The Little Shop on Floral Street by Jane Lacey-Crane

Author:Jane Lacey-Crane [Lacey-Crane, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788546034
Publisher: Head of Zeus

Twenty

The sisters stood back and surveyed their efforts. Most of Hope’s things had been sorted into three piles.

‘Bin, keep, donate,’ said Grace, gesturing to each teetering mound in turn. ‘How long did that take us?’ she asked, stretching her arms above her head in attempt to loosen the knots in her shoulders.

Faith took her phone out of her back pocket and swiped at the screen. ‘Couple of hours. No wonder I’m bloody starving. We should think about organising some dinner probably.’

‘I haven’t heard a peep out of Mum, not since I took her in that cup of tea earlier. Do you think she’s alright?’ Grace had taken it into the living room, only to discover the previous one still untouched on the coffee table. Her mum had barely noticed her. It was only when Grace had gently touched her arm that she even looked up.

‘I’m going to have a nap, I think.’ Her mother’s voice had been so quiet, Grace only just heard her.

‘Okay, Mum. Drink your tea first though, eh? You’ve had nothing all day. Just have the tea.’

Maggie had smiled weakly at her daughter and nodded, but Grace knew that the cup would still be sitting there, a scummy skin covering the surface.

‘I’m sure she’s fine.’ Faith picked up a bag full of rubbish. ‘I’ll poke my nose in after I’ve dumped this.’ Faith opened the bedroom door and headed out onto the landing. Grace was tying up the last bag for the charity shop when her sister hurried back into the room.

‘Grace.’ Faith’s exaggerated whisper made her turn around. Faith gestured for her to follow.

‘What?’ She stepped out of the bedroom to see Faith poking her head around the bannister.

‘Come and see this. Don’t make a noise, I don’t want to disturb them.’ They tiptoed down the stairs together. Reaching the living room door, Faith gestured for her to look inside. Peering around the frame, Grace saw her parents, arms around each other, swaying silently to music only they could hear. Her mum’s eyes were closed, and she looked so at peace. Grace watched as Tommy slowly lifted his wife’s hand to his lips and held it there while their silent dance continued.

‘I didn’t even hear him come home,’ said Faith. ‘Isn’t it sweet?’

Grace didn’t know how to respond. Seeing her parents so close gave her a slightly unsettled feeling that she didn’t want to have to analyse.

‘Let’s get started on dinner. Leave them alone for a bit,’ she said, stepping back from the door and heading to the kitchen. ‘Are you going to give me a hand?’

Faith found it hard to drag her attention away from her parents, they looked so content and so much in love with each other. She was a bit miffed by Grace’s lack of interest.

‘Oh, yes … right. Of course.’ With a final glance, she left her parents to their dance and followed her sister down the hall. Grace was bent over, peering into the fridge.

‘God knows what we’re going to have,’ she said, ‘there’s bugger all in there.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.