Page 61 of Coming Home to Hope Street

‘I will.’ She’d do nothing of the sort, but Pip wouldn’t realise. At least it was Friday and no school for her in the morning if he did come in loud and drunk.

As soon as she could hear Pip in her bedroom, Livvy muted the TV so she could concentrate more on the thoughts going round her head. Kieran was supposed to be seeing more of Pip, that’s what he’d come to Somerley for. Now it seemed as if he was trying to integrate himself intoherlife by coming to her local pub, and no doubt being introduced to everyone so that he’d become a part of things.

No, she wasn’t having it. If he couldn’t have one night in with his daughter, then he was clearly here for himself and not for Pip. Which she’d known all along really, but hadn’t wanted to admit, or do anything about.

‘Kieran Perkins,’ she said out loud. ‘You have used up your last chance with me. Your time has run out – andthistime there’ll be no excuses.’

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Kieran hadn’t come in until after midnight, by which time Livvy had gone to bed and her temper had subsided. She’d lay in the dark trying to get to sleep.

Now hearing him settle downstairs, thankfully not switching on the TV, she realised this wasn’t the time to have the talk she needed. But she would have it before the weekend was out. She had to send him on his way knowing that he wouldn’t be welcome to stay again.

By Saturday evening, she still hadn’t found a suitable time to confront him when there had been just the two of them. Despite his actions the night before, that morning he’d been extra keen to see them both, treating them to breakfast, and then taking them for a pub lunch in the late afternoon. Livvy had actually enjoyed herself, and it was great to see Pip so happy, but things had to be sorted. Still, Kieran wouldn’t be here for much longer and she didn’t want to ruin the father and daughter time they had left.

On Saturday evening though, there was a change in Kieran. Pip was across at Tilly’s house and they were watching TV when he sprang from his seat like a coil.

‘What time is your train tomorrow?’ she asked, thinking he was probably going to pack his things.

‘I have another week off. I thought I’d stay a bit longer. You don’t mind, do you?’

‘Yes, I do.’ She sighed dramatically. ‘Why have you left it until now to tell me? You should have asked first.’

‘My foreman rang this afternoon to say the job has been put back until next Monday, so I thought I’d hang around a bit.’

‘No.’ Livvy sat upright. ‘I don’t want you to. In fact, I was going to have a chat to you about this whole situation.’

‘Okay, but I’m off out for a pint first,’ he said. ‘I won’t be long.’

She shook her head. But then as she stared at him, noticing the blush spreading across his face, she understood what was going on.

‘You’ve set up a game of cards, haven’t you?’ she snapped.

‘Of course not, I don’t know anyone well enough. I’m going to the Hope.’

‘Who with?’

‘No one in particular. I like it in there. It’s not a big deal, is it?’

‘If you’re up to something, then don’t bother coming back at all,’ she warned.

He leaned forward and kissed her on the top of her head. ‘Have some faith, Liv. See you later.’

Livvy groaned, deflated at her lack of action to get him out once and for all. Why was she so weak?

But at least she now had some time on her own to think of Callum. There had been no word from him, not even a text message. She wondered if he’d call in at The Coffee Stop on Monday. She didn’t have the heart to explain over the phone. She needed to tell him what had happened face to face. He’d probably be thinking Kieran was here to stay. And he most certainly wasn’t.

True to his word, Kieran was back in a couple of hours. He smiled as he came through from the kitchen.

‘Good evening?’ Livvy’s voice dripped with sarcasm.

‘I just wanted to get out, that’s all. I like the Hope and Anchor. It has such a village feel to it.’

Livvy was about to say don’t get used to it, but he continued to speak.

‘I’m sorry I took you for granted. I should have asked if I could stay a little longer.’

‘You’re going back to Manchester then?’ Livvy held her breath while she waited for his reply.

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