Finding Home by Kate Field (read book .txt) 📗

‘That’s the wrong question.’ Lia laughed. ‘You should have asked who I’m with.’ Lia swivelled round and stretched out her arm so Mim could see more of the background. Bobby was there and as Mim watched, he walked behind Lia and put his arms round her. He gave a sheepish wave to Mim. Mim gaped at the screen.

‘There.’ Lia grinned. ‘I knew you’d be surprised, darling. Isn’t this the most utterly glorious news?’

‘Yes.’ Mim laughed. ‘It really is. Are you going out now?’

‘This is our first official going out date.’ Lia brought the phone nearer to her face and winked. ‘There may have been a couple of staying in ones already.’ She zoomed out again and Mim was sure she could see the blush on Bobby’s cheeks. ‘We’re going for a walk and having a romantic picnic.’

‘A walk?’ Mim repeated. It didn’t sound likely. ‘What have you done with the real Lia, Bobby?’

‘This is her,’ he said. ‘She’s even bought new walking boots.’

The phone pointed down briefly to show Lia’s feet wearing what were clearly a new pair of expensive boots. That sounded more Lia.

‘This is all thanks to you, darling,’ Lia said. ‘I’m so happy I could literally burst.’

Mim couldn’t doubt it. Neither Lia nor Bobby had stopped smiling yet.

‘I need to return the favour,’ Lia continued. ‘Everyone should be as happy as we are. When are you going to come back and see Corin?’

‘Corin?’ Mim repeated.

‘Now, remember I said you were the only one who didn’t treat me like an idiot?’ Lia laughed. ‘He’s moping down here. He rarely smiles and he hasn’t teased me once. Even Dickens is better company. I never thought I’d say this but I miss my irritating big brother. Don’t deny that there was something between you because it was obvious to everyone – even to me, and you know how utterly self-absorbed I am. You were made for each other. And if you’re with him, you get me as a real sister, and wouldn’t it be worth putting up with him for that? Come home, darling. We all miss you and want you back.’

‘Are you happy here, Mim?’ Carol asked, as they sat in the garden a few days later, enjoying a glass of wine. It was Mim’s night off from the bar and she’d hoped to catch up with Lucas, but he had gone out with friends. Their working hours weren’t proving compatible. Mim spent all weekend in the fish and chip restaurant when Lucas was off and on the nights when Mim was free, he was usually out with mates or with his girlfriend. It wasn’t how she’d expected it to be but his life had been established here long before he knew about her and she supposed she had to fit around it where she could. She was here with him, available if he needed her, and that was what mattered.

‘Yes,’ Mim replied at once. ‘Of course I am.’

Carol laughed.

‘Now give the question a moment’s thought and let me have your answer,’ she said. Mim smiled.

‘It’s the same. I love getting to know Lucas. Everyone has been kinder and more welcoming than I could have hoped.’

‘We love having you here,’ Carol said. She topped up their glasses. ‘Don’t take this the wrong way, will you? I’ve sometimes wondered if you’re missing Devon more than you admit.’

‘Who needs Devon when we have gorgeous weather like this?’ Mim asked, pointing at the perfect blue sky over their heads.

‘What about the people?’ Carol was being annoyingly persistent and didn’t fall for Mim’s attempt to change the subject. ‘When you were telling me about your conversation with Lia, you were different. You lit up. You do miss them, don’t you?’

‘Yes.’ Mim sighed. ‘I’m sorry. That seems ungrateful, doesn’t it? I don’t regret the decision to leave. Getting to know Lucas, and you, has meant everything to me. I do want to be here.’

‘But you want to be there too?’ Carol smiled. ‘What about the man you keep mentioning? Corin. Do you miss him too?’

‘I don’t keep mentioning him, do I?’ Mim asked. She’d thought she had that under control by now. Obviously not.

‘Only once or twice a day. Was he your boyfriend?’

‘He was a friend. A good friend.’ Mim looked at Carol. She hadn’t tried to mother Mim, like Bea had, but they had become close, and the temptation to confide in her was irresistible. She leaned forward. ‘Before I left Devon, he said he loved me, but I didn’t know if I felt the same. I’ve not had much experience of love. I don’t know what it feels like. How are you supposed to know?’

Carol reached across and squeezed Mim’s hand.

‘How does it feel to be away from him now?’ she asked.

‘Horrible,’ Mim admitted. It was a relief to be honest, with herself as much as with Carol. ‘I keep hoping he’s going to wander into the bar, in a woolly jumper full of holes and with his dog at his side. I think of things to tell him but he’s not there. My chest feels all heavy and crushed when I think about him. It’s like there’s something missing – a gap where he used to be.’

Like a piece of her world was missing… Bea’s words about Bill echoed in Mim’s head. She’d thought that Lucas was the missing piece, but if that were the case, why did she feel this physical ache, as if she’d been wrenched away from an essential part of her being? Unless… She emptied her glass. Had she made the biggest mistake of her life?

‘That sounds very much like love to me. It was how I felt when Martin died. How I still feel,’ Carol said. ‘I’d give anything to have more time with him. Don’t you want to be with Corin?’

‘I can’t.’

‘Do you mean because of Lucas? You don’t have to live in the same house as him to be a good sister. You don’t even