Page 26 of Snowflakes Over Micklewick Bay

‘Thank you, yes, I’m in the kitchen, and the pops of colour are Auntie Coll’s touch.’

‘Ahh, yes, I can believe that.’ She set her mug down and smiled. ‘So, I thought having a catch-up like this would give us more of a chance to have a proper chat, rather than just bobbing a few texts back and forth.’

‘Good idea, sometimes it can take forever to type them out, especially when predictive text takes over. That can be a real pain.’

‘Tell me about it.’ The two women shared a good giggle as Florrie recounted how she’d recently fired off a quick text to Ed asking what he’d prefer for dinner with it being her turn to cook, not realising that ‘casserole’ had been swapped for ‘castration’. ‘He reckons his eyes are still watering at the thought of it!’

‘I’m not surprised!’

‘Joking aside, the lasses were all thrilled to bits when I told them I’d bumped into you and that we’d been texting one another,’ Florrie said, changing the direction of the conversation. ‘They all say hi – I think Maggie moved here after you’d left but she still says hello.’

‘That’s kind, please say hello back.’ Hannah was touched by the gesture.

‘Will do. They’re all looking forward to meeting you at some time in the near future.’ Florrie’s smile fell. ‘So, diving straight in at the deep end here, have you heard anything more from Darryl?

Hannah shook her head, noting Florrie wore the same look of distaste as the last time she’d spoken his name.

‘No, not since that day I first bumped into you. It’s all gone eerily quiet.’ Hannah wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or worried about the radio silence. Every time she heard a car going by on the road in front of the house she hurried to the window, fearful that he’d turned up to confront her. She assumed Mr Cuthbert must have said something to him, given him a warning.

‘It’s good that he’s leaving you alone, and you mustn’t let him put you off popping back to Micklewick Bay, you know, or Polly, for that matter.’

‘It’s not easy… I left on pretty bad terms with them.’ Hannah gnawed at her bottom lip. ‘They wanted me gone; pushed me out, though I know that’s not what they told people.’ It was the most Hannah had ever said to anyone about the situation other than Auntie Coll or Birdie, but there was something about Florrie that made her want to share what had happened. Tell her side of the story. She had a feeling she could do that without being judged.

‘That’s what we all thought – that you had no choice,’ Florrie said softly.

‘You did?’ Hannah was taken aback.

‘Oh aye, we did. People had Polly sussed pretty early on. Darryl, too, as young as he was. And I daresay we all know more than you think.’

‘Oh.’ Hannah took a moment to absorb Florrie’s words, her emotions rising. It wasn’t the first time she’d heard that recently. Her mind went back to Birdie and the conversations they’d had over the last week, how much they’d helped Hannah piece things together and show Polly for the devious, manipulative piece of work she was. Her thoughts travelled to her Auntie Coll and what she’d said about friendship in her letter. How friends were there for one another to offer support, to lend an ear. Could Florrie be such a friend to her? Hannah wondered. She searched the other woman’s face, finding kindness and compassion there. Yes, she thought, she could. And though she knew Florrie had her close group of friends she could offload to, Hannah realised she’d like to think Florrie would eventually grow to think of her in the same way.

‘I hope you don’t mind, but I mentioned you to my parents the other day.’ Florrie’s words pulled her out of her thoughts. ‘I told them I’d bumped into you – they were chuffed to bits, by the way, said they hoped they’d get the chance to see you when you were next in town.’

‘I don’t mind at all, and it would be nice to see them too. I always thought your parents were lovely.’

‘Thank you, I think so too.’ Florrie gave a laugh. ‘Anyroad, the first thing they commented upon was what Polly had done to you. Apparently her behaviour caused quite a stir after you’d left, and not in a good way.’

‘Really?’ This was news to Hannah.

‘Really.’ Florrie nodded. ‘No one was having any of her lies, but my parents said she was that thick-skinned she didn’t seem to notice.’

‘Or didn’t care, more like,’ added Hannah. ‘I know it’s going to make me sound bitter, but I’d have to say, looking back, mine and my family’s problems started when Polly Parkington – as she was then – arrived in our lives.’

‘Why doesn’t that surprise me? I only have a vague memory of her back when you were living at Midsummer Haven, but I can remember not being very keen on her. There was something about her and Darryl that made me feel uneasy; he always had a sly look about him. I used to think it must be hard for you having to live with them.’

‘You have no idea. I can remember the very first time I saw her – it still stands out in my mind after all these years.’ Hannah gave an involuntary shudder.

‘She certainly leaves an impression.’ Florrie paused. ‘I can see how much she bothers you and I just want to say, I’m happy to listen if it would help to talk about it.’

Hannah took a moment to consider Florrie’s offer, chewing the side of her mouth, the memory of Auntie Coll nudging her on. This is what friendship’s all about, lovey, she’d no doubt say.

‘You know, I’ve never really talked about it to anyone except my aunt. I was always worried what people would think, but I’m starting to feel like it might actually help – if you’re sure and you’ve got time to listen, that is.’

‘I’ve got all night, flower.’ Florrie smiled kindly.

Up until now, the thought of confiding in a friend and sharing details of her past had been utterly alien to Hannah. She hadn’t had a best friend since she’d left secondary school at Micklewick Bay, reluctant to risk getting close to anyone and have to tell them about her unconventional homelife or go into detail about why she’d left the town in such a hurry. The only person she’d confided in before now was her Auntie Coll. But something had switched inside her since the conversation she’d shared with Birdie, and now felt like the right time to put her side of things out there and make a start at clearing her name that Polly had done all she could to sully.

‘Okay, I’ll try to keep it as brief as possible, but there’s a lot to tell.’ She drew in a fortifying breath and prepared herself to face the moments her aunt had said she’d hidden away from. Here goes, Auntie Coll…