Page 152 - My Home on the Earth

Alice greeted them and they went through into the garden for drinks.
‘Don’t forget, Cara. We are on Grandma’s side,’ whispered Elise dawdling behind.
Emily was impatient. ‘Why have we been summoned? Are you ill, Mum? You’re not going into hospital, are you?’
‘Of course not. Come on, everyone, let’s sit down,’ said Alice.
‘Who is going to start?’ asked Kay uneasily.
‘Start what? Steve, what on earth is going on?’ demanded Emily.
To avoid further questions, Elise stepped forward. ‘I’ll tell you, Mum. I’m not going to mess about so I’ll come straight to the point. Mrs Cooper is here, in Rauston Quay and we want to know why.’
Faces turned to watch Emily’s expression and wait for her reaction. She turned to Alice. ‘So I did see her in Waitrose after all. Why didn’t you believe me?’
‘I didn’t want to upset you. We thought we could handle the matter together, but after you’d seen her – well, the situation changed,’ replied Alice with a look of dread.
‘Auntie Emily,’ said Cara, ‘my form tutor is called Louisa Kilroy and this Cooper woman is living with her in one of the Bay Park Apartments. It’s scary!’
Emily sighed, shook her head and stared at the serious faces. ‘Melanie has a sister, Louisa, and Kilroy is their maiden name. They grew up in Allington and fell out years ago. Louisa trained as a teacher and moved away, so it’s
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