Riverside

Anna’s unreliable sister has turned up in Ryemouth . . .

 

- Glenda Young

CAROL!” Anna cried. “What are you doing here?” Carol strode over to where Anna was standing, shell-shocked and and clinging to a salon chair for support, and wrapped her arms around her in a bear hug.

“That’s a fine welcome to give your long-lost sister!” Carol laughed, releasing Anna from her grip.

Anna stiffened and straightened her back.

“You’ve hardly been lost. I knew exactly where you were. What I want to know is why you’ve come back now. What do you want?”

It was then that Anna caught sight of Jenny out of the corner of her eye, standing by the reception desk and pretending not to listen to this tense reunion.

“Shall I go and make us some tea?” Jenny asked.

Without waiting for an answer, she walked off into the back room and pulled the door closed behind her.

Carol plonked herself down in one of the chairs and admired her reflection in the big salon mirror.

“It’s not a bad little place you’ve got here, Anna,” she said. “I reckon we could make a go of this if we put our minds to it.” Anna shook her head.

“No, Carol. You can’t just waltz back in here as if you own the place.”

“But I do,” Carol said, smiling. “My name’s above the door.”

“No, you don’t,” Anna replied through gritted teeth. “We were supposed to be partners, remember? But then you swanned off to Tenerife and I haven’t seen you for months.