At least half an hour had passed. The pair had just sat in silence, attempting to process what had just happened.
"So, on a brighter side," Alice said with a sad smile "I have a nephew now and so do you"
"Yeah, I wish I could have said something sooner," Lucy said apologetically. "I named him after you, by the way, in case you were wondering"
"I did wonder," Alice said with a small smile. "So, tell me about him, who is my nephew?"
"Well Alex, what can I say about him other than he's my world, he's a typical toddler, nearly two years old, so I wish Danny luck" Lucy's presentation changed as she talked about her son, Alice could sense the huge amount of love she had for him.
"Motherhood looks good on you Lu" Alice commented
"So, Bobby?" Lucy asked
"Yeah, he's your nephew too, Danny is his Dad. He has just turned two, I love him to bits. Danny is going to have fun though, two toddlers and Charlotte, they'll run rings around him" Alice told her with a laugh
"How is Charlie?" Lucy asked.
"She's great, a teenager now though, and she's getting taller and developing quite the attitude, she reminds me of you"
"Wow! She must have been what, seven when I last saw her right? She must have an attitude if you're comparing her to me"
" I'm sorry it's been so long" Alice apologised
"Me too sis. Me too"
"So, since we weren't expecting you, where will you be staying?"
"I booked a couple of nights at a B&B, but erm, let's just say I'm in no rush to get back"
"Nonsense, you can stay here," Alice told her sternly "Besides, we have lost enough time, when are you going home?"
"Whenever, I bought open tickets back to the UK"
"What about Alex's Dad?"
Lucy tensed up. "It's complicated."
"You mentioned you couldn't cope with Alex's Dad and Mum?" Alice asked, picking up on the change in Lucy's presentation.
The younger woman nodded slowly. "I wouldn't know where to start"
"Lu?" Alice spoke sternly "Talk to me"
"Erm, It's a really long story"
"Lu"
"He's not the best of guys, put it that way. So, tell me about Africa" Lucy attempted to change the subject.
"Lucy, talk to me" Alice instructed her younger sister.
"Fine, but I don't know what to say, so it's probably best if I just show you, please, don't get angry"
"Ok, I promise"
Lucy stood up and lifted her top up. Bruises, scars, both recent and healed littered the younger woman's torso.
Alice was shocked. "I'll kill him, tell me where he is"
Lucy flinched at Alice's words, she quickly pulled her top back down "You promised you wouldn't get angry" Lucy said, with worry.
Alice had noticed Lucy's flinch but ignored it. "Please tell me you reported him, that he's out of both yours and Alex's lives"
Lucy nodded. "Yeah"
"How long did it go on for?"
"A while, he was charged last week, he went for me when I was holding Alex"
"I'm so sorry" Alice apologised, she took Lucy's hand in hers "I should have been there"
Lucy shook her head "No, it's not your fault"
"I should have stayed in touch when I left"
"Alice! That's not on you. We both know what Dad was like. It wouldn't have been a good idea."
"Did Dad get any better after I left?" Alice asked
"No"
Alice wrapped her arms around her sister. She knew what that meant. "I'm sorry"
"Look, let's forgive and forget, plus if we say the word sorry again, we're going to have to ban each other from saying anything at all"
"Tea?" Alice offered, appreciating a change of subject.
"Aye, go on then"
...
The two women sat in the kitchen. Cups of tea in front of them. Alice was about to say something when Robert came running in.
"Mummy, Mummy!" he said excitedly.
Alice picked him up. "I guess they're back then, Bobby, this is your Auntie Lucy, she's come to stay with us for a while"
The toddler waved hello.
"Shall we go check if Danny is still in one piece then?" Alice asked jokingly.
Lucy nodded.
...
They walked outside. Danny was stood on the veranda, holding a sleeping Alex. Charlotte and Olivia stood talking to him.
"Thanks, Danny, I guess the excitement caught up to him, has he been ok?" She rubbed Alex's back.
"A pleasure, him and Bobby get on like a house on fire, they look similar, Liv asked me if we had a son she didn't know about"
"Lucy?" Charlotte ran over "Is that really you?"
"Sure is Charlie" she hugged the teen. "I didn't know if you would recognise me, you ok?"
"Never better, it's good to see you"
Danny gently passed Alex to Lucy, taking care not to wake him. Lucy winced as he took Alex, which didn't go unnoticed by Danny, Alice caught his eyes and gave him a look that told him to not ask about it.
"Charlotte. This is Alex, Lucy's son, your cousin" Alice told her.
"I did wonder where he had come from, Danny said you'd explain when we got home" Charlotte replied.
"Olivia, this is Lucy, my sister." Alice introduced them. They greeted each other with a brief hello. "Lu, do you want to put Alex in Bobby's bed, there's a monitor set up, let him get some sleep?"
"Please" Lucy replied.
"I'll show you where it is" Charlotte offered.
"Thanks, sweetheart," Alice told her.
With that Charlotte led Lucy to Alice and Danny's room.
...
"So, your sister?" Olivia asked.
"Yeah, we haven't seen each other for a while, it's complicated" Alice attempted to explain.
"You don't have to explain, I'm a Trevanion, we don't do un-complicated. Danny told me about your Mum, I'm sorry" Olivia responded.
Alice nodded. "Thanks, Liv"
"Don't worry, Charlotte doesn't know." Danny told Alice.
"I'll tell her later, Danny, can you see if Nomsa will watch Bobby for a bit?"
"Liv, can you?" Danny asked, knowing his wife needed his support, to which Olivia agreed, she took Bobby from Alice, "let's go find some trouble to get into little brother" she joked, shooting a joking look at her father.
"Be good" Danny warned. He turned to Alice. "I'll check on Lucy, she must be knackered, she can stay in our room with Alex for a bit. I'll get Nomsa to sort Evan's room out for them for later, I'll check on Charlotte too, find her something to do for a bit, meet you in the surgery?" Danny said hugging Alice, to which she nodded in agreement.
