Homecoming Read Free Page B

another pile of books. ‘This conversation wouldn’t have anything to do with you and Brian Powell by any chance, would it?’
    â€˜I haven’t seen Brian in almost three years.’
    â€˜The fact that you remember how long it’s been says a lot.’
    â€˜All it says is that I remember my first boyfriend,’ Judy retorted. ‘And you know what people say about first love.’
    â€˜Tell me.’ Lily dropped the empty box to the floor and lifted another on to the table.
    â€˜It’s like your first party dress, better remembered than kept.’
    â€˜And Sam?’ Lily queried. ‘Do you love him?’
    â€˜Of course I do,’ Judy asserted, ‘in a seeing him every day kind of way.’
    â€˜But not in a breathless, heart-pounding, floating on air …’
    â€˜We just agreed those kind of feelings can’t last.’
    â€˜You said they can’t, not me.’ Lily ripped the box open and handed her another half a dozen books.
    â€˜Then you don’t think I’m in love with Sam.’
    â€˜You just said you were.’
    â€˜I am.’ Judy paused thoughtfully. ‘It could be that we’re just different people …’
    â€˜Of course we are, you’ve auburn hair for a start,’ Lily joked.
    â€˜You really never wonder what Joe is like now or what you’d do if you bumped into him?’
    â€˜Never. Do you wonder about Brian?’
    â€˜Sometimes.’ Judy gave a wicked smile. ‘I picture him fat, bald, toothless …’
    â€˜Sounds as if the poor man’s aged eighty years in three.’
    â€˜London’s not the healthiest place to live.’ Judy pushed the last few books on the shelf. ‘That’s enough. I’m not sure why we started this when I had no intention of unpacking. Let’s go and get Katie.’
    â€˜Thanks for coming round and helping.’ Helen opened her front door.
    â€˜I’m not sure how me sitting on your sofa and chatting helped, but thanks for the invitation.’ Katie kissed Helen’s cheek.
    â€˜It helped by keeping me sane.’ Helen squeezed Katie’s hand as she climbed into the front seat of Judy’s car.
    â€˜And thanks for clearing out your things, Judy.’
    â€˜There’s no way I could have allowed my rubbish to clutter up Jack’s homecoming.’
    â€˜Is there anything I can do for the party tomorrow?’ Lily asked, as Judy slotted the keys into the ignition.
    â€˜Just bring yourself and Martin around about seven.’
    â€˜And some beer, sherry and food.’
    â€˜I won’t refuse any contributions.’ Helen closed the car door and Judy started the engine. She turned and looked back at the house when Judy drove off. Would it be better to open the shutters and curtains and switch on all the lights so Jack could see the home she had created for both of them the moment Martin drove up to it? Deciding it would, she checked her watch and ran back inside.
    â€˜Lily, are you there?’ Sam called, as he walked up the internal stairs that led from the basement flat he and his fellow policeman, Mike, rented from Lily and Martin.
    â€˜No,’ she shouted.
    Ignoring her denial, he walked down the passage and into her kitchen. ‘We’ve run out of tea. I don’t suppose you’ve a quarter you can spare?’
    She shook her head despairingly but went to the cupboard where she kept her dry goods. ‘It’s getting to the stage where I buy double rations every week to cater for you and Mike. The only wonder is Swansea’s streets are safe, the way you two organise your lives.’
    â€˜We make better policemen than housewives.’
    â€˜I hope you’re right.’
    â€˜Thanks, Lily.’ He took the packet of Barbers tea she handed him. ‘You know we’ll give it back.’
    â€˜Only until the next time you want to borrow it.’
    Sensing