Lovestruck by Julia Llewellyn Read Free Book Online

panicked. ‘Is somebody going to hurt our car?’
    ‘No, darling,’ Rosie soothed, nudging her husband. ‘Everything is going to be just fine. And of course we’re going to keep visiting.’
    ‘Of course we are. Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that.’
    Nanna lived up two steep flights of stairs.
    ‘How can she manage with her shopping?’ Jake asked.
    ‘I know. I’m going to see if Ocado deliver here.’
    ‘Let’s hope the delivery men wear flak jackets.’
    ‘Enough!’ Rosie snapped. She glared at Jake. He was annoying her today.
    Nanna had been watching them park from behind her net curtains and was standing at her front door.
    ‘You’re early! Were you sick, lover?’ She chucked George under the chin. Nanna called everyone ‘lover’; it was a Bristol thing. ‘No? Well done.’
    ‘Couldn’t wait to see you, Marjorie.’ Jake kissed Nanna on the cheek. Rosie smiled. She’d been in love with Jake from the second she laid eyes on him. But when she’d taken him to visit Nanna (he hadn’t said rude things about St Pauls that time, in fact he’d clearly been rather impressed that his girlfriend had grown up in something resembling a ’hood) she’d known it was forever. He’d chatted to Nanna so warmly, rather than tolerating her like her ex, Adam, would have done – not that Adam would ever even have agreed to give up a weekend of hangovers and football to visit an old lady.
    ‘Come in. Kettle’s on. I’ve got chips in the oven for you, boys. I know even you love chips, fusspot Toby. And a Mars Bar each for afters. Oh my goodness gracious, Rosie Prest. Is this for me?’
    ‘Who did you think it was for?’ Rosie handed her the bouquet, trying to hold in a sneeze. Her flower allergy had never been an issue until Jake became famous, but now someone seemed to send them a huge bouquet virtually every week and she was getting through boxes of tissues like Elvis devoured cheeseburgers.
    ‘I don’t have a vase for it,’ Nanna said, pretending to sound cross, though you could tell she was delighted.
Rosie glowed. This was what this sudden burst of fortune was all about – being able to treat your loved ones.
    ‘I thought of that!’ Rosie stepped back into the tiny hall and returned with the huge crystal vase she’d bought yesterday from an extortionately priced gift shop in the village. It reminded her of the one Christy used to have in her sitting room.
    ‘Oh, you! There’s no space for it.’
    ‘Oh.’ Nanna was right. ‘It’ll fit on the counter top if you move the bread bin,’ Rosie said dubiously, handing it over.
    ‘All right,’ Nanna said, taking it. But when she stepped backwards the vase dropped on the floor, smashing into a million pieces.
    ‘Oh bugger it!’ Nanna slammed her fist on the counter.
    ‘Never mind, Nanna. Sit down. I’ll tidy up.’ Rosie took a dustpan from the cupboard under the sink.
    ‘I’m so sorry, lover.’
    ‘Don’t be mad, Nanna. It’s a vase. I’ll buy you another one. A smaller one.’ She started sweeping up. Nanna sat at the kitchen table. She looked devastated; in fact, she was trembling. Not like her at all. Rosie looked at her more closely. Her skin was very pale, her eyes seemed larger and her cheekbones more defined than on their last visit.
    ‘Nanna, you’re losing weight still. Are you OK?’
    ‘Never better.’
    ‘This place is tiny. Did you really live here, Mummy?’ Toby was incredulous.
    ‘Toby, you know I did,’ Rosie said crossly, still sweeping, as Nanna replied calmly. ‘She lived here until she was eighteen. She did all her homework at that table, while I cooked.’
    ‘And my mum slept,’ Rosie said more sharply than she’d intended.
    ‘Well, she was usually working nights.’ Nanna always defended her only daughter when Rosie criticized her. ‘I don’t know how we managed, but we did. Now, who wants a beer? Then tell me about Ellie Lewis.’
    Nanna was an
O’Rourke’s
devotee. Rosie had given her the complete box