‘I know.’ Mac forced himself to smile. ‘I’ll do my best.’
‘And tell her the truth. What really happened. Get her on your side. It’s the only thing to do if you’re going to get this business off the ground.’
Ten minutes later Mac was in his car, heading home to Holderness. Gavin had asked him to take care of Stella, but he was no longer sure he could. Everything had changed, and he didn’t know how he felt any more.
Driving back towards North Bridge, which crossed the River Hull, his gaze strayed to the huge casino with restaurant and bar that stood on the front. He’d never been in there before. It hadn’t existed when he’d left home all those years ago, and he’d had no desire to visit it since his return.
He thought about the thirty thousand pounds he had in his bank account, and how it had got there.
He hesitated, just for a fraction of a moment, then indicated left, turning towards the car park that belonged to the casino.
35
Thursday 9 April – Project Alison Day 68: Another shift at the petrol station. Rosie was just coming home from cleaning Time and Tide when I set off. I gave her a hug and told her she was brilliant. She didn’t know what to make of it but I couldn’t tell her. She’d be too upset, and she’d argue about it all, and I haven’t got the energy. I don’t seem to have the energy for anything these days. Mam says it’s all this dieting, but I’d never felt healthier until a week ago.
God, it’s only been a week. How is that even possible? I miss him so much, but I know I did the right thing. I just hope Rosie understands. I’m so glad I got my bags into the boot before she came home. I’ll text her when I finish work, let her know not to expect me. She’s at the chippy tonight so she won’t come looking for me. I just need to go home and start my life over. Figure out what’s next. Make it up with Jenna if I can. What a bloody mess.
Alison had just arrived at her house from a shift at work. Not the caravan. Not home. Flicking on the light switch in the hall, she went from room to room, drawing curtains and switching on lamps, trying to make the place look cosy and lived-in again.
She put the carrier bag on the kitchen table. Teabags. Coffee. A ready meal that was the healthiest she could find in the fridge at the petrol station. No milk because she no longer took milk in tea or coffee. Definitely no sugar. No bread or butter.
Tomorrow she’d do a proper shop in Maister’s and fill the fridge with healthy food. She’d order a copy of that cookbook for herself, because she had no intention of letting things slide. Not after she’d come this far.
Maybe she’d buy Jenna a bunch of flowers and take them round to hers. It was the Easter holidays after all. She’d posted the twins’ Easter eggs and Easter cards to them last week. It had cost her a fortune. She could have saved her money and delivered them in person.
She was supposed to be having the girls this weekend at the caravan. She’d promised they could have the twin room again, and she’d sleep on the sofa. They were so excited and now she was about to let them down.
Maybe she could make it up to them somehow. Take them to the cinema to watch a film. Treat them to popcorn.
She remembered suddenly that she still hadn’t used the handmade voucher that Rosie had written for her as a birthday present. She should have held her to it. Oh well, maybe next year.
Tears pricked her eyes, and she sank into the chair and put her head in her hands. She missed Rosie already, and she missed her mam and dad.
‘Don’t be so stupid!’ she told herself. ‘They’re only twenty-four miles away, not on the dark side of the moon. You can visit them any time you like.’
But how could she, without the risk of bumping into Mac? She didn’t think she could face him. It was too painful. Did that mean she’d lost Kelsea Sands, as well as everything else?
When her phone rang, she barely had the energy to take it out of her bag. Only the thought that it might be about the twins or her parents made her look at it.
Rosie.
Alison closed her eyes. The last thing she needed was her cousin firing questions at her. Then again, she owed Rosie so much. The least of which was an apology and an explanation.
‘Hello.’
‘You don’t have to say anything,’ Rosie said immediately. ‘I checked your wardrobe and your drawers. You’ve gone back to Hull, haven’t you?’
‘I’m so sorry, Rosie. I just…’
‘Yeah. I get it. You miss Mac and I don’t blame you. Are you okay?’
‘Not really,’ Alison said with a sniff.
‘Do you want me to come round? I’m supposed to be at the chippy in half an hour, but I can call in sick. Some things are more important.’
‘No! You can’t do that. Besides, you can’t afford to. I’ll be okay, honestly. I just need a break.’
‘Funny that, isn’t it?’ Rosie said wistfully. ‘You only needed a break from Hull so you came to Kelsea Sands. Now it’s Kelsea Sands you’re running away from.’
