‘I can make your favourite, lasagne,’ Louisa said.
Sarah didn’t have the heart to say it hadn’t been that since she was in high school. It showed how little they knew about each other now.
‘Please don’t go to any trouble,’ she replied.
‘Nonsense. Louisa lounges around most days,’ Richard said. ‘It will do her good to be on her feet for a while.’
Sarah watched as Louisa lowered her eyesmomentarily, her skin reddening. Still, it was good to see someone sensing her sister’s ploy to be a kept woman.
The door behind her opened and in rushed the little girl she’d seen asleep earlier.
‘Hello, poppet,’ Louisa cried as she climbed onto her knee.
Daisy’s hair was sticking up at the back where she had lain on it. She had large brown eyes and a small nose and lips. Her pyjamas were pink, covered in tiny white stars.
‘Daisy, this is your auntie, Sarah. Say hello.’
‘’Lo.’ Daisy waved a hand and smiled.
Sarah closed her eyes momentarily to the pain of her loss. She certainly didn’t feel pity for her sister. She remembered quite clearly how she’d dumped her in favour of her new life.
Louisa reached across and gave her hand a squeeze. ‘It’s going to be great catching up with you,’ she said.
Sarah smiled but said nothing.
‘How’s Derby been for the past few years?’ Richard asked.
‘Okay, I suppose,’ Sarah replied.
‘No fella waiting for you to return?’
She scoffed. ‘As if. I’m happy being single, thank you very much.’
‘Do I detect a woman scorned?’
Sarah narrowed her eyes but the way Richard was trying to keep a straight face made her realise he was joking with her.
‘Let’s just say I haven’t found the right man yet.’
‘From what I can recall, there weren’t too many to choose from.’ Louisa chuckled.
‘Slept with all of them, have you?’ Richard snapped. ‘Before you came to live with me?’
‘Of course not!’ Louisa shook her head. ‘I meant there were?—’
‘Not many who were suitable marriage material,’ Sarah butted in, coming to Louisa’s rescue. ‘Not even for a long-term relationship actually.’
‘That’s good to hear. For a moment, I thought you were suggesting Louisa was the estate bike that everyone had rode.’
As Louisa fought back tears at Richard’s remark, Sarah wondered why he was being so spiteful. Had she walked in during an argument between them? Because if not, there was something quite odd about their relationship.
Maybe coming here could work out to her advantage after all.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
2015
Sarah had her head in a magazine when Louisa came into their bedroom. She was reading up on how to create a flick with mascara and a black eyeliner, hoping to master it soon. One of the lads at school was showing a little interest in her and she wanted to make the most of what she’d got.
