What Goes Around

chapter FORTY FOUR

Gloria

Well, this is awkward.

I pick her up from Lucy’s and I shake my head when she invites me in.

She’s such a lovely little thing.

Charlotte, I mean!

She’s a bit reserved and a bit shy but we both get on.

I sign her in and I take a seat in the waiting room.

When I got my teeth done, it was normally a nurse who called me through, but this time it’s Noel. He startles when he sees me and then there’s actually a grimace on his face when he sees Daisy but he quickly hides it – he’s polite like that and he smiles to Charlotte.

‘Come through.’

She skips up to go to the room but, when she gets to the door, she turns around. ‘Gloria, aren’t you coming in?’

It never entered my head.

I promise you – I am not meddling.

‘You’ll be fine!’ I give her a smile but her eyes are filling up – she’s an anxious little thing and I guess her mum always went in with her.

‘Come through, Gloria.’ Noel says.

He doesn’t look at me again though and he certainly doesn’t look at Daisy.

Well, not at first.