Page 48 of Coming Home to Hope Street

‘Me too. The room looks great, by the way.’

Hannah was pleased with how it had finally come together. The decorating had been finished and everything was now in its place. Cream leather settees sat around a red rug, a coffee table sitting on top of it. The feature wall, front and back, had been covered in blue and pale grey panelling effect wallpaper. Grey cushions were scattered around, and the knick-knacks had all been put back on the shelving along with some books.

‘Thanks! I was fed up of looking at those cream walls.’

‘Tell me about it. We couldn’t change anything at our flat without the landlord’s permission. Even when we asked, he’d more than likely say no.’

‘That’s a shame. I think decorating puts your own stamp on a property.’

Once Livvy had gone, Hannah made herself fresh coffee and sat down again with her magazine. But her mind was racing now, thinking of Livvy’s situation. Livvy seemed to be settling, and both of them were getting used to being in each other’s lives again. It was nice, having a sister around. Yet Kieran coming back all of a sudden could change things drastically. For starters, he might want to whisk Livvy and Pip off to Manchester.

She thought back to the day she’d seen them both sitting on the doorstep. Her heart had literally been in her throat when she’d ran across to them, wondering in a split second why Livvy had come back, but in another not giving a stuff as she was here after so many years away.

When they’d hugged each other for the first time, it was as if those years passed them by in as many seconds, and they were sisters once more. Of course, it had been fraught at times as they’d got to know each other again. But what she did realise was she didn’t want her sister to leave.

As she saw it, it could go three ways. Livvy could start again somewhere else with Kieran, and Hannah would have to get used to seeing her sister and niece sporadically when they visited. Kieran could stay here with Livvy and Pip. Or Kieran would have to sling his hook after the few days he’d come to visit and leave Livvy and Pip here. Whatever that outcome would be was entirely up to Livvy.

It was going to be an interesting evening, that was for sure.

Hannah decided covertly to suss Kieran out. She wouldn’t tell Doug what she was doing; she’d just gauge his reaction afterwards. And then she could work out if Kieran was good for her sister or not.

Because so much depended on that.

Chapter Thirty

At home again, Livvy couldn’t sit still. Her talk with Hannah had made her feel deceitful but she couldn’t tell her the whole truth; about what a mess she’d made of her life by staying with Kieran for so long. For him to come back right now was a disaster.

She’d have to have some stern words with him once he was back, to ensure he knew he wasn’t staying for longer than a few days.

Pip had been gone with Kieran for over an hour and a half when she heard a key in the door and voices. Then there was laughter as they came in all smiles. Livvy plastered one on her face too, unsure of how long it would last.

‘We’ve had the best fry-up in Ray’s Café,’ Pip said, rubbing her tummy. ‘It was incredible. You should come with us next time. The bacon was done just as you’d like it – all crispy. Yum.’

‘That’s great, Pip.’ Livvy tried to sound enthusiastic.

‘And then she showed me around Somerley.’ Kieran stared at her for a moment. ‘Quite a quaint little town, isn’t it? And a pub at the end of the street. Can’t be bad.’

‘Pip, why don’t you go see if Tilly is home?’ Livvy asked, knowing that she and Kieran needed to talk.

‘She texted me ten minutes ago.’ Pip waggled her phone in the air. ‘I’m going across there now.’

Livvy could tell from the troubled look on Pip’s face that she knew she was going to get a grilling once they were alone. She watched her daughter skedaddle with a “see you later”.

As soon as she was gone, Livvy took a deep breath. ‘Kieran, I—’

He stepped across the room to her and placed a finger on her lips.

She gasped at his proximity.

‘Let me speak first.’ He pulled her down to sit with him on the settee. ‘I only want to stay for a few days, just to see Pip. Because it seems like you’re doing fine without me, anyway.’

His tone was one of sadness rather than accusatory.

‘You walked out again,’ she replied. ‘You can’t expect me not to have carried on without you.’ Despite what she’d said to Hannah, she wasn’t going to give in to him until he knew how upset she’d been.

He pressed a hand to his heart. ‘But what about in here, Livvy? Do you miss me as much as I’ve been missing you?’

‘I’ve just been getting on with things, like I’ve usually done when you’ve gone AWOL.’

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