Heading Over the Hill by Judy Leigh

Author:Judy Leigh [Leigh, Judy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Published: 2020-12-02T16:00:00+00:00

Billy was in the kitchen, washing the plates. He had made beans on toast and coffee for everyone. Lorraine, insisting she never ate breakfast, had polished off a plateful and was gazing at her reflection in the mirror above the mantelpiece in the living room, applying lipstick to her open mouth and trying to talk at the same time.

‘The thing is, Dawnie, I’m a businesswoman. I have to look the part. This suit, for example.’ She indicated the cream fitted jacket and pencil skirt. ‘It was over a grand. And these shoes.’ She lifted her foot to show off a cream stiletto. ‘They cost me six hundred pounds, well, not me exactly…’ She waved a hand at Dawnie, her own short platinum hair unbrushed, sitting on the sofabed in a shiny pink dressing gown, hugging one of the pillows Billy had slept on. ‘You should take better care of yourself, Dawnie. I mean, motorbikes at your age? And those awful leathers… they don’t do you any favours.’

Dawnie pressed her nose against the pillow. It smelled warm, of Billy, and she knew instinctively he had not slept well. Neither had she: Lorraine had taken most of the space in the bed and most of the duvet and had snored non-stop. ‘It’s time you left for Bude, Lorraine.’

‘I know. This weather, though: it’s no better than Blackpool.’ She glanced in the direction of the kitchen and rolled her eyes. Billy had put the radio on and was listening to Planet Rock. ‘You get a better type of man in Blackpool, though.’

‘No one is better than my Billy. Come on, Lorraine, it’s time you were on your way.’

‘Charming – my own sister can’t wait to push me out into the rain. Do I look all right? Is the lipstick the right colour? I mean, I want to be dressed to impress when I meet a gentleman…’

There was a crisp knock on the front door. Dawnie pulled her dressing gown tightly across her body, adjusted the thin belt and raised her voice. ‘I’ll go, Billy.’

She opened the door to see Gillian peering at her over rain-spattered glasses. Raindrops drummed on the roof of her umbrella. Dawnie smiled. ‘Hello, come in.’

‘I won’t,’ Gillian shivered. ‘I’m all wet. I’d hate to bring in a puddle.’

‘Oh, you wouldn’t. Our house isn’t anything special.’

Dawnie heard Lorraine’s voice shrilling from the living room. ‘You can say that again.’

Dawnie sighed. ‘How can I help, Gillian?’

‘Oh, well, it’s just…’ Gillian’s face was apologetic. ‘Malcolm can’t get the Honda Jazz out. It’s boxed in. I don’t know who owns the white BMW but I wondered if you’d be kind enough to move the Transit forward a little bit, Dawn. Then he could get out.’

‘Oh, no problem.’ Dawnie glanced down at her dressing gown. ‘I’ll just get my coat.’

Then Lorraine bustled into the hallway with her case, tugging it across the threadbare carpet. She made an air-kissing sound near Dawnie’s ear. ‘Must go. Can’t stay. People to see, money to make, men to impress.

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