LONG LOST
THE STORY SO FAR: Leigh, a gardener, has built up a very close relationship with Janice, who has been her client since she started out after the birth of her daughter, Mollie. Leigh has no family and Janice has been estranged from hers since she was a teenager. Mark Canning, Janice’s nephew, turns up out of the blue and moves in. Although he is friendly towards Leigh, she doesn’t trust him and she never sees Janice on her own. Mollie doesn’t like him and neither does Janice’s neighbour, Richard, who is the magician Janice has booked for Mollie’s birthday party. Leigh worries Mark is controlling Janice. Her worries increase when his car is replaced with a brand new one. Leigh arranges a lunch with Janice so they can talk, but when she goes to pick her up, finds that Mark is coming.
Leigh felt seriously underdressed, not to mention out of her depth, as they sat in the Quayside restaurant at a table overlooking the water.
She’d felt part of Janice’s world for so long that she’d lost sight of the fact that Janice’s world was vastly different to her own.
‘Isn’t this lovely?’ Janice said. ‘I haven’t been here since before Barry died and he always asked for a window table.’
‘Did you come here often?’
‘Just special occasions,’ Janice said. ‘Special birthdays and anniversaries.’
‘That’s why we’re here isn’t it, Aunty?’ Mark said, reaching across the table to squeeze Janice’s hand. ‘To celebrate.’
