Page 9 of Coming Home to Hope Street

‘It’s complicated.’ It was also something she didn’t want Kieran to know about either. Because she’d never planned on going back to Somerley.

‘I feel as if I don’t know you.’ Pip scraped the chair across the floor in her haste to stand up. ‘You have so many secrets.’

‘Pip, I—’

‘Don’t.’ Pip held a hand up in dismissal before flouncing off.

Normally Livvy would have shouted her back and called her up on being so insolent. But on this occasion, she let it go. There would be plenty of time to talk on the train. If Pip had calmed down by then.

Livvy had held in her tears. She’d known this was going to be heartbreaking for Pip to up and leave everything she knew. But she’d realised after receiving the letter that she had no choice other than to go back to Somerley, to see if Hannah would let them stay for a while.

They’d left Manchester on the 10.32 train, arriving in the city of Hedworth. A short bus trip and they were in Somerley. They’d had a coffee before she’d plucked up the courage to come and see Hannah.

Livvy had been deflated when she hadn’t been home but was glad they’d caught up. They would have had to find a small hotel in Hedworth and come back in the morning. And it would mean spending money she hadn’t accounted for.

Hearing the front door open and close, Livvy stood up. She knew it would be Hannah as she’d given the spare key to her earlier that afternoon.

‘Hi, I bought a pizza with me to pop in the oven.’ Hannah closed the door, came through, and handed Livvy a carrier bag. ‘I’ve got you a few essentials until you know your way around again.’

‘Thanks.’ Livvy took them through to the kitchen, confused by Hannah’s words. Was she having a go at her for not coming home for so many years? Or was she just stating that things may have changed since she’d left before? Either didn’t bode well for the evening ahead.

‘Where’s Pip?’ Hannah asked, after she’d popped the pizza in the oven and started to gather cutlery and plates in readiness.

‘She’s lying on her bed texting her friends. I feel such a great parent.’

‘It must be hard on you both.’

‘If she’s not down in a few minutes, I’ll give her a shout.’

Hannah turned to face her. ‘Have you found everything you need? I expect most things are where you remembered they were.’

Livvy nodded. ‘It’s weird being back. In some ways I feel I’ve never left. In others, so much has changed.’

‘Want to tell me about it?’

Livvy shrugged. ‘I met a guy, Kieran. We got married, Pip was born, and I tried to be a good wife. I stayed with him way too long because of her, but if I tell her that she won’t believe me. She thinks the sun shines out of his arse and that I’m to blame for him leaving because I wasn’t very nice to him. Apparently.’

‘Ouch.’ Hannah blew air out of her cheeks. ‘That’s some story. But it still doesn’t explain everything to me. What’s going on, Livvy?’

Chapter Six

Livvy didn’t want to say too much as she and Hannah sat down at the table. A silence dropped on the room as they faced each other.

Livvy stared at Hannah. ‘Go on,’ she finally said.

‘What?’

‘Have a go at me. I know you want to, and I know I deserve it. I could have got away sooner, but I was embarrassed. With Pip a little older now, it’s easier.’

‘And what does Pip think?’

‘She hates me anyway. How’s her being a little more upset going to be different?’

‘I’m sure she doesn’t hate you. Remember us at her age? We used to moan about Mum and Dad all the time.’ Hannah laughed.

Livvy did her best to join in, but it was hard. Already she was wondering if she’d done the right thing by coming here. It was good to see her sister after so long, but they had nothing in common now. How could she think she’d be able to slip back into life in Somerley?

‘So are you planning on staying for longer than a week?’

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