‘He doesn’t mind at all,’ said Valerie quickly.
She cooked his meals, cleaned his house, and washed his underpants. So this was one thing he could do for her.
He glanced at Valerie, surprised by her firm tone of voice.
‘Perhaps I ought to let you and Valerie have a chat about this,’ said Nessa, getting to her feet. But Valerie was having none of it.
‘We don’t need to chat. I said it’ll be fine and it will be.’
‘Alan?’ asked Nessa, turning to him.
‘Well, it’s lovely having my granddaughter here, obviously. She’s just rather noisy.’
Of course she’s noisy. She’s a child!thought Valerie. As far as she was concerned, the more noise the better. At least there would be some joy in this house for a whole month. Maybe longer.
And Jacob could come to stay and spend time with his daughter and his parents. When Lily moved in for good, he’d come home lots to see her. Valerie was sure of it. Perhaps he’d even move down south again.
She glared at Alan, daring him to say anything that would make Nessa change her mind. Let her go and rough it in a falling-down building for a month. She would spoil Lily and feel useful, which would be a nice change.
Valerie smiled at Nessa. ‘Just let me know when Lily will be coming and I’ll make sure her bedroom is ready for her.’
Nessa swallowed. ‘I was thinking, maybe tomorrow?’
‘Tomorrow?’ spluttered Alan, but Valerie silenced him with a glare.
‘Tomorrow will be perfectly fine, and you don’t need to worry about Lily. She and I are going to have such a wonderful time, she won’t want to leave.’
It was a pointed remark and it hit home. Valerie could see it in Nessa’s eyes, which were sparking with relief, and something else… probably resignation that Valerie was right and her daughter would be better off here.
She felt another twinge of sympathy for Nessa but stamped it out quickly. The most important person in all of this was Lily, and now Valerie had a chance to change her life for the better.