Chapter 1 #2
This wasn’t in any way accurate, but the idea had stuck, and caused much amusement in the boys’ toilets.
Jess had experienced similar problems with her ‘bad girl’ namesake, and soon substituted Jess for Jezebel, in the hope that any new friends would assume she was really a sophisticated Jessica type of person.
‘Thought you weren’t coming; it’s nearly half past eleven,’ said Jess, as she crashed the cups around, splashing tea dregs onto Mab’s white shirt.
Mab glanced down at the spreading stains.
The day was not going well. This morning, an unwelcome email had dropped into her inbox.
A sinking feeling landed along with it as she read the standard message that started fairly well but ended with the all-too-familiar words ‘…but unfortunately we didn’t feel the necessary level of enthusiasm for your work.
’ Even though a couple of the kinder publishers had said they loved her writing style, Mab’s precious novel wasn’t generating much interest so far.
Also, her landlord had called round at 6.
45 a.m. to remind her that the rent was overdue again.
Mab’s flat was small, stuffy and right next to the ring road, but it was all she could afford at the moment.
To cap it all, during the night, her ancient and moth-eaten cat Maurice had caught a mouse, eaten most of it, and regurgitated it onto the newly changed duvet cover.
She had told her landlord about this in an attempt to lighten the atmosphere, but he had been outraged.
‘It’s news to me that you’re keeping a cat in here – pets aren’t allowed in this building as you well know, young lady, and if you insist on keeping it, you can find somewhere else to live by the end of the week.’
‘But… but…’ spluttered Mab, feeling hot tears prick her eyes at the thought of life without Maurice.
‘Don’t try turning on the waterworks, missy, it never works with me. And what’s more, if you don’t give the place a good scrub up, you’ll not be getting your deposit back.’
Mab wished she’d been more forceful. She hadn’t realised that her contract had even mentioned pets. Maurice had just appeared one day last year, yowling around the rubbish bins, and since then, his night-time purring had been a huge comfort, especially after Pete’s defection.
‘You look a bit down today. Are you OK, sweetie?’ asked Jess, wiping the table with her usual efficiency.
‘No, not really. I could do with a good catch-up. You free later?’
‘Sorry, got to take George to the doctor’s after school, he’s complaining of tummy pains again. I’m not sure if it’s just him trying to avoid going to school, as usual, but better to be on the safe side. Maybe tomorrow?’
‘But Jess, it’s really important. I’m… oh, it doesn’t matter, we can’t talk here. Thanks for saving my space anyway. I really need a sugar rush today.’
‘Good job you came when you did. Thursday’s getting to be one of our busiest days, with that new farmers’ market. Look at all these people with bags of posh cheese and pickles. It’ll be one big ploughman’s supper around here tonight.’
‘Never mind cheese, are there any of those sticky caramel doughnuts left? This definitely isn’t the day to think about dieting.’
‘No, we’ve stopped serving those. Beattie decided that they were way too unhealthy, even made with that brown flour with the bits in. Edward tried to argue, or so he says. I reckon he must be right under the thumb.’
‘Right, how about a double-chocolate-chip-super-healthy wholemeal muffin? You had stacks of those on Monday. They were stupendous. Why does Beattie make all the decisions around here anyway when they’re supposed to be a team?’
Jess sniffed. ‘Well, if that’s marriage, I’m glad I’m done with it.
The Crabtrees are never in the same place for long enough to be a team.
She just issues her orders by email from wherever she happens to be working.
Anyway, I’ll go and find you a cake, if you’re quite sure?
’ She looked down at her own slim hips and swayed gracefully away.
Mab sighed again. She was already aware of far too many intimate details of the Crabtrees’ marriage.
* * *
Leo parked his van in the shade of a huge horse chestnut tree, right at the edge of the market square.
He was so hungry that the smell of paella from a nearby stall was making him dizzy.
The empty shop was only just ahead of him, but right next door was a quaint little café with a chalkboard outside that promised ‘Hot vegetable soup with a wholemeal crusty roll and a free pot of green tea’.
Half an hour’s break wouldn’t hurt, surely?
Then he could concentrate on looking for Mab.
There was no point in having an energy crisis.
Leo headed for the café, unaware of the stir he was causing as he strolled across the cobbled square.
‘Isn’t that… what’s his name?’ murmured an elderly lady to her friend.
‘What, that one off daytime TV?’
‘No, you know, that other one, from that group… the noisy lot.’
‘Don’t think so, but it must be somebody famous – he’s got sunglasses on and the sun’s gone in.’
‘Hmmm. Might be a friend of the Crabtrees. They get about a bit these days.’
A small bunch of teenage girls watched with calculated disinterest as Leo stopped by the menu board. They giggled. The first lady nodded. ‘See, those girls recognised him. Told you he was famous. Wonder what he’s doing in Clayton? Nothing much ever happens here.’
‘Do you fancy a cuppa, love?’
‘Don’t mind if I do.’
The ladies made their way to the café doorway and Leo turned and smiled at them, waving them in front of him with a wide, easy gesture. ‘After you, ladies. Is this a good place to eat? I’m a bit out of touch. I’ve not been to Clayton for a while.’
‘Oh, we thought we’d seen you somewhere before,’ said the braver one, smiling up at him. ‘I hope you don’t mind me asking, but aren’t you on the TV?’
Leo grinned. ‘No, sorry to disappoint you, I’m always getting mistaken for the bloke you’re thinking of. But hopefully we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other soon. I can’t tell you any more now but trust me, things are going to change around here, and for the better.’
The girl gang preened themselves, the two ladies simpered and right on cue the sun emerged from behind its cloud. Leo smiled down at his new fan club and entered the café.