To Love and Be Loved(61)

‘You look really well, Rubes. Happy.’ Merry threw the verbal olive branch towards her sister as they sat at the table.

‘I am. It’s good to see you, Miss Shorty-hair. It suits you.’

‘It’s good to see you too.’ Merrin stared at her sister’s luscious locks, feeling the echo of her mother’s words and more than a pang of regret at having taken the nail scissors and hacked off her mane.

‘It’s funny, really. I’ve been so stressed over the last few weeks, fretting about all the little things that need doing and worrying about how it would all come together, but right now, with everything pretty much organised, I don’t feel that nervous at all. Plus, I mean, it’s Jarv, he’s my best mate. There’s no wondering if it’s the right thing to do or any second-guessing or doubt – easy.’

‘I guess that’s how it should be.’ Merrin thought of Digby and remembered a time when she had taken his words of love as gospel, letting them fill her head with crazy, misplaced notions of a future spent in harmony. Lies, no doubt, but how she had fallen for them and the promise he offered. It had felt like the right thing to do, no second-guessing or doubt in her mind – easy . . .

‘Absolutely.’ Her mum walked to the stove. ‘It’s exactly how it should be. I’ve made a Bakewell tart and some walnut-and-apple cakes. Or there’s fresh bread if you want some with jam?’

‘Ooh, I’ll have a cup of tea and a bit of Bakewell tart, please.’ Her mouth watered and again her tears fell at this most simple gesture that she had missed.

‘Coming up!’ Her mum’s face broke into a look of sheer delight. ‘And don’t you cry, my darling. You’re home!’

‘I can’t help it, Mum.’ She sniffed. ‘It’s so good to be here in this room, the way it smells . . . the furniture . . . everything . . .’ It was a little overwhelming.

Her mum nodded and wiped at her own tears.

‘You and Miguel still going strong?’ Bella called from the sofa, doing what she did best, lightening the mood, steering the conversation. ‘He seemed happy to run off to the pub with your dad – that’ll earn him plus points with Ben!’

‘Yup.’ She looked towards the window and hoped he was having a nice time. She swallowed the uncomfortable thought that it was pointless for her family to get too involved with him, but this was not the time or place to say that.

‘He’s a gorgeous-looking lad.’ Bella jostled baby Glynn into a comfier position. ‘I bet you just stare at him all day.’

‘I do, Bells. I don’t actually do any work, I just follow him around, staring at his face.’

‘It’s not only his face I’d stare at,’ Ruby joined in. ‘From what I saw of him walking up the slipway with Jarv, he’s got a peachy little bum ’n’ all.’

‘Ruby Mae! And there’s you about to be a married woman!’ her mum called from the stove.

‘I can still look! ’Tain’t nothing in vows about lookin’!’

The women laughed and the sound filled the room, wrapping them in a cocoon of love, the warmth of which Merrin had quite forgotten. She bottled the moment and buried it deep inside.

With a mug of tea now nestling in her palm, she sat back on the sofa. Her mum’s smile was so wide she thought it could only make her cheeks ache. She had almost forgotten what it felt like to arrive somewhere and be so welcomed.

‘I still can’t believe you’re here.’ Heather Kellow bit her lip and continued to stare at her. ‘I’ve cooked a proper tea.’

‘I’ve only just had some tart!’ She took a sip of tea. ‘But what have you cooked, out of interest?’ Merrin’s mouth watered at the thought of her mum’s home cooking.

‘I’ve made a big steak-and-ale pie with butter-mashed potatoes and peppered greens, followed by apple crumble with home-made vanilla custard.’

‘Sweet Jesus, Mum, that’s a feast!’

‘You know your dad likes a good supper after being at the pub and I wanted to make a good impression with Miguel.’

‘You’ll do that right enough, he’s a gannet.’ She laughed.

‘We’ve missed you so much.’ Her mum fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. ‘I can’t even tell you.’

‘And me you.’ Merrin admitted, taking another sip of tea to avoid having to voice her loneliness or her guilt.

‘I wish Gran was here.’ Ruby looked towards the shelf, where a photo of Ellen and Arthur on their wedding day lived.

‘Me too,’ Merrin mused. She and her sister exchanged a look and Merrin knew the row that had flared about her not returning for Granny Ellen’s funeral was likely fresh in Ruby’s mind too.

‘Well, I reckon what she’d want is for us to enjoy the weekend. I mean, I’m not married yet. There’s still time for me to get out there and have some fun!’ Ruby grabbed a mug of tea from the range and took a sip.

‘What are you talking about? Me and Bells are planning on having lots of fun! It’s only you that’s going to be an old married woman.’

‘I’m not old!’ This, apparently, was where Ruby’s objection lay.

‘I’ve got to be honest, Merry, I’m not having that much fun.’ Bella pulled a face. ‘I mean, I love being Glynn’s mamma, of course I do, but the chances of me finding a man who’s looking for a skint single mum with sore nipples and a baby who’s yet to understand that night time means sleepy time . . . I think it’s fair to say that type of bloke is in quite short supply. But you know what? It’s his loss. Whoever he is!’