Page 25 of Coming Home to Hope Street

‘She’s seventy-nine now but don’t tell her I told you.’

‘I bet she’s still remarkable even at that age. I remember she used to be immaculate before I left.’

‘She hasn’t ever let herself go.’

‘I always got the feeling she was lonely. Did you?’

‘Yes, and I know there’s something bugging her from her past, but she won’t talk about it. I guess we’ll never know.’ Hannah turned towards her more. ‘I had a word with Kate about you coming to work for us. She—’

‘What did she say?’ Livvy couldn’t wait for her to finish.

‘She said it’s fine by her. Before the book shop is open, are you okay to work from ten until three every day in the coffee shop – Monday to Friday? We might need you in on the occasional Saturday too.’

‘Yes, yes! Oh, thank you.’ Livvy beamed. ‘You won’t regret it.’

‘It’s only a trial, like you said. Let’s see how things are a month from now.’

‘I won’t let you down. And thank you.’ Livvy was taken aback by her kindness. ‘I’ll do anything to pay my way. Well, not exactly anything.’ She realised she was still holding on to Hannah’s hand and smiled shyly. ‘It’s good to see you, Hannah Bandana.’

‘It’s good to see you too, Livvy Lou.’ Hannah smiled too.

Livvy forced tears away again at the mention of her childhood nickname. Gosh, coming back to Somerley had turned her into more of an emotional wreck than she’d been expecting.

But it was good for once to cry and let it all out. It seemed as if she’d come home without realising how much she’d missed it.

Pip was on the settee with a magazine when her mum came back. She looked up as she entered the room, Hannah behind her.

‘How did it go at the cemetery?’ she asked.

‘It went okay, thanks.’ Livvy bent over to plant a kiss on her daughter’s cheek. ‘Thanks for letting me go with Hannah for the first time. I’ll take you this weekend if you like?’

‘Yes, I’d like that.’

Livvy disappeared into the kitchen and Hannah sat down next to Pip.

‘What was my nan like?’ Pip asked her. ‘Mum doesn’t really talk about her that much yet and I don’t like to ask.’

‘She was a wonderful woman with a heart of gold,’ Hannah replied. ‘I can see her in all of us, you especially.’

‘Me?’

‘Yes, whenever you nod your head, or you give that shy smile, blink those baby brown eyes, and run a hand through your hair.’

‘You mean I look and act like an old woman?’ Pip grimaced.

Hannah laughed. ‘Of course not. I can see the same in you and your mum. Family genes passed on through the generations.’ She stood up. ‘I’m just popping upstairs. Wait there a minute.’

She was back in a matter of seconds with a photo album, sitting down next to Pip again.

‘Here you go.’ She opened it up.

Pip flicked through it, seeing photos of her grandparents wedding: at the church gathered on the steps with a few people around them, standing outside the wedding car, cutting a cake, the two of them smiling in their splendour.

She saw a picture of them standing by a car, underneath the oak tree in Church Square and with a group of friends during a night out. There were several with Hannah and her mum too.

Her favourite was of the sisters sitting on the settee at Christmas, a parent either side of them, and presents around the floor.

‘They were so happy together,’ Hannah said. ‘It makes me sad it was all taken away in one moment.’

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