AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Embarrassed, I study the carpet. “Thanks.”
“Is there anyone at the moment?”
I chew my bottom lip. “Maybe.”
“I’m glad. She’s a lucky girl.”
I sigh and open the door. “Take care of yourself.”
“Thanks, Kip.”
I walk down the path, and she closes the door behind me.
I head back to the car, get in, then sit there for a moment. I’m going to have to go and see Craig, wherever he is, but I don’t think I can stomach that tonight. I check my watch. It’s getting close to six. I think I’ll go home, make some dinner, pour myself a whisky, and wait for Alice to message me. I could do with a little trip to Wonderland tonight.
Chapter Eleven
Alice
The journey home to Gisborne is a long one. Luckily it’s a nice day, and the roads are relatively clear. We chat for most of it, and also sing to music, but the couple of stops we take and a few bouts of roadworks mean it’s nearly seven by the time I pull onto the drive and turn off the engine, and we’re both knackered.
“Thank fuck,” Charlie says. Then she turns to me and gives me a big hug. “Thank you so much for coming to get me.”
“Oh, you’re welcome. Anytime.” I hug her back. “Come on, let’s go and see Mum.”
We get our bags out of the car and head down the path to the front door.
This is our family home—a moderately sized, four-bedroomed house in a quiet cul-de-sac. Luckily, the insurance money we received after Dad died paid off the mortgage. I don’t know how we’d have coped if we’d had to find that money each month.
The surrounding lawns are neat—my uncle must have mown them while we were away—and the roses I planted around the front porch are blooming and smell gorgeous as we pass. I hung a homemade Christmas wreath on the door before I left, and the tinsel glitters in the evening sunshine.
We go inside, and I call, “We’re home,” as we walk in.
“In here,” Mum calls, and we go into the living room. I smile to see Mum sitting in her chair, hair braided, makeup on, brimming with excitement to see the two of us home at last.
“Girls!” she squeals, and she holds up her arms, and we run over to her and give her a huge hug.
“Aw,” June says, “you soppy bunch.”
I laugh and break free to give her a hug, too. Like Mum, me, and Charlie, June has blonde, slightly fluffy hair, although she wears hers in a practical, tight bun at the nape of her neck. We also all have the same dark-blue eyes.
“It’s wonderful to have you home,” Mum says tearfully to Charlie. “I’ve missed you so much.”
The two of us sit on the sofa, while June perches on the arm of Mum’s chair. Before I left, I put up the tree, and Mum and I dressed it with tinsel and all the decorations we’ve collected over the years. It’s always an emotional time for us because Dad loved Christmas, but I’m glad I did it now for Charlie’s sake.
“Yeah,” I say with mock-sarcasm, “because Charlie never calls.” My sister rings her on FaceTime nearly every day.
“It’s not the same,” Mum protests.
Charlie smiles, flopping back with a sigh. “It’s great to be home for a few weeks now.”
“How about you?” June asks me. “Did you have a nice few nights away?”
“I did, thank you.”
“Something you want to tell us?” Mum asks mischievously.
I glance from her to June, who’s grinning, then look at Charlie. She raises her eyebrows and says, “I haven’t said anything.”
