Page 10 of Forgive Not Forget

Anna let out a long breath. “I’m sorry to hear that. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for you. How have the kids handled it?”

“Abi misses her dad obviously; they were very close.” Laura passed a mug to Anna, then opened a biscuit tin and offered her one.

“No, thanks.”

Laura placed the tin on the table and extracted a digestive biscuit. “I think she’s handled it better than Tom. Abi’s at that age where they spring back; Tom, on the other hand, he’s angry. About everything. I don’t know if it’s his age or his dad — or the move. He had to leave his friends back in the city. To be honest, I was glad to get him away from them. He was less impressed.”

The front door slammed.

“Speak of the devil.”

Tom slunk into the kitchen. His black coat instantly gave him away as the phantom bike rider that had terrified Gloria.

“Have you put your bike in the shed?” Laura asked him.

He turned with a harrumph and left the room.

Anna and Laura caught each other’s eyes, both poised for the slam of a door that followed a second later.

“Sorry. Kids, eh?”

“I think he may have had a run-in with Gloria earlier.”

“Gloria? Used to run the tearoom?”

“Still does.”

Laura’s jaw slackened. “I thought she would have retired by now if she wasn’t already six feet under. What did he do?”

“He caught her unawares, that’s all.”

“I’ll have to pop in and say hello. I’ll take Tom to apologise. He’s mad keen on bikes, got that from Steve. At least it’s a bit safer around here than in the city, angry shopkeeper aside.”

A set of thundering feet coming down the stairs echoed around the open-plan kitchen just as the front door opened and slammed again.

“Ow.” Abigail’s voice came from in the hall.

Tom entered the kitchen followed by Abigail holding her arm.

“He bashed me.”

“Did not,” Tom grunted back.

“Did.”

“You were in my way.”

“Enough!” Laura snapped. “Tom, grab a snack and go to your room, please. I don’t appreciate you taking out our neighbours with your bike.”

Tom exhaled loudly and scowled at Anna.

Abigail took a seat next to Anna.

“Are you coming to the Easter bunny trail on Sunday afternoon?” Anna asked Abigail, feeling a change of focus was needed.

“Can I help?” Abigail asked.

“Well, you wouldn’t be able to take part then.”