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‘Soap and towels are the first thing to add to the shopping list.’ she said. ‘Not forgetting loo roll. Are we taking my car or your van, hun?’
‘Not sure your boot will be big enough for bedding and pillows. We’ll take the van.’
Joe put his cap on. ‘I’ll be getting meself off now. If you need anything – just holler.’
They called out their goodbyes as Joe left.
‘Are you sure about this, Holls?’ Jaz asked, gazing around the room. ‘You could stay at my place. I won’t even be there.’
‘I’m fine. It feels like our old Wendy house. Do you remember? We slept out in it one night?’
‘Of course I do. I’ve never eaten so many sweets in my life as we did that night.’ She moved forward and gave Holly a squeeze. ‘I love you so much, hun. You know that, right?’
Holly felt her eyes sting as she nodded her head. ‘Don’t, Jaz, else you’ll have me in tears again.’ She pulled away. ‘Have you got a pen and paper in your bag? Let’s make that shopping list.’
* * *
Five hours later,Jaz popped a bottle of Prosecco. The cork shot across the caravan and bubbles spilled onto the rug Holly had bought.
‘Hey, I know it was cheap but go easy,’ Holly laughed.
While she had managed to get a few items left over from the spring sales, there were limited funds in Holly’s account. She did not want to eat into the money she had set aside for staff pay. Sipping her drink, Holly wondered what the following week would bring. Gary had told her he would keep her updated on the insurance claim but said he expected it would be some time before it was processed but that he would rush through an emergency payment for immediate needs.
Sitting on the sofas, they drank the fizz and ate their way through a large box of chocolates which Jaz had insisted they both needed. Holly surveyed their afternoon’s work. They had popped by Val’s on the way back from the retail park so that Holly could borrow her sewing machine, having bought swathes of material for re-upholstering the seating area and chairs. Her chosen colour scheme for the caravan was green and cerise, inspired by the vase of roses given to her by Julie and Anne.
Val had said, ‘Well, it’s definitely not bland is it? Gypsy Rose,’ when she had shown her the colours. Holly had smiled at the sound of her mother’s name, Rose. All the Loveland women who had been at the nursery were named after plants or flowers. Firstly, there was Iris, then Ivy, then Rose and herself Holly, born at Christmas.
Looking at the sewing machine, which took up a large part of the small dining table, Holly smiled. A creative project would keep her mind focussed on something positive.
Jaz sighed. ‘I’m sure Mum would’ve loved the colour scheme.’ Jaz had referred to Rose as Mum ever since she had moved in with Holly and her parents.
Holly nodded, sipping her fizz. ‘I’ll have to stop this drinking malarkey. That’s three nights in a row.’
‘You’re allowed under the circumstances. I’d have another glass myself but I’m driving. Now, hun, are you sure you’re okay with me going away?’
‘Yes, of course. I’m proud of you. When you’ve made your million, you can take me on a world tour to celebrate.’
‘Well that’s my goal. I don’t want to depend on some bloke or have his snotty kids.’ Jaz stood up. ‘I need to get off now. Unless you want me to stay the night?’
‘No, not when you’re travelling north tomorrow. You need a good night’s sleep.’
‘I’ll be gone for two weeks this time.’ Jaz hugged Holly. ‘Text me every day. I’ll call you whenever I can.’
Holly waved a goodbye, as Jaz headed towards her car, and until it growled away from the nursery. Holly was alone. She could hear the cries of birds roosting in the line of tall trees which ran along a section of the Booth farm boundary. After closing the caravan door, Holly padded to the small shower room in her new slippers. She cleaned her teeth but the shower would not work until the electrics were in. After splashing her face with cold water, she glanced at the cabinet mirror, which was dotted with rust coloured splodges. She was surprised at how awake she looked in her reflection. She wondered whether it was adrenaline from the stress she had endured.
In the bedroom she found the bed inviting. Jaz had convinced her to go for a duvet, rather than the sheets and blankets she preferred to sleep beneath. It would only be for a short while, she hoped having no idea how long a renovation would take. She had brightened the room with a floral throw and pink scatter cushions. Changing into her PJs, Holly climbed into bed. She hugged herself, realising that all of her soft toys had perished in the fire, including her childhood teddy which had sat on the chair beside her bed at the cottage. She felt the tears run down her face. Without anyone around to be brave in front of, the sobs came in waves. Wiping her eyes on the back of her hand she rolled over, needing to change her thoughts, not wanting to drift downwards into murky regrets and other negative emotions. She needed to eliminate the internal chant of -I should’ve got the electrics checked. Hopefully Gary would call on Monday to put her mind at rest on the insurance front. Shutting her eyes, a picture of Mitch’s face appeared.Oh, she thought,I must introduce myself to his wife.
