Page 1 of Maybe Tomorrow

ChapterOne

Monday 10th October 1983

Whitby, North Yorkshire

‘Winds could reach 80mph this evening and up to a month’s worth of rain is forecast to fall within the next twenty-four hours. Travel is expected to be seriously disrupted and North East Police are already advising people not to travel tonight unless absolutely necessary.’

‘It sounds like I’m going to need a brolly,’ Judith Patterson said as she quickly snatched two hot slices of toast from under the grill.

‘It’s not going to be a barrel of laughs on the building site,’ her husband Geoff said. He took the toast from his wife and began slathering it with butter.

‘Will you give Alice a lift in?’

‘If she’s down within the next ten minutes, yes.’

Judith looked at the clock on the wall. ‘It’s never gone eight already.’ She wiped her hands on a tea towel and charged out of the room to the bottom of the stairs. ‘Are you still alive up there, Lady Muck? Would you like me to send someone up to wash and dress you?’

‘You’re hilarious, Mum. Have you considered auditioning forOpportunity Knocks?’

Laughter came from the kitchen.

‘You heard that, I suppose,’ Judith said to her husband. ‘I can’t think where she gets it from.’

Alice started coming down the stairs. She was dressed in blue jeans and a red and black checked jumper. She carried her battered satchel over her shoulder and had a beaming smile on her face.

‘One of these days, you’ll cut yourself with that tongue of yours,’ Judith said. ‘There’s going to be a storm later so wear your waterproof and take a brolly. Though I don’t know why I bother with you two…’

‘You don’t appreciate me,’ Alice and Geoff both finished Judith’s sentence for her.

Judith tried not to laugh, but it was difficult to hide her smile.

She followed her daughter into the kitchen and clipped her husband round the back of the head.

‘What was that for?’

‘Teaching your daughter to back-chat.’

Geoff and Alice exchanged a high-five.

‘Why do I get the feeling you’re both ganging up on me?’

Geoff grabbed Judith around the waist and pulled her onto his lap. ‘We poke fun because we love you,’ he said, kissing her on the cheek.

‘Great. Now I’ve got toast crumbs all over my face. And you haven’t shaved this morning.’

‘I thought you liked me all hairy and manly?’

‘Not at this time of morning, I don’t.’ She climbed off Geoff’s knee and smoothed her dress down. ‘That cereal won’t eat itself, Alice.’

‘I think I’m going to skip breakfast this morning,’ she said, pushing her glasses up her nose.

‘You certainly are not. You know what you’re like on transport on an empty stomach. Eat.’

‘I’m fat.’

‘Who says your fat?’

‘I do.’