Page 44 of Coming Home to Hope Street

Livvy froze. It couldn’t be… could it?

‘Aren’t you going to say hello?’

She opened her eyes. Shehadheard right.

It was Kieran.

Several thoughts ran through her head in the time it took for her to sit up. How had he found them? Did it mean he wanted to start again, because she wasn’t sure she could stop her heart beating rapidly at the sight of him?

Had he changed? Because if he had, it might be worth it.

But if he hadn’t, she’d be prolonging the heartache of him running out on them again in a few months, because that’s what had always happened before.

Also, would he upset the family she was just getting to know? Pip had settled in Somerley; she had too, and she didn’t want him to jeopardise anything for them.

And then it dawned on her. Pip must have contacted him.

She looked up at her daughter, with her arms wrapped around her dad’s waist as if she never wanted to let him go. The smile on her face was hard to take. Pip was so pleased to see him, and it stung. It really did. Because in Pip’s eyes, Kieran could do no wrong.

She looked at him then, smiling down at her. He was still as handsome to her as the day they’d met, before she’d dropped out of college to go with him to Birmingham. His black hair was thick, cut short with not a hint of grey at the roots despite him being forty-two. He was of medium build, lean, and he was sporting a tan left over from the glorious summer they’d had. His brown eyes twinkled, as if he was pleased to see her, and he winked at her, giving her that saucy grin she knew so well.

She cursed inwardly. She was not going to come out of this good.

‘Pleased to see me?’ Kieran broke into her thoughts.

‘I wasn’t expecting you, that’s for certain,’ she replied.

‘I tried to get her dressed before you came but she’s a bit tired from yesterday,’ Pip remarked.

‘Oh?’ Kieran tipped his head to one side. ‘Been somewhere nice?’

His tone was flippant, putting Livvy into defence mode. ‘My sister opened a book shop. I’m going to be working in there, if you must know.’

‘What, here?’

‘Yes, what’s wrong with that?’

‘Nothing. It just seems a little quick.’

‘How would you know?’

‘Pip said you’d been here about a month.’

‘I had to find work. Needs must; bills to pay.’

Livvy knew that would quieten him. As well as the rent, Kieran should have paid maintenance for Pip, but she’d yet to get anything from him.

‘You have been busy,’ Kieran added.

Livvy opened her mouth, but no words came out. Did he expect her to sit at home and wait in case he came back?

‘Why don’t you make coffee, Pip?’ She nodded her head towards the kitchen, urging her to leave them alone.

Pip peeled herself away from Kieran. ‘I won’t be a moment.’

‘No rush.’ Kieran kissed her on the forehead before she headed off with a huge smile.

‘Nice place.’ He sat down across from her. ‘What’s going on, Livvy?’

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