Page 113 of When We Are Old

“Come on, Mum, I’m starving. Lynn will have some food.” Hannah pushed in front of me, up the steps to the smart black door and knocked loudly.

Jack's voice came from the other side and I breathed out an utterly irrational breath of air. “He’s here.” I smiled at Hannah, but she just looked at me with confusion.

Lynn answered, doing a double-take as she opened the door. “Ronnie, love? What are you doing here?”

I grinned and raised my shoulders. “Surprise.”

“Oh, he’s going to be so pleased. Why didn’t you call ahead? We would have got you from the airport.”

“Element of surprise.” I walked through the door, the warmth and comfort of Lynn’s home enveloping me in its soothing embrace. “Everyone here?”

“Fish and chips Friday.” Lynn leant over and hugged Hannah just as Jack rounded the corner and squealed at the sight of her.

“Hannnnnnnnaaaaaaah!”

Okay. I’m not offended at all.

“Hey, Jack.”

He waved at me, but instantly grabbed Hannah and started pulling her towards the front room. Hannah’s smile said it all. This was so much better than a lame party with Jackson.

Liam poked his head around from the kitchen, his phone under his ear. “Ronnie, what do you want, cod or haddock? I’m just ringing through.”

“Oh. Ugh. Haddock?”

Lennie pushed him out the way. “White wine, Ronnie?”

These guys moved at a hundred miles an hour, never missing a beat. I’d barely stepped over the threshold and already fielded quick fire questions.

“Um white, I guess, with fish?”

Lennie scrunched her face. “Are there rules?”

“So my mum says.”

Please tell me I haven’t been drinking white wine only with fish all these years just because my mum told me another one of her old wives tales.

“Who cares?” She ducked back into the kitchen barely stopping. Then a clink of glasses followed.

“Where’s Matthew?” I looked at the pegs by the front door, searching for his jacket, or anything that told me he was here.

I couldn’t wait a single minute longer to tell him about the small blue box in my overnight bag. Enough time had been wasted now.

If I thought about it for longer than a few seconds without pushing it out of my mind, then a flicker of excitement kindled within me.

Matthew and I had created something together. I could feel it, knew it in my heart and soul. I wanted to see the look on his face, the short sharp shock followed by the awe I knew he’d have. Fate might have dealt us something unexpected and world changing.

“He’s been out with a supplier for the shop all afternoon.”

“Still?” I glanced at my watch. At nearly six I’d have thought it would be done by now.

“I know, but Julie messed him around, so he’s running late, and I think he’s going to get Hugo for the boys.”

“Oh right, okay.”

“Come in, come in. He’s going to be so pleased you're here.” Lynn tugged me by the arm towards the kitchen and I let her tow me along.

Lennie and Ruth were in their places at the kitchen table. Ryan had his back turned mashing something with a plastic spoon into a toddler sized bowl. “Is this right?” He thrust the bowl under Lennie’s nose, and she pulled a face.