AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Do you ever wish you and Dad had stayed in London?’
Kirsty put her mug down on the ground. ‘Not at all. We were ready to leave and come back. It was all fun while we were young. But once you were born it all became a challenge.’ She had told him this story several times before, but he seemed to want to hear it again. ‘Our flat was tiny and at the top of an old building. Every time I wanted to take you out, I had to carry the buggy down and then go back upstairs and get you both and hope that it hadn’t been stolen by the time I got you both back downstairs. It was exhausting . . . and you could have fitted that flat into a corner of the barn. It was tiny.’
He laughed. ‘I don’t know how you did it. I couldn’t live in the city.’
She ruffled his hair. ‘That’s because you are your father’s son. He didn’t like it either but if he hadn’t gone for that job at the hotel then he wouldn’t have met me, and you wouldn’t be here. In fact, we wouldn’t be sitting here now having this conversation.’
Tom reflected for a moment before he spoke. ‘So, you don’t think I’m weird for not wanting to go to university in a city?’
‘No, darling, of course I don’t. What’s brought all this on?’
‘Just some of the guys are talking about what a great time they’re going to have as students in Glasgow and . . . well, I feel a bit dull, I suppose.’ He blushed.
She hugged him close to her and sniffed his head, desperate to inhale that baby scent from him that she was sure she could still smell. Tears glistened in her eyes. ‘You listen to me, my darling. You are amazing and wonderful, and I am so proud that you are doing what is right for you rather than following the crowd. You can always go and visit them at weekends and then let them get on with their essays.’
He grunted. ‘I know, I know I would hate the essays. It’s just hard. What if I don’t fit in as the apprentice?’
This was so unlike Tom, who normally took everything in his stride. ‘You will fit in, Tom. I know you will, and do you know what? If it doesn’t work out, then it’s not the end of the world.’
‘It’s not the end of the world until it’s the end of the world,’ he said back quietly. It had become a family saying.
‘That’s right. You can come home, and we will help you to decide plan b. So don’t worry.’
He sniffed. ‘I’ll just miss you . . . and Gramps . . .’
She clutched him closer and willed herself not to start crying. ‘We will miss you, too, darling, but you can come home any time and we will come and visit. This is your time and your adventure, Tom.’ She glanced over at the door and saw Becky checking her hair out in the reflection of the glass. ‘Your sister is coming.’
He cleared his throat and sat up. ‘Thanks, Mum. Don’t tell her, please?’
She chuckled. ‘I won’t. I promise.’ It didn’t matter that they were almost eighteen, at times they were still like giant toddlers, and she couldn’t believe that she would have to soon let them go.
‘Hurry up, Tom,’ called Becky.
‘Unbelievable,’ he said. ‘She’s the one who was taking ages and faffing about with her hair.’ He stood up and walked over to the car. ‘Thanks, Mum,’ he called over his shoulder. ‘Love you.’
Becky blew her mum a kiss, waved, then climbed in, started the engine and as soon as Tom closed the door, she sped away.
Kirsty stood up and stretched. It was time to head back inside and start breakfast. Reaching for the spurtle to make porridge, she glanced at the Trip Advisor page on her phone to check for new reviews. She tried not to be obsessive about it, but she did refresh it every few hours to find out what guests had said. The kids had been great this year and had set up on Instagram where they already had thousands of followers. Every time there was a good review, Kirsty shared it to the page. She didn’t know whether to be annoyed or relieved when she saw there were no new posts. But she didn’t have time to dwell on it because the guests, who were due to leave later that morning, appeared and were ready to be fed before boarding the early ferry.
An hour or so later, when she was pegging out washing, she heard the sound of Steve’s car in the driveway behind her.
‘Well, well, well,’ he called out to her. ‘You will never guess who I happened to find.’
‘I’ve no idea,’ she replied.
‘Surprise!’ called a voice.
Kirsty dropped the washing and spun round. ‘Amy!’ she said and ran to her little sister and the girls embraced.
Chapter Seventeen
‘Well, are you surprised?’ said Amy pulling away from Kirsty and smiling at her.
‘I most certainly am! Why didn’t you tell us when you were coming? We could have come to get you at the airport?’
‘Because I couldn’t let you do that, and, apart from anything else, I wanted to surprise you.’ Amy couldn’t stop grinning. She wassohappy to be back.
‘Come on inside,’ said Kirsty, smiling in delight.
