‘You’re totally missing the point,’ Rosie pointed out. ‘He asked about you! Didn’t I tell you he still fancied you?’
‘Will you give over? He never fancied me! We were just kids. Thanks, Emmy.’ Alison took the bag of muffins and scanned her debit card. ‘He must have recognised me in the pub and wondered if I’d moved back. Actually, come to think of it, I was still living here when he headed off to university, so he probably never knew I left at all. What else did he say?’
Emmy shrugged. ‘Nothing much. He asked about the caravan park and if I saw much of the Hewsons. I told him hardly anything, but then the park’s shut until next week and they just come and go without bothering with the rest of us, don’t they?’
‘I forgot the park was reopening next week,’ Alison said to Rosie. ‘You’ll be able to move back to the caravan then.’
‘I know!’ Rosie beamed. ‘I can’t wait. Gavin’s asked me to do a bit of cleaning at the clubhouse before they reopen, and I’ll be getting my old job back, cleaning there after my shifts at the pub, so it’s all extra cash.’
‘So if he’s Mrs MacMillan’s son, he must be related to the Hewsons, right?’ Emmy asked, clearly still thinking about Ian.
‘Sort of.’ Rosie nodded. ‘His sister Stella was married to Gavin Hewson, and they’ve got two kids, so they’re Ian’s – Mac’s – niece and nephew.’
‘Did you, er, tell Ian anything about me?’ Alison asked, suddenly nervous. She didn’t want someone who, to all intents and purposes, was a total stranger, knowing about her life, such as it was. Especially someone as perfect as Ian bloody MacMillan.
‘No, just that I hardly saw you and you lived in Hull as far as I knew.’ Emmy winked. ‘None of his business, is it? He seemed nice, to be fair, but I still think it’s a shame for Stella. This whole will business, I mean. Gran does too. She’s surprised Stella hasn’t taken it to court.’
‘Well, none of us really knows the reason, or the actual terms of the will,’ Alison reminded her.
‘Except the house is definitely his because Stella’s been telling everyone who’ll listen that she was robbed.’ Emmy rolled her eyes. ‘It’s a bit embarrassing, to be honest.’
Rosie twirled a length of her hair around her fingers. ‘I mean, I could always find out,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘I could get it out of Gavin, no problem. He’s always fancied me rotten.’
Clearly seeing the expression on Alison’s face, she let go of her hair and straightened. ‘What? He does!’
‘And what about Stella?’ Alison demanded. ‘They might be divorced but it’s still too close for comfort.’
‘Did I say anything about me fancying him back?’ Rosie wrinkled her nose. ‘Ugh! No way, ta very much.’
Alison shook her head then gave a weary smile to the girl behind the counter. ‘Thanks, Emmy. Take care.’
She and Rosie stood outside The Hub and Rosie slotted her arm through Alison’s. ‘Never mind about me and Gavin anyway. Iknewthat Mac fella fancied you,’ she insisted.
‘Mac.’ When and why, Alison wondered, had the name change come about? ‘He also asked about Gavin. I suppose he fancies him as well?’
‘Gavin’s his ex-brother-in-law. He has to ask after him by law.’ Rosie grinned. ‘Well, I suppose I’d better love you and leave you.’ She nodded down Kelsea Road to where her parents’ four-bedroomed house stood, just a few doors away from The Hub. ‘No doubt Mam will want me to give her a hand making the place immaculate for Saint Niall and the Heavenly Kendra. Youwillcome by later?’
‘Of course. I might even be able to persuade Mam and Dad to pop round with me.’
‘Brilliant. I’ll tell them to expect you all then.’ She bobbed a kiss on Alison’s cheek. ‘And you’ll let me know what happens at the doctor’s, won’t you?’
Alison sighed. ‘I promise. Brownie’s honour.’
‘I got chucked out of the Brownies,’ Rosie admitted sheepishly.
‘I know. I know all your darkest secrets, remember?’
Rosie laughed. ‘You’d be surprised. See you later, Ali.’
9
Alison managed to stifle a yawn and gave the woman sitting opposite her a sheepish look.
‘They don’t rush, do they?’ the woman said, rolling her eyes. ‘I’ve been sat here for over half an hour. Should have been seen twenty minutes ago.’
‘Oh heck.’ Alison hoped her appointment wouldn’t be delayed for that long. She’d only been sitting in the doctor’s waiting room for ten minutes and she was already tempted to get up and leave.
She glanced around, noting the depressing green shade of paint on the walls and the dark, functional carpet. A quick glance at the posters on the walls had already proved too much for her, warning of all sorts of nasty possibilities and making urgent demands that patients should take this test, ask for that referral, speak to a professional about this condition and that symptom. She felt like screaming and running out of the building.
