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breath in between.
    It was then that Audrey and Lana realised that Emma was very quiet.
    'Emma? Whatever's the matter? I thought you'd be over the moon?'
    Swallowing hard, Emma looked across at them both and burst into tears.
    Lana watched as her mother rushed to her side, 'Emma Jane, why on earth are you crying?'
    Placing her thumb nail onto her lips, Emma was about to bite when Lana almost dived on top of her sister.
    'Ahem... oh no you don't. It took me ages to get you to agree to having that nail art, you're not going to bite it all off now. It took hours to do,' she said, smiling and trying to make light of the situation.
    Emma hesitated and put her hands down by her side.
    'What is it?' her Mum asked again.
    'It's just... it's just... how are we going to get there?'
    Lana and Audrey both realised the problem at exactly the same time. They sighed together, their shoulders drooping.
    'No, Emma. I've had enough of this. You can't let your fear of the water stop you from experiencing something so... so... awesome. You have to get over it already.'
    Emma dropped her head to one side and scowled at Lana, her mouth forming a sharp pout, 'And this is coming from the girl who would never go anywhere near the bottom of the garden because of the cliff edge or Carlton Point until... until...'
    Lana's eyes grew wide and she tried to shake her head without her Mum seeing.
    'What are you talking about? Until when? Until what?'
    Lana managed a meagre chuckle before swallowing hard.
    'I... I... went up to Carlton Point yesterday, on my own,' she managed to utter.
    'Oh, but that's... well that's... I don't know what to say, Lana. That's just incredible. Well done,' she said as she leaned forward and hugged her daughter tightly.
    Emma's head bowed before she shook it. 'But that's not the same. Lana's fear was never quite as bad as mine.'
    'Nonsense Emma Jane,' said Audrey, 'You two were always as bad as each other. You both have, had, have, oh whatever, such an... an... irrational... fear...'
    'Exactly, Mum. Irrational fears. And if I can get over mine, then surely Emma can get over hers and I won't let a silly thing like fear of the sea stop me from going to London,' she said as she stood up with her hands on her hips. 'Come on, Em. It's London. It's only a few hours by boat. You'll be completely safe. I'll be with you. Look...' she said as she approached her sister's bed, crouched down and took Emma's hand, 'I'm sorry for being so pushy but this is such an amazing opportunity, Sis. Let's do it together. Please?' she asked.
    Looking from her sister to her mother, there was nothing she could do. She had to do it. Not just for Lana but for herself. If Lana could get over her own fear, then she would try her hardest to do the same.
    'Okay, I'll do it,' she whispered as Lana jumped up and cartwheeled onto her bed.
    Audrey shook her head and laughed out loud.
    'Scott is going to be so jealous,' giggled Lana.
     
     

CHAPTER TEN
     
    Emma, Lana and Scott stood at one side of the newly dug grave, waiting patiently while Father Hawkins said a few words as Mr Grimshaw was laid to rest. Quite a few people had turned up to the funeral, even though nobody had really known him that well. He had no family. An only child, his parents had passed on many years before, and he had never married and he appeared to have no close friends. Both Audrey and Patrick were busy working, so the girls decided to attend the funeral on their behalf. After all, it was the least they could do considering he had died right in front of them.
    'Why are we here?' whispered Scott, as Emma stepped forward to drop a couple of large daisies onto the earth as the hole in the ground was slowly covered.
    'Shhh,' said Lana as she frowned at him, 'We were there when he died, Scott. We're just paying our respects,' she said sensibly.
    Scott looked at her as if she'd gone mad. 'We didn't even know the old man.'
    Emma turned and scowled at her best friend, and as she did so, she thought