The Hitchhiker

6

Soon Natalie began to recognise the town around her, right where she had grown up, and she didn't need any maps to navigate her way home. Eventually, they turned on to her street and her house was in sight and she was unbuckling her belt before the car had even stopped.

'Someone's excited,' Hallie remarked, glad for her.

'Yeah I am,' Natalie said. 'Come on, park up.'

'Hey, I'm not gonna rush my parallel parking. It's an art form.'

'You're an idiot,' Natalie grinned as she jumped out of the car.

'Maybe,' Hallie nodded. 'I wanna see your bedroom. And not in a sexy way- well, maybe a little bit. But bedrooms are always interesting.'

'Hallie Green, you can see my bedroom, fine. But I'm not sleeping with you when my family are in the house.'

'Jesus Christ Nat, I was kidding.'

'Good,' Natalie opened the gate of a little rough house and walked up to the door. She knocked loudly and firmly and turned back to Hallie.

'Thank you,' she said, leaning in and kissing her. Hallie almost jumped with shock, but instead relaxed into it. As the door opened they sprung apart.

'Natalie!' a tiny girl with curly hair and a pretty pink dress ran out, pouncing on her.

'This is Suzie,' Natalie explained, lifting the little girl up. 'Hey dad,' she smiled at the man in the doorway, who seemed old and cheerful, all smiles and wrinkles.

'I'm Kenneth, also known as Dad,' he explained. 'You must be the driver.'

'I'm Hallie,' she said.

'Well, Hallie, you're welcome to stay for dinner.'

Hallie checked the time on her phone. 'I'd love to, really. But my grandfather just died and I should be home right now.'

Kenneth nodded. 'I'm sorry for your loss. Would you like a cup of tea or something before you head back?'

Hallie smiled. 'Strong coffee would be good.'

Kenneth laughed. 'Coming right up. Natalie, take her into the sitting room. Suzie, come grab the biscuits.'

'Do I get biscuits?'

'If you're good. Nat, call Michael and Rich in. They're out playing football right now, but I know they'll want to see you.'

'Of course they will. Hal, come on through. We can go upstairs in a bit.'

'Is she your girlfriend?' Suzie asked.

'Maybe,' Natalie smiled. 'Go on, steal us some cookies, yeah?'

Suzie grinned deviously. 'Yeah,' she said, running off, spy-like in her movement.

'Your family seem great,' Hallie said, sitting down on one of the old armchairs.

'They are,' Natalie agreed. 'We don't have much, but we have each other. And that's enough, to be honest.'

Hallie nodded. Sometimes she wished she had siblings. Someone to share experiences with. An older one for advice, or a younger one to teach. That would've made Darton less boring. Instead of that, she'd had an old, ill grandfather, who had been brilliant, but now she didn't even have that. It was just her mum and her now, she realised.

'Thank you,' Hallie smiled graciously.

'And thank you for returning my daughter home in one piece,' Kenneth said warmly. 'If you hadn't dragged her back, she probably would have worked all summer, knowing her.'