The Fall and Rise of Ronni Fairweather: A feel-good story about hope and new beginnings by Gina Hollands

Author:Gina Hollands [Hollands, Gina]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Choc Lit Contemporary Romance: A Joffe Books Company
Published: 2023-06-19T23:00:00+00:00

‘I can’t believe Toni was only fifteen when she had Bronte,’ says Sabrine after we close Spud’s front door behind us.

‘Yeah, it’s awfully young. I was twenty-four when I had you and that was young enough.’

‘She doesn’t seem the type.’

I notice on the other side of the road there is a dog walker doing the evening rounds. I open my mouth to issue a greeting at exactly the same time the man’s face is illuminated by the orange light from the street lamp. The words catch in my throat when I realise who those sagging jowls and round glasses belong to. It can’t be, can it? Mr Keyton was ancient — and I mean practically Jurassic — when I was a kid. That was thirty years ago. By now he must be . . . I do a quick mental calculation . . . one hundred and seventy at least. I glance at the terrier scampering by his side. It even looks like the same bloody dog! Jesus.

‘Mum, you’re not listening.’ Sabrine digs me in the ribs.

‘Sorry, sweetheart,’ I say, turning my head so I could see the retreating dog walker. Perhaps it’s Mr Keyton’s love child. Euw, the thought.

‘Mum, for God’s sake!’

‘Sorry, sweetheart, sorry. What did you say?’ We reach our door and I fumble in my pocket for the key.

‘I said, Toni doesn’t seem the type to be a teenage mum because she’s so into literature. I’m not saying there’s a direct correlation between literature lovers and pregnancy age, but you know what I mean, right?’

‘Urgh, yeah.’ I wiggle the key in the lock that’s been changed to a shiny new one since I last lived here. Finally, the key gives a satisfying click and the door opens. ‘How do you know she’s into literature?’

Sabrine steps into the house after me and kicks off her pumps. ‘She told me, when you were doing the washing up with Spud. That’s why Pip is called Pip — from the character in Great Expectations. And Bronte is called Bronte because—’

‘Oh yes, I get it.’ I flop onto the sofa, realising just how exhausted I am.

‘Cool names, don’t you think?’

‘Very cool. Hey, I’m pooped. How about I make us both a cup of hot chocolate and we watch a bit of telly together?’

‘Telly? You’re talking funny now we’re here. I don’t like it.’

I laugh and remove my earrings that are starting to pinch. ‘Sorry, sweetheart. I’ll try not to from now on.’

‘It’s just so much change.’ She plants herself on the sofa beside me, her bottom lip quivering. ‘First Daddy, then leaving Guildford, your hair, and now this.’ She indicates the room with her hand, then lets it fall down to her lap. ‘I can’t cope with you talking funny too on top of all that. It freaks me out.’

I ruffle her hair. ‘I understand.’

‘Besides,’ she says. ‘We haven’t got a telly.’

‘Oh no, of course we haven’t. I sold them all, didn’t I?’

‘I don’t know why you had to sell all five of them.

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.