Leo took a deep breath, cursing himself for mentioning the vermin.Why couldn’t he have kept his mouth shut?
‘Look, Mr Jones, as soon as the council lift this ridiculous ban on our trading, we’ll have the opening party organised, the publicity in place, and it’ll be all systems go.The temporary problem with suppliers is sorted for the time being (although I can’t imagine how you heard about that) so the shop should be open by… oh… the end of next week at the latest,’ he said, with a good deal more confidence than he felt.
Putting the phone down rather more forcefully that he meant to, Leo began yet another circuit of the flat.He knew he was getting under everyone’s feet; he could see them exchanging glances each time he spoke, but the only person he seemed to be able to tolerate today was George, who was fretful because his injuries were causing him pain and who needed a lot of distraction.After lunch, the two of them settled down at the table to gloat over catalogues of water filters, strange little plastic replica castles and bridges, gravel and other delights.George was determined that the fish tank in the shop would be the biggest and the best in town.It should have multi-coloured angel fish, tiny bright neons, guppies, and as many other fantastically patterned tropical creatures as he could persuade Leo to buy.There must be twists of coral, lighting that set off his treasures to the best advantage, and an efficient filter system to keep them all healthy and happy.
‘We can’t be mean about the fish money, Leo,’ said George, slapping another Post-it note on a page in the catalogue and writing ‘Suckermouth Catfish – senshul’.
‘What’s a senshul?’asked Leo, mentally adding up the massive amount that George had spent so far.
‘Doh!You know.When you have to have something – it’s senshul,’ answered George, wondering why grown-ups sometimes seemed so stupid.
‘Oh, right, and is this clown loach senshul too, then?’
‘Yep, they’re fun to watch, and they eat stuff you don’t want… I think…’
‘What about all these glowlight tetras?This tank’s going to be a bit crowded if we’re not careful, mate.’
‘Told you we should have ordered a bigger one.’
‘George, there wasn’t a bigger one.This is the absolute biggest we could get.It’ll nearly fill the wall as you come into the shop.And it’s due to be delivered later today anyway, so it’s too late to change the order.’
‘Wicked!It’s the first thing the customers’ll see.It’ll put them in the right mood to buy the books, you just wait.’
Somehow, Leo couldn’t help believing these words of wisdom.George’s other ideas had been excellent so far too.He’d suggested that he drew pictures of some of the items on the café menu, and that they should frame and mount them for the shop walls.Leo was worried about this one.In his experience, children’s drawings had to look very naïve and simple to work as wall displays.He hadn’t banked on this boy’s style though, and when he saw George’s bold, confident pastels of knickerbocker glories, rainbow-coloured cupcakes and chocolate gateaux oozing with cream, he realised that they had an advertising miracle on their hands.Who would be able to resist trying all these wonderful creations?The designs were unique, and quirky enough to grace the most sophisticated shop in the country.George basked in Leo’s approval, and when the moment came to go out and buy the fish, he set off with Leo and Stan looking unusually happy and excited.
‘George, behave yourself, won’t you?’shouted Jess as they left.‘Leo and Stan have both got my mobile number, so no funny business.And the doctors said to be careful, you’re still healing, remember.’
‘He’ll be fine, won’t you, mate?’said Stan.‘You just concentrate on getting that chocolate brownie recipe off pat.The last lot were a bit on the chewy side.’
He ducked as Jess threw a tea towel at him, and the three of them clattered down the stairs, just as the phone began to ring.
23
‘Hello.’Mab had beaten Jess to the phone by a whisker.‘Oh, it’s for you, Jess.George’s school… I mean… erm… his old school.’She passed the receiver over, noticing how white Jess had become.
Watching her friend holding tightly to the phone and answering in short, angry bursts, Mab felt exhausted by all the problems that had to be faced.The baby, the shop closure, her feelings for Leo, her entanglement with Den – although the flow of emails had now dried up, thank goodness – and now Jess’s worries about George.She sat down on a kitchen stool and thought about what her own doctor had said earlier.
‘Mabel, I’ve known you since you were knee-high to a grasshopper, and I’ve always thought you were a girl with your head screwed on.You’ve got yourself into this situation with your eyes open, and I’m sure you can find a way to work it out.’
‘But what am I going to do?’Mab had wailed, resisting the temptation to throw herself into Dr Blake’s arms and weep into his battered Harris Tweed jacket.‘And how do I know that there will even be a baby?’
‘You’re a healthy young woman and a few days’ rest should put you back on track.You’ve been doing too much and not eating properly, if I’m not much mistaken?’
‘So I won’t lose the baby?’
‘It’s unlikely, now everything has settled down again, but you will need to be sensible.I notice that you have cat litter in here.That’s going to have to go.Didn’t you know about the risks to your baby?’
Mab had muttered about having always been super-careful with the litter and looked at the floor as the doctor continued, ‘You’ll be telling me next that you’re still eating runny eggs, pâté and soft cheese.’
Seeing her horror-stricken face, he’d patted Mab’s hand.
‘Look, don’t worry about that now.I’ll drop you in some leaflets.What I really want to know is where does the child’s father fit into all this?’
Mab had tried to find a good way of explaining the situation but in the end, she’d just blurted the story out, red with shame.The only thing she’d omitted was the name of the couple involved.There was a silence.After a moment, the doctor said, ‘I see.Well, you have a while to think about all this yet.Come and see me again next week for another check-up and we’ll have a chat.But I strongly advise you to talk to the couple involved, as soon as possible.This head-in-the-sand attitude is getting you nowhere.Does your mother know about all this?Can you talk to your parents?’
‘Oh, yes, it was my mum’s idea.’
‘What?Are you serious, Mabel?That’s a little unusual, surely?’
