Page 67 of Coming Home to Hope Street

Chapter Forty-One

Pip swayed back and forth on the swing. The play area in the park was deserted except for her and Tilly. She could see an elderly couple walking their dog on the path and several boys playing football on the grass next to it.

‘I’m so pleased my dad’s staying for a few more days,’ she told Tilly.

‘What does your mum think?’

‘She hasn’t said much so I expect she’s fine with it. I wish they’d get back together again. It’s good to have him around. But I bet Mum won’t be up for it.’

‘Mums and dads break up,’ Tilly said, matter-of-factly. ‘It happens all the time.’

‘But that’s when both of them fall out of love. My dad loves my mum, but she doesn’t love him back anymore.’

‘My mum still loves my dad.’

‘Does she?’

‘Yeah, I can tell. But he’s with someone else now.’

A cheer came up from the football players and they both looked over at them.

‘Didn’t you try to get them back together?’ Pip asked after a minute or so watching them.

‘No, I just accepted things as they were. It was okay for me, I suppose, as I have Elliot.’

‘Why is that different?’

‘Because we have each other, I guess. He does my head in at times as he’s so irritating, but I always have someone I can hang around with and talk nonsense to. You’ve been on your own. I think I’d want my parents back together again if it wasn’t for Elliot.’

‘She should have tried harder, that’s all.’

‘Don’t you think your dad should have done that too?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘From what you’re telling me, it’s him who leaves and then turns up again all the time.’ Tilly drew her toe back and forth in an arc across the sand at their feet.

‘That’s because my mum must be mean to him.’

‘How do you know that?’ Tilly frowned. ‘Do you ever see that happening?’

‘Not really.’ Pip looked down at the ground, watching Tilly’s toes rather than admit she’d never witnessed anything.

‘Was she happy when your dad was there?’ Tilly questioned.

‘I think so. I mean, they bicker all the time but nothing more – and they haven’t done much of that last week.’

‘You’d know if they were. My mum and dad were always arguing before he left. They wanted to be together, but they couldn’t get on any longer. And when he had an affair?’ Tilly drew a finger across her neck. ‘It was all over after that.’

‘My dad never had an affair,’ Pip said. ‘Or at least I never found out if he did.’

‘So why do you blame your mum all the time?’

‘I don’t.’ Pip shrugged. ‘Why did he leave if she wanted him to stay?’

‘Why don’t you ask her? You’re old enough now to know some home truths. It might make you understand more.’

‘Do you talk to your mum?’

---