Chapter 22
TWENTY-TWO
Noms was combing Jack’s hair through with nit treatment in the kitchen when Gracie returned from the common.
‘Auntie G, tell her to stop.’ He screwed up his face in annoyance.
‘Here.’ Gracie took the comb. ‘Let me do it more gently for you.’ She winked at Noms. Boris leapt up at her knees.
‘Enjoy your run with the posh commoners?’ Naomi washed her hands.
Gracie smiled. ‘Hmm. It was a very short jog actually. Maya and I bunked off and had a chat for most of it.’
‘Well, you look better for it. It’s nice to see some colour in your cheeks.’
‘Right, that’s it, mister, you just need to rinse it off now.’ Gracie kissed Jack on the cheek and put the comb straight in the bin.
‘Yeah, get in the bath, Jack, it’s run. I’ll be up in a sec.’ The young lad dutifully did as he was told.
‘You wouldn’t think they’d get them at private school, would you?’
‘I didn’t know he paid for that as well?’
‘He doesn’t give me extra. I kept some of the money aside for Jack’s education.’
‘Have you heard from him lately?’ It was funny that between them they didn’t even say the actor’s name, as if the secret would be out to the world if they did.
‘No, he emails me if he’s on location, but rarely. It’s easier that way. For Jack’s sake more than anything, really. If it got out, it would be scandalous even now, I think.’
‘Talking of scandal, I met someone today.’ Gracie smiled coyly.
Noms’s eyes and mouth widened. ‘Whoa, Gracie Davies, now that’s thrown me completely.’
‘Well, I say I met someone, a landscaper at the common gave me his card, said he wanted to know where my trainers were from.’
‘Yeah, right.’ Noms grinned. ‘More like he wanted to know how he can get in your knickers.’
‘Exactly. Coffee-shop Maya said it was obvious that he fancied me.’
‘I’m proud of you, Gracie, I mean, you only kicked Lewis into touch days ago.’
‘I know that. But do you know how good it was to feel that first flush of attraction from somebody else? It felt bloody good, Noms. And I am going to message him.’ Gracie held her head high.
‘Hello, is this really my little sister standing in front of me? The shy, retiring one, who wouldn’t normally say boo to a goose?’
‘It’s the new me, Noms. Losing the babies and now Lewis… I’m not taking any shit anymore. I’m going to have some fun. Take control. No more tears.’
‘I commend that fully, but be careful, eh?’ Noms squeezed her sister’s shoulder. ‘I know I’m all about you getting back on the saddle but maybe heal those wounds first. I know you couldn’t cope with even a single grain of salt going into them at the moment.’
‘It’s fine. He seems sweet. A bit of a lad, but a genuinely nice bloke. And it is what it is.’