amused as amazed. One relatively short conversation with a woman decades older than her and Holly had the reasons behind her mental instability sussed. Not that Joely and her mother hadn’t worked out what was going on, obviously they had, but for Holly to have got there so quickly … ‘What exactly did she tell you?’ Joely asked carefully.
Holly began texting as she spoke. ‘About how everyone in her family is dead apart from her nephews – one she never sees, and the other is so busy he can’t get down to her place very often. Actually, I think she liked having you there, Mum, and she’s obviously really sorry about you ending up being locked in the house.’
Joely turned to Callum again.
Shrugging, he reached into a cupboard for glasses. ‘We’ve got a delivery on the way from Jak’s,’ he told Holly, ‘are you going to eat with us?’
‘Deffo. I’m starving. Are we staying here tonight, or going home?’
Callum looked at Joely.
Wishing they could go home, if only so she could use their bathroom and sleep in her own bed, Joely reluctantly said, ‘I think we need to find out what Freda’s doing first. Did she stay here last night?’ she asked Holly.
‘Yeah. She slept in the front guest room and wow, does she snore.’
‘Does she have anything with her? Clothes, toiletries?’
Holly shrugged. ‘Not that I saw.’ Down went the phone again. ‘Anyway, so what’s with you two?’ she demanded. ‘Have you got everything sorted out yet, because it’s been kind of stressy living with you since Grandpa died, Mum, and I’ve worked out now that it’s all about grief, just like it is with Freds, but you’ve got to snap out of it. It’s doing my head in, and Dad’s.’
Joely stared at her hard. ‘Since when did you get to be the psychologist in the family?’ she wanted to know.
Holly hadn’t finished, although it was Callum’s turn for the daughterly treatment now. ‘Just as well I moved over to Martha’s with you,’ she informed him, ‘or you might have ended up staying there. Like I was really going to let that happen. But what were you thinking, Dad? I mean, Martha’s OK, but she’s not Mum. You’ve got a lot of making up to do, I can tell you that much, or have you already forgiven him?’
Joely wasn’t sure whether she wanted to laugh or not, though Callum didn’t seem in any doubt.
‘Come here,’ he said to Holly, and pulling her into his arms he gave her one of his best dad-hugs.
Holly’s eyes met Joely’s over his shoulder and she mouthed, ‘How am I doing?’
Not knowing what else to do, Joely gave her a thumbs up.
Holly’s grin widened. ‘I totally love you guys,’ she informed them, ‘and I just know you’re going to love Noel when you meet him.’
Callum started. ‘Noel?’ he repeated.
‘My boyfriend. I’ve been seeing him for a couple of months, but I didn’t want to bring him home while you two were messing each other up. If you can promise me you’ve stopped I’ll invite him over as soon as you like.’
Because she had to, Joely said, ‘How old is he?’
Holly’s eyes narrowed playfully. ‘Don’t worry, I’m not taking after Grandma in that. He’s only twenty-four.’
Joely wanted to faint, until she realized she was being wound up.
‘He’s seventeen,’ Holly informed her, ‘and if you want to know whether or not we’ve done it yet …’
‘You better not have,’ Callum broke in sternly.
‘You’re only fifteen,’ Joely added.
‘Still not like Grandma,’ Holly grinned, and giving them a little wave she left them to pour the wine.
‘Did that really just happen?’ Joely asked as Callum stared at the closed door.
‘I think so,’ he replied.
‘And we created her?’
‘She’s very much like you.’
Joely’s eyes narrowed and he quickly said,
‘In that I find her impossible not to love.’
Joely laughed, and looked at the ceiling as Holly’s heavy tread reached the landing. One of these days, she was thinking, she might get to have the same sort of relationship with Holly as she had with her mother, a lot of affection, easy friendship and sharing, although she didn’t see it happening soon. However, maybe they were heading in the right direction.
‘I think she’s right about your father,’ Callum said, loading up a tray with four glasses and a bowl of nuts. ‘I hadn’t really seen it before she said it to me the other day.’
Joely nodded. ‘Yes, she is,’ she confirmed, ‘although not quite in the way she thinks. Anyway, let’s take that