Chapter 42

42

‘It's bloody Baltic in here. Did Mother forget to order the oil?' Chloe went to the hall and grabbed a fleece from the overflowing stand.

‘The roof leaked. Again.' Katie stirred a mug of tea. ‘Probably cold air coming through it.'

Chloe flicked on the kettle to make herself a cup of tea. From the sound it made, it was clear it was empty. ‘Jesus, Katie, you could have put in more water than just enough for one cup.'

‘Sorry.'

‘Where's Louis?' She filled the kettle and switched it on before sitting on the edge of the table, where she studied her older sister.

‘He's upstairs with Sean,' Katie said. ‘On some FIFA game.'

‘That kid is too young for gaming.'

‘It's a kids' game. Sean said Louis is better at it than he is.'

‘Too much screen time isn't good.'

‘And what would you know about it, Chloe?'

‘Whatever. I'm not getting into a row over this.'

‘Fine by me.'

Chloe leaned down closer to her sister. ‘Instead, I want all the juicy details about this Jackson guy.'

‘Kettle's boiling.'

‘It's not.'

‘Will be in a minute.'

‘He's that good, eh?'

‘What do you mean?'

‘If you don't want to talk about him, that means you like him. But remember what happened with the last guy and?—'

‘Don't!' Katie held up her hand. ‘I'm not going there.'

‘Okay. But I want to know what this Jackson is like. Are you bringing him home to meet Mother?'

‘Are you for real? And the kettle is boiling this time.'

With a sigh, Chloe jumped off the table and set about making the tea. ‘Want another one?'

‘I'm fine.'

‘A word of thanks wouldn't go amiss in this house.'

‘Thanks, then. I get five minutes' peace in the day. Leave me alone, will you?'

Chloe stirred the tea bag, then held it against the rim of the mug with the spoon, squeezing it. She needed a strong cup. She hadn't slept great, and another long shift at the pub loomed. Despite that, Katie worried her. They fought like cat and dog most of the time, but she didn't like it when her sister became morose. ‘You know you can talk to me if?—'

‘Are you deaf? I said I want a bit of peace.' Katie jumped up. ‘Jeesssuuuss!' She dumped her mug in the sink with a clatter and stormed out of the kitchen.

Shivering in the ice-cold room, Chloe wondered if, in this lifetime, they could ever be friends as well as sisters.

The back door opened and Granny Rose struggled in with a bulging shopping bag.

‘Gran! Let me help you. What are you doing here?'

‘That's a fine welcome. And who are you, young lady?'

‘I'm Chloe,' she said with a groan, knowing further explanation was necessary. ‘Your granddaughter. I lived with you for a while last year to look after you. Remember?'

‘I don't need anyone looking after me. I'm capable of minding myself, thank you.'

‘Of course you are. What's all this, Gran?' Chloe lifted the bag onto the table and started taking out groceries. A slap on her hand halted her.

‘Leave that alone, missy. They're mine. Are you stealing from me as well as lying? I'll report you to Peter.'

Chloe leaned against the table. She'd never known Grandfather Peter. He'd died when her mother was a child. ‘Can I help you with these groceries?'

A shock of confusion flitted across Rose's face and the elderly lady's eyes misted over. ‘I'm in the wrong house.'

‘Not really. This is your daughter Lottie's house.'

‘Is it?'

‘Yes, Gran. Listen, can I drive you home to your own house? I'll light the fire and get you settled.'

Rose continued to stare at her surroundings. Chloe's heart contracted when she noticed a tear break free from the corner of her gran's eye. She hugged Rose and led her to a chair.

‘A cup of tea will do the trick.'

‘Chloe, isn't it? My old brain is all muddled.'

‘Don't worry about it. I'm like that in work. Two pints of Guinness become three Budweiser in the time it takes me to turn around to the taps.'

Rose nodded distractedly and wiped her eyes. ‘It's cold in here. Did your mother forget to order oil again?'

Laughing while she made the tea in a pot the way her granny liked, Chloe said, ‘Yeah, Gran, something like that.'