Page 62 of Coming Home to Hope Street

‘I think I’ll have to if I can’t stay here?’

Livvy gave out a huge sigh. She needed a fresh start without him, but it looked as if he was finally accepting that.

‘You can stay for a couple more days and that’s it,’ she relented.

‘Thanks, Liv.’

‘Pip can come to see you in Manchester. I’ll join her the first time on the train and then she’ll be fine on her own. It’s for the best.’

‘I know.’

‘What we had was good, but it’s over, isn’t it?’

‘Sadly, it is.’ He smiled at her. ‘Fancy a cuppa?’

She watched as he went into the kitchen. Well, that had been easy after all. She prayed he wouldn’t try to sweet talk her in the morning.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

Livvy was in that blissful state of being awake but lying in bed with her eyes closed, relaxing. It was Sunday morning and she intended on doing as little as possible for the rest of the day once she’d cleaned up.

The bedroom door opened.

‘Livvy, are you awake?’ a voice whispered.

Keeping her eyes closed, she lay still, trying not to give away that she was.

A moment later, she watched Kieran creep across the room in front of her. She opened her eyes only to see him unzipping the suitcase. He pulled out a plastic bag from under his jumper, quickly glancing her way.

She closed her eyes again quickly. Holding her breath, she waited to hear movement from him again. Then she chanced another peek.

Kieran was counting out some notes from a wad of money. She had never seen him with so much, not even on his lucky days on the horses. Where had he got that from? And why wasn’t he contributing to help out while he stayed with her?

She continued watching him as he shoved the money into a side pocket and the plastic bag into the suitcase itself. Then she waited until he left the room.

Once she’d heard him go back downstairs again, she got out of bed and tiptoed across to the suitcase. Praying Kieran wouldn’t come back upstairs, she unzipped the front pocket, and gasped as she saw how much money was there.

He must have been in a big game for this. She wondered what stake he’d put up to join in. Tears of anger brimmed in her eyes as she realised how deceitful he was – would always be.

She stayed in bed for a while, trying to get her head around things before going downstairs. Pip and Kieran were sitting at the kitchen table.

‘Morning, Mum, would you like a cup of tea?’

Livvy shook her head. ‘I’m going to have a shower first, thanks.’

Kieran smiled at her and she forced one back.

In the bathroom, she leaned on the sink and stared at herself in the mirror. She wasn’t bad for her age. The years had been kind. But she had gullible written all over her at the moment. This wasn’t going to end well for all concerned.

Then she stood tall. This was it, her ticket out of things. She could send him packing after asking him about the money. He hadn’t changed and she knew he never would.

Back in the kitchen, Pip got to her feet.

‘I’m going to see Tilly,’ she said. ‘We’re meeting friends for coffee soon.’

Livvy couldn’t hide her excitement. Pip was fitting in so well in Somerley. She was determined that nothing was going to change that. She glanced at Kieran who had his head in a magazine. She had to get out for some fresh air.

‘I’m nipping to the shop once I’m dressed,’ she told him. ‘I won’t be long.’

---