Page 180 - My Home on the Earth

from Marjorie who hated writing anything. Nevertheless, her news was interesting and without a second thought, Alice telephoned her and left a message. Poor Jake Cooper, she thought. Got his comeuppance was on the tip of her tongue, but having read the rest of the letter she refrained from saying it. She knew little of the boy’s father, Alan Cooper, who’d arrived in Rauston after receiving a letter from his son. Marjorie had met him and was complimentary and wanted Alice to meet him before he returned to Scotland. ‘I’ll have to think about it.’
She’d had a tiring day and decided to leave the unpacking until the morning. It was time to telephone Kay, and let her know she was home.
‘Mum! You’re back. Did you have a good time?’ a bubbly voice said on the other end of the phone.
‘Yes. Fabulous. Simone sends her love and asked if I would take Cara next time?’
‘Too right you can. She’ll love it. What about Elise?’
‘I daren’t ask at the moment. How are things in the Bates’ home?’ chuckled Alice.
‘Not good, according to Cara. Emily was in a right strop yesterday and Cara wants me to take them to school every day. Honestly, Mum, I don’t know what’s got into my sister. Steve is on nights next week so he’s going to do the morning run and then go home to bed.’
‘I didn’t help, did I, when we last met?’
‘Huh, I think it was bad before then. Being a police officer’s wife is not all it’s cracked up to be. Freddie is a handful at times and Emily’s forgotten you spent years travelling back and forth to Nestonbrook after Elise was
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