Nina flashed Harry a grateful glance, but Jess said anxiously, ‘What about George?He was the one that was specifically threatened, wasn’t he?What did the caller actually say, Leo?’
‘Just what I told you before, plus something about “Shut the shop or the brat gets it”, I think.It sounded like the script from one of those old films you mentioned, Stan, now I come to think of it.’
They sat in silence, trying to sort out the tangle of problems that Leo had put in front of them.At last, Jess stirred.‘It’s got to be Edward Crabtree, hasn’t it?’she reasoned.‘He’s furious about the shop, he’s angry with me anyway, and he’s got the most to gain if Leo’s shop never opens.Hang on, I think I just heard the letter box bang.I’ll just pop down and see if the weekly local paper’s here.Angelica’s order’s never been cancelled.Leo must have a big bill to settle at the newsagent’s by now but it’s a good job he didn’t stop it.Mum said they were going to give us a few lines today in preparation for the big article next week.’
Jess ran down the stairs two at a time, but the next thing the others heard was a howl of anguish, and she returned even more quickly.She flung the paper onto the table, eyes burning with rage.‘Look at this on the letters page.Who wrote this… this filth?’
‘Now who sounds like an old film?’muttered Mab.She reached for theClayton-on-the-Bream Chronicle, only to be pipped to the post by Leo.He snatched the paper and held it at arm’s length so they could all lean over and read it with him.Mab peered tentatively.She was extremely afraid that she and Den might be on the front page, rolling around in the shrubbery with half their buttons undone.Surely if Edward was to blame for the threats, he wouldn’t hold back on publishing a photo or two?
To her initial relief, the only picture on the cover was of a skateboarding dog, with the headline ‘Roll me over, Rover’.But her joy was short lived.Leo, egged on by Jess, had turned to page eight and began to read the lead letter aloud.
Dear Editor
Concerned residents of Clayton-on-the-Bream will not be surprised to hear rumours that a new bargain bookshop with a small café facility, due to open next week in our town, has been dogged by difficulties.Our much-respected local café owner Beattie Crabtree (31) had this to say when I telephoned for her views on her new neighbours: ‘I can only say that Clayton-on-the-Bream doesn’t need any more eating places.Our own café prides itself on delivering a wide range of healthy and delicious dishes.There are allegations that this new so-called “bookshop”, some kind of down-market, bargain establishment, intends to provide only sugary, fat-filled, chocolate-based snacks.The public should be protected against such blatant temptation.’
Yours
A Well Wisher
‘Bargain bookshop?Down-market?’yelled Leo, throwing the paper down.‘Right, that’s it; something’s got to be done!This must be libel, surely?’
‘Thirty-one?Beattie?I don’t think so,’ Nina added, sniffing, ‘Only Beattie thinks she’s that far from forty.’
‘You’re right, Mum.Beattie and Edward must have written this themselves,’ Jess spat out.‘Who else hates us this much, for goodness’ sake?’
‘I’m going round to see him now, before anything else can go wrong,’ Leo said, drinking the last of his tea and banging his mug on the table before heading for the door.
‘Wait up, I’m coming too,’ said Stan.Harry was also making his way to the door.Nina stood up, putting a hand out to stop him.
‘Harry, is there really any need for you to go?These strong boys will be enough, surely?’
Harry smiled down at her.‘I can’t let the boys go without me, pet, you know that really, don’t you?What sort of man do you take me for?I’ll be back soon.’He kissed her soundly on the lips and left the room.Jess and Mab stared at Nina, as a delicate rosy blush spread up her neck and over her face.
‘Is there anything you want to share with us, Nina?’asked Mab, dimpling at her friend’s mum.
‘Oh, well… last night Harry was worried about me sleeping alone at home.No one else gave it a thought, of course.’
‘Mum!Are you seriously telling me that you stayed here last night and slept with Leo’s dad?’said Jess.‘So that was why you were here so early.I must have been stupid not to work it out.’
Mab felt a prickle of happiness that at least someone was getting things right.‘That’s brilliant, well done, Nina,’ she said.‘So, was there any actual sleeping involved?’
‘I think that anything else I might say would be classed as too much information,’ replied Nina, smoothing her hair and looking at Jess for her verdict.Jess started to reply, but was interrupted by a sharp exclamation from her mother, who had noticed Mab swaying.
‘Back to bed for you, love, you shouldn’t have got up at all this morning.Help me to get Mab sorted, Jess, we’ll get her to bed and then you can fill a hot water bottle and ring for the doctor.’
‘The doctor?Is Mab really ill then?’Jess took one of Mab’s arms as Nina took the other, and they frog-marched her to her bedroom.Jess slid the t-shirt over her friend’s head; at least Mab wasn’t wearing yesterday’s tight jeans.
‘Mind my boobs!’shouted Mab, as the two of them undressed her.
‘What’s wrong with them?’asked Jess, easing Mab back onto her pillows after plumping them up in readiness.‘They look OK to me.Enormous compared to mine, but OK all the same!’Her attempt at a joke fell on deaf ears, as Mab groaned and doubled up in agony.Hot stabbing pains shot into her back and sides, leaving her breathless and faint.As the waves of pain intensified, Mab curled herself into a tight ball, grey faced and sweating.
‘I’m ringing the doctor now, whether she wants me to or not,’ said Nina, rushing from the room.
‘Jess, I think I’m bleeding… help me…’ moaned Mab, clutching Jess’s hand desperately.
‘Is it your period, Mab?This is even worse than you used to be when we were at school.’Jess went to the bathroom to fetch essential supplies.
Mab lay in her bed and wept for the baby that might never now be born.Whether or not she was right to have got herself pregnant, none of this was the baby’s fault.For the first time, Mab allowed herself to imagine what he or she might look like, and she realised how desperately she wanted the chance to meet this new person.She lay passively as Jess dealt with the practicalities, and Nina hovered, waiting for the GP to arrive.The only positive thing about this whole disaster was that the men were out of the way.
