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As Frances closed the oven, she heard two hard knocks on the front door.
“Who’s that?” her mum said, looking up.
“Hopefully Lucie, Mum. Or maybe Mara.”
A quick glance at her mum, whose attention had already settled back on her puzzle, reassured Frances that she was okay with having lunch guests. She made her way out to the hallway and stopped at the mirror, checking her make-up and adjusting her hair around her shoulders. With a steadying breath, she opened the door, delighted to see Lucie standing on the mat, her face bright despite being covered in snow.
“Hi.”
“Hello,” Lucie replied with a soft smile.
“Come on in,” Frances said, stepping aside. “Lunch won’t be too long. We’re just waiting for Mara.”
“Oh, right. Great.” Lucie shrugged off her rucksack and hung up her coat.
“I just hope Mum recognises her; it’s been a while. Come through. Maybe you can help her with the last few pieces of her puzzle so I can get the table laid.”
“Of course. Something smells good,” Lucie said, following behind. “Hi, Rose.”
“Erm...”
“Lucie,” Lucie reminded her.
“Yes, Lucie. Could you help me?”
Frances rushed into the kitchen as a timer buzzed, grateful to focus on finishing lunch without interruptions. She glanced at Lucie settling beside her mum at the table.
“I can’t find where this piece goes,” her mum complained.
“How was your morning?” Frances called over.
Lucie pointed to a spot on the puzzle. “A bit difficult, but cathartic,” she replied.
Her mum put the piece in, turning it a few times until it slotted in.
“Oh.” Frances frowned. “Why?”
“We spent a bit of time in the attic, going through Gran’s things and some old family photo albums. My dad texted me on the way here to say they had found some more tapes for you, Rose. I’ll bring them on Monday.”
“Lovely,” she replied.
“How are your dad and Mandy?” Frances asked.
“Officially a couple.”
“Good for them.”
The door sounded again. Frances hurried out to answer before Lucie could offer. She hadn’t had a chance to mention to Mara that Lucie was going to be joining them and wanted to give her advance warning.
Frances opened the front door to find Mara shaking snow off her coat.
“Sorry I’m a few minutes late. I got held up at the ice rink.”
“Selfie sticks again?”
Mara sighed. “Yep.”
“Erm, Lucie is joining us for lunch,” Frances said in a low voice.
