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Jasmine knew saying goodbye to her Penang family was going to be hard, but it was even more painful than she imagined. They had all piled into the car together, having sent her luggage ahead to the ship.
Now that they were here on the quayside, Mary appeared anxious to get away. ‘If you don’t mind awfully, Jasmine, I think we’ll say goodbye now. We promised the children we’d take them to the Swimming Club and you’ll want time to settle into your cabin before you sail. I really hate goodbyes.’
‘Me too.’ Why was Mary so eager to get away? Had she already written her out of their lives and was anxious to get on with cementing Amir into his new family? She felt a little hurt. But then she hated goodbyes too. Better to get on with it. She wrapped her arms around her little brother one las
