‘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.
2
Mab gazed at the huge cheese plant in the corner of the café and thought about food as Jess crashed around in the kitchen.Even the plant was named after something fattening.Unlike Jess, Mab’s weight had always been a preoccupation for her, something that wasn’t helped by having a naturally slim mother who never held back with her scathing remarks on all aspects of her daughter’s appearance.At least today she felt reasonably good, showing off her long legs, and wearing layers that skimmed over her curves, with a flash of cleavage to distract the eye; her shirt was teamed with a short denim skirt, leggings and flat sparkly pumps.She had been quite happy with the effect until Jess added the tea stains.
The outer door of the café clanged open just as Jess came back carrying a loaded tray.Mab instinctively sat up straight as she spotted the tall, tousle-haired man who was peering around through dark glasses, his five o’clock shadow giving him the air of an off-duty rock star.
‘Who’s that?’Mab breathed.‘No, don’t look now…’ But Jess had already swung around.She stared in open-mouthed admiration as the man wove his way between the tables and stopped right in front of Mab.
‘’Scuse me, but is this seat taken?’
Mab wished fervently that she’d taken the time to put on some make-up.The man took off his sunglasses, winced, and smiled down at her, raising his eyebrows as he gestured towards the spare chair.He looked as if he was either recovering from a nasty illness or seriously hungover, but even with eyes deeply shadowed, and his high cheekbones and firm chin stubbly, he was good enough to eat.Faded jeans and a t-shirt clung to his long, lean frame and he wore battered red Dr Martens.There was a look of Captain Jack Sparrow in the explosion of curls and the glint of a gold ring in his ear.The mesmerising blue eyes were terribly distracting.With difficulty, Mab averted her eyes and looked at the vacant chair.It was the one with the wobbly leg.
‘Well, erm, OK then… but be careful…’ It was too late.The man dropped into the chair so suddenly that his weight caused the unsteady leg to fall off completely, and he hit the floor with a crash, knocking Mab’s bag onto the floor and scattering her belongings far and wide as he demolished the little table on his way down.
‘Oh, man!’The man scrambled to his feet, managing to simultaneously elbow Mab in the eye and trample on her lipstick.He righted the table and tried to prop up the chair.It fell over again.As he scrabbled around picking up Mab’s notebook, mobile and a cheerfully wrapped but very tatty emergency tampon, Jess dashed into the kitchen, reappearing very quickly with a spare chair and an icepack from the freezer.
‘There you go,’ said Jess, unsuccessfully stifling a snigger, ‘put the pack on your eye, Mab, or you’ll have a right shiner tomorrow.’Jess and the man looked at each other and both started to giggle helplessly.
‘Well, I’m glad someone finds it funny because I can assure you that I don’t,’ said Mab, trying to look stern, ‘and who are you, anyway?’
The man grinned as he sank gratefully into the chair.‘Sorry, love, I should have introduced myself.I’m Leo… and, of course, you’re Mab.That goes without saying.’
Mab blinked.‘How do you know my name?Should I recognise you?Although I’m sure I would have remembered…’
