandmothers, Helena and Jeannine, for showing me that women can be incredibly brave and strong whatever their age. And thank you to Pat Hodgson, for forgetting about the gardening to read a typo-riddled print-out of an early draft, and for your enthusiasm at meeting a character of ‘your vintage’, as you so brilliantly put it. You’re a total inspiration.

Mum and Dad, thank you for reminding me to trust my ski. And Sam, thank you for keeping me smiling. I am beyond lucky to be marrying a man who can laugh at a funny scene even when he’s already read it five times over … and help with the medical stuff.

I also want to thank the book bloggers, the reviewers, and the booksellers who do so much to spread the word about the stories they love. Authors would be lost without you, and I’m so grateful for your support.

Finally, thank you, lovely reader, for giving this book a chance. I hope you have been well and truly Eileened …