Page 60 of Coming Home to Hope Street

‘What’s wrong?’

‘He’s left Pip on her own.’

‘Don’t worry about her, she’ll be fine,’ she soothed.

‘I know that, but he’s leaving soon. You’d think he’d want to spend as much time with her as possible before then. He said he’d come to see her.’

And Livvy had come to see Callum. The confused look on his face had her blushing. She couldn’t stand there and explain everything to him.

‘I have to go… again. I’m sorry.’ She downed her drink in one and pushed past Kieran.

‘Where’re you off to in such a hurry?’ he asked.

‘Going home to look after our daughter seeing as you can’t be bothered to!’

Callum was about to follow her, but he stopped mid-step, a look of confusion crossing his face. Livvy didn’t wait for him to work it all out. She’d probably blown it with him now, anyway.

The cold night air did nothing to cool her temper as she stomped along Hope Street. That man!

At home, Pip was in the living room, where she’d left her on the settee.

‘What are you doing back so soon?’ Pip asked.

‘Your dad was supposed to be looking after you, so I’m home to do it instead.’ She dropped down beside her.

‘I’m not a baby, Mum.’

‘I know. But he said he was staying in with you and I don’t want to leave you alone.’ It was a feeble excuse, she knew.

‘I’m sixteen in twenty-nine days.’ There was a hint of a smile on Pip’s face.

Livvy put an arm round Pip’s shoulders and pulled her close. ‘You’ll always be my baby, you know that. What are you watching?’

‘Nothing much. Do you fancy catching up withKilling Eve?’

‘You’ll be sixteen going on sixty!’ Livvy laughed. ‘I suppose so.’

But Livvy couldn’t concentrate on the program. Anger tore through her as she thought how Kieran had taken her for granted again. He knew she’d leave if he turned up at the Hope and Anchor. He’d been determined to spoil her night.

She pictured the shocked look on Callum’s face when he’d realised who Kieran was. She didn’t have to explain herself to anyone, but she’d wanted to see how things would go with him. Now he might think she was with Kieran and, well, that had blown that.

She’d been so pleased when he’d taken hold of her hand. Until Kieran had turned up, she’d thought they’d have ended up taking things further. Maybe she would have had a date to look forward to by now. Perhaps a trip to the cinema, or out for a pub lunch somewhere nice. It had been ages since someone had treated her to anything.

Callum was sweet and there was definitely something brewing between them. She wanted to get to know him better. Didn’t she deserve to be loved, happy like Hannah was with Doug? She’d never known what ever-encompassing passion was like.

And it was hard to miss the way Doug and Hannah looked at each other. Even though she realised their love was new, Livvy wanted that too.

She pinched the bridge of her nose: she couldn’t do this. It was time Kieran went and she wouldn’t allow him to come and stay again. No matter how it was going to hurt Pip, she had to put herself first.

Pip snored lightly, having fallen asleep beside her, and woke herself up.

‘Time for bed for you, I think,’ Livvy said. ‘It’s nearly eleven.’

‘Is Dad back yet?’

‘No.’ Livvy tried not to speak through gritted teeth. She knew him only having the one pint would be a lie.

‘Tell him to come and say goodnight to me?’

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