five
The intercom bell rang just as Elizabeth was basting the potatoes for a final time. Shutting the oven door with her hip, she wiped her hands on a tea towel and said a cheery ‘come in’ before releasing the door lock. She hurried to the mirror in the hall and stared critically at her reflection; toffee-coloured brown hair hung in waves to her waist, her damp fringe fell over sooty black lashes, her cheeks rosy from the exertion of cooking. But her dark blue eyes were sparkling with excitement at the prospect of seeing her daughter and dad again.
‘Mum!’ Annabel dropped her overnight bag on the floor before catapulting herself into Elizabeth’s arms. They stood for a few minutes hugging. Overcome with emotion, Elizabeth sniffed back the tears. It had been too long since she had seen her
