Page 14 of Coming Home to Hope Street

Nevertheless, Hannah was nothing but polite and couldn’t ignore her.

‘Morning, Bev,’ she shouted. ‘How are you?’

‘Hi, Hannah!’ Bev waved a manicured hand at her before pushing her red hair behind her ears. She was a well-built woman, mid-forties, and dressed to accentuate her age and size. She always looked immaculate, today wearing a woollen dress and knee-length boots underneath a long winter coat. ‘I’d be better if I wasn’t late because Steve forgot to set the alarm.’ She rolled her eyes. ‘Typical of him – useless bugger. Must dash, speak soon!’

‘Bye!’ Hannah grinned; she’d got away lightly there.

The door to number thirty-two was ajar when she got to it. She knocked and stepped inside, spotting her neighbour, Thelma Mansell, sitting in the back room.

‘Yoo-hoo,’ she cried, waving to get her attention.

Thelma turned toward the door, a smile lighting up her face when she spotted Hannah. ‘Hello, love. Are you coming in for a minute or so?’

‘You mean you haven’t heard the news?’ Hannah went through to her.

‘Should I have?’ Thelma’s eyes danced with merriment. ‘Please say it’s good news.’

‘I’m surprised it’s not old news by now. Hope Street has let me down if the gossip hasn’t reached you.’

Thelma said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

‘Livvy’s back.’

Thelma’s mouth dropped. ‘That was the last thing I expected to hear. When and why? Is she staying or has she been and gone?’

Hannah put up a hand to slow Thelma down. She sat on the arm of the chair next to her.

‘She’s staying, for now. I don’t know all the why’s yet. But I can tell you she has a beautiful daughter – named Pip. Is that short for Phillipa, do you think? I haven’t asked yet.’

‘I think so.’ Thelma rested a gnarled hand on Hannah’s forearm, flashes of aqua blue on each nail. ‘How old is she?’

‘Fifteen. And very much the image of her mother.’

‘And her father?’

‘There’s just the two of them.’

‘Ah.’ Thelma paused. ‘And how do you feel about it?’

Hannah sighed. ‘I’m a bit numb, to be honest. I can’t help thinking it was a dream after all this time. But no, it’s definitely real. She and Pip are in our house. And then I start analysing, wondering why she’s really come back. There has to be a logical explanation, maybe something I’m not going to like, that Livvy won’t tell me yet.’

‘Perhaps so – give her some space, I reckon. It’s going to take time for you all to adjust if she’s staying.’

‘I know.’ Hannah wanted to say more but wasn’t sure how she could put her feelings into words. Even with Thelma who had been her neighbour for over twenty years.

‘It must have taken some guts to come back after so long,’ Thelma added.

‘That’s what Doug said.’ Hannah nodded in agreement this time. It was a brave thing to do, not knowing whether she’d be welcome or not. Or then again, maybe Livvy thought her older sister would never let her down. Pity things had been so one-sided.

She stood up. ‘Can I get you anything before I go?’

Thelma nodded at her mug on the table. ‘I don’t suppose you have time to make a fresh cup of tea?’

‘For you? Of course.’

‘Thanks, love.’

As she filled the kettle with water, Hannah looked through Thelma’s kitchen window. It overlooked next door; there was about three metres either side of the wall between the properties. She wondered what Livvy was doing right now. Had she had a good night’s sleep? Had Pip been able to settle after her upheaval? She seemed fine yesterday, but that could be an act for her benefit. She hoped they’d both been okay; that Livvy wasn’t regretting her impulsive actions.

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