Chances by Kate Field

Author:Kate Field [Field, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780008317836
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2020-02-06T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

It was inevitable that Paddy would come with me to The Chestnuts to visit Gran the next day. He followed me out of the house without us even discussing it, and I couldn’t say no, even if I’d been tempted to. Not even a bumper tin of all-butter shortbread could beat an appearance from Paddy Friel in Gran’s eyes.

We hadn’t spoken about the events of Saturday, but it had been a comfortable silence; it felt like we were respecting each other’s privacy rather than choosing to avoid awkward conversations. I didn’t want to upset Paddy by pressing him to talk more about his mum, and although the situations hardly compared, I sensed that he was keeping silent about Rich for the same reason. Did he need to? Was I upset? Not enough. I knew what heartbreak felt like and it wasn’t this. This felt more like a paper cut: a quick sting and then all but forgotten. What a sad reflection that was on a relationship I had hung on to for the last two years.

Gran’s eyes lit up as soon as she saw Paddy walk into the conservatory. I was clearly relegated to third place behind him and the shortbread. Gran wasted no time in pressing her emergency button to call for attention. The carer did a double take when she rushed in and found Paddy sprawled in the chair at Gran’s side.

‘See!’ Gran said, before the carer could utter a word. ‘It’s a real emergency. We have a celebrity here. We need proper china for our tea today, not those stained old mugs. And you should let everyone know there’s someone here off the telly. They can sleep after he’s gone.’ She grinned. ‘I can’t wait to see Mrs Pike’s face! This beats her nephew being on Pointless.’

I pulled up another chair and settled down on Gran’s other side.

‘So you’re still here?’ she said, passing the box of biscuits to Paddy to open. ‘There’s a turn-up for the books. There was a time when you made a habit of leaving, not sticking around.’

‘Gran!’ I tried to shut her up, but Paddy only smiled.

‘Oh, he doesn’t mind me,’ Gran said. ‘I mean no harm. Where are you living now, Paddy? Some swanky place in London, is it? One of those million-pound houses on celebrity row? You must have a bob or two to be able to afford to stay at the Fairlie.’

‘The production company paid for that. No, I’m renting a flat in Ripon at the moment. Not a celebrity to be seen, thank heaven.’

‘Renting?’ Gran repeated, pulling a face. ‘You should have put down roots by your age. I hope you’re not eyeing up our Eve’s assets … not the financial ones, any road …’

She nudged his arm and cackled with such glee that it was impossible not to join in, even when Paddy surprised me by looking my way and giving a lazy wink. Shortly afterwards, the room started to fill as the other residents of

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