Page 69 of Coming Home to Hope Street

Livvy flinched when he said her name, realising that at the first opportunity she was going to change that. She never wanted to be associated with Kieran ever again.

‘Are you sure you’ll be all right at home?’ the officer asked as he closed his file.

‘Yes. Why?’

‘Kieran might not take too kindly to you contacting us.’

‘Oh.’ Even though she hadn’t mentioned he’d lashed out at her earlier, she hadn’t thought for a moment of putting herself in further danger.

‘I doubt he’ll come back to Somerley in a hurry,’ she said.

‘I’d be extra vigilant if I were you.’ He handed her a contact card. ‘Please get in touch if you have any problems from him, even if it’s threats over the phone.’

Livvy had left the station exhausted, annoyed at herself for feeling guilty when this wasn’t of her doing, and yet a whole load of relief had been unburdened.

ThiswasKieran’s fault, not hers. She didn’t live her life for him anymore and she was done with even seeing him again. Not that she thought she ever would. He’d realise it was the last time he’d run out on her, and there would be a warrant out for his arrest now, anyway. To steal money was the lowest of the low.

She got off the bus in the high street and, as she turned into Hope Street, Livvy wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. What would happen when word got out that it had been Kieran who had stolen the money? The police didn’t have any links to the thefts in Hope Street, but it was looking obvious from her point of view that they were linked. And other people would connect the dots, surely? She might have to leave if people turned on her because of his actions.

She let herself into the house. Pip had sent her a message to say she was having lunch with Tilly and did she and dad want to join them. She replied, saying she had too much to do, and that Kieran was out. That would do for now. She felt terrible about lying but she needed time on her own first, for this to sink in.

Besides, what was she going to tell her about Kieran? The truth, this time? Or another pack of lies that would lead to an argument? She was in a lose-lose situation, and all because of someone else.

Two hours later, Pip arrived home. Livvy was sitting on the settee after having a mad cleaning session. She’d been determined to rid the house of every last trace of Kieran. His toothbrush and deodorant from the bathroom had gone in the bin, along with a car magazine he’d left on the coffee table. The mug he’d used for a drink had been sanitised; the programmes he’d recorded were deleted.

‘Hi, Mum,’ Pip said, looking around. ‘Is Dad still out? Did he say where he was going?’

‘Pip, come and sit here for a minute.’ Livvy patted the cushion.

‘What’s wrong?’ Pip did as she was told.

‘Your dad has gone.’

‘Gone where?’

‘He’s left. I came back from the shops when you went to see Tilly and he wasn’t here.’ Livvy hated lying but didn’t feel she had any choice. ‘His clothes, his suitcase, all his belongings have gone.’

‘But he said he was staying for a few more days. He wouldn’t just go,’ Pip exclaimed, getting out her phone. ‘Did he leave a note?’

‘No, there was nothing.’ Livvy put her hand over Pip’s. ‘I’ve tried calling, but his phone is off now.’

‘You don’t know where he is?’

Livvy shook her head, almost feeling her heart breaking at the pain Pip was going to suffer.

‘Did you have a row?’ Pip was blazing. ‘What did you say to him?’

‘I said nothing. You know he’s walked out lots of times before.’

‘Not after a week.’

‘He was only supposed to be staying for a few days.’

‘He wanted to come back to live with us, but he said you wouldn’t let him. He said he was working on getting you to change your mind because he liked being a family.’

‘It was all lies, Pip.’

‘He said he missed me and wanted to be a part of my life growing up.’

---