by Nancy Revell
Dr Parker dismissed her words with a shake of his head.
If only Helen knew. He didn’t give two hoots where he was right now – as long as he was with the woman he loved.
When Helen opened the front door, they saw Miriam walking into the lounge, her hand clutching a glass of what could only be a large gin and tonic.
Their arrival caught her eye and she turned to welcome them with outstretched arms.
‘Darlings!’ she said, air-kissing her daughter and then Dr Parker. ‘I thought you’d deserted your dear mama – again.’
Neither Helen nor Dr Parker said anything.
Miriam inspected her daughter.
‘Go and get yourself spruced up.’ Miriam tilted her head up towards the landing. ‘I’ve put out a lovely dress for you to wear.
‘And John,’ Miriam purred, ‘come and meet the rest of the guests. They’re all dying to meet you.’
She suddenly burst out laughing.
‘Dying. Well, I hope not.’
She leant towards Dr Parker.
‘But at least if they are, we’ve got our very own doctor on hand to save the day!’
She chuckled again at her own joke.
Not for the first time, Dr Parker was reminded of his own mother. She too had a tendency to laugh at her own jokes.
As Miriam took Dr Parker’s arm, more to steady herself than in affection, Helen shook off her coat and hung it up.
She didn’t go upstairs, though, but instead headed through to the back kitchen.
Dr Parker knew she was on her way to see the cook, Mrs Westley.
As he walked into the lounge with Miriam by his side, Dr Parker stole a sidelong glance at Helen’s mother.
There was no doubting it, she really was the double of Bel.
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Copyright © Nancy Revell 2019
Cover photography by Colin Thomas. Background: Tyne & Wear archives Museum.
Nancy Revell has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work.
First published in Great Britain by Arrow Books in 2019
www.penguin.co.uk
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9781473558465
