Less than a year ago, everything had seemed so much simpler and easier. She’d had her mother, her home, a decent job, and plans to earn college qualifications at some point in the future. Money was tight, but that was nothing new. There wasn’t much in the way of romance in her life, but she’d hoped that might one day change.
Courtney wondered what she’d give to turn back time and tell herself to appreciate everything she had in life because it would soon change in the blink of an eye.
Still, the unexpected events of Friday, which led to her meeting the rest of her Uncle Colin’s family, had given her these few brief days to catch her breath amid the mayhem of her life. She was grateful for the chance to catch up on much needed sleep, even if her endless napping had led her to now being wide awake late at night while her mind raced.
Perhaps this strange three-day escape from her life, and her escape to her cousin’s house on Foxglove Street, heralded the start of better times ahead? The time she’d spent here since Friday counted as the best she’d had in a very long time. Meetingher new family, enjoying her uncle’s birthday party, feeling welcome and cared for—all these things worked on her tired mind and aching heart like a healing tonic.
Courtney only hoped this sweet and lovely weekend finally marked the turning point she longed for.
Tomorrow, her Uncle Colin and Aunt Lorraine would return from their weekend hotel getaway and they’d promised to spend time with her before she returned to Southampton. She was due back at work on Monday morning, and after the terrifying incident at the bedsit, Courtney wanted to use her lunch break to phone her housing officer and find out how much longer she’d have to wait for somewhere safe to live.
Before her thoughts could race away once more with all the many things she needed to sort out in her life, Courtney closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath. As she reined in her mind and slowed her breathing, her baby kicked inside her.
The sensation was soft and sweet, a gentle nudge more than a kick. Courtney laid her hands across her stomach as her tiny child moved. Comforted by thoughts of her baby, she began to drift and was grateful when sleep came at last.
4
On Sunday evening,the Austin clan descended on Rosie’s house on Foxglove Street, reunited once more in a warm and chaotic round of hugs and kisses and chattering conversation. Courtney watched them greet one another and felt a lump in her throat when she, too, was pulled into their cuddles and kissed on the cheek as if she’d always been part of their family.
Rosie only returned to the house ten minutes before everyone else arrived, following her shift at the retail park on the outskirts of Hamblehurst, where she worked as a supervisor in a clothing and homeware store. Courtney had the kettle on for her arrival, wanting to be helpful, and brewed tea while her cousin gave an amusing account of her day dealing with grumpy shoppers and various retail calamities.
Rosie’s sister, Zara, appeared next, carrying bags of takeaway food she’d picked up on the way. The house filled with the scents of Indian curry and aromatic rice and spicy accompaniments. Before Rosie could turn the oven on to keep everything warm, her parents arrived at the house, saving her the trouble.
Fresh from their weekend getaway at a luxury hotel, Colin and Lorraine looked relaxed and rested. While Zara laid out the takeaway food on the small dining table, Colin and Lorraineshared stories of their brief time spent at the posh West Sussex hotel that Lorraine had booked as a surprise gift for her husband’s special birthday.
“You should’ve seen the swimming pool in this place!” Colin said as they all sat down and helped themselves to the food. “And there was a jacuzzi, too, and a sauna. Bit hot for me in there, I have to admit, but I gave it a shot.”
“The spa was beautiful,” Lorraine said, spooning rice onto her plate. “You girls ought to save up and go there sometime for a massage or a facial. I felt like a new woman after my treatments. The hot stone therapy was out of this world.”
“Did you get a spa treatment, Dad?” Rosie asked.
“Your mother wanted to pay for me to have one, but I can’t say I like the idea of lying in my underpants while some young woman rubbed rocks and stones over my body,” Colin said with a frown and drawing laughter from everyone. “Call me old-fashioned, but the only woman I want touching me is your mother.”
“Eww, thanks for that disturbing image, Dad,” Rosie said.
“Well, it’s the truth. This lady here means the world to me.”
“Aw, what a softie,” Lorraine said with a smile, and brushed a kiss on her husband’s cheek. “You must still have champagne chugging through your system if you’re saying things like that.”
“Away with you,” Colin laughed. “Although we did have rather a lot of champagne while we were gone. At least, I did. I never usually drink the stuff, but I made up for that this weekend. Your mother arranged a special champagne dinner when we got there on Friday evening, and then we shared another bottle last night, too.”
“Good for you,” Zara said. “You deserve a treat, Dad.”
“Your mother spoiled me. She even insisted I have a pint with lunch today when we stopped off at a nice pub while we weredriving around and seeing a bit of the countryside, which meant she had to do all the driving today.”
“I enjoyed it. It was fun motoring around and seeing new bits of the world we haven’t visited before,” Lorraine said.
“Agreed,” Colin nodded. “However, what with all the driving and sight-seeing, it’s been a long day in the car, when all’s said and done.” He turned to Courtney and gave her an apprehensive look. “So I was wondering, Courtney, if you’d mind waiting until tomorrow morning before I drive you back to Southampton?”
“Of course not,” Courtney said. “But listen, you don’t have to drive me back. I can catch the bus early in the morning and be there in time for work at nine o’clock.”
But Colin shook his head. “No, I’m not having that. I said I’d drive you home and I meant it. Also, well, the thing is, while your Aunt Lorraine and I were enjoying our nice weekend break, we got talking and…”
Colin paused and glanced at his wife, who smiled and nodded. “Go ahead and tell her.”
Courtney watched the two of them exchanging glances, wondering what was going on.
“Both Lorraine and I want to drive back to Southampton with you because we’d like to look at a little flat we saw on one of those rental websites,” Colin said. “We think it might be perfect for you.”
