Page 81 of Coming Home to Hope Street

Hannah giggled. ‘Ever the subtle one.’

‘You know what I mean. She’s hurting, Han.’

‘I’ll speak to her tomorrow.’ She grimaced. ‘I said some terrible things.’

‘Maybe but I’m sure everything will settle.’

‘That’s what Doug said.’

Phoebe paused. ‘Despite my earlier thoughts about her returning, I think Livvy’s scared to commit to you.’

‘To me?’ Hannah frowned.

‘She wants to be your sister again.’

‘She’s never stopped being that.’

‘But you’ve built up a wall around yourself.’ Phoebe put up a hand as Hannah was about to protest. ‘You’re the most gullible person I know but even you’ve guarded yourself against getting hurt again.’

Hannah looked away, momentarily lost in her thoughts. ‘Do you think I’m like Livvy was with Kieran, waiting for her to run out on me?’

‘Yes.’

Hannah let her shoulders drop. ‘I’m scared too. That I’ll let her get too close and then she’ll leave again. Have I pushed her away?’

‘No.’ Phoebe shook her head. ‘Quite the opposite really. But I can see you’re holding back. Maybe she can sense it too?’

‘So what do you suggest?’

‘How about a little heart to heart with Mama?’

They were at Hannah’s door now.

‘Perhaps.’ Hannah hugged Phoebe. ‘What would I do without you?’ she said, truthfully.

‘Life would be pretty boring, I guess.’ Phoebe laughed. ‘But then again, I think that’s a case of ditto. I’m glad to have you in my life too, even if I have to share you with your sister now.’

Livvy and Pip sat in each other’s arms, watching Hannah and Phoebe disappear around the corner and into the high street.

‘I really am sorry, Mum,’ Pip said, sitting back then.

‘What did Hannah tell you?’

‘Everything. About Dad gambling, then you having to pay back his money. She told me about the eviction and then about the money he stole from the community centre. I can’t even say I didn’t believe her when she told me because I knew something was wrong with him. He had worse mood swings thanme.’

Livvy smiled.

‘I’ve been a right cow taking it out on you,’ Pip continued. ‘No, actually I’ve been a baby. I think I was so hurt by you and dad not being together that all I wanted was everything to go back to normal. I thought if he stayed, things would. But now I think about it, the normal was you and me. Dad was missing more than he was with us for the past few years.’

‘He was really troubled,’ Hannah explained. ‘Gambling is an addiction and he wasn’t in charge of his thoughts and actions because of it. I think he disappeared when it got too much and came back when he thought he had it under control again.’

Livvy was slightly bending the truth, but she didn’t feel there was a need to tell Pip everything.

‘But he never did, did he?’ Pip said. ‘And leaving you to pay for debts he’d run up and having to do two jobs? That’s so wrong… and selfish. I wish you’d told me everything.’

‘I wish I had too. I should have trusted you, but I didn’t want to hurt you either. Nor talk ill of your dad.’

‘He’s an idiot.’

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