Meet Me at Number Five by Lisa Hill

Author:Lisa Hill
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, contemporary, romance
Publisher: Choc Lit Ltd
Published: 2017-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Two

Clara had actually had an okay day. Not a mind-blowingly exciting one but with her meds topped up she had been pain-free, able to have a positive meeting with Freddie about the court hearing and had managed to go an entire day without leaning on Colin for support when walking. It was hardly what anyone would call remarkable but it felt like an achievement.

‘Oh, don’t go in there,’ Natalia said, walking into the kitchen with an armful of laundry.

‘In where?’ asked Clara, finishing off her cup of coffee with a satisfying cigarette. That was one of life’s little pleasures she wouldn’t be giving up in a hurry. They could wheel her out of the hospital on her life support machine just so she could have her last Silk Cut.

‘In the snug. Those girls are so bummed out it will make you suicidal. Aahh,’ Natalia gasped at her faux pas. ‘Sorry, Clara.’

Clara laughed. ‘Natalia, please don’t worry. You are right; I’ve got precious little time left without wanting to cut it short. They were both behaving a bit odd at dinner. I’ll go and see what’s going on.’

Clara closed the notepad she had been using to write notes about the court case. She stood up. Owww, there was that raw, aching pain in her pelvis again. She breathed in sharply and started walking; it wasn’t far to go.

‘If you’re not back in ten minutes, I will come and rescue you,’ Natalia called as she wandered off into the utility room.

‘Everything okay, girls?’ Clara asked, opening the door and reaching for the first piece of furniture which would support her.

‘Fine,’ they chorused.

Hennie didn’t look up from the mobile phone in front of her on the arm of the chair. Grace was busy repeatedly pulling at the tassels on the cushion and staring at the wall instead of the television, which was apparently playing to itself.

‘Where are the children?’

‘Getting ready for bed,’ Hennie replied, still staring at the phone.

‘Aren’t you meant to be at work tonight?’ Clara asked Grace.

‘Not until seven.’

‘It’s six-thirty now, hadn’t you better get ready?’

Grace looked up at Clara. ‘I am ready.’

Clara cocked her head on one side. ‘Really?’

Grace looked down at her jodphurs and hoodie. ‘Oh shit.’ She leapt out of the chair and hurried for the door.

‘Not so fast, sit down.’

‘Nana, I don’t have time, I—’

‘Need to tell me what’s going on.’ Clara edged herself around and sank into the armchair. This was why she preferred her living room with its wing back furniture. ‘The pair of you,’ she added, shooting Hennie a warning look.

‘Ugh!’ Hennie rolled her eyes and slipped the phone into her jeans pocket. ‘You can go first Grace, seeing as you need to get ready.’

‘I can’t!’

Grace had gone brighter than a beetroot.

Clara looked between the pair of girls. It could have been fifteen years ago the way they were behaving.

‘I take it this is boy related?’ she asked.

‘Nana, I’m in my thirties and Grace isn’t far off.’ Hennie folded her arms. ‘Men would be more appropriate.

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