Calmly.A sound came from the bottom of the stairs up to the flat. It was the clunk of the door.“Hello?” Little Rick’s muffled voice came up the stair-well. “Can I come up?”Val hurried across the landing and leaned over the railing, gesturing Rick up. “Shush,” she said softly. “Josh is asleep.”Rick walked into the kitchen-diner, grinning. “Need to make the most of it,” he said. “I bet he doesn’t sleep much with the teething.”He pulled up a chair and sat at the table.Oma clicked her tongue disapprovingly. “She leaves the front door open like I tell her not to,” she muttered, poking at the rice with her fork.“It’s okay,” said Val. “We’re not in London now. Things are a lot more laid back here at Hope Springs.”“Hi, Danny,” said Rick. “Hi, Oma Schmidt.” Omaschmidt.She clicked her tongue again, and Danny smirked, then stopped himself.“Luke’s been printing posters for the Open Day,” Rick said. “They look good. There are going to be ads in the Crier and Echo, too.
