From Ashes to Roses

By Stephanie A. Pointing

Andrea and Ryans lives are upturned when their mother suddenly dies. Donna had never caused anything but chaos, but now they feel lost without her.
However, everything changes when a letter from an old lover of Donnas is found hidden in her room. They discover they have an older brother and question why their mother never mentioned him.
Curiosity leads the twins to leave London and head south to a Sussex village in search of their long-lost brother and the answers to the many questions surrounding their turbulent family history.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504946698

Stephanie A. Pointing

This is the first novel by Stephanie A. Pointing. Born in England, Stephanie spent her formative years in Letchworth in Hertfordshire but moved with her family to Spain at the age of fifteen. From an early age, she has had a passion for writing and is currently working on her second novel. Stephanie lives in the region of Murcia and runs her own academy, teaching English as a second language.

Book preview

Chapter 1

So you’re sure it’s just thirty miles from here? Ryan asked, squinting hard to try and fight the reflection preventing him from reading the map on his phone. The car was lit up with so much light that it was practically impossible to read the small print off the screen. It says we have to turn off ten minutes from here. You might just have not remembered properly.

Yep, you’re probably right. Andrea nodded her head as if to agree. I mean, I’ve only been down here twice already which is twice more than you have. She shook her head, her hands gripping the steering wheel confidently.

Alright, I get it. It’s just that these maps don’t generally get the information wrong. Ryan shook his head knowingly. And…

And I don’t either. Andrea finished off for him. She turned her head to exchange a superior look with Ryan. I distinctively remember the woman at the estate agent’s telling me there were two ways to get there. One way is the way you’re banging on about. That takes forty minutes longer and this other way is a short cut. It’s a route people don’t usually take, but it’ll save us some petrol money and we’ll get there quicker. Sweet.

I’d rather go the long way than get lost and end up wasting two hours as well as tripling the price of our petrol receipt. He said carefully, studying Andrea’s stiff expression. Ryan began to natter away about how reliable his phone had been when he had been to the Glastonbury festival that summer. She couldn’t give a fig. She was certain she knew the way for she’d only just been down to Sussex three weeks earlier. Fine. Ryan, I get the picture, she said firmly through gritted teeth and swerved the car abruptly to the left towards the turning. Ryan jerked forward to stop his energy booster drink can from slopping all over the car and took a heavy swig of it. He burped loudly to which his sister grimaced. Charming, dear.

Ryan looked out of the window. He gaped at the miles and miles of open land. Corn carpeted the land and swayed from side to side in the breeze of the sunny season. As she drove on, he imagined running his coarse fingers through the fresh crisp green grass and feeling his skin warm up as the pure rays of summer sun shone down onto his face. Are you sure this isn’t too soon? he mumbled. Maybe we should have stayed on…"

Until when? Andrea replied as she rubbed her aching eyelids. She had barely slept a wink that night. As a matter of fact, she had scarcely slept in months and relied on valium to keep her from losing her sanity. Until he grew even older, got married and moved up north? He may not even be there anymore.

Exactly. Which is why this still seems drastic. I’ve never felt so uncomfortable and guilty after telling Auntie Brenda we were leaving. We were only just…

… Starting to get to know each other again, catching up on the old days? Andrea sighed. If mum had just been a normal person and got on with everyone in her family then maybe we wouldn’t be in this car right now.

She remembered crashing through the hospital doors, hot tears burning her frozen cheeks. An artistic mother had painted her face like a ginger cat for the fete day at a local primary school. She’d been invited along especially to attend the event by the head teacher, Mr Braithwaite. Huge amounts of pride had filled her; she had been so delighted to be the special guest.

As the colours began to run and smudge and her hair stick to her sweaty neck and forehead, she was sick on the way in the car. Andrea had jerked the vehicle to the right into the hard shoulder just a scrape away from a collision with a van.

With her sleeve, she had removed the worst of the vomit. Moments later she was in the building. Ry…where is she? Where? Where? Please, Ryan don’t tell me… she collapsed in his arms, her feet buckled beneath her. Other people in the waiting room started whispering and shaking their heads in a concerned fashion.

He took a tissue from his pocket and dabbed at her damp eyes. We’ll find her, ok? He said in a strange tone.

Why is it taking so long? she cried out, completely unaware she was shaking like a blind window in a blizzard.

We’ll find her. You have to be strong. You can’t let her see you in this state, Andie. Do you hear me? You just can’t. Andrea wiped her eyes some more with the torn tissue and pulled herself together while Ryan made a quiet phone call to someone.

Jumping up and pulling down her crumpled green skirt she marched over to the receptionist. Asking for her mother, the receptionist put her hand onto hers, said some soothing words and closed her eyes for a short moment. After she was told to head into one of the waiting rooms for relatives, Andrea screamed as she felt her back shudder violently all over. Ryan darted over and held her in his arms again.

Well, we are in the car, Ryan replied bluntly. And poor Auntie Brenda is back home all by herself. She’s more than likely to be sobbing her heart out into her tea as we speak.

His sister turned to him and laughed a little. Auntie Brenda has Connor and Hayley and Sian to make her tea for her. She can have a cup every hour on the hour - just how she likes it. Oh, and let’s not forget half the street. The old hag knows so many people she won’t even have time to think about missing us. She’ll be more than alright, I can assure you.

Hag? he exclaimed with a stern look. You don’t have to be so hard all the time. Nobody is gunning for you anymore.

Andie joined his gaze making an undecipherable expression. I’m not hard. I’m just realistic. I face reality and don’t hide behind it. I’ve experienced enough lies in my life. Enough is enough. It’s all in the past. All of it. She said, wiping a loose strand of short hair from her freshly snipped hairdo out of her eyes. I don’t know. We’ll send her some clotted cream fudge or a box of homemade jam or something.

Yup, that’ll do the trick, he replied sarcastically. Andrea ignored him. By now, Ryan could see she was thinking about something else and he was too frustrated with her to be bothered to enquire about her thoughts.

She was found late this morning behind ‘The Cock and Squirrel’ by the owner of the pub. It’s thought she had been there all night, but she probably passed away without feeling any pain as she was full of alcohol. It was the cold and the vomit found at the top of her throat that did it, a middle aged policeman broke to them gently as they sat huddled together on a single foamed chair. Andie could see the news written all over the officer’s face before his mouth had even slid open. She was certain the lines were all rehearsed and that there were just a couple of hundred others that were being told exactly the same words that week. After all, it was their job, wasn’t it? This was just the routine for them; put on a grave face and bow your heads in condolence, she thought. We’re very sorry for your loss. If there is anything we can do to relieve the pain; this is a helpline number you can call at any time of the day.

Ryan reached out and received a leaflet with a weak grasp. The twin’s chilliness began to thaw as they realised they were all each other really had left in their tiny immediate family now. It was the two of them against the world and the wedge their mother had been driving between them had been liberated. Her life was over. Where were they supposed to go from there?

So she froze to death? She choked to death? Ryan laughed in disbelief. Classic. Trust mum to die in style. He closed his mouth with his fist once his sister had prodded him in the stomach letting him know his comment had not been helpful.

The drinks were on me, Andie whispered softly into her brother’s chest.

What? Ryan asked quizzically. He rubbed her back and wiped his own wet blotchy eyes and runny nose with the back of his sleeve, leaving a trail of snot behind. He didn’t even bat an eyelid. Normally, he might have been annoyed as he’d have another reason to put on a wash, but not this time.

It was my money she went out on the town with, she continued. Ryan screwed up his face and continued to stare at his sister who seemed bewildered. He noticed her face paint was now completely smudged together on the left side of her face and had spread onto his jumper, as well as onto the dry palms of his hands. A tear plopped off the end of her chin and she shrugged back at him. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.

You can’t blame yourself, he said sadly. If it hadn’t been you, she would have found some money another way. I don’t know - some keen bloke from somewhere or another. She would have sold one of her bags in a pawn shop.

I should have stopped her. I shouldn’t have let her go out in the state that she was in. She’d already downed a bottle of cider, three beers and…"

Leave it, Andie, he hushed her. Let bygones be bygones. She’s dead and that’s that. Neither you nor I nor anyone else could have prevented her from this. I could see this coming from miles away.

I’m not sure I’m ready to be a country mouse, though. Ryan said suddenly.

That’s a bit out of the blue, isn’t it? Andie grinned to herself and wiped away a lose tear which was luckily the side of her face away from her brother. You’ll always be a city mouse at heart. You don’t have to change just ’cause you’re moving to the country. Anyway, we’re not going to live in the middle of nowhere. It’s a small town, not a village. People still want to have a life outside the capital. I’m sure there’ll be plenty of things to do.

But you keep insisting it’s on the outskirts of the town.

"It is, but it’s a house with a front and back garden in a street of other houses. You don’t have to go down a dusty dirt track to get there, or anything," she insisted.

Well, dirt track or no dirt track, we’ll have to see how long I last there before I’m jumping on the train back home.

You don’t mean that. Anyway, I don’t know how you can call our old flat ‘a home’, Ryan. Really, now.

I’m not sure I’m going to be able to live without the clubs, the variety of restaurants, the noise, the people.

The noise?

The pollution and the noise and the crap on the streets and walls. Even our poxy little flat on the sixth floor which stank of cigarettes and the damp; I’m going to miss it all, he laughed. I’m leaving it all behind so you can have a garden in the middle of nowhere.

Front and back, she reminded him.

Front and back. Ryan rolled his eyes and took a sip from his can. Do you think mum would have minded?

Well, she no longer has any choice in the matter, she replied as they both glanced rapidly to the back of the car to the remains of their mother on the back seat.

As her smile faded away, Andie’s mind drove her back to her mother’s final words. They would never leave her. Not even if she got amnesia would she be able to forget them; they were engraved so deeply into her mind. It had been a night like many others that week. A familiar feeling of twinging in her stomach accompanied her and her head began to throb as she watched her mother fumble about for cash, any cash she could grab onto.

Two plastic boxes crashed down to the floor from the stack they were balancing on as she thudded past them, sending Andie’s papers and a pile of books skidding across the carpet. Andie’s ears were blasted full of barking and then, as her mother clawed her chipped manicured finger nails into the back of her hands, she growled into her daughter’s face, demanding to know where that week’s housekeeping money had been hidden. There was no way the truth was going to be released. No way.

Slapping her fully grown child across the cheek, Donna sighed dramatically in mistrust and lurched behind the sofa where she found Andrea’s handbag. The frantic woman rummaged through the contents inside and discovered a small purse hidden in a zip pocket. I know you’ve got some. Didn’t you get that book about the pandas published the other week? Eh? Don’t ya dare lie to me, she retorted before her daughter could prevent her anymore.

Stepping one foot over the line, Andie crouched forward, but her mother was already one step ahead of her. The handbag was flung across the room and landed behind the television set. A framed photo of Ryan with a magazine rack he made in year eight smashed against the wall, denting it in the process. Andie tugged at the roots of her hair and tried to persuade her mother otherwise. Mum, please. Why don’t you just stay in tonight? We could watch a flick, make some pop…

Why is it I always get the third degree about my life? Leave me to my own business, the woman slurred. With her lazy eyes goggling all over the place and her hands shaking like someone who suffered from Parkinson’s disease, she managed to find several notes in the purse. As she flung the object onto the floor, coins rolled around the two women’s feet. Donna wasn’t after shrapnel. She wanted big digits.

Andie lowered her head and watched as some coins twirled beside her slippers and others into the other direction of her mother’s brave spunky heels. I don’t need y…you or anyone else to…to tell me what to do. I’m a grown up, I am. I’m your mother.

Well you don’t act like one, Andie cartelled softly, her bottom lip wobbling.

You shut up. Get out of my flat. No, in fact I will. I’m gonna…I’m gonna get out of here myself and have a well-deserved drink, I am, she stuttered and grabbed her own leather handbag which was so new it still squeaked. She raised the item into the air and did a little spin, but the bag bounced onto her head awkwardly. Andie’s eyes squeezed tightly. I’m gonna find a nice fella who’ll treat me like a l-lady and have the time of my life, but first of all, she curtsied and opened the door to the flat. The drinks are on Andie, they are. Thanks darlin’, I owe you one. Ta-tah!

The twenty-six-year-old’s ears were drilled with those last words from a voice she didn’t yet realise she would never hear an utter from again. Then, came the silence. Only the humming of the fridge and the engines of vehicles murmuring along the street down below filled her ears. With the flat to herself and an empty purse for company it left her no other choice, but to turn on the telly and to open a packet of biscuits.

You need to slow down. Mum used to complain about your driving and it still does not surprise me why, Ryan scolded his sister and shoved her slightly, his eyes glued to the speedometer in the car. He glanced to the back seat of the car again and smiled at the urn with the ashes they’d wedged in between two boxes and a suitcase. We’re going to lose the removal van and you’re going to get yourself a hefty fine which I will not be forking out for.

They know exactly where we’re going, Ryan. Just chill out a bit and besides, it’s easy to find on this road, isn’t it? There’s no way of getting lost, you said. Andie pushed her foot a little further down onto the accelerator to spite her brother, dropped back her head and laughed to herself. She didn’t want to think any more about London than she did about her selfish mum and her misleading lies. She was after the truth and nothing, but it. No more lies or hurting. Beautiful Sussex and the delightful, picturesque town of Birchdale was waiting for them and this was going to be the fresh start they’d always been searching for.

Chapter 2

I’ll admit you’ve shocked me on this one, Ryan told Andie as they clambered out of the car and stretched.

So it’s up to par, then. She smirked and made signals to the man driving the small removal lorry to park just outside, in front of their detached house. Luckily there were hardly any cars parked along the pretty street so the vehicle didn’t have to swerve in and out dangerously. Andie considered it was because it was the middle of the day. Most people would be at work and children would be at school for it was mid-September on a late Tuesday morning.

Not bad, at all. It looked smaller in the photo. It’s quite quirky, isn’t it? he walked off the driveway and began snooping around the front garden. It was plain to see that the area needed quite a bit of work

I like to think so. She smiled. The man who sold it to me told me it was built in the late nineteenth century. See the roof, Ryan? It’s a typical scallop-tile hanging, red roof. And look at the gabled windows. Gorgeous!

It’s quite something, I’ll say! Wow! A stained glass door too!

She had dreamed of places like these; being able to hear the sound of birds chirping in the background, flowers in everyone’s front garden and the smell of the invigorating cleanliness of the ripe air tickling her nose. Back at home in the area of South London in which they lived, no one had a garden. Instead, the buzzing of car engines and rap music thudded through your ears, people hung their grubby washing out on miniscule balconies or by their front door and the ambient smell was musty and grimy. Most of all, the brother and sister were looking forward to the pub gardens.

Their deceased mother, Donna had never had time to take them out. The little money she owned was spent on cigarettes, booze, her medication, high-heeled shoes or bags. Andrea was often reading a book or writing in the sitting room and could remember peering over her glasses to spot her mother clip-clopped in on a new pair of squeaky clean heels or a new outfit. It’s for work, darlin’ is what she’d say. Life’s hard enough, ain’t it? So we can allow a few little guilty pleasures now and again, eh, Andie? Andie would grunt in return or turn back to her book whilst her mother lit another cigarette and poured herself a gin.

The twenty-six year old could vaguely remember a trip to Blackpool on the bus when she’d been about eight. They’d had fun that was for certain. However, after being allowed an ice-cream cone, her day had been marked with a shadow when the man on the tea cup ride began to flirt with her mother. Her mother had squealed in delight over something naughty that was whispered into her ear and nudged into her daughter, sending her cone sailing through the air and flat onto the stone floor. Both Ryan and Andie had stared in horror as a pup had lapped up the rich creamy mess and then barked as he trotted off into the distance. Another one? her mother had let out a shrill cry. Do you think I’m made of money? Anyway, you’d already eaten half. One and a half ice-creams are too much for a little-un. It’s greedy. The trouble always started when her mother started flirting or clapped her eyes on an alcoholic beverage. Why her mother couldn’t just put her chest away was something that Andie was always going to wonder about for the rest of her life.

So are we going in or what? Ryan tugged at her top. His sister nodded reassuringly and began ferreting in her rucksack for the set of keys she’d been handed just three weeks ago. She plonked the bag onto the roof of the car and squinted as the sun’s rays drained into her eyes. We’re so lucky we weren’t stuck at the end of a moving chain, eh? Could you imagine having to stop and start and wait for a phone call every couple of days? The previous owner didn’t actually die inside the house, did she? asked Ryan.

No. I think she died in an old people’s home. She’d been in for a couple of years and the family held onto the house while she was alive, but once she died they decided to sell up and split the money between her children.

Right, Ryan nodded and stepped inside the house before his sister could. It smells a bit weird, doesn’t it? Like moth balls.

Well, obviously we’ll have to air the house out and do a lot of cleaning. You can’t just move into a place that’s been shut up for donkey’s years and expect it to be sparkling perfect. Before she knew it, Ryan had dashed into the sitting room and then into the kitchen. I think it’s in a pretty good condition.

I’d say these kitchen units were put in about three years ago, Ryan guessed. We won’t need to touch it in here. Ah, you didn’t mention there were wooden beams on the ceiling. Why the secrecy? Blimey!

What’s that? she jogged over to him, forgetting he had asked her a question and followed his gaze. Yeah, it’s something special, isn’t it? I thought we could grow some of our own fruit and veg once we’re settled.

Yeah, he looked back at her and snorted with laughter. ’Cause that’s what everyone our age is into these days - they exchange cuttings with neighbours and make elderflower juice! Were you born in the twentieth century or the eighteenth?

Ha ha! Very funny! You div! she threw back sarcastically.

Mum would have had a fit.

Well, mum won’t have anything anymore ’cause she’s not here. This is our house now, so I’ll do what I bloody well please with it.

It’s your house, Ryan butted in.

It’s our house, she corrected.

Well, it’s a third my house. Selling the flat didn’t cover all of it. Andie closed one eye and said nothing. It’s fine, Andie. Let’s see upstairs. How many rooms are there?

Andie watched him shoot out of her sight and heard him thud up the stairs, of which one of the steps was an evident creaker. There are three and the one with the built in wardrobe is mine! Walking back outside again, she observed at the three removal men who were still stretching and yawning. One of them yelled out that they were going to have a tea and sandwich break before they started unloading and she put her thumbs up as a sign of her approval.

Across the road, an elderly man was pottering about with some weeds in his garden while his wife greeted the postwoman at their front gate. They nattered on together about something exciting and the elderly woman’s husband chuckled as he listened in. A young man was walking a sturdy, old Cardigan Welsh Corgi on a lead and a blue tractor chugged past, spitting and spluttering its way out of the road with a black and white English Sheperd following behind, panting heavily with its tongue hanging out of its mouth. It went down onto the country track the street joined which led onto farmland. Land she would explore soon.

Her fingers began opening a letter she was guarding in her back trouser pocket and she read it.

Dear Donna,

It’s me. Who else? You left without saying a word. I had to beg Rita to tell me where you were. How could you just leave like that? I looked for you everywhere. I ransacked every single place I knew you used to go to, but you were nowhere to be found. The way your cottage has been shut up scares me. The garden is overgrowing. It makes me feel cold. If I hadn’t have squeezed the truth out of Rita, I would have still been looking for you, still been confused. I understand why you went now. It took me a while to figure it out, though.

The little one is just fine. However, he cries for you constantly, night after night. He must miss the sound of your voice singing to him from the bump. I know I do…

Why did you do it? You should have just taken him with you. My mum has taken him under her wing now. She wasn’t keen at first, mind. She said it wasn’t right. My dad made her do it. Everybody made her do it.

It’s rather overcrowded at home, at the minute. My oldest brother and his wife are back in his old room whilst my other brothers are kipping in the one room. Only my parents’ house was saved from the fire and Alexander got hurt…I know you didn’t do it, though, Don. I trusted you, then. I really did. I still do. My father isn’t speaking to me at present and neither is anybody else. Everybody is pretty shaken up, but we’ll get over it. They’re just barns and houses. I really don’t believe you would have done it. Please reassure me.

If I don’t get a reply to this letter, I’ll understand perfectly. I won’t hassle you again. Luke is in safe hands. He’ll grow up to be a strong lad with his mother’s eyes and heart, I am sure.

I’ll love you always,

Take care of yourself,

Emmett

A cat trotted past and meowed at her. She meowed back, but the animal carried on. She sighed a peaceful sigh of relief again and jumped as her brother emerged and put his arm around her neck in his loving way. Did you see there’s a cloakroom? Would you believe it? I want the one by the bathroom. I’m surprised you’ve picked that small room at the back of the house. You usually prefer to be next to the loo. Are you sure you don’t want the other room that’s left?

Nope, she replied, hiding the letter from him behind her back.

Fair enough, he shrugged, scratching his head and having a peek up and down the road himself. My room’s still larger.

Well, I’m surprised you didn’t notice that my room is actually better because the built in wardrobe isn’t actually a wardrobe. It’s a bathroom with a built in Jacuzzi in the bath. So there! she grinned and stuck out her tongue. Me thinks it’s picnic lunch time. You coming?

Hmm, he grunted half-heartedly, despite feeling a heavy rumble within his stomach.

Moving all of the furniture into the house did not take too long. The flat they used to live in had been a lot smaller so there hadn’t been much space for much furniture. Ryan and Andie found themselves looking around the rooms and wondering where to put everything; mainly to try to fill in the empty gaps to hush the echo that boomed throughout the house. Despite Andie reassuring her brother they would go shopping to buy new furniture, Ryan still insisted he would nail a few shelves together from scratch. His sister still wasn’t convinced. All the free time on their hands needed to be spent washing down walls and disinfecting carpets. One thing was for certain, though; most of the stuff they had brought with them was dated and shabby-looking.

Now that they had found their fresh start, they could fork out for some crisp new belongings to accompany it. Another thing that they both hated was the smell of cigarettes that seemed to have clung onto the couches and beds. Thinking the smell would fade during the move and remain at the flat, they realised they had been mistaken. Neither of them smoked and the smell only reminded them of their mother. It was something that needed to be taken care of.

So what next? Ryan asked her as he sprayed the sitting room, dining room/study and kitchen with some air freshener he had unpacked from a box. Andie sneezed and continued to sweep up the mess the beer-bellied removal man had managed to trail behind him after dropping and smashing one of the vases of flowers left over from the funeral. Who sent that?

Celia, I think. She thought to herself and sneezed twice more. But it could have been Michaela.

Michaela?

You know Michaela.

Michaela?

Michaela; the secretary from mum’s old bingo club.

Michaela; the one with the spotty nose and sweaty armpit issues?

Indeed, she replied, shuddering at the thought.

I know the one, he said as they both giggled. So what are we going to do for tea? It’s six o’clock already and the shops will be shut by now.

Well, we could wander into town and get a bite to eat. There might be a chippie or a pub that’s open. Waving off the removal men, they went back inside for jackets and some money and after several minutes of trying, shut the stiff door behind them. Both of them were nervous. What if they had made a mistake in moving so suddenly? They didn’t know anyone in the area. What would they do if there was an emergency? What if they bumped into the splitting image of Ryan? Might that person be their brother? How would they approach him?

It’s pretty, isn’t it? Andie said. Small talk.

Yeah, he mumbled as they reached the end of the road. Left or right?

Well, let’s read the sign post, but I think we have to turn right, here.

You think, he smiled, getting his phone out of his pocket.

Just give me a chance and trust me on this one, ok? We’re going right.

Andie did make the right decision and after a twenty minute walk they seemed to be in (what appeared to be) the centre of the town. A rather large park which was surrounded by a wooden fence and apple trees greeted them first, and after that, they saw just what they were looking for. A pub and a pub garden full of people! Ryan nudged his sister in the ribs. Andie squealed with delight and jogged over to a large menu written on a chalk board that stood outside. She read the scrumptious menu and started to choose the food she was going to order and eat outside on one of the trestle tables. Andie… Ryan tugged at her jacket. Andie…

What is it? Shut up and look at the menu. I’m bloody starving. If we don’t hurry the kitchen will close for the night.

Andie, you had better look at this, he finished his sentence, yanked her towards him and said with wide eyes, Seriously, sis. Check out the baker’s. Pointing behind him they both stared at a baker’s just opposite the pub which was wedged in between a newsagent’s and a chemist’s.

Andie looked at him and was not impressed. It’s a baker’s, Ryan. A normal baker’s. Have you never seen one before? It’s a place where they sell bread, and buns and cakes and…

What’s the baker’s called?

Well… she stopped in her tracks and squinted to read the sign. She wasn’t wearing her reading glasses and it was getting dark which made it a lot trickier to do. ‘Luke’s Buns Galore’. She paused and studied her brother’s eyebrows as they swerved into a curvy shape. He then slapped his forehead with his hand and sighed hopelessly.

‘Luke’s buns galore’. So how long are we going to have to go round in a circle to… She suddenly twigged. Oh, right.

Right, he nodded rapidly. And you never realised this when you came down, what was it again, twice before me?

Well, no. Not at all! she scratched her head and screwed up her face feeling forgetful. I don’t know why I didn’t see it before. I probably wasn’t wearing my glasses. You know I’ve got bad eyesight. I had to force my eyes just now, to read it."

They walked over to the baker’s and took a peek inside. They simultaneously pressed their noses against the dusty glass window and used their hands as a covering over their eyes to improve the view. Apart from three large iced cakes that posed at the front of the shop window and the till at the back of the shop, the shelves were bare.

We had better come in tomorrow and buy some bread, do some snooping around. You never know, he told her. Ryan shrugged and coughed as the dust fluttered out of his fluffy head of hair.

What do you think - that it might be our brother’s?

Or someone in his family, yeah, he cut in.

"We’re only looking for him. I’m not sure I really want to meet the whole crew. Mum obviously did something bad all those years ago. Something to spite them, perhaps. So terrible that she had to leave this place forever and never come back. That woman in the shop froze when I mentioned her name and as for Emmett…"

Calm down. We’ll get to the bottom of this. All I’m saying is that if we can track down his family, we’ll be able to find him. I don’t care how we do it. I just want an explanation and some answers for our questions.

"We think he’s a real person, she paused and thought for a moment. This could be it. Their search might not be as complicated and intense as they’d thought. Even if their older brother or his father didn’t work here, surely a relative must. It all seemed so simple. If only they had known about him before. Ok. We’ll come back tomorrow."

Bright and early. Let’s get this off our chest as soon as poss.

Yeah, we could get a loaf of bread or something, but for now, I’m starving. Let’s eat!

Morning there! Someone from behind chirped rather too loudly for the time that it was. Morning, Andie turned her head away from the dustbin and immediately shut her eyes as the sun’s rays blazed into her eyes and the sharp blue of the sky slipped in to join it.

Bernadette. A retired woman thrust her silky suave hands into Andie’s and shook it up and down, up and down. Bernadette Martin. I live next door.

Next door? Oh, right! I’m Andrea, but people often call me Andie for short. Andie beamed back at her and fixed her eyes downwards. Her new neighbour shoved a box into her remaining hand and told her to open it. Andie was thrilled. Oh, what’s this?

They’re scones, Bernadette told her before she got the chance to remove the lid.

Feeling a little disappointed the surprise had been cut short, Andie thanked the woman kindly and touched her hair, she couldn’t remember the state she had left it in, but luckily she was safe. She found Bernadette looking down at her hedgehog slippers in a strange way. They were a present, Andie told her as if to answer the question she had been getting ready to possibly ask, but felt awkward about posing. I always make use of my presents somehow, no matter how odd they may be.

Of course, the neighbour smiled to show what an honest reply it had been. So how have you and your husband adjusted to your new home? Poor old Betsy will be missed, but she never was herself after that nasty fall. It’s nice to have some new faces in the street.

My…oh… err… he’s not my husband. Ryan and I are brother and sister. Twins, actually.

Oh, I see. How lovely.

We lost our mum in winter - in February.

Oh dear, I’m terribly sorry. I…

We needed a change. We’re from South London, you see, so a small town is quite a change for us. It’s a challenge, but in a good way. We love it, already. I think we’ll settle in nicely.

Of course. Andie noticed the crinkles forming around her eyes and realised from the way the woman’s dark green eyes were beaming that her welcome was sincerely natural, not forced in any way. Her deep eyes contained wisdom, it seemed. By judging the way Bernadette dressed; in a pair of leather loafers, tinted tights, an almond pleated skirt which hung just below her knees and a cotton floral blouse with an olive green cardigan to accompany it, Andie guessed she was in her early seventies. She was pleased to have her as their neighbour. The kindness in the woman’s heart was already apparent. While I’ve caught you, I was wondering if you and err…

Andie followed Bernadette’s gaze to the top window of the top floor of her new home which now belonged to part of Ryan’s room. Ryan. It’s Ryan.

Well, if you and Ryan would like to pop over on Sunday for lunch. I was having a little do anyway because it is my birthday so you’re more than welcome to join me in celebration. If you come at about twelve-ish that would be lovely.

Ok, she replied suddenly having a vision of herself, Ryan and Bernadette sitting on sofas, stirring tea with teaspoons in discomfort whilst wondering what topic to use next as a conversation saviour. Is there anything we could bring to help out?

Well, Debra from number four is bringing a vegetable quiche and a tiramisu, Lorna from number twenty-four is bringing a cheese salad and a lot of soft drinks as she has two small children, you see. She’s one of those vegetarians. Doesn’t touch anything that has breathed before.

Oh, she nodded.

I think Pat from over there at number fifteen is bringing some homemade coleslaw, some breadsticks and some meringues. We’ve got some chicken drumsticks from Lucy or Cora erm, I can’t really remember who. I’m providing the meat for the barbecue so I don’t know. Have you got a speciality up your sleeve?

Well, gosh, my mum always used to beg me to make a coronation chicken. It’s quite tasty.

Sounds magnificent! exclaimed Bernadette, clasping her hands together to make two golden bracelets chime sharply.

And we could bring some drinks too, she said off-the-cuff; now getting rather excited herself.

Ok, well we may need some extra chairs on the day. Would you mind if we borrowed a few? You could just pass them over the fence.

Err…oh, Andie’s heart beat faster when she pictured her scruffy, faded wooden chairs that frequently gave you splinters if you were not careful where you lay your hand. Yes, sure, no problem.

Chapter 3

Bright and early, was it you said? Andie ripped open the curtains and rubbed her eyes. Ryan was lucky she was still without curtains and that the natural sunlight had woken her up or else they would have both slept in until way past lunchtime. Cuppa? Ryan murmured something and covered his face with the duvet cover, but to his disgust his sister pulled it down again.

No fair! he cried out. I still haven’t got any strength to be bothered to argue with you.

’Bright and early,’ you said. ‘Let’s get it off our chests,’ you said. It’s twenty past eleven and I’ve already been up for two hours and unpacked six boxes.

Good for you, he replied smugly and immediately jolted upright to stop his sister from removing his cup of tea from the box it was balancing on by his bed. Alright, I’ll get up. Just give me ten minutes to sort myself out and look decent. I’ll just drink four cups of coffee or something.

After a few minutes of looking outside into the front garden and juggling different ideas of how to smarten it up a bit she decided to tell her brother about the lunch they’d been invited to on the Sunday. You said what? Ryan yelped. Well, we can’t let those manky old chairs out in public. They’re a hazard to society. We’ll be sued.

Yeah, which is why I was thinking of going shopping tomorrow. We’ll do some more unpacking this afternoon and then, tomorrow we could head out of town and look for a furniture store. There must be plenty around. Andrea had regretted saying ‘yes’ to Bernadette within a second of uttering the word, but what was done was done. After all, once she’d seen the bright side of it, it now meant they had to get some new furniture for the house straight away. They could throw away all the old bits of clutter they should have ditched at the household waste recycling centre near their old flat and really make the place more homely. Andrea had already thought about getting a nice long wooden table for the kitchen and some matching chairs to go with it. She could either buy some cushions or hand make them herself. It could be her new little project. She was also sure that Ryan could help her choose the ideal shelves for the sitting room, kitchen and dining room. So much needed to be done. Are you going to start looking for a job?

Yeah, he yawned, pulling himself out of bed. I was going to find the job agency this morning and maybe see what’s going. You know, I could make a few chairs myself, if you like. I might ask around, see if there’s a dump round here. It’d save on money, wouldn’t it? Andie shook her head and screwed up her nose. There was no way he’d have enough time to make six chairs or more by Sunday, especially if they were to unpack all of the boxes at the same time. She’d also had enough of living on a penny every day, finding her mother scrounging around her room, looking for any spare cash she could find to spend on herself. It was about her and Ryan, now. No more time wasting, she thought. It was time to live how she wanted to live. Their little family had constantly saved and saved and never lived. It was behind her, now. She made her way downstairs and sneezed as clouds of dust she had just woken up from the banister with her hand swirled into the air and dived up into her nostrils. After examining herself in the toilet mirror by the kitchen, it hit her that she needed another cup of coffee. With sugar. If she was going to meet her new relative in the next half an hour, she needed to be awake to remember the moment.

The long hand of the clock ticked thirty minutes on and Andie found herself standing by a shiny red post box on the corner of a street. It was a warm morning, though the cement path was still a little damp from a few drops of rain that had fallen while it had still been dark.

Ryan had slipped into the job agency seven minutes ago and she was too happy to move from her spot. But no. She didn’t want to waste any more precious time. If they kicked their heels for too long they weren’t going to get anywhere promising.

Ah, she uttered suddenly. Staring stupidly for too long at a charity shop over the road, a young female with a fine build cleared her throat beside her.

Can I? she asked loudly. Andie stepped into the road, where no cars were presently passing, and watched as the woman of about the same age to her fed a birthday card addressed to a Miss J. Farley into the mouth of the box.

Staring too much, the jogger only hesitated for a second or two. This made Andie wonder whether the cat had caught her tongue. But her inexplicable behaviour was never spelt out to the new face in town. Sporting knee-length leggings and an elastic, antibacterial fitness top, she sprung off into a gentle sprint, turning back once to give the stranger behind her one quizzical look.

Andie made a face, shook her head and decided to go into the charity shop. She figured it would be best to buy something first, of course. Blurting out what she wanted to ask after just showing her face was not her style.

She didn’t have to spend long in the shop before she knew what she was going to purchase. It was a beautiful outdoor dining set sitting at the back of the shop. Perfect for their garden. Made of FCE eucalyptus wood, the round table came with four foldable chairs. No dents or scratches were visible. Hopefully Ryan would have a job soon so with all the paperwork needed; there was no way he would have time to make some nice garden furniture in time for the party.

The kind lady behind the till who served her was in her mid-seventies or so and her eyes lit up like a candle in the dark as soon as she was asked to reserve the furniture for Andie. Paying with her credit card, she insisted she would return in the afternoon with an empty boot. Soon she discovered the very woman would not be there later on, but that she would explain the situation to Beryl whose turn it was to be in charge in the afternoons.

There was nobody else in the shop by now and the lady with blizzard blue tinged hair had begun pottering around with a stack of tatty board games behind her. Her back cracked as she bent over. Andie made sure she was alright. Then she just went for it.

I don’t suppose you know of a Donna Baxter who used to live around here?

The woman paused, but said nothing.

Donna Baxter?

I heard you the first time, dear. I may have rickety bones, but my hearing is as sharp as a knife.

Right.

The woman did not go on.

I was just wondering if you knew anything about her or Emmett.

"Emmett? How do you know