Half a Rainbow by Lorna Read

Author:Lorna Read [Read, Lorna]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Next Chapter

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Next day, Leah rang the ward and was told that Nat would probably be coming home on Thursday. She paid her a visit, then went to Tesco’s, did a massive shop and came back by taxi. The following afternoon, having cleaned two houses and watered innumerable plants, Leah showered and changed and sat down on the sofa with a coffee. The next thing she knew, there was some annoying banging and shouting going on in the street. As she struggled to wakefulness, she heard her name being called in three familiar voices. Her family had arrived.

“Sorry,” she said, as she pulled open the door to admit a small whirlwind carrying a large, furry soft toy. “I fell asleep. What time is it?”

“Ten past five,” said Emma briskly. “We took it slowly.”

“Let’s look at you. You’ve changed your hair,” Leah observed. Her sister’s normal light brown hair now had glamorous blonde highlights and was a definite style, instead of being allowed to do what it wanted.

“Your hair’s so long, it must be down to your bum when it’s loose,” Emma said. “And you’re so brown.”

“Bum, bum, bum. Say hello to Betty Bunny,” Poppy insisted.

Leah dutifully kissed the toy, getting a mouthful of white fluff.

“Haven’t you got a kiss for your mother?”

“Of course, Mum. I’m not quite with it at the moment. Let me help you with your things.”

As more and more stuff emerged from the boot of the car, Leah wondered if she had mistaken the length of their visit and they were staying for a month, not just five days. Poppy seemed to have brought every cuddly toy she possessed. Leah was giving up her room with its double bed to Emma and Poppy, who didn’t mind cuddling up together. Her mum was in the single bed in the guest room while she herself would be on the sofa bed in the lounge.

“I can see a kitty! I didn’t know you had a kitty!” Poppy had spied Nina cowering uncertainly in the kitchen doorway. At the sight of a five-year-old bounding towards her, she spun round on the spot and before Poppy could reach down to stroke her, a tail tip was vanishing behind the sofa.

“She belongs to the lady next door – the one I told you about, who’s in hospital. I’ve been feeding her,” Leah explained. Then it was her turn to feed three hungry humans who had been travelling for more than seven hours, counting stops for food and loo breaks.

“It’s so good to see you. It’s really wonderful,” she said.

“It’s been much too long. Why haven’t you been up to see us?” her mother scolded.

“I’ve been rather busy, Mum. You should have seen this place when I moved in.”

“It’s looking great now. I like that colour you’ve chosen for the back wall. And these leather sofas look fantastic,” Emily said, admiringly.

“Hmm. I’ve never been too sure about leather myself. It always feels a bit cold to me,” said their mother. “You have done a good job though, Leah.

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