Page 4 of Coming Home to Hope Street

‘Hi.’ He smiled at her before looking at Livvy. ‘You’re almost a double of your sister.’

Livvy gave a half-smile, stepping forward to shake his hand. It was all a bit formal for her: trust Pip to be the grown-up as usual.

‘Let’s grab a coffee.’ Doug indicated across the road. ‘Come on over. You can leave your belongings somewhere safe.’

As they trooped across the road, Livvy glanced up and down, wondering how long it would be before word got out that she was back. She couldn’t wait to find out who was still living in Hope Street – not. It was bad enough that she’d had to come here. And how could she tell Hannah that it was a last resort to return because she needed her help?

Livvy stepped inside the house after Hannah and Doug, noticing the look of astonishment passing between them.

‘I’ll make drinks,’ Doug offered. ‘Pip, would you like to help?’

Pip shrugged but followed his disappearing form.

The room they were in was airy, although in utter chaos due to it being decorated. The two rooms downstairs had been knocked through into one enormous bright space, the kitchen entered from a door in the far corner, next to French windows out into the yard. Nearer to, the settee had been pushed against the wall, numerous items piled up on top of it and the walls and fire surround were bare.

‘Sorry it’s such a mess in here.’ Hannah flapped a hand around by means of an apology. ‘We’re in the middle of decorating. I’d offer you a seat, but I’m not sure I can find more than one at the moment.’

Livvy looked at the settee. The curtains she assumed were from the window were draped across half of it. There was room enough for two, but they would have been awkwardly close to each other.

When Hannah stared directly at Livvy, waiting for her to speak, it made her feel uncomfortable.

‘I had nowhere else to go,’ she muttered, red flooding her cheeks.

‘That’s nice to know,’ Hannah replied.

The happy-go-lucky nature of their meeting had gone and was quickly replaced by clipped mannerisms as they tried to speak without mentioning the elephant in the room.

Livvy put the suitcase next to the bags Pip had disposed of. ‘Nice place you have here.’ She looked around. ‘Are you and Doug married?’

‘No, we’ve been together for a couple of months. I met him after…’

‘Mum died,’ Livvy finished, catching Hannah’s eye then.

‘You knew?’ She sounded hurt.

‘I found out afterwards, about three months ago.’

‘Is that why you’ve come back?’ Hannah’s tone changed to an accusatory one.

‘Of course not!’ Livvy protested. ‘I told you – I had no choice.’

‘It seems convenient after all these years.’

‘Please don’t.’ Livvy pinched the bridge of her nose. ‘I’ve had a rough time from Pip, telling me about all the mistakes I’ve made. I don’t need you rubbing my nose in it too. Not yet, anyway.’

‘I do feel you owe me some explanation about why you left and never came back until now.’

‘It’s – it’s—’

‘Tea up,’ Doug shouted through to them.

Livvy dashed into the safety of the kitchen. She knew she and Hannah had to have that conversation, but thankfully she could save it for later. They needed to talk over something a lot stronger than a hot beverage.

Lunch was awkward to say the least. No one wanted to join in with chit chat until things were out in the open. So Hannah and Doug bounced questions off Pip.

‘So, how old is my niece?’ Hannah said, picking up a ginger nut biscuit to dunk in her tea.

A jolt of emotion rushed through Livvy, taking her by surprise. Ginger biscuits had always been Hannah’s favourite. Livvy liked them too and they’d often devoured a packet between them in a matter of minutes.

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