‘Nothing rattles Kendra,’ Rosie said. ‘Even our peasant family. Where’s Niall anyway? Not like him to be anything but the perfect host.’
‘Dad’s in the study, finishing up some work,’ Poppy said. They hadn’t even heard her approach. She was a pretty girl with bright red hair and had a Teenage Queen badge pinned to her T-shirt. ‘He said he’ll be out in a minute. How are you, Auntie Rosie?’
She grinned as Rosie tapped her on the arm. ‘Hey, you! What have I told you about calling me Auntie Rosie? It’s just Rosie, thanks very much. I’m fine, thanks, love. Happy birthday! Can’t believe you’re a teenager already. How are things with you?’
Poppy shuffled awkwardly. ‘Oh, you know. All right.’
‘As good as that, eh? Oh, to be thirteen again, eh, Alison?’
Alison sighed. If only. How simple life had been back then.
‘We haven’t seen much of you lately,’ Poppy said, twisting a strand of her hair around her finger.
‘I know. It’s all my shifts. And I’m busy being glamorous, obviously. Bad auntie. I’ll make more of an effort in future, honest.’
Poppy nodded and shrugged. ‘It’s fine. I was just wondering, that’s all.’
‘Your birthday presents and cards,’ Rosie said, as she and Alison handed her two gift bags.
‘Cool. I’ll open them later when you’re gone. I hate opening stuff in front of people.’
‘How strange,’ Alison said, as Poppy took the gift bags into the kitchen.
‘I know! I’d have been ripping the wrapping paper off before you’d let go of the gift bag. The youth of today is a mystery to me. I mean, look at our Ryan!’
She nodded over to where a tall, gangly boy was sprawled on an armchair, his fingers practically flying over his mobile phone as he tapped out a message or replied to a post or played a game or whatever it was he was doing. Fair-haired and dressed in jeans and an old T-shirt, he was all arms and legs. At nearly sixteen, he probably considered this party a waste of his time.
The vicarage, a rather ugly 1970s brick building with a spacious through lounge and a neat, boxy little garden, stood in the shadow of St Saviour’s Church, no doubt so that Niall would always be reminded of his duties. The old vicarage was further down the road and was a gorgeous Georgian house with large grounds. Sadly, the church had sold it off years ago and it had been turned into a care home.
Kendra had done her best to make her home more characterful, but it wasn’t easy. There was something quite soulless about it, which was ironic given its purpose.
Rosie yelped as Alison clutched her arm.
‘Sorry, sorry.’ Alison rubbed her cousin’s arm apologetically. ‘Jenna’s just walked in with the twins. I feel sick.’
‘Don’t be daft. You’ve done nothing wrong,’ Rosie reminded her. ‘Just stay calm. Let her come to you.’
But there was no chance of anything so restrained, because seconds later the twins let out shrieks of excitement and rushed over to Alison, threw their arms around her and hugged her tightly.
‘Where have you been?’
‘Mum says you’re on holiday!’
‘We haven’t seen you for ages.’
‘We’ve missed you, Grandma!’
Alison blinked away tears and hugged them back, kissing the tops of their heads. ‘I’ve missed you too. And yes, I am sort of on holiday, but only in Kelsea Sands. I’m staying with Rosie in her caravan.’
‘In a caravan!’ Hallie’s eyes widened. ‘I love caravans! Can we come and stay, too?’
‘We just don’t have the room,’ Alison began, but broke off as Jenna approached.
‘All right, girls, leave Grandma alone. Come and say hello to Poppy and wish her a happy birthday.’
‘But we haven’t seen Grandma for ages,’ Ada protested.
Jenna shrugged. ‘You’ve got all afternoon. Come on, you’ve got to give Poppy her card and present, remember?’
