Page 70 of Coming Home to Hope Street

‘The only stable thing you’ve had since you were a baby wasme.’ Livvy prodded herself in the chest. ‘I’mthe one who’s never left you.I’mthe one whose always been there for you. AndI’mthe one who’s here for you now. Don’t you forget that. I’ve always done what I think is best for you and—’

‘No, you haven’t.’ Pip folded her arms. ‘You’re only interested in what’s best for you! Dad has tried to come back many times, but you drove him away.’

‘That’s not how—’

‘He says you’re cold, but he can always win you over.’

Livvy placed a hand on Pip’s arm. ‘Pip, I—’

‘You’vemade him leave.’ Pip snatched her arm away. ‘You don’t give him enough attention. No wonder he wanted to go.’

‘Don’t be like that,’ Livvy cried. ‘I’ve done my best too. It’s never been good enough for your dad, but I’ve tried so hard. It hasn’t been easy without…’ She stopped herself from saying too much. She’d shielded Pip from everything Kieran had done and now wasn’t the time to tell her about his gambling issues, never mind about the money he’d stolen.

Tears rolled down Pip’s cheeks as she stared at her. ‘I hate you,’ she said, standing up abruptly. ‘I really hate you.’

‘Don’t be mad with me. I’m still here.’

‘I wish you weren’t. I wish you’d gone instead.’

‘That’s really unfair!’ Livvy reached for Pip’s arm as she stood up.

‘Leave me alone.’ Pip stormed past her.

‘Where are you going?’

‘Up to my room. I don’t want to be with you anymore.’

As she let her go, tears dripped down Livvy’s face. How had everything gone so wrong? Really, she was damned if she did and damned if she didn’t. No matter what she did, it would be the wrong outcome for one of them. And what would happen now regarding Kieran? Her daughter would lose contact with her dad because of her actions.

No! It was his fault they were in this predicament. And if he did come back after her, then she would stand up to him. She was tougher than she gave herself credit for.

It was going to be hard for her and Pip when the news got out, but she’d try to protect Pip from it as much as possible without bad-mouthing Kieran. Perhaps then she’d see him for what he was. A thief, a coward, a bastard.

More to the point, she didn’t want to leave Somerley just as they were settling. Because she was sure Pip would never forgive her for that either.

Pip threw herself down on her bed. After all she’d said about giving her mum a chance, her dad had left without saying goodbye. Something must have been going on between them that she didn’t know about.

She recalled the last time he’d left. Mum had been there that time too, taking the brunt of her anger as she blamed her for it. Not her dad, because he’d long gone.

After her chat with Tilly, the more she wondered if him leaving again was a bad thing. It was always the two of them who had to pick up the pieces of the fractured life he left them with. Pip hadn’t wanted to come to Somerley at first, but she was settling here. It didn’t have the appeal of a large city, but it had a much bigger character of its own.

She preferred that she could go to the park with Tilly without worrying about getting jumped and there were no gangs roaming the streets like there were in Manchester. So many things had been happening to people in the wrong place at the wrong time. Here, she’d even feel okay on her own in the dark. There was no fear, and every street linked to the high street so there was always somewhere safe to run to if necessary. Even the Mountford Estate wasn’t that rough.

Somerley had a good vibe. It was a lovely place to live, and she was so pleased they’d come here. If she stopped to think about it, things had started to go wrong when her dad had come back. She and her mum had been getting on fine before then, the best they’d done in years. They’d been here over a month; she’d settled into a new school and made friends. Mum had got a job and was working with her sister. And everywhere Pip turned there was someone to talk to.

Except her mum.

Was it true what Tilly was saying? Was her mum more reliable than her dad? Should she talk to her? Act like a grown-up for once. Or was it too late?

It was definitely too late for today. She was going to stay in her room and try to get hold of her dad on his phone. He’d have to switch it back on sometime.

She wanted to hear what had happened straight from him.

Chapter Forty-Three

Hannah was surprised to get a phone call from Phoebe. But when she’d finished listening to her, she closed her eyes for a moment.

‘You’re saying that Kieran is staying now?’

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