They dropped Lana off first. Her sprawling family all stood at the window, her dad Keith with a toddler in one arm, another child clutching his knees and two others waving madly, excited by the return of the native. They all waved back, including Huw, and the three girls launched themselves into an emotional group hug by Lana’s front gate. Wiping away an errant tear, Lana whispered, ‘I fucking love you two!’ before turning and heading up the path to her front door. From the doorstep she blew them both a flamboyant kiss, and disappeared, swallowed up by her screaming sisters.
Judith was next to be dropped off, silent and worried about what awaited her at home. Catrin squeezed her hand as she got out of the car. ‘You know where we are, babes,’ she whispered. And watched as Judith let herself into the house, her welcome party nowhere to be seen. At nearly nineteen years of age, Judith Harris was still a latchkey kid.
Conversely, when they pulled up outside the Kelly house there were balloons and a massive banner – of course there were:
WELCOME BACK CATRIN MARY THERESA
She didn’t really understand why they had to put her middle names up, but presumably it was to add to the drama. There were also seventeen members of her family all waiting to celebrate her safe return, including both sets of grandparents, her five cousins, two aunties and three uncles. ‘We kept it intimate,’ her mother said, ‘because I know you don’t like a fuss.’
Tom rugby-tackled her to the ground the second he saw her. ‘Welcome back, Frog Head!’ he yelled, and Nana Kelly doused her in a dozen Hail Marys. Despite the mad energy, there was something so comforting about being back with her crazy, lovely family once again, especially as she nursed her broken heart.
An hour into the welcome-home celebrations, when her mother was just about to serve her famous Baked Alaska, the doorbell rang.
‘Will someone get that, please?’ Liz yelled. ‘I’m about to goldenize the meringue!’ (‘Goldenize’ was a term her mother had invented, and it made Catrin smile to hear it again.)
Tom said, ‘Ah, that’ll be Father O’Leary.’
‘You are kiddin’ me,’ Catrin said. ‘Surely to God she didn’t invite him?’ She peeped into the hall and watched her father striding to the door.
Standing on the other side of it, surrounded by all her worldly possessions and trying desperately not to cry, was Judith.
‘I’m really sorry,’ she stammered. ‘Could I borrow two quid for the taxi?’
Catrin’s mother abandoned the Alaska (thankfully rescued by Aunty Treen) to see what was going on. In between sobs, Judith told them how she’d arrived home to an empty house and gone upstairs to her bedroom to find all her things packed up, ‘Like the whole room had been stripped!’ And that on the bed lay a note from Patricia, which Judith held out for them to see:
Take your stuff and leave your key.
You are no longer welcome in this house.
Quickly assessing the situation, Liz Kelly launched into Supermum mode, taking control and instructing Tom and Huw to carry Judith’s stuff to the spare room. She told her she could stay with them as long as she needed – ‘Tia castle mia castle’ (Tom whispered casa under his breath, but Liz was oblivious) – and gave her an all-encompassing hug. She insisted Judith come and join the party and Grampa Lewis thrust a plate of sausage rolls under her nose. When it came to overwhelming love, there was no escaping that of the Kellys.
The next morning both girls were downstairs by six a.m.
Catrin had hardly slept. Which wasn’t surprising, given the amount of traffic zooming around her head as she desperately tried to recall the digits Sol had written on that piece of paper. She’d stared at it long enough. Why couldn’t she bloody remember? And when she hadn’t been thinking about Sol, she’d been worrying about her A-level results – what if she’d messed up?
Judith made them each a cup of strong tea, which they both decided was the most-missed thing from their time abroad.
Taking a big slurpy gulp, Catrin broached the subject of Judith’s family situation. ‘What you gonna do, babes?’ she asked gently.
‘When I’ve got my results, I’m gonna go and find my dad. In work or whatever. ’Cos where the hell was he last night? He could’ve come here looking for me. He knew when I was due home and, I mean, it’s obvious I’m either at yours or Lana’s. Plus – he’d have seen my stuff was all gone.’
‘Thing is though, Jude, who knows what pressure your mum has put on him?’
‘You mean Patricia. I’m not calling her Mum any more. She’s lost the right to be called that.’
Catrin noticed that Judith’s hands were shaking as she raised the mug of tea to her mouth. She reached out, trying to comfort her friend.
‘I’m gonna make a success of my life, Cat, even if I fail my exams, or don’t get the grades—’ she said.
‘Which you will,’ interrupted Catrin, but Judith ignored her.
‘Whatever the outcome, I am gonna pull myself out of this pit. I’m not gonna be a victim of my own sorry upbringing any more.’
Catrin nodded. She’d never seen Judith like this before.
They were interrupted by Liz coming down the stairs in her dressing gown, picking up the newly delivered post en route. ‘Well now, who’s got their exam results today then?’ she said in a cheery voice, too loud for the time of day. Liz had a penchant for stating the obvious.
‘Morning,’ said Judith, and Catrin could tell she was glad of the subject change.
‘How did you sleep, Judy love, were you …?’ But something stopped Liz in her tracks as she looked through the mail. ‘Oh, this one’s for you,’ she said, surprised, as she held out a pink envelope addressed to Judith Harris, c/o the Kelly Family. Even Catrin recognized the handwriting straight away. It was from George.
Catrin and Liz both watched as Judith slowly put down her mug and opened the card, which had the words ‘GOOD LUCK’ emblazoned on the front, framed in a rectangle of four-leafed clovers. Inside, two fifty-pound notes had been paperclipped to the card. Judith said nothing. Then passed it to Catrin to read.
Dear Judi-moo
I have had to go away. There are too many things to explain in this card but please be patient – until I get the chance to tell you everything. I know that today will be a big day for you. And whatever the results, please never forget how proud of you I am. Here is some money towards whatever you decide to do next. I’m so sorry, my Judi-moo. I hope one day you will be able to understand, and to forgive.
I love you always, Dad x
Liz, for once, was lost for words.
Catrin handed back the card. ‘Oh my God, Jude.’
She expected her friend to cry, but Judith continued sitting there, gulping down the rest of her tea as if she was in a tea-drinking race. Suddenly she stood up. ‘Is it all right if I have a shower, Mrs Kelly?’
‘Of course it is, love. Clean towels in the airing cupboard. Help yourself.’
‘Thanks.’ And she headed out of the door. ‘And then we’d better get going, Cat!’ she shouted over her shoulder, as if her life hadn’t just been turned upside down. Again.