‘Go on.I’ll watch the dog.’
Liam took Peggy’s lead and shooed me up from my seat.I walked like a zombie over to Sandra, heavy-footed.It wasn’t that we weren’t talking, per se.Sandra had welcomed me back from my travels with a big hug, demanding she wanted to hear stories from my trip.But we both were navigating around the Lydia-sized elephant in the room.We were both ignoring it, probably out of respect for our past.Sandra had been like a surrogate mum for me after Mum died.Sandra picked us up from football practice, cooked us tea and made sure that Dad had the ‘birds and the bees’ talk with us, only to repeat it for good measure, ignoring the hands over our ears in protest.She kept Dad’s head above water after losing Mum, the love of his life, to cancer.She brought food and did the washing when Dad couldn’t get out of bed.
There was a real, deep history between our families that meant the rupture – the crack between Lydia and me – was more obvious.More painful.
Sandra shuffled into the little kitchen at the rear of the bar, where Liam helped prepare food for events now and then.It was a tight space, and being in such close quarters with a woman whose wrath I’d faced more than once was a little intimidating.
Why did I feel 12 years old again?
‘I’ve had enough,’ she announced and shoved a letter into my hand.‘Here.’
I glanced down at the letter, my brows drawn together.
‘What is this?’
‘It’s a ticket to a hiking trip.They leave on Monday.’
‘A hiking trip?’ I racked my brain for the missing details.‘What hiking trip?’
‘The one Lydia and her friends are going on on Monday.You’ll need to buy some supplies, but I’ve covered the cost of your ticket.You should have enough time to pack your stuff and drive to the Peaks on Monday.’
No.Surely Sandra isn’t serious.
‘Sandra, I can’t just join on to a hiking trip, without telling her.Lydia doesn’t want me there.’
Sandra raised a finger at me, her eyes flashing.My stomach dropped through the floorboards into the cellar below.
‘You.Will.Fix.This.Lawrence Hunter,’ she went pink.‘You will fix whatever you broke.I’m sick of it.We’re all sick of it.I don’t care if you’re friends or an item.Yes, don’t act so surprised.I’m not a bleeding idiot.I don’t care how or what you do, but you will make it up to her and bring back my daughter.’ Her voice grew thick.‘You will swear that you’ll make her happy, whether as a friend or more.Because she needs you, you blithering idiot.You need each other.She doesn’t want to admit it and I don’t want to either, but she missed you.She misses you.And I don’t know all the details – I don’t want to, frankly, because I’m worried I’d kill my best friend’s son, and God knows I swore to Lily I’d look after you – but I know you messed something up.So you’ll fix whatever you’ve broken.Swear it to me.’
My throat was dry, my eyes stung.
‘Ren.Swear it to me.’
‘I swear.’
Sandra wiped the back of her hand across her face, plastering on a smile her daughter would be proud of, before gently patting my face.
‘Good.Thank you.’ She kissed my cheek before exiting the little kitchen, leaving me with no choice but to follow her wishes.
‘What was that about?’ Liam asked, as I sat back down, a little dazed.
‘Have you heard about this hike Lydia is going on?’
‘Kat mentioned it.Something about dodging a bullet.’ Liam huffed.‘A big group of them are going – some of Lydia’s friends from the gym.Gen, Claire and – who was the other girl?’
‘Amy,’ I said.My bones felt all soft and weird.‘And me.’
Liam coughed into his Coke Zero.‘You’re going?’
Jack chuckled.‘Well, that’s something.’
My eyes widened.‘I – I can’t go, can I?I mean, we have Lily’s to run—’
‘Hey, we can sort something out if you want to go—’
‘No,’ I scoffed.‘This is ridiculous.I can’t join her on some hiking trip like a stalker.I’m going to tell Sandra I can’t do it.’
I rose from my seat until Liam pulled me down in a sharp tug that reminded me of playing (losing) touch rugby with him when I was a kid.Liam’s eyes were wide, as if I was missing the point.
