Leila and the twins rushed into the hallway as the door closed behind her with a great thud. Leila got there first and Jess lifted her up high and hugged her, and then dropped to her knees to kiss Lucy and then Sophie, and the four of them joined in a group hug.
Jess’s thoughts had been in turmoil after her conversation with Michael, and as she drove the Range Rover back from Hareton, her head had been spinning with the arrangements she needed to make. Michael had done his best to talk her out of it, but she was resolute and in control.
“Get me a passport, Michael, or I’ll get a new lawyer. And can you ask Sandy to look at flights and timings and hotels?”
She didn’t know which of them was more surprised by her new-found confidence and assertiveness.
Keira sauntered out of the kitchen.
“Hi, Jess,” she said with a big smile, relaxed in a way Emma had obviously found impossible in the same circumstances.
“Hi, Keira, have they been good?”
“Good as gold. Haven’t you?” she said, addressing the girls who were jumping up and down.
“Yes!” squealed Sophie and Lucy in unison as ever, and Leila nodded enthusiastically.
“They’re just a joy to be with. I’m going to have a dozen when the time’s right,” she gushed. You’re only eighteen! Jess almost articulated her thoughts but stopped herself. She was in no position to offer advice to young women on the best time to have babies.
“I’m really grateful,” she said, fishing in her purse. She drew out fifty pounds and thrust it at Keira. Fifty pounds. Three days’ interest for a loan shark. Once the difference between life and death; now, just pocket money.
“Gosh. That’s too much for having fun.”
“No, please take it. I’ll need you again soon.”
“Cool!”
“I need to talk to your mum, see if you have space to take the girls in for a while. I have to go away. Just for a couple of weeks.”
“Oh yeah,” said Keira, “we’ve got four bedrooms and two of them are spare. That would be awesome!”
“When are you back at uni?”
“Not for another month.”
“Great, that fits in quite well. Provided your mum and dad are happy. I’ll call her.”
“Brilliant! Okay, if you don’t need anything else, I’ll be off.” Keira flung her arm around Jess and kissed her, dropped down and hugged each of the girls in turn and then, plucking her crash helmet and jacket off the coat rack, waved back at them. “Bye, girls.” She let herself out of the front door, and a second later Jess heard the scooter fire up with a pop and a crackle and then whizz off down the drive.
“Come on, you lot. Let’s have some lunch.”