Free Sunday's Child by Clare Revell Page B

“The quote is fine, Cal. When can you start?”
    “Next week, do you?”
    Hattie grabbed one of the cases and headed up the stairs to the pink room, leaving the others to talk. Cal must live here and obviously knew her aunt. But why hadn’t either of them said anything? She stopped. Where Cal lived had never been mentioned and she hadn’t bothered to look up his records back at the lodge.
    That didn’t alter the fact it was good to see him again. Did he feel the same way? Maybe she’d have the chance to find out. Right now though, all she was certain of was the fact she didn’t want to go home. Ever.
    She tossed her bag to the bed and dumped the case on the floor. The room hadn’t changed since she was a kid.
    As she turned, her handbag fell off the bed and the envelope that Penny had given her fell onto the floor. Hattie opened it and blinked hard. “Oh…”
    She slumped onto the bed, stunned at the sight of red notes filling it. However much was there in here? She pulled out the white bank receipt. Five grand? Her phone beeped and she glanced at it. Penny not Steve, so maybe she’d read it.
    ‘I’m guessing you opened the envelope by now. The money is yours. Please keep it. There is more to come via your aunt. Don’t call tonight. Steve in a foul mood. But he’ll live. üP’
    She allowed herself a small smile. Penny’s signature always looked like a poked out tongue. ‘ I can’t accept it and nor can you two…’ She typed quickly and got an almost instant reply.
    ‘Don’t be silly. You’re owed every penny of it. We can more than afford it. The rest will follow.’
    ‘Rest?’ She replied. ‘ I don’t understand.’
    ‘I’ll explain later. Gtg and serve dinner. Luv you sis. Xx üP’
    A knock on the open door jerked her head upright. Cal stood there with the rest of her bags. “Laurie asked me to bring these up.”
    “Thank you. Just dump them anywhere.”
    Cal put the cases and bag down and perched on the edge of the bed next to her. “Are you all right? For someone with a lot of cash on her lap you look like the world’s ended.”
    “Maybe it has.” She swallowed hard, all her nerves coming alive at his nearness. “Penny gave it to me as I left. Said I was owed it and there was more to come. I assumed all my money went back into the business. I just had, well, pocket money I guess you’d call it. Steve took care of all the finances. But maybe that was another ploy so I couldn’t leave. Once he knows I have this, he’ll want it back.”
    “You should pay it into the bank first thing. It’s not a good idea to keep that much cash lying around the house.”
    “I’ll do that tomorrow.”
    He smiled. “I’d better go. Dad’s expecting me for dinner tonight. I’ll see you around, I hope?”
    “Sure.”
    Cal touched her hand lightly, sending ripples of warmth running through her. “Just put all this into God’s hands, Hattie. He’ll work it out, even if you can’t see a way right now.” He stood and headed out.
    Hattie watched him go. He was so different to Steve. He genuinely seemed to care, and his faith almost shone through him. But it was just infatuation on her part, nothing more.
    Aunt Laurie’s voice floated up the stairs. “I’m just going to get some milk.”
    Hattie jumped up. “I’ll go.” She ran down the stairs. “Just milk?”
    “Please.” She held out a two pound coin. “Thank you, dear.”
    “I’ve got money.” Hattie smiled and hugged her aunt. “I won’t be long.”
    “You remember the way?”
    She laughed. “It’s not been that long. Left out of the path. Left at the top of the road and over the crossing. Five minutes there and five minutes back.”
    “And a twenty minute catch up with Alba behind the counter.” Aunt Laurie grinned.
    “Is she still there? Wow.”
    “Yeah, she is. So see you in half an hour. Dinner will be ready then.”
    The corner shop and post office was just as Hattie remembered it. Magazines and papers lined the