But Star had kept her promise to her Uncle Jim, that if he were to die before his beloved wife, she would look out for her aunt. And so, with her knowing that the couple religiously had fish and chips on a Friday, Star was adamant that this tradition would continue. Depending on what she was doing she would either drop them off or stay and eat with Florrie at the flat. Now that Skye had passed her driving test, the girl would very occasionally borrow her mum’s car and make the short trip from Hartmouth to Penrigan to see her great-great-auntie Florrie, cod and chips in hand.
Star helped herself to a chip. ‘I like our catch-ups,’ she said, ‘and anyway, it’s Frank’s end-of-summer party on the quay in Hartmouth tonight and I’m not in the mood for socialising.’
‘There’s nothing that would give me greater pleasure than seeing you married to a lovely young man, you know.’
‘Not you as well! Maybe we should both start praying for one, then.’ Star stuffed another chip in her mouth.
‘We haven’t said grace yet,’ Flo Sibley chided.
‘Grace.’ Star stuck her tongue out at her aunt and laughed.
‘Naughty. You’re your mother’s daughter, you are. Saying that, how is the lovely Estelle?’
‘The same. Another toy boy and still smoking dope with her morning coffee.’
‘My poor sister, God rest her soul, would be turning in her grave at the antics of her only child. Saying that, if Lilian had been around maybe things would have turned out differently.’ The old lady perked up. ‘That reminds me, Steren love, I said I’d dig out some photos of your beautiful grandmama when she was your age. I’ll have them here for when you come next week. If you want to come, that is.’
‘I’d love to see those.’ Star poured a glass of ice-cold full-fat milk from a large floral-patterned china jug. Milk and fish and chips had been a long-standing Sibley tradition, one which Star had tolerated when she was growing up, but actually rather liked now. ‘Cuts through the grease, see,’ Uncle Jim used to tell her. Whether that was true or not, she never knew.
Florence Sibley said sadly, ‘Tragic, the way we lost our dear Lilian. It’s not really surprising your mother is such a lost soul. I keep thinking I must go up and see her, but the last couple of times she gave me such short shrift, as she thinks I am going to preach at her, that it never ended well.’
‘Oh, Auntie, she knows where you are.’
‘I guess so. Now come on, child, let me say my bit and we can eat up properly.’
‘Bollocks!’came from the cage.
