Page 66 of A Family Affair
He’d also surprised Honey by giving her the locket and she’d been touched by the gesture, knowing how much having a piece of his mother meant to him.
‘Lass, I want you to have this because I know how much you like antique bits and bobs, and it’d look right nice on you if you wanted to wear it. Seems a shame not to.’ He placed the locket in her palm then closed her fingers around it.
‘Grandad, no. I can’t take it. You keep it here, close by. It was something your mum wanted you to have that’s why she put it inside your blanket all those years ago. It belongs with you.’ Honey tried to give it back, but he refused.
‘No, lass. Please take it. I’ve got them nice photos to look at now and the ones in that locket are so tiny I have to put my specs on to see. Anyway I reckon your great-gran would want you to have it. It’ll be yours one day so take it now.’ He folded his hands around hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.
Honey always knew when to give in with Ernie, so agreed. ‘Okay, if you’re sure, but I’ll keep it safe and hide it in my bedroom so if a burglar gets in…’
‘Lass, stop worrying. It’ll be fine. Now let’s have a brew and one of them pattie things that Gospel made… they’re bloody lovely they are but they burn my lips, and my bum the next day, that’s a fact. It’s them Scottish hat chillies I reckon.’
Even though it was far too much information, he’d made Honey laugh for the first time in ages so after fastening the locket around her neck, had followed her grumpy grandad into the kitchen.
That had been a couple of weeks back, and since then Ernie hadn’t made her laugh again, but she was determined to forget about all that for at least the next few hours and enjoy meeting Levi’s family. Checking the time, she realised she needed to get her finger out otherwise she’d be late.
She’d been watching a documentary about the industrial revolution and the local landed gentry who’d been part of it. They were currently chatting to an elderly lady who lived over in Cheshire on a huge estate, and she was telling them about her older sister who’d been killed during the war.
As much as Honey had immense respect for those who had laid down their lives during that time, she didn’t have much truck with the upper classes, some of whom had more money than they knew what to do with. The camera was zooming in on a portrait of the older sister when Honey tutted, pointed the remote and clicked off the screen. She had a party to get ready for.
Levi hummed to a track on the radio while Honey fiddled nervously with the boho silk scarf she hoped was tied in a jaunty way around her neck. It complemented her ditsy maxi dress that just about covered her Converse. She was going for casual-chic, if that was even a thing.
Ziggy had assured Honey during a panicked FaceTime that her outfit was perfect and reflected her personality andnobodygot dressed up anymore. Not even for weddings if the last one she’d attended was anything to go by. Before Ziggy could expand on her cousin’s big-day-fashion-faux-pas, Honey, already running late, had ended the call, grabbed her overnight bag, and legged it to her car.
They were now in Levi’s car, after leaving hers at his apartment, and on their way to Chorlton to meet the rellies.
‘Stop fidgeting. You look gorgeous and everyone is going to love you, so please, could you not look so nervous.’ Levi took his attention off the road for a second to side-eye Honey.
‘I’ll try. And thank you. I’ll be okay once I’m there but it’s just the anticipation that’s making me all of a do-da. You know, meeting all those people in one place.’
Levi was watching the traffic lights. ‘Well just imagine it’s your café full of people and you’re serving them egg and chips. That should do the trick. You meet new customers every day; you’re a natural.’
Honey gave him a raised-eyebrow look and tried to relax, then felt her stomach flip when they turned in to a long street of houses of all shapes and sizes and Levi announced they were there.
Levi’s old home was huge. A double-fronted Victorian detached house with ornate facias and a lovely open porch. The wide front door was guarded on each side by stone pillars on which was inscribed Melba Villa.
The first thing that hit her was the heat. Apparently the grandparents liked it warm. Then it took ten minutes to make their way along the hallway and through one of the lounges because Levi insisted on introducing every single person they passed by. When Honey finally met his mum and dad, who were both holding trays weighted down by glasses of prosecco, her nerves had been thoroughly banished.
It was a bit of a feat for Zoë, Levi’s mum, kissing Honey on the cheek without toppling the tray of drinks but Mike, his dad, had it nailed and even managed a hug without spilling anything.
Zoë seemed genuinely pleased to meet Honey and after explaining that the food was laid out in the dining room, they’d find the birthday girl holding court over in the corner of the day lounge.
The rooms were cavernous, and Honey could easily imagine the house in the 1800s when it had been built to accommodate crinolines swishing around the place. Above her head were beautiful, moulded cornices and in the centre of the wall, what must have been the original fireplace.
Thanks to Levi’s descriptions, she could also picture it as a boarding house where one lounge had been used for guests, the other for family. Back then everyone had eaten in the dining room at little tables set around the room and in her mind, Honey could almost see little Levi, running about the place and being spoilt by the guests and boarders.
It must have been a wonderful, homely place to live, especially when Zoë moved all of her relatives in. Only minutes in her company, Honey could tell she was one of those who loved people, and Zoë’s next words confirmed that.
‘It’s so great to meet you at last because this one,’ she inclined her head towards Levi, ‘never shuts up about you, so I promise we’ll have a proper chat later, once everyone’s arrived and I can relax a bit, but you go ahead and say hello to the grandparents. They’re dotted about the room so as to cause less trouble in one place… once you’ve met them, you’ll understand.’ Zoë winked, then glided away to welcome more guests who’d appeared in the hallway.
‘Come on then, let’s find Grandma Pins. We’ll see the others in a bit.’ Levi took her hand and guided her around the guests, resisting the urge to stop and chat.
They crossed the hall and entered the day lounge opposite. Some guests were seated on the sofas set against the wall, chatting or eating from plates on their knees. A hum of conversation mingled with music from the old stereo system in the corner. Honey recognised the deep tone of Tom Jones singing about a pussycat.
Her eyes scanned the room and found another huge fireplace on the chimney breast. There just to the right, in the corner, enveloped by a worn armchair made from brown velour edged with gold piping, sat the birthday girl.
The sight of her took Honey’s breath away, and she almost gasped. She had no idea why the diminutive woman, with the ice white hair piled on top of her head, a bun having no luck taming a mass of curls, had such a profound effect. Only that her arms tingled with goosebumps and for some insane reason, Honey felt like they’d met before. But that was impossible.
Levi hovered for a second while his grandmother finished her conversation and Honey took the opportunity to drink in everything about her. She sat bolt upright, her spine ramrod straight, giving length to her lean frame.
