Levi relaxed into the sofa. ‘I can’t tell you how glad I am you said that. So, how is she now?’
‘Well, in a nutshell, Ziggy got back on track and although there were blips along the way, she passed all of her GCSEs and got three excellent A-levels, then did a degree in nursing. She is, and I hope always will be, the most bonkers, confident, and wonderful friend I could wish for. Nothing holds her back now. And I’m sure you’ve guessed already where my main donations go.’
Levi laughed. ‘Yep, I think I’ve worked it out and it’s a very worthy cause, so well done you.’ He raised his mug of tea to Honey who smiled at the screen and did the same.
‘No wonder you two are such good friends, helping her through all that.’ Levi was watching Honey open a packet of biscuits as he spoke.
‘It goes both ways, because she was there for me a few years later when my dad–’ Honey stalled mid-packet-ripping, and looked at the screen, her words had dried up, as though she’d spoken out of turn.
‘What? Are you okay?’ Levi could tell she wasn’t and it had something to do with Honey’s dad.
So when she put the biscuits by her side and picked up her mug, holding it in front of her like it was putting distance between them, he waited until she was ready to speak.
CHAPTER29
Levi wondered if Honey was stalling as she shuffled and made herself comfy. He hoped she wasn’t going to tell him anything really horrible, not that he’d mind but it was hard to comfort someone through a laptop screen.
‘I know we’re going to be mates, so I want you to know… about my family and how we tick because to put it mildly we’re what I’d call a bit odd and depleted right now.’
Honey took a breath. Levi waited because what could he say apart from,oh really?
Then Honey added, ‘There’s just me and my grandad now. I had an aunty, Beryl, who died not long ago, we were very close, and she was so lovely…’ At this point Honey did the wandering off thing she tended to, then wandered back again, ‘Anyway, my mum lives in Spain with her new husband and although we chat every week, our relationship is a bit strained, I suppose on account of what happened to my dad.’
Oh, oh, thought Levi.This isn’t going to be good.And with that in mind, gave Honey the opportunity to keep her family history to herself. ‘Look, if it’s painful you don’t have to…’
‘No, no I’d rather tell you. I think it’d help because I have tons of other stuff going on right now and it might help to clear my head a bit.’ Honey took a sip of her tea, then explained.
Astrid, her mum, wasn’t the most popular member of the McCarthy clan and wasn’t the kind of woman who they’d have chosen for Kevin, their one and only son, grandson and nephew. By all accounts even Kevin’s friends weren’t keen on his choice of girlfriend and were even less impressed when Astrid became his wife.
Apparently Great-Grandma Molly had her down as ‘flighty with ideas above her station’ which according to her Grandad Ernie was rich coming from the woman who thought living in Marple meant she’d ‘arrived’.
Anyhow, Astrid and Kevin’s marriage was beset by argument after argument. Nothing was ever enough, and the rot set in early on. The arrival of Honey healed the rift but only for a time and they stumbled through life, falling out and making up. Kevin, for reasons none of his family could ever fathom, continued to make promises that an accountant, unless he put his hands in the till, could never fulfil.
And in the middle was Honey, who couldn’t actually remember a time when her parents weren’t at war.
Astrid was adamant there’d be no more children even though Honey longed for a sibling because being the glue in her parents’ relationship, the weakest, watery kind that they use in schools and barely sticks tissue to paper, wasn’t fun. Looking back, Honey was sure that her mum was simply marking time. Waiting for the moment she could leave, and that time was just after Honey’s A-level results came in and she was all set for the future.
The moment Astrid told Kevin she was leaving as she stood in the hall with her cases already in the boot of the car was, according to Astrid, civilised and mature. What happened after the door slammed and her car roared towards freedom was another matter entirely.
Kevin simply lost his mind. Couldn’t work, sleep, exist without Astrid, so turned to the bottle, which was not a pleasant sight for anyone to see. And that’s what was the hardest to deal with, in Honey’s mind. The last pathetic images of living with her drunken, sobbing father, who looked like a vagrant living in his own home that despite Honey’s efforts was becoming a pigsty; of him staggering to the off-licence for more booze, despite her pleading with him not to go out.
The part where he staggered into the main road as he shouted abuse at the shop owner for refusing to sell him whisky, was based on eyewitness accounts, but it was easy enough to picture. As was the car hitting him at speed, ending his misery, silencing his sobbing there and then.
‘So, that’s why I have a difficult relationship with my mum because there’s always this big thing between us. Like I have trouble hearing what a wonderful time she’s having over there because I can’t get over the fact that her freedom and lovely sunny life came at the expense of my dad and yes, I know that he chose to drink and all that, but it’s the sequence of events that bothers me. What led to that night.’ Honey looked into her mug before draining the contents.
‘And it changed my grandad because he’s, shall we say, a very complex man as it is. Some say he’s an acquired taste, but it made him so bitter. He’s never spoken to my mum since. Not even at the funeral. Totally blanked her. It was so awkward. So once again, I’m in the middle but very glad she lives in Spain. It makes life easier and now, it’s just me and Grandad. There. My family skellybobs are out of the closet.’ Honey paused, as though there was more to say, but then perhaps to divert her attention or the need for sugar overwhelmed, she continued to open the packet of biscuits, fiddling with the cellophane wrapper.
Levi didn’t know what to say but was, at the same time, sure Honey didn’t need his platitudes or advice. Clichés wouldn’t cut it so instead; ‘And I thoughtmyfamily was complicated, but I appreciate you telling me… and yes, we are going to be friends, but this mate wants to ask you something.’
Honey ceased fiddling, and eyes wide, asked what.
‘Can I take you for dinner? I’ll drive over to yours and you can pick the venue as long as it’s not that pub on the hills where losers go.’ That, for him was bold and even though he knew there was a chance he’d overstepped, and that she might just want him for his dossier and contacts, he remained hopeful.
‘Yes, I’d love that, and I know some great places around here. When?’
Result!‘Whenever you’re free… weekend perhaps. Just let me know.’ Levi was relieved and the serious mood had lifted.
‘Weekend will be fine. Saturday is best because I have to be at the café early that morning as it’s our busy day. I’ll book us a table somewhere but nothing fancy. I’m not into fancy, are you?’
