she fell into her father’s arms.
‘My girl,’ Richard held onto her tightly. This was his star. He knew that you weren’t supposed to have favourites but she was his first.
‘Come on. Come in. We don’t want to be making a spectacle of ourselves on the doorstep.’
They stepped into the house and Lucinda closed the door behind him. They looked at each other and the same thought passed through their minds. You’ve lost weight . Though neither said it, Lucinda and Richard could recognise the signs in each other. That there was something inside, eating away in both of them. Richard followed Lucinda through the hallway, which still smelt of paint and varnish. It was all very white. Even the oak floors, which had been stripped back, had been whitewashed. He felt as though he was walking through a hospital corridor.
‘So, dad what would you like to drink? Tea, coffee, juice or…’ Lucinda stopped abruptly as she turned and looked again at her father, watching intensely the new lines on his face. ‘Or perhaps you’d like something to eat?’
‘No. I had a big breakfast,’ Richard lied as he followed her into the kitchen. The kitchen had been recently decorated and fitted out with new white gloss cabinets, granite worktops and the largest cooker that Richard had ever seen. It wouldn’t have surprised him if the cooker had cost more than his own car.
‘It’s not really you is it?’ Richard said he walked around, opening and closing the cupboard doors and running his hand across the worktops. Lucinda smiled as she watched her dad.
‘I’m not a fan of all this white gloss and steel. It’s a bit too cold for my liking. Definitely not my taste. But it’s only for a time until I can get back into my own house.’
‘When will that be?’
‘Not sure yet. I was planning to go to the estate agents this afternoon but there’s so much to sort out first.’
‘Well, take it easy. You only got back yesterday. You’ve got plenty of time. I can’t believe that it’s been so long since I’ve seen you, Lulu. I only ever see your head on Skype.’
‘What can I say? Thank god for Skype. How’s mum? I called her cell phone but…’
‘Oh, she’s moderating exams today so she probably won’t get round to calling you back until lunchtime. Anyway, where are my grandchildren?’
‘Sleeping. They’re still adjusting to the time difference. You know dad, you didn’t have to come over. I was planning on coming later once the kids had emerged from their cave.’
‘Don’t be silly. I wanted to see you. It’s been too long and you don’t have a car.’
‘God, don’t remind me. I need to sort that out too. Anyway, we would have got a taxi.’
‘A taxi? You shouldn’t have to waste your money on taxis.’
‘Dad, money isn’t a problem. Now. Are you sure that you don’t want something to drink? Thank God for Bea and online shopping that I’ve actually got something to offer you.’ She knew she was rambling but she’d never been able to lie to her father so if he asked her she’d just blame it on jetlag.
‘Fine, do you have any green tea?’
‘Green tea? You?’
‘Yes green tea? Don’t look so surprised.’
‘You’re the man who puts three sugars in his tea and calls a Mars bar breakfast.’
‘It’s your mother’s idea. She’s got me on a detox health kick.’
‘Health kick? You won’t last a week. Is this why you’ve lost so much weight? Detox?’
‘Yes, something like that,’ Richard said quietly. She decided against pushing it any further and busied herself with making the tea whilst her dad wandered into the garden. He had so much running through his mind. The appointment with the oncologist the day before had left him with more questions than answers.
‘Have you spoken to your sisters?’ Richard asked as he took the hot cup of tea from Lucinda. It was quiet in the garden. The only sounds came from an occasional car driving past and Vanessa Feltz’s voice drifting
‘My girl,’ Richard held onto her tightly. This was his star. He knew that you weren’t supposed to have favourites but she was his first.
‘Come on. Come in. We don’t want to be making a spectacle of ourselves on the doorstep.’
They stepped into the house and Lucinda closed the door behind him. They looked at each other and the same thought passed through their minds. You’ve lost weight . Though neither said it, Lucinda and Richard could recognise the signs in each other. That there was something inside, eating away in both of them. Richard followed Lucinda through the hallway, which still smelt of paint and varnish. It was all very white. Even the oak floors, which had been stripped back, had been whitewashed. He felt as though he was walking through a hospital corridor.
‘So, dad what would you like to drink? Tea, coffee, juice or…’ Lucinda stopped abruptly as she turned and looked again at her father, watching intensely the new lines on his face. ‘Or perhaps you’d like something to eat?’
‘No. I had a big breakfast,’ Richard lied as he followed her into the kitchen. The kitchen had been recently decorated and fitted out with new white gloss cabinets, granite worktops and the largest cooker that Richard had ever seen. It wouldn’t have surprised him if the cooker had cost more than his own car.
‘It’s not really you is it?’ Richard said he walked around, opening and closing the cupboard doors and running his hand across the worktops. Lucinda smiled as she watched her dad.
‘I’m not a fan of all this white gloss and steel. It’s a bit too cold for my liking. Definitely not my taste. But it’s only for a time until I can get back into my own house.’
‘When will that be?’
‘Not sure yet. I was planning to go to the estate agents this afternoon but there’s so much to sort out first.’
‘Well, take it easy. You only got back yesterday. You’ve got plenty of time. I can’t believe that it’s been so long since I’ve seen you, Lulu. I only ever see your head on Skype.’
‘What can I say? Thank god for Skype. How’s mum? I called her cell phone but…’
‘Oh, she’s moderating exams today so she probably won’t get round to calling you back until lunchtime. Anyway, where are my grandchildren?’
‘Sleeping. They’re still adjusting to the time difference. You know dad, you didn’t have to come over. I was planning on coming later once the kids had emerged from their cave.’
‘Don’t be silly. I wanted to see you. It’s been too long and you don’t have a car.’
‘God, don’t remind me. I need to sort that out too. Anyway, we would have got a taxi.’
‘A taxi? You shouldn’t have to waste your money on taxis.’
‘Dad, money isn’t a problem. Now. Are you sure that you don’t want something to drink? Thank God for Bea and online shopping that I’ve actually got something to offer you.’ She knew she was rambling but she’d never been able to lie to her father so if he asked her she’d just blame it on jetlag.
‘Fine, do you have any green tea?’
‘Green tea? You?’
‘Yes green tea? Don’t look so surprised.’
‘You’re the man who puts three sugars in his tea and calls a Mars bar breakfast.’
‘It’s your mother’s idea. She’s got me on a detox health kick.’
‘Health kick? You won’t last a week. Is this why you’ve lost so much weight? Detox?’
‘Yes, something like that,’ Richard said quietly. She decided against pushing it any further and busied herself with making the tea whilst her dad wandered into the garden. He had so much running through his mind. The appointment with the oncologist the day before had left him with more questions than answers.
‘Have you spoken to your sisters?’ Richard asked as he took the hot cup of tea from Lucinda. It was quiet in the garden. The only sounds came from an occasional car driving past and Vanessa Feltz’s voice drifting
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